Reading Room Document

Application of the Freedom of Information Act to the President

In this memo, the OLC explored the application of the Freedom of Information Act to the president of the United States. The OLC concluded that allowing the word “agency” to include the President would lead to serious constitutional questions about the president’s executive power. It emphasized that a construction exempting presidential documents from FOIA would be in accordance with the wording of the text, its legislative history, and sound administration.

January 30, 1973