DOCSLIB.ORG

THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE and PRESI- DENTIAL PROTECTION: an EXAMINATION of a SYSTEM FAILURE PART I and II

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE and PRESI- DENTIAL PROTECTION: an EXAMINATION of a SYSTEM FAILURE PART I and II THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE AND PRESI- DENTIAL PROTECTION: AN EXAMINATION OF A SYSTEM FAILURE PART I and II HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION DECEMBER 3, 2009 and JANUARY 20, 2010 Serial No. 111–46 Printed for the use of the Committee on Homeland Security Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 55–808 PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY BENNIE G. THOMPSON, Mississippi, Chairman LORETTA SANCHEZ, California PETER T. KING, New York JANE HARMAN, California LAMAR SMITH, Texas PETER A. DEFAZIO, Oregon MARK E. SOUDER, Indiana ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of DANIEL E. LUNGREN, California Columbia MIKE ROGERS, Alabama ZOE LOFGREN, California MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas CHARLES W. DENT, Pennsylvania HENRY CUELLAR, Texas GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida CHRISTOPHER P. CARNEY, Pennsylvania PAUL C. BROUN, Georgia YVETTE D. CLARKE, New York CANDICE S. MILLER, Michigan LAURA RICHARDSON, California PETE OLSON, Texas ANN KIRKPATRICK, Arizona ANH ‘‘JOSEPH’’ CAO, Louisiana BEN RAY LUJA´ N, New Mexico STEVE AUSTRIA, Ohio WILLIAM L. OWENS, New York BILL PASCRELL, JR., New Jersey EMANUEL CLEAVER, Missouri AL GREEN, Texas JAMES A. HIMES, Connecticut MARY JO KILROY, Ohio ERIC J.J. MASSA, New York DINA TITUS, Nevada I. LANIER AVANT, Staff Director ROSALINE COHEN, Chief Counsel MICHAEL TWINCHEK, Chief Clerk ROBERT O’CONNOR, Minority Staff Director (II) C O N T E N T S Page STATEMENTS The Honorable Bennie G. Thompson, a Representative in Congress From the State of Mississippi, and Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security: Oral Statement, December 3, 2009 ..................................................................... 1 Oral Statement, January 20, 2010 ..................................................................... 61 Prepared Statement, December 3, 2009 ............................................................. 2 The Honorable Peter T. King, a Representative in Congress From the State of New York, and Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security: Oral Statement, December 3, 2009 ..................................................................... 2 Oral Statement, January 20, 2010 ..................................................................... 62 The Honorable Ann Kirkpatrick, a Representative in Congress From the State of Arizona: Prepared Statement, January 20, 2010 ............................................................. 64 WITNESSES Mr. Mark J. Sullivan, Director, United States Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security: Oral Statement, December 3, 2009 ..................................................................... 5 Mrs. Michaele and Mr. Tareq Salahi, Private Citizens: Oral Statement, January 20, 2010 ..................................................................... 64 Prepared Statement, January 20, 2010 ............................................................. 65 FOR THE RECORD The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, a Representative in Congress From the State of Texas: E-mails .................................................................................................................. 25 The Honorable Peter T. King, a Representative in Congress From the State of New York, and Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security: Memo From Jim Messina, December 2, 2009 .................................................... 46 E-mails .................................................................................................................. 47 Letter From Chairman Bennie G. Thompson to Ms. Desiree Rogers .............. 59 (III) THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE AND PRESIDENTIAL PROTECTION: AN EXAMINA- TION OF A SYSTEM FAILURE PART I Thursday, December 3, 2009 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, Washington, DC. The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:04 a.m., in Room 311, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Bennie G. Thompson [Chair- man of the committee] presiding. Present: Representatives Thompson, Sanchez, Harman, Norton, Jackson Lee, Cuellar, Carney, Clarke, Richardson, Kirkpatrick, Luja´n, Pascrell, Cleaver, Green, Himes, Kilroy, Massa, Titus, King, Souder, Lungren, Rogers, McCaul, Dent, Bilirakis, Broun, Miller, Olson, and Austria. Chairman THOMPSON. The Committee on Homeland Security will come to order. The committee is meeting today to receive testimony on, ‘‘The United States Secret Service and Presidential Protection: An Ex- amination of a System’s Failure.’’ Good morning. I want to thank the witnesses for agreeing to tes- tify here today. Some people have asked me why we are having this hearing. Let me be clear, this hearing is not about crashing a party at the White House. Neither is it about wanna-be celebrities or reality television. On the contrary, this hearing is about real-world threats to the Nation. We cannot forget that amidst all of the hullabaloo and up- roar, the most important and indisputable fact is that a couple gained unauthorized access to the White House grounds because no one from the Secret Service prevented them from entering. They remained at the White House because no one from the Secret Serv- ice required them to leave. We are not concerned about agency embarrassment. Discomfort or shame cannot serve as a substitute for performance. The secu- rity gaps at issue cannot be explained away as missteps by a few frontline employees. There were undeniable planning and execution failures of the entire Secret Service apparatus. With security failings that seem to hang over that evening like a fog, we are all fortunate that this diplomatic celebration did not become a night of horror. There is no doubt that this incident can be an enlightening case study, but it is not enough for us to merely analyze. We must dis- (1) 2 sect every fact. We must learn the lesson and fix the problem, and after we do these things, we need to give thanks that no lives were lost. Today we take a hard look at Secret Service actions and omis- sions that have been revealed and confirmed by this incident. This Nation’s response to the terrorism threat at home and abroad de- mands that we maintain vigilance. The fact that unauthorized per- sons gained access to the White House complex during an official State Dinner, mixed and mingled and were photographed with the President, Vice President, and the Prime Minister of India is about as far from vigilant as one can get. It is simply unacceptable. The American people deserve a full accounting and full accountability. We must be assured that this will never happen again. I look forward to the testimony presented today, and I look for- ward to the actions that should follow. [The statement of Chairman Thompson follows:] PREPARED STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BENNIE G. THOMPSON Some people have asked me why we are having this hearing. Let me be clear. This hearing is not about crashing a party at the White House. Neither is it about ‘‘wanna-be’’ celebrities or reality television. On the contrary, this hearing is about real world threats to the Nation. We cannot forget that amidst all the hullabaloo and uproar, the most important and indisputable fact is that a couple gained unauthorized access to the White House grounds because no one from the Secret Service prevented them from enter- ing. They remained at the White House because no one from the Secret Service re- quired them to leave. We are not concerned about agency embarrassment. Discomfort or shame cannot serve as a substitute for performance. The security gaps at issue cannot be ex- plained away as small missteps by a few front-line employees. There were undeniable planning and execution failures of the entire Secret Serv- ice apparatus. With security failings that seemed to hang over that evening like a fog, we are all fortunate that this diplomatic celebration did not become a night of horror. There is no doubt that this incident can be an enlightening case study. But it is not enough for us to merely analyze. We must dissect every facet. We must learn the lessons and fix the problems. And after we do these things, we need to give thanks that no lives were lost. Today, we take a hard look at Secret Service actions and omissions that have been revealed and confirmed by this incident. This Nation’s response to the ter- rorism threat at home and abroad, demands that we maintain vigilance. The fact that unauthorized persons gained access to the White House Complex during an official State Dinner, mixed and mingled, and were photographed with the President, Vice President and the Prime Minister of India is about as far from vigilant as one can get. It is simply unacceptable. The American people deserve a full accounting and full accountability. And we all must be assured that this will never happen again. Chairman THOMPSON. The Chair now recognizes the Ranking Member of the full committee, the gentleman from New York, Mr. King for an opening statement. Mr. KING. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me at the outset thank you and your staff for the level of cooperation you have shown throughout this matter as far as scheduling the hearing, as far as keeping us apprised on what has been happening, and also as far as agreeing with my request that Desiree Rogers be called as
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Tangles in the Vine
    Tangles in the Vine washingtonpost.com > Metro > Virginia Tangles in the Vine By Ian Shapira Washington Post Staff Writer SLIDESHOW Previous Next Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Of all the luxury real estate for sale in the economic downturn, one property in Northern Virginia's horse country sticks out for its owners' magnum-size struggle to find a buyer. The Oasis Winery in Fauquier County, one of Virginia's oldest, has been on the market since May 2007 and is now selling for $4.75 million. Such is the mystique of Dirgham Salahi, 82, with his wife, wants to sell his stake of the 108- Oasis that basketball star Shaquille acre Oasis Winery and pay off debt. His son wants to keep his share. O'Neal, an apparent oenophile, and ( ) a group of investors were said to be on the verge of buying it last year. But infighting TOOLBOX between members of the owning family has bedeviled Resize Print attempts to sell the vineyard, winery, tasting room and E-mail Reprints four-bedroom French country-style home that sit on 108 acres. On one side are co-owners Dirgham Salahi, 82, an Israeli immigrant, and his wife, Corinne Salahi, 63, who want to unload their stake and pay off debt. On the other is their polo-playing son, Tareq Salahi, 39, also a co-owner, and his wife, Michaele, a former Washington Redskins cheerleader who is now a Richmond lobbyist. The son, a member of the Virginia Tourism Authority, is hurrying to team up with investors to buy what he views as his heritage before someone else steps in.
