Reading Room Document

Memorandum of May 21, 1969 to White House Staff re: Contacts with Independent Regulatory Agencies.

The document is a memorandum discussing the guidelines for contacts between the White House and independent regulatory agencies. It concludes that ex parte contacts in adjudicative proceedings are highly improper and should be prohibited, while contacts on matters other than adjudicative proceedings are more complex and the standards for such contacts are the subject of considerable disagreement. The document presents questions for review, including whether the prohibitions against contact in adjudicative proceedings are too severe, and whether standards for contacts on matters other than adjudicative proceedings should be more clearly spelled out. It also raises the issue of whether ex parte contacts in connection with rule-making proceedings are proper, and the legitimate interests the President has in the internal operations of particular agencies.

May 21, 1969