George W. Bush Presidential Records in Response to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests Listed in Attachment A
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VIA EMAIL (LM 2019-057) April 16, 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 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests listed in Attachment A. This material, consisting of 142,854 pages, 6,620 assets, and 31 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, 87,265 pages, 3,811 assets, and 8 video clips in whole and 3,004 pages, 346 assets, and 2 video clips in part have been restricted. Therefore, NARA is proposing to open the remaining 52,585 pages, 2,463 assets, and 21 video clips in whole and 3,004 pages, 346 assets, and 2 video clips in part 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 July 11, 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 Restricted Proposed for Processed Opening 2014-0059-F Records Regarding the 4,979 pages; 2,064 pages, 2,798 pages, meeting of President George 410 assets 201 assets in 196 assets in W. Bush with European whole; 117 whole; 117 leaders in Belgium on pages, 13 pages, 13 assets February 22, 2005 assets in part in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records related to President George W. Bush’s meeting with European leaders, including Prime Minister of the European Union Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, and High Representative of the European Union Javier Solana, in Brussels, Belgium on February 22, 2005. The George W. Bush Presidential textual records proposed for opening are schedules, website printouts, fax cover sheets, routing memoranda, briefings, fact sheets, forms, transcripts, press releases, web printouts, and statements. The majority of this request consists of briefing book and trip book materials related to the trip President George W. Bush took to Europe in February 2005. These briefing and trip book materials include scene setting reports on the places President George W. Bush visited, schedules, press availabilities, talking points, and Q&As. These materials are from the National Security Council, the White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling, the White House Office of the Staff Secretary, and the White House Office of Records Management. Electronic records proposed for opening consist of articles, schedules, final remarks, press briefings, a Q&As, and photos and text for the White House website regarding President George W. Bush’s trip to Europe in February 2005. These electronic records are from the Exchange Email, Exchange Email Restored - 33 Days, Exchange Email Restored - 40 Days, RNC Personal Storage Table (PST), NSC Shared Drive, OA Shared Drive, and WHO Shared Drive Search and Access Sets. A-1 of A-24 Case Number Topic Material Material Material Restricted Proposed for Processed Opening 2014-0079-F[1] Records on the drafting of 15,505 pages; 6,988 pages, 8,464 pages, the USA PATRIOT Act of 1,881 assets 1,355 assets 478 assets in 2001 in whole; 53 whole; 53 pages, pages, 48 48 assets in part assets in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records related to the drafting of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. The George W. Bush Presidential textual records proposed for opening consist of draft legislation, general correspondence, routing memoranda, speeches and drafts thereof. Also included are Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports, briefing materials, transcripts of testimony before Congress, and schedule proposals. These materials are from the White House Counsel’s Office, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council, and the White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject Files. Electronic records proposed for opening consist of draft legislation, final Statements of Administration Policy, Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports, Legislative Referral Memoranda (LRM), general correspondence, as well as Presidential remarks. In addition, there are schedule proposals and briefings regarding the bill signing ceremony, along with supporting documents such as participant lists, WAVES records, and photographs. Also included in this request are congressional materials, such as Daily Whip Alerts, schedules of the House Rules Committee, and published statements on the legislation from Congressmen. All personally identifiable information present in these records has been withheld. These records come from the Automated Records Management System (ARMS), RNC Personal Storage Table (PST), CEA Shared Drive, NSC Shared Drive, and OPD Shared Drive Search and Access Sets. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Restricted Proposed for Processed Opening 2014-0081-F Records on the April 6-7, 1,016 pages; 313 pages, 15 513 pages, 26 2002 meetings between 58 assets assets in assets in whole; President George W. Bush whole; 190 190 pages, 17 and British Prime Minister pages, 17 assets in part Tony Blair assets in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records on the April 6- 7, 2002 meetings between President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The George W. Bush Presidential textual records proposed for opening are schedules and drafts thereof, routine memoranda, biographies, transcripts of remarks and radio addresses, and webpage printouts. A-2 of A-24 The bulk of this material consists of schedules of President George W. Bush and routine staffing memoranda. Included are materials related to the 2002 White House Easter Egg Roll and a copy of “Good Start, Grow Smart: The Bush Administration’s Early Childhood Initiative.” These materials are from the White House Office of Records Management Subject Files (WHORM), the National Security Council, the White House Office of Speechwriting, the White House Office of the Staff Secretary, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives. Electronic records proposed for opening consist of schedules, pool reports, transcripts of interviews and press gaggles, and drafts of talking points and remarks. These electronic records come from the Automated Records Management System (ARMS), NSC Shared Drive, and WHO Shared Drive Search and Access Sets. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Restricted Proposed for Processed Opening 2014-0225-F Records sent to, sent by, or 9,548 pages 5,374 pages, 3,884 pages, 11 received by President George 0 clips in clips in whole; W. Bush concerning 13 clips whole; 290 290 pages, 2 Enhanced Interrogation pages, 2 clips in part Techniques clips in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records sent to, sent by, or received by President George W. Bush concerning enhanced interrogation, waterboarding, torture, rendition, Egypt, Jordan, rendition flights, or the CIA from September 2001 to January 2009. The George W. Bush Presidential textual records proposed for opening include correspondence (mostly to or from members of Congress), White House memoranda, speeches, statements, legislation, transcripts from open Congressional hearings, news articles, reports (both administration-produced and from outside organizations), and scheduling materials. These records are from the White House Office of Records Management Subject Files and White House Office of the Staff Secretary. The George W. Bush Presidential audiovisual records proposed for opening consist of audio and video clips of routine events, photo opportunities and remarks by President George W. Bush, including remarks to Central Intelligence Agency employees. The audiovisual records are from the White House Communications Agency. A-3 of A-24 Case Number Topic Material Pages Pages Proposed Restricted for Opening Processed 2014-0227-F[1] Records sent to, sent by, or 50,904 pages 32,753 17,896 pages in received by President George pages in whole; 255 W. Bush Regarding Iraq and whole; 255 pages in part Saddam Hussein, January pages in part 2001 – March 2003 This researcher submitted