PBS News Weekend

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, a wave of secret government actions have taken place, raising questions over why so much seemingly innocuous information is stamped secret or classified by federal authorities. But secrecy has been a part of American governance since the Constitutional Convention, a tactic employed by presidents to protect their powers and, at times, to exploit it. In a new book, called "Presidents' Secrets: The Use and Abuse of Hidden Power," author Mary Graham explores the origins and growth of government secrecy. NewsHour Weekend's Christopher Booker sat down with her to talk about the challenges of secrecy and transparency in the digital age.