Bill Clinton's former President status does NOT allow him auto-access to classified info

[Honeycombe8]

Classified information is in tiers, as we all know. Presidents, and former Presidents, of course have the highest level of security clearance.

However, the dissemination of classified information is based on the "need to know." Therefore, former Presidents and Vice Presidents do not automatically receive classified information, even if they ask for it. The "need to know" requirement can, though, be waived for former Presidents and Vice Presidents.

Bill Clinton, in the runup to the Iraq War, was discussing in an interview (I think it was Larry King) why he thought the IW would not be an illegal one. In the course of discussing that, he mentioned that he of course did not have access to everything the administration had access to.

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/pdf/CRS.security4.pdf

CRS-5 states (CRS Report to Congress on Security Information):

"Access to classified information is generally limited to those who demonstrate their eligibility to the relevant agency head, sign a nondisclosure agreement, and have a need to know the information. The need-to-know requirement can be waived, however, for former Presidents and Vice Presidents, historical researchers, and former policy-making
officials who were appointed by the President or Vice President.32 The information being accessed may not be removed from the controlling agency’s premises without permission."

So it's possible that Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Henry Kissinger, James Baker, and all other high level administration officials would have access to various classified information, but only if given a waiver (I assume the waiver must be given by the sitting President, but the CRS doesn't state that).

Interesting to note that Hillary Clinton, as a senator who sits on a possibly relevant committee, might automatically have access to certain classified information that former Presidents and former Vice Presidents and former Secretaries of State would not have. As would Biden and other senators sitting on relevant committees.

Obama would NOT have access to the information, unless given the waiver, presumably. Which has apparently been given. Not just the highest level security clearance, but also access to the information.