Reading Room Document

Congressional Request for Departmental Documents Raising Issue of Executive Privilege

The document is a response to a Congressional request for Department of State documents related to developments in Southern Africa. The conclusion reached is that the request is subject to an invocation of Executive privilege by the President, based on the potential adverse impact of their disclosure on foreign relations and the integrity of policy-making processes. The document presents questions related to the separation of powers, the authority of the Executive branch to withhold information, and the balance between the needs of Congress for information and the agencies' need for candid and free communication. It also outlines the procedure for invoking Executive privilege as prescribed in President Nixon's memorandum of March 24, 1969.

July 17, 1974