The National Security Act of 1947 governs the collection and dissemination of intelligence information. It has been amended over the years and presidents have issued a few Executive Orders regarding its implementation. Briefly, the House and the Senate both have select intelligence committees that are given access to such information. The Act allows the Director of Intelligence to otherwise designate who has access. The President and Vice-President are exempt from such designation.

Presient Nixon fired Attorney General Elliot Richardson and William Ruckleshaus for failing to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. As the Nation's Chief Executive, unless otherwise constrained by law, a President could fire the DCI for refusal to provide him with certain classified information. Nixon eventually got Solicitor General Robert Bork to fire Cox; a President could eventually find someone in the chain of command to give him the info he requested.