Wampum

Does "get it out" constitute proper procedure to declassify material?

The lawyer knowledgeable about the case said Bush instructed Cheney to "get it out" and left the details about disseminating the intelligence to him. The lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case for the White House, said Cheney chose Libby and communicated the president's wishes to his then-top aide.

It is not known when the conversation between Bush and Cheney took place. The White House has declined to provide the date when the president used his authority to declassify the portions of the October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate.

"There has to be a detailed explanation as to precisely what Vice President Cheney did, what the president said to him and an explanation by the president as to what he said," Specter said.

Is some sort of writing required? Otherwise, could politicians not just make it up after the fact? Otherwise, how is anyone to know exactly what has been declassified and what has not? Otherwise, how is anyone to know when material has been declassified?