"This is the White House"

So remember that ad that we were looking at in class last night - the one with the phone number on the last screen.  (I tried finding the ad, but unfortunately couldn't.)

Well I called that number today and this is how the conversation went:

Person who answered the phone: "The White House"

Me "Hello, I got this number off a political commercial, and I was curious to see who they were directing callers/viewers to."

Person who answered the phone: "You are calling the White House"

Me: "Okay, may I ask which office, department or branch I am calling"

Person who answered the phone: "You are calling the White House"

Me: "Can I ask who I am speaking with"

Person who answered the phone: "Do you know what the White House is?"

Me: "Yes, I know what the White House is.  Can I ask which office I am speaking with?"

Person who answered the phone: Disconnected 

From my brief conversation with the woman who answered the phone I personally did not get the impression that I was actually speaking to the White House.  The tone was too informal, along with the fact that I could get no information about who I was speaking with or the ad it was referenced on. 

The number is 888-583-0969

Let me know if you try it and if so, the response you get.