Off the record means off the record, and that has to be enforceable.

observation — attributed to Kathy 'Coach' Kemper

When Wolf Blitzer suggested Kemper should include him in her gatherings, her initial refusal was based on his role: he was press. His response was that off the record is off the record, and she could trust him. Several years of dinners later, Blitzer was the partner who suggested Kemper formalize her hosting as the nonprofit Institute for Education. The story illustrates a precondition for any convening that depends on candor. The off-the-record rule has to be credibly enforceable, and the host has to know which guests will hold to it. A single breach corrodes the room permanently.

For salon hosts navigating mixed audiences of press, government, and private-sector participants. The principle generalizes to any high-trust gathering whose value depends on confidentiality.

chatham-house, press, confidentiality, trust