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