    [Show full text]
  • Joe Rosochacki - Poems
    Poetry Series Joe Rosochacki - poems - Publication Date: 2015 Publisher: Poemhunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive Joe Rosochacki(April 8,1954) Although I am a musician, (BM in guitar performance & MA in Music Theory- literature, Eastern Michigan University) guitarist-composer- teacher, I often dabbled with lyrics and continued with my observations that I had written before in the mid-eighties My Observations are mostly prose with poetic lilt. Observations include historical facts, conjecture, objective and subjective views and things that perplex me in life. The Observations that I write are more or less Op. Ed. in format. Although I grew up in Hamtramck, Michigan in the US my current residence is now in Cumby, Texas and I am happily married to my wife, Judy. I invite to listen to my guitar works www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 1 A Dead Hand You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, Know when to walk away and know when to run. You never count your money when you're sittin at the table. There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealins' done. David Reese too young to fold, David Reese a popular jack of all trades when it came to poker, The bluffing, the betting, the skill that he played poker, - was his ace of his sleeve. He played poker without deuces wild, not needing Jokers. To bad his lungs were not flushed out for him to breathe, Was is the casino smoke? Or was it his lifestyle in general? But whatever the circumstance was, he cashed out to soon, he had gone to see his maker, He was relatively young far from being too old.
    [Show full text]
  • One More to Go T R Eastern Idaho Ad Campaign Targets O
    1 29 / 14 EARNED OR FREE? S One more to go T R Eastern Idaho ad campaign targets O Boise State wraps up regular season P Mormon women and forgiveness, S Sunny but cold. against New Mexico State today. RELIGION 1 BUSINESS 4 UNEMPLOYMENT IN VALLEY >>> Rising joblessness hits south-central Idaho, especially rural areas, BUSINESS 1 SATURDAY 75 CENTS December 5, 2009 MagicValley.com A NIGHT FOR KIDS— AND REINDEER Feds kill 7 wolves in Stanley Basin By Ariel Hansen Times-News writer LEARN MORE Wildlife Management Service HAILEY — For one Idaho of the U.S. Department of wolf pack, there wasn’t Agriculture: much to be grateful for this www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife Thanksgiving. _damage. On Nov. 23 and 24, fed- For information about the eral officials from the U.S. wolf hunt in the Northern Department of Agricul- Rocky Mountains: ture’s Idaho Wildlife Serv- westerngraywolf.fws.gov. ices program took to the air to cull seven members of the Basin Butte wolf pack, Grimm coordinated with which frequents the the Idaho Fish and Game Stanley Basin. Department, which he said Todd Grimm, western authorized the removal of district supervisor for the up to 10 of the wolves via program, said that pack, helicopter and fixed-wing which numbered at least 12 airplane hunt. before the kills, has been “We wanted to react as responsible for extensive quickly as we could after loss of livestock owned by the last depredation, in the local ranchers. first week of November.We Since July 2008, he said, wanted to make sure we got they have killed seven adult the wolves responsible,” MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News cows, five calves and 36 Grimm said.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lynchburg Times Furniture Runs Vol
    FREE The Lynchburg Times Furniture runs Vol. II, Issue 1 • January 6, 2011 Flames Cash a hit with in the family local businesses Exclusive: xxxxxx xxxx xxxxxx xx xxxxxx xxxx xxxxxx xx 9 xxxxxx xxxx vised that after arriving at the residence and walking onto the porch to deliver an order, he was confronted by an unknown armed black xxxxxx xx male suspect wearing a “hooded” type jack- et and stocking cap. The victim described the hood of the jacket as having “fur” around it. According to the victim, the suspect was xxxxxx xxxx armed with a shotgun and demanded both money and the pizzas. The victim was not injured during the incident. An undisclosed xxxxxx xx amount of money was taken during the rob- bery. 13 The robbery is under investigation and detectives are examining similarities to the Armed robbery other reported robberies that have occurred xxxxxx xxxx over