# Were any Whitehouse documents destroyed in the fire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 20, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763 "2007-12-20T23:08:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/1 "2007-12-20T23:08:01Z")
The one thing that has not been addressed in the news reports on the White-house fire are what documents may have been destroyed. To me, this is the most important aspect of the fire, so what is the scoop? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/2 "2007-12-20T23:24:13Z")
The fire seems to have been centered around the VP’s ceremonial office. They usually don’t keep important documents there. ETA: Also, the fire was not in the White House proper, but the much bigger (and far uglier) Old Executive Office Building across the street. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/3 "2007-12-20T23:28:36Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] The fire seems to have been centered around the VP’s ceremonial office. [/QUOTE] They managed to get the fire extinguished, but they’ll never get the smell of brimstone out of the curtains. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/4 "2007-12-20T23:32:04Z")
Actually, I think the CIA used a time warp machine to travel to the fire and use it to “accidentally” burn those torture tapes everyone’s been looking for the past few weeks. FCAF \* (\*Fucking Cheney & Friends.) ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/5 "2007-12-20T23:32:51Z")
That was the headline on Fark: “White House Evidence Burn out of Control” ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/6 "2007-12-20T23:44:42Z")
The fire was outside the VP office. The VP had a man-sized safe in his office and has been uncooperative with the development of a presidential library. With this administration, I actually can’t rule out an intentional fire. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/7 "2007-12-20T23:47:46Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] The VP had a man-sized safe in his office [/quote] I find it unlikely that such a safe would be in the OEOB office. Cheney has an office in the West Wing which he uses for day-to-day business. > [@](#): > > With this administration, I actually can’t rule out an intentional fire. And the fire department is in on the conspiracy, too, right? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/8 "2007-12-20T23:54:21Z")
I keep imagining a stream of WH staff running towards the fire with papers to “accidentally” destroy in the fire. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/9 "2007-12-20T23:56:57Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] And the fire department is in on the conspiracy, too, right? [/QUOTE] If the fire department says that no documents were destroyed I’m good. ---
**Author:** ![gatorman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@gatorman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/10 "2007-12-21T01:31:34Z")
How incredibly bizarre that of ALL PLACES it had to happened in the most secretive V.P. in American history. Very odd, indeed, I wouldn’t put anything past a dick like Dick Cheney. Hey, for a guy that’s more then happy to start yelling the f- word around Washington, a “well timed” fire would NOT be unheard of [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3699-2004Jun24.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3699-2004Jun24.html) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/11 "2007-12-21T03:12:44Z")
I don’t know why the [junior senator from Rhode Island](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Whitehouse) would keep papers in the OEO Bldg rather than in the Senate Office Bldg where he could have ready access to them. But hey, I don’t know everything. Hint: It’s the _White_ (space) _House_. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/12 "2007-12-21T03:41:15Z")
My understanding is that the D.C. fire department responded to this fire. Are there security concerns with having civilian firefighters respond to such a fire? What happens in the case of a fire at the CIA or NSA? Do such agencies have in-house fire departments, where the firefighters have security clearance? ---
**Author:** ![PuddingCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@PuddingCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PuddingCat)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/13 "2007-12-22T12:40:54Z")
[QUOTE=Dewey Finn] What happens in the case of a fire at the CIA or NSA? Do such agencies have in-house fire departments, where the firefighters have security clearance? [/QUOTE] I read that the NSA has their own police and fire staff at their main facility - the Puzzle Palace. Coincidentally I believe I read this in the Puzzle Palace book by James Bamford. I’ll go find the book if you want a cite. tim ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/14 "2007-12-22T16:34:49Z")
\ If you wish to bash Bush and Cheney (and these days, who doesn’t?) please start a new thread in _Great Debates_. Not here. Stick to the question. Thank you, That is all. \ ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/15 "2007-12-22T21:41:55Z")
[QUOTE=Rico] \ If you wish to bash Bush and Cheney (and these days, who doesn’t?) please start a new thread in _Great Debates_. Not here. Stick to the question. Thank you, That is all. \ [/QUOTE] With all due respect, **Rico** , the question itself is a shot over the bow. Only a yes or a no could be non-political. You may as well move it or close it. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/16 "2007-12-22T22:29:00Z")
It is a genuine question, and I am suprised that the press has not even addressed the issue. I thought that maybe somebody on the straightdope might have heard something that I hadn’t. So far, there is no answer. It is true, the fact that I think to ask the question might suggest something of my political leanings, but it is meant as a search for a factual answer. If the thread does degenerate to political bashing, feel free to move it or close it. I try with some success to stay out of those things anyway. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/17 "2007-12-22T22:38:01Z")
Also, I should point out, that just because documents were destroyed (if they were) does not mean it was intentional. I imagine there are much more efficient ways too destroy unwanted documents than to start a fire that gets media attention. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/18 "2007-12-23T00:21:55Z")
Moving this one to MPSIMS, as the temptation to post political jibes is too strong, even for a Moderator(–yeah, I’m looking at You, Rico. 🙂 ) **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-any-whitehouse-documents-destroyed-in-the-fire/430763/19 "2007-12-23T01:47:11Z")
“But officer, we TRIED to put out the fire by smothering it with old videotapes and copies of emails to the Republican Party!”