PRESIDENT’S HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
(PHSAC).Created on 19 March 2002 by executive order, the PHSAC,
also known as the Homeland Security Council, is comprised of no more
than 21 members appointed by the president from the government and
the private sector to advise him on homeland security matters. Specifi-
cally, the council was established to provide advice on a national home-
land security strategy, evaluate counterterrorism measures, and make
recommendations on improving coordination among federal, state, lo-
cal, and private entities. See alsoNATIONALSECURITYCOUNCIL.PRESIDENT’S INTELLIGENCE CHECK LIST (PICL). Predeces-
sor to the president’s daily brief (PDB), the PICLwas a publication
inaugurated during the administration of President John. F. Kennedy
to keep the president informed of current international developments.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which produced the publi-
cation, designed it in card format to fit in the president’s breast pocket
so that he could consult it as he chose. The card, printed virtually on
a daily basis, was delivered to the president as part of his daily brief-
ing. Known informally as the “pickle,” those who worked on its pro-
duction in the CIAliked to claim that they worked in the “pickle fac-
tory.” President Lyndon B. Johnsondiscontinued the PICLin 1964
and asked the CIAto produce a readable document more suitable to
his tastes. The result was the PDB.PRESIDENT’S SPECIAL REVIEW BOARD.SeeTOWER COM-
MISSION.PRINCIPALS COMMITTEE.The National Security Council (NSC)
principals committee was established by President George H. W.
Bushand continued with some modification by President William J.
Clintonas the senior interagency forum for the consideration of pol-
icy issues affecting national security. President George W. Bushhas
continued the use of the principals committee.
The function of the principals committee is to review, coordinate,
and monitor the development and implementation of national secu-
rity policy. According to the NSC’s website, the Principals Commit-
tee, as a flexible instrument, is intended to be “a forum available to
cabinet-level officials to meet to discuss and resolve issues not re-
quiring the President’s participation.” The national security advisor162 • PRESIDENT’S HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL05-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 6:27 AM Page 162