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Reading Room Document

Confidentiality of communications between the President and his closest advisers

This opinion, authored by Ted Olson, advised Ed Meese on how to answer questions about his time as a counselor to President Reagan during his confirmation hearings. Olson advised that Meese should answer questions about his current legal positions on his views on the Reagan administration’s positions, but “should not reveal the contents of oral or written communications between yourself and the President or . . . other top level advisers in the decisionmaking process.” Olson also provided a sample script for Meese explaining why Meese would decline to answer certain questions.

February 27, 1984

The OLC's Opinions

Opinions published by the OLC, including those released in response to our FOIA lawsuit

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Free Speech & Social Media

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A Free Speech View on the “Free Speech” Executive Order

    

Privacy & Surveillance

Privacy & Surveillance

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Knight Institute and SMU Law Clinic Seek Immediate Release of Records Related to Texas School’s Use of Surveillance Technology

Say surveillance systems in schools undermine students’ privacy and expressive rights, government should release related public records

Transparency & Democracy

Transparency & Democracy

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Knight Institute Seeks Immediate Release of Special Counsel’s Report on Trump’s Mishandling of Classified Documents

Says the public has a First Amendment “right of access” to the document

 

Events

Surveillance Ascendant, Democracy in Free Fall

Surveillance Ascendant, Democracy in Free Fall

A convening addressing the threats to speech and privacy enabled by commercial surveillance in our quickly shifting democratic landscape

 

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