the past couple of weeks. On Monday, December 13, 2010 at ap- Anyone with any information regarding this xxxxxx xx proximately 6:45 p.m. members of the crime or the identity of the suspects is asked Lynchburg Police Department responded to to call Detective R.G. Miller at (434)455-6160 Va. reality TV couple the 1600 block of Bedford Ave. for an armed or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900, visit robbery. Upon arriving on the scene, police the Central Virginia Crime Stoppers website in court Fri. against officers located the crime scene which was at www.cvcrimestoppers.org to enter a web determined to be 1601 and 16011/2 Bedford tip, or text “CVCS plus your message” to Ave.
    [Show full text]
  • Kaine Leads Allen by 2 in Virginia Raleigh, N.C
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 11, 2012 INTERVIEWS: Tom Jensen 919-744-6312 IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL [email protected], OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE PRESS RELEASE Kaine Leads Allen by 2 in Virginia Raleigh, N.C. – Tim Kaine leads George Allen 46%-44% in the race to succeed Jim Webb in the U.S. Senate. Kaine’s lead has grown by one point since the last time PPP polled the race in April. At that time, Kaine led 46-45. Kaine leads Allen by 11 points among women, 49-38, while Allen leads among men 50-42. Both men take similar percentages of their respective party voters, with Democrats lining up behind Kaine 84-7 and Republicans supporting Allen 87-8. It is among Independent voters where Kaine finds his advantage, leading Allen among them by a 45-37 margin. Kaine also benefits from a net positive favorability rating, with 43% of voters having a favorable opinion of him and 38% unfavorable, largely unchanged from a 42-37 rating he received in last April’s poll. Allen’s numbers aren’t quite as good, with 39% of voters holding a favorable opinion of him and 42% unfavorable – a change for the worse from April when voters were split 38-38. “The Virginia Senate race still looks like a sheer toss up,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But Tim Kaine has had a modest lead on our last couple polls now. Voters like him better than Allen and he may receive coattails from Barack Obama, who’s faring quite well in the state at this point.” Looking ahead to 2013’s Gubernatorial race, most candidates are still mostly unknown to voters.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cable Network in an Era of Digital Media: Bravo and the Constraints of Consumer Citizenship
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations Dissertations and Theses Fall August 2014 The Cable Network in an Era of Digital Media: Bravo and the Constraints of Consumer Citizenship Alison D. Brzenchek University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_2 Part of the Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Cultural History Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Film and Media Studies Commons, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, and the Political Economy Commons Recommended Citation Brzenchek, Alison D., "The Cable Network in an Era of Digital Media: Bravo and the Constraints of Consumer Citizenship" (2014). Doctoral Dissertations. 55. https://doi.org/10.7275/bjgn-vg94 https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_2/55 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations and Theses at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE CABLE NETWORK IN AN ERA OF DIGITAL MEDIA: BRAVO AND THE CONSTRAINTS OF CONSUMER CITIZENSHIP A Dissertation Presented by ALISON D. BRZENCHEK Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2014 Department
    [Show full text]
  • The Campaign Has Begun! Welcome to the Year 2013
