Does Being President Mean Never Getting to Email?
Nov 17, 2008
Like 24.5 million other people, I tuned in last night for 60 Minutes' record-setting interview with President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
Politics aside, the President-elect spoke for a while about the personal transition he and his family have been undergoing since he began his bid for the White House. He acknowledged that he didn't think he'd ever get used to the loss of anonymity that comes with being a candidate, and soon, President of the United States. He said it wasn't a complaint, but that he realized that the "small routines of life that keep you connected" were being lost, like being able to go to his barber or wander around his neighborhood.
One of those routines that he'll most likely need to give up once he takes office is using e-mail to communicate.
As The New York Times explains, "in addition to concerns about e-mail security, he faces the Presidential Records Act, which puts his correspondence in the official record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpoenas. A decision has not been made on whether he could become the first e-mailing president, but aides said that seemed doubtful."
One possibility is that he might continue to receive emails but not respond to them, though the consensus seems to be that he'll stop using e-mail altogether.
I understand the need to err on the side of caution when it comes to protecting a president's emails from hackers, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that Barack Obama will support the use of technology as much as possible during his administration. Still, I can't help but think that it's weird that the next President of the United States might not use e-mail, or whatever other form of electronic communication is popular during his time in office.
Personally, I'd much rather give up walks around my neighborhood.
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