WELCOME TO THE WHITE HOUSE - PUSH BUTTON. What does the button do?

[SirRay]

@gaffa

It starts a bad movie on the Satellite of Love.

Only if you’re named Frank. (actually, didn’t pushing the button end the show?)

[Maus_Magill]

I remember that button.

My wife wouldn’t let me push it.

[Peanuthead]

When you push the button you will get a special treat.

[Senegoid]

@VarlosZ

It’s a long-running sociological experiment installed by Gerald Ford (or, at least, during his term in office). Its sole purpose is to count the number of times the button is pushed daily, and to compare the results over weeks, months, and years. What, exactly, the executive branch hopes to gain from this information has never been clear. Link.

Well, I went to that link and all I found there was a biography of Gerald Ford!

[tadtooornamental]

@Rain_Soaked

No one really knows what the button does but it MUST be pushed every 180 minutes!

*108

[SmithCommaJohn]

@Mahaloth

I really want to know the actual answer. Anyone know?

We aren’t the only ones wondering.

This one says:

“Update 2: According to glynnish, it used to trigger an information recording. Who knows how long ago that was… Also, it apparently did not have the thin black wire before, that’s a recent anti-terrorist installation.”

Anyone know for sure?

What could a terrorist conceivably do with that button? Considering that it’s easily accessible to the public, its original purpose (whatever that may be) must have been pretty benign.

And what would the addition of a thin black wire stop a terrorist from doing?

[robert_columbia]

Don’t push it! It’s the history eraser button!

[buddha_david]

@Sage_Rat

@VarlosZ

Link.

If that’s what you meant to link, I have to admit that I don’t get the joke you’re trying to make.

Isn’t it obvious? You just got Beaker-rolled, dude!

[davidm]

@fiddlesticks

Speaking of mysterious items near the south fence of the White House, anybody know what this box is for? I mapped the location roughly as best as I could remember.

You don’t want to be near it when the button is pushed, that’s for damned sure! :eek:

[davidm]

@alterego

…After I pushed the button I thought the security guards behind me might yell at me or secret service might jump out of the bushes and tackle me, or, in my wildest dreams, Obama would step out and wave. But nothing happened…

You THINK nothing happened. Wait till the next time you try to go through an airport TSA checkpoint!

[LeeshaJoy]

It lights up a sign that says “Please Do Not Press This Button Again.”

[Gagundathar]

Serious answer: it is probably a call button for an attendant. The fact that there is no accompanying intercom makes this rather obviously useless.

But, remember this is Washington DC.

Obviously useless is what they do best.

[GuanoLad]

@Shoeless

This reminds me of the old Steven Wright joke about the light switch in his house that didn’t appear to do anything when he flipped it on and off.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! wipes away tears of joy Ah, it’s the way you tell 'em.

[Corner_Case]

When you press it, a buzzer in the Vice President’s office goes off making him think the President has summoned him. Drives them both nuts.

[Beware_of_Doug]

I just assumed the button didn’t do anything, and that the sign just welcomed you to the White House pushbutton.

[fiddlesticks]

I bet there’s an entry in the President’s Daily Brief: Number of Times Button was Pressed.

[NoCoolUserName]

@jasonh300

If you just put a button there with no instructions, people will push it. At least, I would.

If you put a button there with an instruction to push it, but offering no explanation why, or what will happen, people will be suspicious and question it and be hesitant to push it.

[QUOTE=Sir Terry Pratchett]
“Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying ‘End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH’, the paint wouldn’t even have time to dry.” *
[/QUOTE]

• From “Thief of Time” as if you didn’t already know.

[Red_Hoodie]

@robert_columbia

And the bees, and the dogs with bees in their mouths and when they bark they shoot bees at you.

@MikeS

Was it a beautiful, shiny button? A jolly, candy-like button?

Between the two of you, I’m literally dying right here. Please. Srs. Call 911. Also, marry me. Or something. GAWD

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@Shoeless

This reminds me of the old Steven Wright joke about the light switch in his house that didn’t appear to do anything when he flipped it on and off.

…and two weeks later he got a letter from Germany that read, “Cut it out!”

[Hal_Briston]

@Colophon

You didn’t receive bacon?

I didn’t…