    Vol. 38, No. 1 www.arlingtondemocrats.org January 2013 Celebrate The campaign has begun! Welcome to the year 2013. Gentlemen, start cycle so that voters could focus on state issues and your engines. The election season has now begun! not get tangled in federal topics. Unfortunately, it New Year’s Yes, we just finished a barnburner of a cam- doesn’t always work that way. paign with an outcome we will savor for four more Bob Holesworth, a former professor at Virginia years. But this is Virginia, and we have statewide Commonwealth University, said, “At one time, Vir- Day with campaigns for three state offices this year. ginians wanted to ensure that we held elections on Don’t move to New Jersey if you are too off-years because we didn’t want to be contaminated pooped from campaigning. It also has statewide by the national mood. Ironically, now the entire fellow Dems elections this year. In fact, Virginia and New Jer- attention of the national political insiders focuses sey are the only states to work that way. It will be on Virginia—the attention, the visibility, the quiet elsewhere. money.... It all goes up.” at Chez Virginia and New Jersey decided to elect their (New Jersey has a good reason for its sched- governors out of the normal even-numbered year Mary Hynes continued on page nine See Page 11 for Edna made your vote count all the details President Obama finally got Virginia’s vote in Horner, the chair of the Eighth District Democratic mid-December, six weeks after everyone thought Committee from Arlington, Peg Willingham a he had won it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Secret Service's Slow, Steady Slide
    ABCDE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2014 The Secret Service’s slow, steady slide Recent security lapses can be traced to post-9/11 moves that expanded mission and stretched the agency thin by Carol D. Leonnig bilities monitoring crowds at an increasing number of major sporting events and other The Secret Service began struggling to large gatherings seen as potential targets carry out its most basic duties after Con- for terrorists. A new anti-terrorism law gave gress and the George W. Bush administra- the agency a leading role in tracking cyber- tion expanded the elite law enforcement threats against U.S. financial systems. And agency’s mission in the wake of the Sept. 11, Bush expanded the circle of people granted 2001, terrorist attacks. round-the-clock protection to include the According to government documents president’s and vice president’s extended and interviews with dozens of current and family and some White House aides — an former officials, the recent string of security expansion that has been largely maintained lapses at the White House resulted from a under President Obama. combination of tight budgets, bureaucratic Where the Secret Service had been a battles and rapidly growing demands on gem of the Treasury Department for more the agency that have persisted through the than a century, its post-9/11 transfer to the Bush and Obama administrations in the 13 sprawling new Department of Homeland years since the attacks. At the same time, Security suddenly forced it to compete the Secret Service was hit by a wave of early for money and attention with bigger and retirements that eliminated a generation higher-profile agencies focused on immi- of experienced staff members and left the gration and airport security.
    [Show full text]
  • January 2010
    UFCW Official Publication of Local 1167, United Food and Commercial Workers Union January 2010 PresiDenT ’s r ePorT Interesting times: Delegates gathered in front of “Double Trouble,” the FDC’s big-rig truck, during a break in a convention that featured high-level speakers addressing the future of the Labor Movement. curse or blessing? t’s part of modern lore that At FDC conclave, labor leaders in food an “ancient Chinese curse” condemns the victim with and drug industries plan united action these words: “May you live eaders representing 350,000 Aerospace Workers and the Interna - in interesting times.” IIf this really is an “ancient union members in six states tion al Union of Operating Engineers. assembled in Las Vegas Dec. A large and diverse lineup of high- Chinese curse,” it’s news to the 13-16 for the Food & Drug level speakers included San Francisco folks in China, because nobody L there seems to have heard of it. Council’s Annual Conven tion. Mayor Gavin Newsom, who urged The delegates vowed to build on a FDC-affiliated unions to push for Still, the words have a truthful string of successes in 2009 with an nationwide versions of progressive quality that appeals to us in the agenda of bold initiatives for 2010 and programs he has fought for in his city, West. beyond. including a minimum wage increase, We live in “interesting times,” The FDC coordinates cooperation paid sick leave and universal health for sure, but whether that makes among unions representing workers in care. us “cursed” depends on our point the retail food and drug industries in California State Senate Majority of view.
