As one of the most powerful leaders in the world, the president of the United States commands a nuclear arsenal, the world's largest military, and potentially controversial classified intelligence. But what's inside the Presidential Book of Secrets? Does it even exist?
President Obama confirmed the existence of "deep secrets" while he was in office, but the nature of those secrets is a source of constant debate. Conspiracy theorists argue there's an actual book handed from president to president containing the truth about JFK's assassination, alien life, and the moon landing, among other secrets. But most scholars and skeptics dismiss the book as an invention fueled by pop culture with movies like National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
Did spymaster and alleged secret society member George Washington start the tradition of handing down secrets so explosive only the president could read them? Do all modern presidents spend part of their first 100 days learning about secret CIA plots and hidden stores of gold? How much do we know about the president's book of secrets?
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Spymaster George Washington May Have Started The Tradition
If the book of secrets does exist, some argue it may date all the way back to George Washington, the first president. Washington wasn't a stranger to secrets. During the Revolutionary War, the general operated a spy network known as the Culper Spy Ring.
For five years, Culper Ring spies provided detailed information on British troop activity by infiltrating British headquarters in New York City. The spies used code names, like 711 for Washington, 745 for England, and 727 for New York, to cover their work. If George Washington did leave a book of secrets for his successor, John Adams, perhaps the first chapter included information on his spy network.
The 'Book of Secrets' Might Just Be A Metaphor For The President's Regular Security Briefings
In 2017 former CIA intelligence briefer David Priess wrote a book called The President's Book of Secrets. Priess brought years of firsthand intelligence experience to his book after serving presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In fact, Priess was responsible for writing both presidents' daily briefs, the rundown of top-secret intelligence for the president.
In the book, Priess argues these daily briefings, which date back to 1961, comprise the "book of secrets" for presidents. While the briefings contain classified intelligence and analysis, they almost certainly don't include the conspiracy theory fodder.
The existence of the President's Daily Brief is a fact, even if the book of secrets might be fiction. Each president chooses how to receive these classified briefings. Ford and both Bushes preferred in-person briefings, while other modern presidents elected to read intelligence reports. In 2012 Obama started obtaining his daily briefs on a secure iPad.
The new technology allowed intelligence analysts to include interactive graphics as well as audio and video clips in the briefing.
The Library Of Congress Denies The Book Of Secrets Exists
According to one theory, the book of secrets remains hidden in the Library of Congress, which is the biggest library in the world. That theory proposes only the president and the Librarian of Congress know the book's location, so in case of an assassination, the librarian can pass on the secrets for the next president.
In 2008 the Library of Congress hosted an exhibit displaying the book of secrets movie prop from National Treasure: Book of Secrets next to a replica of John Wilkes Booth's diary. The Library of Congress emphasized that the book of secrets does not exist (or, at least, not in the LOC collection) by noting, "unlike the 'Book of Secrets,' a Booth diary actually existed."
Conspiracy Theorists Claim The Book Contains Fantastical Secrets
Conspiracy theories about the book of secrets claim presidents have filled the pages with detailed notes collecting all the government's hidden knowledge. For example, the missing Watergate tapes allegedly transcribed in the book reveal President Nixon admitting the government was holding aliens at an Iowa military base. The Hoover Dam possibly contains a stockpile of Spam in case of nuclear war. The book even reportedly contains evidence of time travel, as one theory proposes the mysterious object discovered on the moon in the 1970s was an iPhone.
The claims are sensational and mostly rely on the fact that no one has produced an actual book of secrets to disprove the theories.
President Obama Admitted The Book Was Real During His First Year In Office
After six months in office, President Obama confessed he'd seen the book of secrets. During an interview with talk radio host Michael Smerconish, Obama simply replied, "I have," when asked if he had seen the book. Smerconish was asking on behalf of his sons, who had seen the National Treasure sequel named after the book.
The president followed up this admission with a joke, adding, "I would tell you, but I'd have to kill you," when asked about specific secrets it revealed. The exchange might have been a lighthearted joke, but conspiracy theorists read it as Obama using humor to distract from a genuine slip-up.
