South White House sidewalk permanently closed

The Secret Service is cracking down on White House security by permanently closing the sidewalk along the presidential mansion’s south fence. The closing follows several incidents of people jumping White House fences, including an armed intruder in 2014 who got inside and all the way to the East Room before security tackled him.

Class discussion: Is closing the sidewalk a good idea? Will it stop intruders? Do closed sidewalks stifle peaceful protest? Are there better ways to secure the White House? Should White House public tours continue? The White House once was wide open to all visitors. When did that stop? When did the Secret Service start protecting presidents? Are presidents too isolated from the public?