A Semantic Jungle

Few terms are more widely used or abused than "off the record." Even veteran Washington correspondents, who bump up against the term most often, have trouble agreeing on exactly what it means. Last week James ("Scotty") Reston, New York Times Washington correspondent, gave his definition (in describing Adlai Stevenson's recent request for an off-the-record talk with newsmen): "Everything discussed would not even be talked about outside, let alone printed."

But does "off the record" really mean that?* Reston himself admits that, when he thinks his editors should know it, he often passes along off-the-record information to them on a confidential basis. Most newsmen do the same.

In Washington, politicians often use "off the record" when what they really mean is "Don't quote me" (i.e., not for attribution). Talking straight has become almost a lost art in Washington, and newsmen have to fight their way through a semantic jungle. Since "off the record" has become both confused and often useless, the only answer for good newsmen is to pin their sources down as to what use may be made of their material. If the sources really want it suppressed, for no good reason, most good newsmen refuse to accept the terms and go digging for the facts elsewhere.

President Truman gave a speech that was billed as off the record before the Women's National Press Club; it was televised. Publishers also have bumbled the term: one newsman recalls that during World War II, Look's Publisher Gardner Cowles told a radio audience that he was going to let them in on some "off-the-record" stuff. The Overseas Press Club is about to publish a collection of some of its members' most memorable experiences. Its title: Off the Record.

* The term probably originates in courtroom procedure, where judges may instruct the court stenographer not to record certain testimony or discussion. H. L. Mencken credits New York's Governor Al ("Let's look at the record") Smith for bringing it into wider use. It became popular in Washington during the New Deal.

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