Gerald Gainous
Encyclopedia
Gerald B. Gainous was a resident of Washington D.C. who climbed the fence surrounding the White House
four times in 1975 and 1976 during the Ford
administration.
In the first incident, which occurred November 26, 1975, he was able to walk about the grounds without being stopped for about 90 minutes. He approached the President's daughter, Susan Ford
, as she was unloading camera equipment from her car, before carrying on. He was freed on probation after that incident.
Gainous claimed he was trying to gain the President's attention in order to obtain a pardon for his father who had been convicted of conspiring to import heroin.
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
four times in 1975 and 1976 during the Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
administration.
In the first incident, which occurred November 26, 1975, he was able to walk about the grounds without being stopped for about 90 minutes. He approached the President's daughter, Susan Ford
Susan Ford
Susan Elizabeth Ford Bales is an American author, photojournalist, and former chairman of the board of the Betty Ford Center for alcohol and drug abuse.-Youth:...
, as she was unloading camera equipment from her car, before carrying on. He was freed on probation after that incident.
Gainous claimed he was trying to gain the President's attention in order to obtain a pardon for his father who had been convicted of conspiring to import heroin.