In compliance with the International Statue of Secrecy, President Washington and Secretary Giffen both worked to preserve the secrecy of the wizarding world. The friendship that developed between them, however, gave rise to a uniquely open relationship between the muggle and magical governments of the United States. Giffen was often seen in the White House during Washington's presidency, earning himself the nickname "Council to the President," a title which was quickly formally adopted to explain his presence there. Since then, every Secretary of Magic has held this title and has had nearly unfettered access to the President (though not every relationship was as harmonious as the first).

As first formal contact between the leaders of the muggle and magical worlds in the United States came during a time of war, the relationship between the White House and the Department of Magic has always been somewhat skewed towards mutual defense. Since the time of Washington and Giffen, key American military and political figures have
been made aware of the existence of witches and wizards (a practice common to
some extent or another all over the world). By the order of President
Washington, however, any key official made aware of magic must also be trained
to defend against it. While muggles cannot use defensive spells or brew potions
themselves, The Twenty One discovered that muggles could, with enough practice,
learn to defend themselves against Veritaserum and even throw the Imperius
Curse. This training is overseen by the Muggle Security Department of the Division of Magical Law Enforcement.

Secretaries of Magic and Presidents also often used their relationships with one another to place witches and wizards among unsuspecting muggles to further their studies of various subjects (and, sometimes, studies of the muggles themselves). The most famous of these collaborations occurred in the 1960s when, after the death of President John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson asked Secretary Earnest Pearsall for magical help achieving the late President's goal of landing a man on the moon. Pearsall denied Johnson's request for magical assistance, but did send several top wizard astronomers to work on the project with the order that they share any knowledge they had but use and reveal no magic. The project was considered a great success and hailed by both governments as an example of magical and muggle cooperation.

That was the peak of trust between the magical and muggle peoples of the United States. The valley came not ten years later.