Does the president have a security clearance?

Or, can someone who is ineligible for a security clearance become president? I suppose that the answer to the second part of this question is an obvious yes, judging by some of the people who have held the office; however the amount of information that the president is privy to must be astounding. It is a little scary to think of what foolish thingfs they might do with that information.

By definition, the president, high-level political appointees and certain members of Congress have access to high-level classified info. They do not have to undergo the clearance procedures that the rest of us peons do. Thats politics.

You have to be a natural born citizen to become president. There are other requirements laid out in the constitution. If you meet those, you can be president.

So to anwser you question, you don't need a security clearance, however, if you have been involved in govermnet long enough to be a serious contender for president, there is a good chance are you have gotten one along the way.


Update:
fyi, people with obsurd answers below such as Bush forgetting his PIN or Clinton not being eligable because of marijuana do not know what they are talking about. You don't have a PIN for a security clearance, and drug use does not necessarily preclude you from getting one.

Only in bad fiction do national security risks become President.

Being President of course trumps any requirement for a national security clearance. The President obviously needs to know everything to make informed decisions.

Ahhh, yes, he has the highest security clearance possible.

Y E S, Anyone who is ineligible for a security clearance cannot become President!

By law the regulations regarding security clearances do not apply to elected officials and specific appointed positions.

I believe some members of congress do undergo security clearance investigations (e.g. Intelligence Committees, etc.), but those clearances are necessary for fulfilling the duties of their offices they hold. The investigations are carried out for not only national security but the safety of the individual. Gather a complete profile of ones associates, family, history, etc. could aid in any future incidents.

Why Do You Want to Know...Can you show some ID.What Religion are You...and where are you From..?

Have you ever come in contact with or spoken with a member of the Moslem community?

All these and many Qs First...

If he does, I'm sure he can't remember his PIN.

Both look at Bush what kind of idiot would give him a security clearance if he wasn't president ?