BTW - ALL executive agencies have been / are effected by this - the military, the CIA, the NSA etc... **AND** each one had / have thier own rules for implementing the law.
So much for History.
Pre 9/11, many of us here on FR would probably applauded ANY government official who, at least nominally, went "beyond what the law requires" in protecting our rights.
I understand what you're saying about the context for the "Wall," but the problem is that when the unintended consequence (a freer hand for terrorists due to federal agencies tying their own hands while investigating subsersive activities) resulted in the terror attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon, the blame game started. No one wants to be blamed for 9/11, even if the cause was innocuous (which it may not be, according to some declassified memos I read about Janet Reno trying to surreptitiously obtain FBI files about Chinagate before she was stopped by Louis Freeh).
Bottom line is, the Wall was a leftover mentality from the 70's Watergate era, where left-wing subversives were being watched by the FBI and CIA. Counter-culture subversives' goal was to destroy intelligence agencies or hamper investigations, and the left-leaning Clinton White House was all for that. Never forget that Hillary! was one of the people involved in the Watergate Commission that toppled Richard Nixon. The Wall and all its consequences follow from the fallout of the Watergate era.
Am I picking up on what you're trying to say?
Yes. I am also aware of the possible ulterior reasons that may have been behind this memo. I'm just not willing (yet) to accept them as there are other "non-malicious" reasons - I do have my suspicions though - and - Gorelick must not be allowed to remain on the Commission! This if nothing else is clear.