How The Presidential Records Act Affects Obama's BlackBerry Obsession

Under the Presidential Records Act, the president’s correspondence -- all of it, whether related to his dealings as president or not -- can be subpoenaed by Congress and the courts. As such, it is subject to public records laws. That means that any correspondence the president has may effectively end up in the public eye.

The Presidential Records Act was passed by Congress in 1978, giving legal ownership of official presidential records to the American people. That means that, through the Freedom of Information Act, presidential communications are obtainable to the public. The upshot of that is that most modern-day presidents have left the emailing to their aides while they keep their fingers off the keyboard. Obama may just be forced to follow suit, and retire his BlackBerry while in office.

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