Executive Order 1142—Influencing Legislation by Employees of the United States or Military Officers Stationed in Washington
It is hereby ordered that no bureau, office, or division chief, or subordinate in any department of the Government, and no officer of the Army or Navy or Marine Corps stationed in Washington, shall apply to either House of Congress, or to any committee of either House of Congress, or to any Member of Congress, for legislation, or for appropriations, or for congressional action of any kind, except with the consent and knowledge of the head of the department; nor shall any such person respond to any request for information from either House of Congress, or any committee of either House of Congress, or any Member of Congress, except through, or as authorized by, the head of his department.
WM. H. TAFT.
The White House, November 26, 1909
William Howard Taft, Executive Order 1142—Influencing Legislation by Employees of the United States or Military Officers Stationed in Washington Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/363260