George W. Bush Presidential Records in Response to the Systematic Processing Project and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests Listed in Attachment A
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VIA EMAIL (LM 2019-110) July 26, 2019 The Honorable Pat A. Cipollone Counsel to the President The White House Washington, D.C. 20502 Dear Mr. Cipollone: In accordance with the requirements of the Presidential Records Act (PRA), as amended, 44 U.S.C. §§2201-2209, this letter constitutes a formal notice from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to the incumbent President of our intent to open George W. Bush Presidential records in response to the systematic processing project and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests listed in Attachment A. This material, consisting of 46,940 pages, 21,657 assets and 6 video clips, has been reviewed for the six PRA Presidential restrictive categories, including confidential communications requesting or submitting advice (P5) and material related to appointments to federal office (P2), as they were eased by President George W. Bush on November 15, 2010. These records were also reviewed for all applicable FOIA exemptions. As a result of this review, 6,246 pages and 4,892 assets in whole and 844 pages and 530 assets in part have been restricted. Therefore, NARA is proposing to open the remaining 39,850 pages, 16,235 assets and 6 video clips that do not require closure under 44 U.S.C. § 2204. A copy of any records proposed for release under this notice will be provided to you upon your request. We are also concurrently informing former President George W. Bush’s representative, Freddy Ford, of our intent to release these records. Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 2208(a), NARA will release the records 60 working days from the date of this letter, which is October 23, 2019, unless the former or incumbent President requests a one-time extension of an additional 30 working days or asserts a constitutionally based privilege, in accordance with 44 U.S.C. 2208(b)-(d). Please let us know if you are able to complete your review before the expiration of the 60 working day period. Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 2208(a)(1)(B), we will make this notice available to the public on the NARA website. If you have any questions relating to this notification, please contact me at (202) 357-5144 or NARA General Counsel Gary M. Stern at (301) 837-3026. Sincerely, B. JOHN LASTER DIRECTOR Presidential Materials Division Enclosure ATTACHMENT A Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2018-0007-P National Security Council – Media 30,113 0 pages in 30,113 pages in Communications and Speechwriting, pages whole; 0 whole; 0 pages in part Press Kits pages in part The George W. Bush Library has completed the systematic processing of records from the National Security Council – Media Communications and Speechwriting – Press Kits. The George W. Bush Presidential records proposed for opening include the press kits created for President George W. Bush’s trips. Each press kit may include an itinerary, maps, fact sheets, press releases, press briefings, and public biographies of persons whom President Bush was scheduled to meet. Trips include APEC meetings, G8 summits, the Summit of the Americas, and trips to other countries. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2014-0153-F Suspension and continuation of play by 580 pages; 179 pages, 39 330 pages, 73 assets in professional and university sports 130 assets assets in whole; 71 pages, 18 leagues following the events of Sept. 11, whole; 71 assets in part 2001 pages, 18 assets in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for documents and correspondence between President George W. Bush or White House staff and organizations including professional sports league offices, individual sports teams, university athletic associations, university presidents/officials, and commissioners’ offices concerning the suspension/continuation of play between September 12, 2001 and February 3, 2002. Also requested were any documents and correspondence dealing with President Bush’s appearance at Game 3 of the 2001 World Series on October 30, 2001, at Yankee Stadium. The George W. Bush Presidential textual records proposed for opening are routine correspondence between President Bush and Harriet Miers, guest lists for a luncheon, memoranda for photo opportunities, printed emails, printed webpages related to Major League Baseball, schedules for President Bush and Laura Bush, briefings for interviews and attending Major League Baseball games, and a speech for Veteran’s Day. Notable documents include a letter from Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig inviting President Bush to throw out the first pitch at Game 3 of the 2001 World Series. These materials are from the White House Office of Records Management Subject Files, White House Office of Advance, and White House Office of Speechwriting. Electronic records proposed for opening include scheduling requests for President Bush to appear at Game 3 of the World Series on October 30, 2001, as well as schedules and briefings for that date. Included are memos discussing the impact of 9/11 on various sectors including sports and emails from professional and university sports leagues asking for guidance on continuation of play. These electronic records are from the Automated Records Management System (ARMS), CEA Shared Drive, and WHO Shared Drive Search and Access Sets. A-1 of A-20 Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2014-0195-F Emails from the organization Third 2,518 assets 2,455 assets 3 assets in whole; 60 Way in whole; 60 assets in part assets in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for emails sent to members of the George W. Bush Administration from the address @thirdway.org (emails from the organization Third Way). The George W. Bush Presidential electronic records proposed for opening are emails detailing certain White House events, economic reports and discussions, and a final draft of a Third Way report on the middle class. These materials are from the Exchange Email Search and Access Set. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2014-0333-F Emails within the Bush Administration 980 assets 401 assets in 378 assets in whole; regarding the revelation of memos whole; 201 201 assets in part regarding torture in June 2004 assets in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for emails within the George W. Bush administration regarding the revelation of memos regarding torture, as reported by the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek in June 2004. The George W. Bush Presidential electronic records proposed for opening include news reports regarding the memos, transcripts of official administration statements, speeches, press appearances, and Congressional testimony about the memos, as well as talking points about the War on Terror. These materials are from the Automated Records Management System (ARMS), Exchange Email, and RNC Personal Storage Table (PST) Search and Access Sets. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2014-0390-F[2] Final copies of all HSPDs and NSPDs 52 pages 38 pages in 14 pages in whole; 0 whole; 0 pages in part pages in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all unclassified or declassified Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs) and National Security Presidential Directives (NSPDs). The George W. Bush Presidential textual records proposed for opening are NSPD-64 (Status of National Security Presidential Directives), routing memoranda, distribution lists, and a draft. These materials are from the National Security Council – Records and Access Management. A-2 of A-20 Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2015-0194-F Photographs of trips to Liberia and of 5,132 assets 58 assets in 5,074 assets in whole; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Washington, whole; 0 0 assets in part D.C. assets in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for photographs of trips to Liberia as well as photographs of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Washington, D.C. The George W. Bush Presidential electronic records proposed for opening are photographs of President George W. Bush and Laura Bush during trips to Liberia in 2006 and 2008 and photographs of visits of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to Washington, D.C. from 2006 to 2008. Photographs of trips to Liberia include a trip by Laura Bush in January 2006 to attend the Inaugural Ceremony of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Mrs. Bush was accompanied by Barbara Bush and Sec. Condoleezza Rice. Also included are photos of a trip by President Bush and Laura Bush in February 2008. Photographs depict an arrival ceremony, a gowning and investiture ceremony, a social lunch at the Executive Mansion, a U.S. Embassy greeting, and a roundtable on education at the University of Liberia. Other photographs were taken at President Bush’s meeting with President Sirleaf at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and during his remarks at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia, Liberia. There are photographs of Laura Bush attending a tea and a youth development roundtable discussion with Mrs. Kartumu Boakai, spouse of Vice President Joseph Boakai. Photographs of crowds along the motorcade and staff travelling are also included. Photographs of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Washington D.C., include various meetings and events from 2006 to 2008. Included are meetings with President Bush in the Oval Office, walking on the South Lawn, signing the White House guest book in the Roosevelt Room, and making remarks at the International Republican Institute 2006 Freedom Dinner and Awards Ceremony, at an Africare dinner, at a ceremony for recipients of the 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom, and at the White House Summit on International Development. Also included are photographs of a 2006 social lunch at the White House with a dance performance by Moving in Spirit and a vocal performance by Denyce Graves in the East Room.