Security in the Nation's Capital and the Closure of Pennsylvania Avenue: An Assessment
Abstract
Acts of terrorism are not a new threat to Washington, D.C. Over the last two centuries, there have been several organized terrorist attacks, as well as numerous assaults by unstable individuals acting alone, that have targeted the White House and U.S. Capitol building and the President or U.S. Congressmen within the city limits of the District of Columbia. It was not, however, until the 1980s that such incidents evoked heightened security around the White House, initiating a process of fortification that culminated with President Clinton's decision in April 1995 to close the section of Pennsylvania Avenue running in front of the Mansion. While some have criticized the move as a knee-jerk reaction that symbolizes a "bunker mentality" at odds with the perceived strengths of American democracy and freedom, others have vigorously defended the action as a reasonable contingency in the face of a potentially serious and realistic threat. The research reported here considers both sides of this issue in order to identify how security against terrorist attack in the nation's capital might be assured while at the same time preserving to the greatest extent possible normal traffic patterns and daily life in the city. The study was conducted as part of a project entitled, "Assessment of Physical Security Measures, within RAND's Criminal Justice Research Program. This work is being carried out as part of a larger undertaking by the Federal City Council-a nonprofit, nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the improvement of the Nation's Capital aimed at reassessing and reconsidering the physical security measures that have been imposed on the District of Columbia in recent years.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA380615
Entities
People
- Bruce Hoffman
- Peter Chalk
- Timothy Liston
Organizations
- RAND Corporation