Us V. Nixon

The basics of the case are that President Nixon exercised his "Executive Privilege" powers as President to safeguard recorded communications which he believed to be vital to the national security of the United States. The exemption of judicial review was not upheld and this further clouded the public's few of one of our more secretive president's.

I agree with the Supreme Court decision, but not totally. I agree that matters of the state that, by their nature of sensitivity, should not be revealed to the judicial branch. Our national security has and always will hinge on what is kept secret. If the issue is reported to the judicial branch as illegal, then I agree with its review by judiciary committee given that the members of the committee are vetted prior to review on the sensitivity of the matter. If illegal activity is discovered, then the proper application of justice should be applied in a way that doesn't compromise the nation's ability to defend its keep.

The impact on Americans in this case was our ability to trust our government in the executive branch. It caused the population to slip in opinion. As citizens, should we know everything that the government knows? I agree that the answer is a resounding no. The task of defending a nation has been given to the executive branch. Its ability cannot be hindered simply because people have "a want to know" and no "a need to know". I want a million dollars, but do I need it? Is my knowing the nations plan to place troops in an allied country covertly going to enhance the capability? Of course not, it just satisfies a desire to know. People can't keep a secret in a room of 10 people, what makes us think we can keep secrets that keep a nation safe.