Reading Room Document

Recording of Telephone Conversations

The document is a memorandum discussing the legality of recording international telephone conversations with the consent of one party, specifically in the context of the President's conversations with foreign heads of state. The conclusion reached is that the United States Constitution and relevant statutes do not prohibit such recordings, but there are regulatory restrictions to be aware of, including those imposed by the General Services Administration (GSA) and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. The document also presents questions regarding the validity of an agreement under domestic and international law, the President's decision-making authority, and the potential implications of non-implementation of the agreement.

January 27, 1981