    [Show full text]
  • Annex a What We Believe - Goproud.Org
    Annex A What We Believe - GOProud.org Online Store Contact Us Join Us About Get Involved Photos + Interactive News + Press MAKE A DONATION TODAY ABOUT US Representing Gay Conservatives + Allies Our Mission What we believe The so-called “gay agenda” has been defined narrowly by What We Believe the gay left. In contrast to the approach of the left, GOProud’s agenda emphasizes conservative and Our Position on Marriage libertarian principles that will improve the daily lives of all Americans, but especially gay and lesbian Americans. http://www.goproud.org/site/c.evKXIaONIlJcH/b.8478403/k.929C/What_We_Believe.htm[3/11/2013 9:49:32 PM] What We Believe - GOProud.org Board of Directors Our Core Beliefs & Tenets 1 TAX REFORM We support replacing the current tax code with the Fair Tax. The Fair Tax would treat everyone – gay or straight – equally. Until then, we support death tax repeal; domestic partner tax equity; cuts in the capital gains and corporate tax rates to jump start our economy and create jobs; a fairer, flatter and substantially simpler tax code. 2 HEALTHCARE REFORM Repeal of Obamacare; encourage free market healthcare reform. Allow for the purchase of insurance across state lines expanding access to domestic partner benefits; emphasizing individual ownership of healthcare insurance – such a shift would prevent discriminatory practices by an employer or the government. 3 SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM The only way to permanent solvency in the Social Security system is through the creation of inheritable personal saving accounts. Personal savings accounts would give gay and lesbian couples the same opportunity to leave their accounts their spouses as their straight counterparts.
    [Show full text]
  • A Feminist Political Economic Analysis of Bravo's the Real Housewives Nicole B
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2012 "Femme Dysfunction Is Pure Gold": A Feminist Political Economic Analysis of Bravo's the Real Housewives Nicole B. Cox Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION “FEMME DYSFUNCTION IS PURE GOLD”:1 A FEMINIST POLITICAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BRAVO’S THE REAL HOUSEWIVES By NICOLE B. COX A Dissertation submitted to the School of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2012 Nicole B. Cox defended this dissertation on February 28, 2012. The members of the supervisory committee were: Jennifer M. Proffitt Professor Directing Dissertation Leigh H. Edwards University Representative Donna M. Nudd Committee Member Stephen McDowell Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the dissertation has been approved in accordance with university requirements. ii To my Mommy, with love. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest appreciation for my dissertating committee, Dr. Jennifer Proffitt, Dr. Leigh Edwards, Dr. Donna Nudd, and Dr. Stephen McDowell for their endless support throughout this process. You have all offered invaluable feedback and helpful suggestions, and without your knowledge and insight this would not have been possible. Thank you. I would especially like to thank Dr. Jennifer Proffitt, for not only helping me to become a better scholar, writer, teacher, and person, but for showing me what it means to be a true mentor and friend.
    [Show full text]
  • 5 Questions the Secret Service Review Panel Must Answer
    ISSUE BRIEF No. 4293 | OCTOBER 31, 2014 Five Questions the Secret Service Review Panel Must Answer David Inserra series of alarming security breaches have caused firing. Some agents dispute this account while oth- A many to question the Secret Service’s ability to ers remain silent “for fear of being criticized.”6 At the protect the President.1 In the wake of these events, an time, the President’s daughter Sasha was at home, independent four-member review panel—two senior and his other daughter Malia was expected home officials each from the Bush and Obama Adminis- soon. Despite the fact that the shooter’s vehicle and trations—will investigate the Secret Service’s recent gun were found within 10 minutes, an investigation security breaches and advise the Department of was not initiated until a housekeeper noticed broken Homeland Security (DHS) how to correct the Secret glass and bullet holes four days later.7 Service’s problems.2 DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson April 2012. Secret Service agents who were part has asked the panel to also advise him on whether a of President Barack Obama’s advance team to Cart- larger investigation is warranted.3 agena, Columbia, engaged in sexual conduct with prostitutes.8 A Recent History of Failures May 2013. A Secret Service supervisor removed In the past several years, the number and seri- ammunition from his gun and left a bullet in a wom- ousness of Secret Service security breaches have an’s room at the Hay-Adams Hotel across the street increased, drawing attention to an agency typically from the White House and allegedly tried to force known for excellence.4 his way back in to the room to retrieve it.
    [Show full text]