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CNN Live At Daybreak
White House Again Open to General Public
Aired September 16, 2003 - 06:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hurricane Isabel is probably postponing your field trip to D.C., but when you go to Washington, you can take a spin through the White House. That's news because for the last two years, the general public has been banned. There are a few buts attached, though.
Live to Washington now and CNN's Skip Loescher -- good morning, Skip.
SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
And, yes, folks, don't come until Isabel is long gone. You don't want to be here when a hurricane is going to hit. Much to the delight, though, of tourism officials here and folks who are planning a trip to Washington, one of the favorite places to visit is once again open to the general public.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER (voice-over): It was Thomas Jefferson who opened the doors of the White House for public tours and tours have been given ever since, except during some times of war. All White House tours were suspended immediately after the 9/11 attacks and the president declared the country involved on a war on terror. That changed last year, when tours were again allowed, but only for school groups, members of the military and veterans groups.
Now, today, two years and five days after they were suspended, White House tours are again resuming for anyone who passes Secret Service security clearances. No word on how extensive they are. And there's one other catch. You can't just show up and expect to get in. Arrangements for a tour have to be made in advance through members of the House or Senate.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER: So if you are planning on coming to Washington and you'd like to tour the White House, get a hold of the office of your member of Congress and apply. By the way, those tours are held Tuesdays through Saturdays -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: And I'm sure they will once again become very popular.
LOESCHER: Indeed.
COSTELLO: I can remember the long lines.
LOESCHER: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: Thank you so much.
Skip Loescher reporting live from Washington, D.C. this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 16, 2003 - 06:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hurricane Isabel is probably postponing your field trip to D.C., but when you go to Washington, you can take a spin through the White House. That's news because for the last two years, the general public has been banned. There are a few buts attached, though.
Live to Washington now and CNN's Skip Loescher -- good morning, Skip.
SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
And, yes, folks, don't come until Isabel is long gone. You don't want to be here when a hurricane is going to hit. Much to the delight, though, of tourism officials here and folks who are planning a trip to Washington, one of the favorite places to visit is once again open to the general public.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER (voice-over): It was Thomas Jefferson who opened the doors of the White House for public tours and tours have been given ever since, except during some times of war. All White House tours were suspended immediately after the 9/11 attacks and the president declared the country involved on a war on terror. That changed last year, when tours were again allowed, but only for school groups, members of the military and veterans groups.
Now, today, two years and five days after they were suspended, White House tours are again resuming for anyone who passes Secret Service security clearances. No word on how extensive they are. And there's one other catch. You can't just show up and expect to get in. Arrangements for a tour have to be made in advance through members of the House or Senate.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER: So if you are planning on coming to Washington and you'd like to tour the White House, get a hold of the office of your member of Congress and apply. By the way, those tours are held Tuesdays through Saturdays -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: And I'm sure they will once again become very popular.
LOESCHER: Indeed.
COSTELLO: I can remember the long lines.
LOESCHER: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: Thank you so much.
Skip Loescher reporting live from Washington, D.C. this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
