Mr. Clinton's Neighborhood

In the past two months, a single-engine Cessna crashed into the White House and a lone gunman fired 27 rounds into the building. TIME asked authorities on various aspects of sealing buildings how to beef up presidential protection:

Major General U.S.A.F. (ret.) Richard Secord, Iran-contra alum; procured a pricey home-security system for Ollie North: "Close National Airport, but you can't do that politically; Congressmen like to have their perks. Move the White House to Denver."

Bob Leonard, owner of N.Y.C.'s the Spy Store: "You need trained military personnel, night-vision equipment, trick trip wires and intrusion detection. Put stakes in the ground so you can hear or feel footsteps where they shouldn't be. Otherwise, close down Pennsylvania Avenue."

John Horn, director of Kroll Associates, largest security-management consulting company: "You can adjust radar around the perimeter of the White House, but you would get a whole lot of clutter, atmospheric stuff, dust clouds."

Tom Clancy, author: "Close National Airport. Buy up the old Berlin Wall and plant it around the White House, but it might give the wrong impression. Move the White House to Cheyenne Mountain, headquarters for the North American Aerospace Defense Command."

Paul Silver, architect; Rikers Island renovator: "Grow very thick trees like on Tara or Twelve Oaks so as not to destroy the aesthetic of the environment but to provide effective barriers against the threat."

Christo, avant-garde artist given to wrapping monuments in nylon: "Unable to answer your question" (but sends a resume).