An Oklahoma City legacy: Closing Pennsylvania Avenue

David Jackson | USA TODAY

People in Washington can always visit one of the legacies of the Oklahoma City bombing: The closed section of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.

Concerns about a truck bomb -- like the one that destroyed the Oklahoma City federal building 20 years ago Sunday -- persuaded officials to close off part of Pennsylvania Avenue a month after that terrorist attack.

"Clearly, this closing is necessary because of the changing nature and scope of the threat of terrorist actions," Clinton said in an announcement on May 20, 1995.

Clinton noted that Pennsylvania Avenue had been open to traffic for as long as the White House existed, and stayed open through Civil War, two world wars, and presidential assassinations -- but modern terrorism brought unique challenges.

The Oklahoma City bombing took place on April 19, 1995; Americans across the world paused Sunday to honor the 20th anniversary.

In the wake of the attack, the Secret Service and other security officials said a similar truck bomb parked on the street could be powerful enough to destroy the White House.

"Closing Pennsylvania Avenue to motor vehicles is a practical step to protect against the kind of attack we saw in Oklahoma City, but I won't allow the people's access to the White House and their President to be curtailed," Clinton said.

The two blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House -- part of which also borders Lafayette Park -- remain open to pedestrians.

It is a popular spot for demonstrations and protests -- and a reminder of the 168 men, women, and children who lost their lives that fateful day in Oklahoma City.