WASHINGTON — It wasn’t a state dinner, and they didn’t crash on purpose.
Still, a Georgia couple who showed up at the White House a day early for a tour somehow wound up at an invitation-only breakfast with President Barack Obama and the first lady. It left the White House once again explaining how people who were not on an event guest list wound up being ushered into the presidential mansion anyway.
The adventure of Harvey and Paula Darden, Obama supporters from Hogansville, Ga., took place on Veterans Day, two weeks before Virginia socialites Tareq and Michaele Salahi infamously crashed the Obamas’ state dinner for the prime minister of India.
The Dardens mistakenly showed up a day early for a tour scheduled through their congressman.
The White House and Secret Service both said the Dardens went through the appropriate security screenings and were allowed into the breakfast as a courtesy because there were no public tours the day they arrived.
That explanation was news to Harvey Darden, 67, a retired pharmacist, who said he and his wife never were told about the breakfast. They thought they were simply starting their tour until they were ushered into the East Room, offered a buffet spread and told they’d be meeting the president.
“The further we got into the White House, the more surprised we were,” Darden said. “My wife looked at me and I looked at her, and I said, ‘You know, I don’t know if we’re in the right place.’ ”
The Dardens approached an aide who was mingling with guests.
“I told him, ‘I don’t think this is part of the White House tour,’ ” Darden said. “He said, ‘No it’s not. It’s an invitation event for veterans.’ ”
The official, whose name and title Darden didn’t remember, asked whether Darden was a veteran. Darden told him he was a Navy veteran, and the aide suggested he stay, Darden said.
“I felt kind of funny because I was the only man in the room that wasn’t dressed in a coat and tie,” he added. “I was just a plain tourist.”
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said agents checked the Dardens’ names and did a criminal background check — steps that were not taken for the Salahis at the Nov. 24 state dinner.
So the Dardens served themselves at the buffet, and took their seats. Shortly thereafter, the Obama arrived and began talking and getting photographs with guests at each table.
The couple’s only regret, Darden said, is that they haven’t received a copy of that picture taken with the Obamas.
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