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Last week, Newt Gingrich got burned by a "privacy invasion"... or was it... had he the simplest of knowledge about Cellular Phones... his conversation could have remained between the parties. Contrary to Rush Limbaugh's babble about the difficulty of intercepting cellular phone calls, it is a trivial technological feat. Other "radio telephone calls" can be easily monitored as well. I have personally listened to phone calls of President Reagan while he was on Air Force I, and other presidential staff members.

August 12, 1994

WH: This is April.

FD: Yes, I was calling to see I could get the title of Wendy Smith.

WH: Can I ask who I am talking to?

FD: I am Glen Roberts with the Full Disclosure News Service.

WH: And I'm just curious what are you look for her title for?

FD: I'd also like to get a phone number where I can reach her at.

WH: I'm not certain that Wendy generally talks to the press. I'm just 
curious what, for what reason you want to get in touch with her.

FD: I wanted to

WH: I can help you get in touch with her if you want me to.

FD: I wanted to talk to her about some phone calls from Air Force One.

WH: Ok, is there a reason you want to talk to her?

FD: Because --

WH: It's odd, we don't usually get press requests for her, that's all.

FD: Ok, basically she was making phone calls from Air Force One today 
and they were being monitored by average citizens out there and we 
wanted to get her comments on, the use of radio telephones from Air 
Force One and the public listening in.

WH: Ok, and you're from Full Disclosure News Service?

FD: Right.

WH: Is that a publication?

FD: We have a magazine and a radio show.

WH: And, are you in Milwaukee?

FD: No, I am in the Chicago area.

WH: And you were listening to the call?

FD: I have information that she placed calls from Air Force One that 
were being monitored by the public.

WH: Like a ham radio or something?

FD: Like a police scanner, like something you buy at Radio Shack for 
$99

WH: Ok. Ok, and you want to talk to her about the substance of the 
call or you want to talk to her about the

FD: The publicness of the calls and whether she is aware the calls 
are monitorable by any of the 12 million people in the U.S. with 
police scanners and things of that nature.

WH: Ok. 

FD: Also, I was interested in what her title was because I just had a 
name and didn't know what her position was.

WH: Yeah. Um. What was your name?

FD: Glen Roberts

WH: And your phone number?

FD: (708) 838-4478 [old... now 814 676-2345]

WH: Ok. Ok and what would you just. What was the conversation you 
overhead just for my information.

FD: My information is she placed a phone call or two from Air Force 
One that was broadcast for anyone who wanted to listen in on it.

WH: Ok, and you don't what the substance of the call was or who they 
to.

FD: I have some notes on that, but I would like to talk to her about 
it.

WH: Ok, well, I'm trying to help you out, but I am just. I'd like to 
know what I'm. What's she's gonna have to respond to before I, you 
know, get in touch with her. I'm sure she's interested.

FD: Well you can pass on it and she can call me back or not. Um, you 
know, but we like to talk to people and get their views on it and not 
have somebody telling people what to say.

WH: Ok, I'm not doing that at all.

FD: I don't want somebody to prepare a speech or a --

WH: No. No, I was not even insinuating that. I'm sure she would be 
interested in who she was talking to, when she talked to you. I was 
obviously a private phone call so, I don't want her to be totally 
caught off guard. You know what I mean?

FD: That's really the point of my call. Is it really a private phone 
call. Are the phones on that plane presented to the users of them as 
being private phone calls or are they being presented as gee there 
are 12 million people with police scanners that can tune in.

WH: Right.

FD: Because additionally, New York Mayor Giuliani made calls from Air 
Force One today.

WH: Um hmm.

FD: I'm not sure if you can put me in contact with him or if I should 
go

WH: Yeah, if you want to talk to him, you should probably talk to his 
office.

FD: Right.

WH: Ok, well, I will do my best to get in touch with her. She's 
obviously on the road right now. Our communication to that site is 
somewhat limited, because of the, because the trip was obviously not 
planned. The decision to go wasn't finalized until last night. Our 
communication was not up to what it normally is for a trip.

FD: And your name is?

WH: My name is April.

FD: Can you give me the direct number there?

WH: Sure, it's 456-2580. Ok, if you don't hear from me, you can call 
back. But, I will try and get in touch with them. Like I said we 
don't have phones set up like we normally do on the road. But, I will 
do my best to reach them.