How Did Privilege Become So Expansive?

[ThomWV]

I understand that it should be the privilege of the President to keep secret some advice given to him by specific people, but how did the privilege expand to include so many people?

United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 2:

"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."

He may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments. That, it seems to me, is the rationale for the privilege but look who it applies to, the Principal Officer of each of the Departments. Note that it does not include Chiefs of staff, White House staff, advisers of any sort, friends, or political cronies. It also seems to exclude deputies to Principal Officers of Departments or anyone else but the head of the Agency itself.

Is there another source for the privilege we hear so much about, and if so what is its foundation?

[hisownpetard]

1. It's not expansive. It doesn't cost him a dime.

:hi:

[Robbien]

2. It doesn't come from the constitution

It is coming from the courts and the Congress. Congress is not contesting all the claims of executive privilege so the claims stand. The one case that was contested was Dick Cheney's claim, and the courts supported it.

The right to life and other social arguments garbage is thrown in our faces on each new judge appointment, meanwhile the real issues of expansion of executive powers and business interests are safely hidden away from the public forum.