It's a line that national security advisers have kept, as private advice to the president, as presidential staff. And national security advisers have also of course gone on television and made public appearances.
But in terms of the line between the executive and the legislature, the president's staff has simply not been subject to congressional testimony.
SARBANES: Well, what's your position, if you were the secretary of state, on appearing before the Congress? How can we be confident that you would engage in frequent, thorough and meaningful consultations with this committee?
RICE: Well, Senator, I would no longer be staff to the president. If I'm confirmed, I'll be the secretary of state. And that is a Cabinet officer who has been confirmed by this body. And it seems to me at that point it is not only perfectly appropriate, but only right that the secretary of state and other members of the Cabinet, as well as other members of the State Department, respond positively to requests to testify whenever possible.