I'm sure that a few years ago I read about this being part of the administrative infrastructure, the purpose being to limit the President's culpability should anything onerous become public knowledge. Yet I can't remember the context or correct language in which to describe the system in question. If such a thing does exist, I would love to know more about how this was developed and embedded into the governing model.
I think this might help you flesh out your question: Are you referring to the term plausible deniability, a term coined by the first civilian director the CIA?