Article snippet: Jared Kushner and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak discussed the possibility of creating a back channel -- a secret communication channel -- between the Trump team and Russian officials, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. Kushner’s alleged request, first reported by the Washington Post on May 26, stirred controversy. But White House back-channel communications with foreign powers aren't unprecedented: Several other presidential administrations have used back-channel communication as a means of problem solving outside of traditional avenues. “Back channels are a tool in the diplomatic tool box, and they can be a very effective tool,” said Richard Moss, author of the book “Nixon’s Back Channel to Moscow” and a professor at the U.S. Naval War College. “There’s a long tradition of it -- it goes back as long as diplomacy itself.” Back channels can be a good way to achieve diplomatic breakthroughs, but they can also indicate something more sinister. “They certainly have a varied history,” Moss said. “And it varies from nefarious and illegal to perfectly legitimate and effective.” Whether back-channel diplomacy is legal depends on the context: There is a clear line between back channels and espionage, Moss said. Here’s a rundown of past administrations that have used back-channel communications: Back-channel lines of communication with Russia have not only been used before -- they were in some ways the birthplace of the two countries’ relat... Link to the full article to read more