Broad Influence for Justice Dept. Choice

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 - Two hallmarks of the Bush White House have been its expansive view of presidential power and its intense secrecy, as the administration has pushed for widening authority to fight terrorism while resisting efforts by some members of Congress and the public to keep closer tabs on how that power is used.

As President Bush's White House counsel, Alberto R. Gonzales has been a principal architect on both fronts. And with his selection as attorney general, some government watchdog groups and political analysts say they believe that the push for greater presidential authority and less stringent oversight could grow even more pronounced, both at the Justice Department and throughout the Bush administration.

At the White House, Mr. Gonzales has emphasized the president's broad and often unfettered authority to conduct executive branch business as he sees fit, particularly when it comes to protecting national security. On matters ranging from terrorism and wartime detainees to energy policy, judicial nominees and the release of presidential papers, Mr. Gonzales has advocated wide discretion for the president.

When private groups and members of Congress sought, for instance, to obtain records on Vice President Dick Cheney's 2001 meetings with energy industry groups, it was Mr. Gonzales who pushed to keep the records private. Mr. Gonzales and the White House argued that they needed the ability to solicit confidential advice from outside experts on government business. While the White House eventually turned over some records to Congress, it prevailed on procedural grounds five months ago before the Supreme Court, which refused to order the remaining records released and sent the issue to a lower court.
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Mr. Gonzales is declining any interviews before his Senate confirmation hearing, which will probably take place in January, and the White House declined to discuss his views on presidential power and related issues before his hearing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/21/politics/21gonzales.html