An Explanation of “On the Record,” “Off the Record,” and Everything in Between Press Secretary Ron Nessen gave the press guidance on developments at the White House, and but also gave the White House staff guidance on dealing with the press.
In this memo Nessen describes five levels of attribution: on the record,on background, on deep background, and off record,and for guidance. These options range from permitting direct quotation to allowing general identification as White House staff to providing information without any attribution. When speaking to reporters staff members needed to be aware at which level their statements would be used.
May 7, 1975 Memo from the Ron Nessen Papers, or Box 134,folder “White House Staff – General”-from the Ford Library
Source: tumblr.com