# 2000 White House vandalism - did it really happen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465 "2009-01-22T15:39:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/1 "2009-01-22T15:39:47Z")
Eight years ago, I read the reports in early 2001 that W keys were missing from White House computers, among other incidents of vandalism allegedly done by Gore and Clinton staffers pissed off about the results of the election. But I thought it later came out that the vandalism never really took place. What’s the last word here? ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/2 "2009-01-22T15:49:00Z")
I’d say no, unless you count post-its with things like “Hail To The Thief” as vandalism. The Clinton/Gore people were obviously a little pissed, but they didn’t cut phone lines or anything incredibly bad. Pranks like taking the ‘W’ keys from some computers is nowhere near the stuff that the crazies were saying. A progressive group-[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0518-04.htm](http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0518-04.htm) Here’s Newsweek, which might be a little less biased-[http://www.newsweek.com/id/167691](http://www.newsweek.com/id/167691) ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/3 "2009-01-22T15:59:25Z")
A little extra from Al Franken’s _Lies_: "Phone and computer lines had been cut, expletive-ridden graffiti written on the walls… The _Washington Times_ quoted a Matt Drudge story titled “White House Offices Left Trashed: Porn Bombs, Lewd Messages.” (His book was handy, you can google to get actual articles. The bit before the Times story was on CNN.) So, yeah. Nothing like Grover Norquist going on CNN and telling them an insider told him $200k in damages and inoperable phones and such. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/4 "2009-01-22T16:13:20Z")
[Conclusions of the GAO Investigation:](http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02360.pdf) > [@](#): > > Damage, theft, vandalism, and pranks occurred in the White House > complex during the 2001 presidential transition. Incidents such as the > removal of keys from computer keyboards; the theft of various items; the > leaving of certain voice mail messages, signs, and written messages; and > the placing of glue on desk drawers clearly were intentional acts. However, > it was unknown whether other observations, such as broken furniture, > were the result of intentional acts, when and how they occurred, or who > may have been responsible for them. Further, with regard to stolen items, > such as the presidential seal, because no one witnessed the thefts and > many people were in the White House complex during the transition, it was > not known who was responsible for taking them. Moreover, regarding > other items reported missing, such as doorknobs, cellular telephones, and > television remote controls, it was unknown whether all of them were > thefts, and if they were, who was responsible for taking those items and > when they were taken. Further complicating our attempt to determine the > amount of damage that may have occurred was the lack of documentation > directly corroborating some observations and our inability to reconcile > certain observations only a few hours apart in locations where some people > saw damage, vandalism, or pranks and where others saw none. > > We realize the difficulty of preparing the White House office space for > occupancy by the new administration in the short amount of time that is > available during presidential transitions. We also recognize that some > prank-type activity has occurred in the White House complex during past > transitions and could occur in the future. Because of the historic nature > and symbolism of the White House and the public attention it receives, as > well as the costs associated with investigating allegations of damage, we > believe that current and future administrations should have a cost-effective > inspection of office space, furniture, and equipment as part of the checkout > process for departing employees during transitions and document any > damage observed. We also believe that departing EOP staff should be given > clear instructions regarding what condition their office space and > equipment should be left in and how to handle office supplies, and they > should be informed about the penalties for damage and vandalism. > > Many EOP staff reported observing what they believed to be an excessive > amount of trash in the office space during the transition. Because future > presidential transitions may not fall on a weekend, as the 2001 transition > did, even less time will be available to clean the space. The EOP and GSA > should explore what additional steps could be taken to ensure that the EOP > office space is immediately cleaned and prepared for an incoming > administration, including communicating with both outgoing and incoming > administrations concerning the timetable and procedures for the transition. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/5 "2009-01-22T16:21:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Eight years ago, I read the reports in early 2001 that W keys were missing from White House computers, among other incidents of vandalism allegedly done by Gore and Clinton staffers pissed off about the results of the election. But I thought it later came out that the vandalism never really took place. What’s the last word here? The missing ‘W’ keys really did happen, as did other petty stuff – things glued to desks, etc. There was no large-scale vandalism. Smaller incidents can’t be definitively traced to any particular person. So far as I have heard, the 2009 transition was completed with all the ‘O’ keys on the keyboards. In other words, there was no “pranking,” much less serious vandalism, as the Bush team left the White House. At the risk of seeming idealistic, I’m willing to bet there won’t be any at the end of the Obama administration, either. ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/6 "2009-01-22T16:24:45Z")
Good summary Mr. Moto. Personally, I thought the Clinton admin’s behavior sleazy, immature, and a little embarrassing to Dems, but not the huge deal it was made out to be. If Bushies took a bunch of “O” keys or something, I’d shake my head, but still chuckle a little. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/7 "2009-01-22T16:32:04Z")
