If he had been, the president would never have granted him hours of on-the-record interviews.

When the on-the-record interview ended she changed her tune, promising that "they'll get theirs this fall when we vote for Clinton."

He rarely consents to on-the-record interviews, and starts off every conversation with a "we're off the record" disclaimer.

A. Yeah, and again, don't hold me to numbers because I don't want to get into negotiations through this on-the-record interview.

As a matter of policy and practice, we would prefer when possible to conduct on-the-record interviews with public officials.

Before then, on-the-record interviews and off-the-record lunches with reporters were a regular part of her schedule.

The agency routinely refuses requests for on-the-record interviews, but the agency's director of policy, Michael A. Smith, responded in writing to a reporter's questions.

In what would be the only on-the-record public interview he gave after his arrest, Yousef admitted to being "an explosives expert" and "an electronics engineer."

"You don't send the press secretary out on an on-the-record interview to float a trial balloon," this adviser said.

Mr. Hewlett, 57, who had relied mainly on his lawyer and public relations firm to speak to the press, started giving on-the-record interviews.