THE WHITE HOUSE Mr. John W. Carlin
Washington, DCMarch 23, 2001
Archivist of the United States
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740Dear Mr. Carlin:
Section 2(b) of Executive Order 12667, issued by former President Ronald Reagan on January 16, 1989, requires the Archivist of the United States to delay release of Presidential records at the instruction of the current President.
On behalf of the President, I instruct you to extend for 90 days (until June 21, 2001) the time in which President Bush may claim a constitutionally based privilege over the Presidential records that former President Reagan, acting under Section 2204(a) of Title 4, has protected from disclosure for the 12 years since the end of his Presidency. This directive applies as well to the Vice Presidential records of former Vice President George H.W. Bush.
Sincerely,
Alberto R. Gonzales
Counsel to the President
THE WHITE HOUSE Mr. John W. Carlin
Washington, DCJune 6, 2001
Archivist of the United States
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740Dear Mr. Carlin:
As you know, Section 2(b) of Executive Order 12667, issued by former President Ronald Reagan on January 16, 1989, requires the Archivist of the United States to extend the time for release of Presidential records at the instruction of the current President.
On behalf of the President, I previously instructed you to extend until June 21, 2001, the time for release of the Presidential records that former President Reagan, acting under Section 2204(a) of Title 44, has protected from disclosure for the 12 years since the end of his Presidency. Because review of the variety of legal issues surrounding possible release of these Presidential records has not yet concluded, I am now instructing you to extend until August 31, 2001, the time in which President Bush may claim a constitutionally based privilege or take other appropriate action with respect to these Presidential records. This directive again applies also to the Vice Presidential records of former Vice President George H.W. Bush.
Sincerely,
Alberto R. Gonzales
Counsel to the President
THE WHITE HOUSE Mr. John W. Carlin
Washington, DCAugust 31, 2001
Archivist of the United States
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740Dear Mr. Carlin:
As you know, Section 2(b) of Executive Order 12667, issued by former President Ronald Reagan on January 16, 1989, requires the Archivist of the United States to extend the time for release of Presidential records at the instruction of the current President.
On behalf of President Bush, I previously instructed you to extend until August 31, 2001, the time for release of the Presidential records that former President Reagan, acting under Section 2204(a) of Title 44, has protected from disclosure for the 12 years since the end of his Presidency. This period has been necessary for this Administration to review the many constitutional and legal questions raised by potential release of sensitive and confidential Presidential records and to decide upon the proper legal framework and process to employ in reviewing such records on an ongoing basis. This review revealed a variety of available legal options. As we stated to you previously, we were prepared to make a decision by August 31 about the appropriate legal framework and process for the ongoing review of Presidential records. In the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that has informed our discussions with the National Archives and Records Administration, you recently suggested that we could benefit from additional consultation with the representatives of all three former Presidents subject subject to this Act, as well as review of a small sample of Presidential records, before finally deciding upon the particular legal framework and process we will employ. We have decided to accept that suggestion. Because the process of additional consultation and review that was suggested necessarily will require a few additional weeks, I am now formally instructing you pursuant to Executive Order 12667 to extend the time in which President Bush may take appropriate action with respect to these Presidential records. We will consult with you over the next several weeks and soon will provide further guidance after we complete the consultation and review that was suggested. This directive again applies also to the Vice Presidential records of former Vice President George H.W. Bush.
Sincerely,
Alberto R. Gonzales
Counsel to the President