> [@MeDrewNotYou](#): > > Good summary Mr. Moto. Thanks. I’ll never claim that this was any kind of a big deal, but I find it interesting when some Democrats go into full-on denial mode on this subject. It happened, and it shouldn’t have. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/8 "2009-01-22T16:37:21Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Moreover, regarding other items reported missing, such as doorknobs, cellular telephones, and television remote controls \ Doorknobs were stolen? (in 2001) The building is a historic site, isn’t it? The missing keyboard letters and scattered litter (empty bags of Cheez-its?) is no big deal, but damage to the structure itself is a more serious thing, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/9 "2009-01-22T16:38:35Z")
> [@MeDrewNotYou](#): > > If Bushies took a bunch of “O” keys or something, I’d shake my head, but still chuckle a little. If the Washington Post is to be believed: > [@](#): > > there were no missing letters from the computer keyboards, as Bush officials had complained of during their transition in 2001. [Obama Staff Arrives to White House Stuck in Dark Ages of Technology](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012104249.html?hpid=topnews) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/10 "2009-01-22T16:41:58Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Doorknobs were stolen? (in 2001) > > The building is a historic site, isn’t it? Right, and the report does say that some of these doorknobs were antique doorknobs. This was one of the matters disputed by the Clinton people, and the eventual repair order showed a doorknob repair only. It is possible that items were returned after press accounts surfaced of thefts - I’m not going to speculate. Suffice to say that the GAO - a body very independent in its investigations, found cause to say there was vandalism and recommended steps to minimize this in the future. The OP wanted the last word - well, this should suffice. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/11 "2009-01-22T17:03:48Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > If the Washington Post is to be believed: [Obama Staff Arrives to White House Stuck in Dark Ages of Technology](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012104249.html?hpid=topnews) Have you ever worked for the government? When I joined my first operational command in 1994, supporting P3 aircraft in the Mediterranean, our data link, mission replay and archive functions were handled by a Direct View Console - a government issued hunk of gear compatible with little else. It looked like the consoles from the movie Apollo 13, and indeed had been installed at the command in 1968. It was run in the back room by a Univac computer and rows and rows of tape drives. Now, certainly the technology existed at that time to streamline this - and it happened shortly after I got there. All of that was replaced by off the shelf Sun boxes running Unix and archiving the data onto hard disks backed up regularly onto tape. Simple - except that it wasn’t done until the government spent money and time to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/12 "2009-01-22T17:23:56Z")
Thanks for the GAO link, **Mr. Moto** , and for the other links from everyone else. > [@Bricker](#): > > At the risk of seeming idealistic, I’m willing to bet there won’t be any at the end of the Obama administration, either. One hopes so. During the transition today, I thought I saw something flash on the TV news today about phones glued to desks, but I may have misread. And the technology stuff is absurd but not surprising, similar to the Blackberry controversy, which I think is now dead. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/13 "2009-01-22T17:55:46Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Have you ever worked for the government? There’s no need to in order to know that the whitehouse’ll always be full of exotic, and often out of date crap. The point of the link was the intactitude of the ‘O’ keys. ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/14 "2009-01-22T19:26:26Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > If the Washington Post is to be believed: [Obama Staff Arrives to White House Stuck in Dark Ages of Technology](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012104249.html?hpid=topnews) The best quote from the story had to be: > [@](#): > > “It is kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari,” Obama spokesman Bill Burton said of his new digs. I can imagine Bush pulling people aside and saying, “Hey. How 'bout a game of Frogger?” I do have to give the guy credit for having a dignified transition. As much as I like Clinton’s admin, and as much as I understand how pissed off they must’ve been, I’ve always thought we Dems were supposed to be the adults in the room. (And I know that many Repubs think the same of themselves. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/15 "2009-01-22T21:40:46Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > If the Washington Post is to be believed: [Obama Staff Arrives to White House Stuck in Dark Ages of Technology](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012104249.html?hpid=topnews) The Dark Ages of Technology being: > [@](#): > > computers outfitted with six-year-old versions of Microsoft software. MS Office 2003? That’s horrible! ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/16 "2009-01-22T21:50:09Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Doorknobs were stolen? (in 2001) > > The building is a historic site, isn’t it? > > The missing keyboard letters and scattered litter (empty bags of Cheez-its?) is no big deal, but damage to the structure itself is a more serious thing, IMO. How about the sorry state that [Truman’s staff left the building in](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Truman71-305-1.jpg)… ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2000-white-house-vandalism-did-it-really-happen/482465/17 "2009-01-22T22:49:22Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > How about the sorry state that [Truman’s staff left the building in](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Truman71-305-1.jpg)… Or James Madison’s…