After reviewing what went wrong in the Gategate scandal where an uninvited couple managed to crash the Obama White House's first state dinner, the White House has instituted new procedures for big events.

White House staff will accompany Secret Service at the gates and have a list to check off the officially invited as they arrive in order to prevent a repeat of the Tareq and Michaele Salahi fiasco.

Which means, as I predicted two days ago, that the White House is returning to the procedure used during previous presidencies.

Why the Social Secretary's office ever dropped this procedure is a headscratcher. Newsweek's Declassified blog had a posting in which the person who once had the job of screening guests at they entered the White House complex for the Social Secretary's office explained that she quit because her job was significantly downgraded.

An excerpt from a memo by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina:

After reviewing our actions, it is clear that the White House did not do everything we could have done to assist the United States Secret Service in ensuring that only invited guests enter the complex. White House staff were walking back and forth outside between the check points helping guests and were available to the Secret Service throughout the evening, but clearly we can do more, and we will do more. Beginning immediately for all official White House events:

* White House staff will be stationed physically at the check points with the United States Secret Service.

* Guests will be checked off of the list by White House staff and the Secret Service will continue to ensure that all guests have been properly cleared before entering the White House.

* Guests whose names are not on the guest list will be assisted by White House staff present at the check point for appropriate resolution.

* As always, the Secret Service will provide security and remain ultimately responsible for controlling access to the White House complex.