So wait, the government's been able to spy on our phone communications since 1979?
Not on the actually phone calls, but who you have called and who has called you, yes. That information is not yours, it is the companies.
So it is not a stretch to think that who you email is not in any way protected, even if the countenance is.
Only if they own the phone companies.
Or the phone, or now internet, companies turn over the data willingly.