White House Situation Room - Origin and Staff

Origin and Staff

The Situation Room was created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy after the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion was attributed to a lack of real-time information. The room has secure communications systems built into it and the walls contain wood panels that hide different audio, video and other systems.

The Situation Room is staffed by approximately 30 senior officers from various agencies in the intelligence community and from the military. They stand watch on a 24-hour basis, constantly monitoring world events and keeping senior White House staff apprised of significant incidents.

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