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 2018-153) November 20, 2018 The Honorable Emmet T. Flood, IV Counsel to the President The White House Washington, D.C. 20502 Dear Mr. Flood: 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 176,699 pages and 20,916 electronic files, 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, 72,889 pages and 3,092 electronic files in whole and 11,724 pages and 11,307 electronic files in part have been restricted. Therefore, NARA is proposing to open the remaining 92,086 and 6,517 electronic files in whole and 11,724 pages and 11,307 electronic files 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 February 19, 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 2018-0001-P Domestic Policy Council – Bennett, 8,054 pages 1,879 pages 5,925 pages in whole; Jessica – Subject Files [segment in whole; 250 250 pages in part thereof] pages in part The George W. Bush Library has completed the systematic processing of records from the Domestic Policy Council – Bennett, Jessica – Subject Files [segment thereof]. The George W. Bush Presidential records proposed for opening include published reports, compilations of news articles, talking points, fact sheets, correspondence and information from outside organizations, schedules, calendars, fax cover sheets, routing memoranda, and other administrative documents. The majority of these records relate to education. Reports include the Washington, D.C. public schools facility master plan, a published report from the Department of Justice, published survey results, and a Rand Education report entitled “Achieving State and National Literacy Goals: A Long Uphill Road.” Schedules and calendars are contained in briefing books maintained for Diana Schacht and David Dunn. Also included is a side-by-side comparison of the House and Senate versions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and a compilation of talking points and fact sheets about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) from the Department of Education. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2018-0002-P Domestic Policy Council – Bridgeland, 22,889 6,879 pages 15,882 pages in John – Subject Files [segment thereof] pages whole; 128 pages in part The George W. Bush Library has completed the systematic processing of records from the Domestic Policy Council – Bridgeland, John – Subject Files [segment thereof]. The George W. Bush Presidential records proposed for opening include published reports, talking points, press releases, internet printouts, fact sheets, correspondence and information from outside organizations, correspondence from Congress, draft legislation, fax cover sheets, routing memoranda, printed emails and other administrative documents such as fax cover sheets, forms, and notes. Topics covered include campaign finance reform, drugs, global climate change and the environment, immigration, labor issues, the impact of 9/11 on New York, and trade. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2014-0060-F The speech by Secretary of State 62 assets 18 assets in 33 assets in whole; 11 Condoleezza Rice at Sciences Politiques whole; 11 assets in part in Paris, France on February 8, 2005 assets in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records related to the speech by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at Sciences Politiques in Paris, France on February 8, 2005. The George W. Bush Presidential electronic records proposed for opening are transcripts of A-1 of A-24 the speech, media reaction reports, and a report from Interactive Information Services. These electronic records come from the Exchange Email, Exchange Restored 33 Days, and Exchange Restored 40 Days Search and Access Sets. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2014-0061-F All records pertaining to the Headline 164 66 assets in 79 assets in whole; 19 Goal 2010, approved by General Affairs Assets whole; 19 assets in part and External Relations Council on May assets in part 17, 2004, endorsed by the European Council of June 17 and 18, 2004 This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records related to the Headline Goal 2010, approved by General Affairs and External Relations Council on May 17, 2004, endorsed by the European Council of June 17, 2004 - June 18, 2004. The George W. Bush Presidential electronic records proposed for opening are reports, papers, press releases, and invitations. Publically available reports, documents, and press releases from the European Union (EU) are present regarding European security, the Headline Goal 2010, meetings, and EU presidencies. Also included are reports from organizations such as EuroFuture Magazine, the Atlantic Council, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Lastly, there are invitations to meetings, luncheons, dinners, and conferences. These electronic records come from the Exchange Email, Exchange Restored 40 Days, OA Shared Drive, and NSC Shared Drive Search and Access Sets. Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2014-0124-F George H.W. Bush 24,399 7,792 pages, 13,496 pages, 10 pages; 61 51 assets in assets in whole; 3,111 assets whole; 3,111 pages in part pages in part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records related to President George H.W. Bush, his correspondence with President George W. Bush, and records of his visits to the White House. The George W. Bush Presidential textual records proposed for opening are correspondence between the Office of President George H.W. Bush and the White House, historical documents from the President George H.W. Bush Administration, schedules and memoranda for events involving President George H.W. Bush, speeches and public correspondence referencing President George H.W. Bush, as well as photographs and news articles. These materials are from the White House Office of Records Management, and Staff Member Office Files, including Counsel’s Office and Presidential Correspondence. Electronic records proposed for opening consist of photograph labels, records of President George H.W. Bush’s visits to the White House, and event schedules. These electronic records are from the OA Shared Drive, WHO Shared Drive, and Worker and Visitor Entry System (WAVES) Search and Access Sets. A-2 of A-24 Case Number Topic Material Material Material Proposed Processed Restricted for Opening 2014-0226-F[1] Records sent to, sent by, or received by 50,709 38,107 pages 12,239 pages in President George W. Bush regarding pages in whole; 363 whole; 363 pages in Iran and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pages in part part This researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records sent to, sent by, or received by President George W. Bush regarding Iran and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The George W. Bush Presidential records proposed for opening are acts and bills, cables, calendars, chronologies, correspondence, cover sheets, distribution receipts, executive orders, fact sheets, forms, lists, National Intelligence Estimates, National Security Council Profile Sheets, unclassified National Security Presidential Directives, news articles, notes, press releases, a proclamation, Q and As, reports, schedules, statements, talking points, and transcripts. This FOIA primarily contains documents related to regime change in Iran, sanctions against Iran, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Iran financial assets, weapons of mass destruction, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), and reports related to counter-proliferation. These materials come in the form of news sources, timelines, reports to Congress, unclassified white papers, and open source reports. This FOIA also includes briefing book and trip book materials related to several trips President George W. Bush took between 2001 and 2005, notably to APEC meetings in 2001 and 2004; to G-8 Summits in 2003, 2004 and 2005; and to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in 2003. These briefing and trip book materials include scene setting reports on the places President George W. Bush would be visiting, calendars, press availabilities, talking points, and Q and As. There are also reports on Lebanon, the government structure of the Islamic Republic, several reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and copies of United Nations Security Council Resolutions.