White House Locked Down Briefly Friday

ABC News’ Jon Garcia and Ann Compton Report: For about an hour Friday, the Secret Service locked down the north side of the White House because of a suspicious package outside the grounds along Pennsylvania Avenue where the street is open to the public pedestrian traffic.

Both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were not at the White House at the time of the security lock down. 

Bush is in South Carolina delivering a speech about Iraq strategy at a basic combat training graduation ceremony.

This type of security measure has increased in frequency recently.

One hour after the lock down began, the secret service gave the all-clear and pedestrian traffic resumed as normal.