Cissy Patterson was a fire-brand newspaper publisher. Ralph G. Martin's book about her contains a few tidbits about secrecy & the media back in the 1930s.
She published photos of British ships in US ports on the dawn of WWII - the secretary of the Navy, Knox, had specifically told her he'd put her in jail if she did this. Instead he ignored her.
The House Committee on Military Affairs subpoenad Waldrop, an investigative writer who had covered it's activities. Apparently he plead the fifth on all questions, and the committee gave up.
On the other hand.
President Roosevelt told her brother Joe (also a newspaper publisher) inner details about a trade between the UK and the US - ships for remote bases. This was in order to prove to them that the ships deal was reciprocal, not a donation. The reciprocal part had to remain secret though, presumably for reasons of neutrality. Joe and Cissy kept this quiet and 'endorsed' Roosevelt for election.
To be continued...
References
Cissy by Ralph G Martin, Simon & Schuster 1979, p. 409-413
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