The term executive privilege is defined by the Columbia Encyclopedia,
             Sixth Edition (2001) as the "exemption of the executive branch of
             government, or its officers, from having to give evidence, specifically, in
             U.S. law, the exemption of the president from disclosing information to
             congressional inquiries or the judiciary." That's a fairly broad
             definition because there is no explanation of what information need not be
             disclosed, and, in fact, determining that has often been a matter for the
             courts. The same source notes that claims of executive privilege are
             usually invoked to protect confidential or diplomatic operations and may
             also be involved to protect the private discussions between the president
             and his close aides. Although the courts have been inclined to support
             claims of executive privilege, those claims are often not honored when it
             is a case that is or might become criminal, such as that of President
             Richard M. Nixon invoking executive privilege after the Watergate break-in.
             Another area that often causes the courts to refuse claims of executive
             privilege is when an investigation is leading toward an impeachment, as
             with Bill Clinton. (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2001)
             The way the claim of executive privilege is being used during the
             Bush administration makes it seem that the concept is little more than the
             Fifth Amendment for those in high political office regarding what they've
             done that the American public might have a legitimate need to know. In
             short, the way it has been invoked lately has made it appear that the
             administration wants some protection from self-incrimination.
             While many observers note that the Bush administration operates in
             secrecy, a report a year and a half ago in Presidential Studies Quarterly
             noted that "even before September 11, 2001, the administration had sought
             to limit press and public access to some information, includin...