The Contemporary Presidency Executive Privilege and the U.S. Attorneys Firings

Political observers have debated whether George W. Bush's exercises of secrecy have shielded him from accountability for many of his administration's actions. In particular, the president's use of executive privilege to conceal information about the U.S. attorneys firings set off a firestorm of protest, especially among members of Congress who sought documents and testimony from White House aides. This essay describes and analyzes the president's use of executive privilege in this latest dispute between the political branches. It examines President Bush's actions in the context of his various uses of executive privilege during two terms in office. The essay assesses means by which controversies over executive privilege can be managed by the political branches without resorting to intervention by the courts.