Who said “A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.”?

Verified

Dean Acheson. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceIn The Wall Street Journal (September 8, 1977)

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: In The Wall Street Journal (September 8, 1977).

APA

Acheson, D. (n.d.). A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24991-a-memorandum-is-written-not-to-inform-the/

MLA

Acheson, Dean. “A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24991-a-memorandum-is-written-not-to-inform-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Acheson, Dean. “A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24991-a-memorandum-is-written-not-to-inform-the/.

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