[DMCA-Activists] SAA Queries Nomination of Weinstein as US Archivist

[Seth Johnson]

From: Bruce Craig <address@hidden>
Subject: STATEMENT ISSUED -- FINAL

The following statement has been issued on behalf of the archival,
historical and other communities. Organizations that wish to sign on
should contact the SAA to have their organization's name added to the
list.
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Statement on the Nomination of Allen Weinstein to Become Archivist of
the United States
April 14, 2004

We are concerned about the sudden announcement on April 8, 2004, that
the White House has nominated Allen Weinstein to become the next
Archivist of the United States. Prior to the announcement, there was no
consultation with professional organizations of archivists or
historians. This is the first time since the National Archives and
Records Administration was established as an independent agency that the
process of nominating an Archivist of the United States has not been
open for public discussion and input. We believe that Professor
Weinstein must-through appropriate and public discussions and
hearings-demonstrate his ability to meet the criteria that will qualify
him to serve as Archivist of the United States.

When former President Ronald Reagan signed the National Archives and
Records Administration Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-497), he said that,
"the materials that the Archives safeguards are precious and
irreplaceable national treasures and the agency that looks after the
historical records of the Federal Government should be accorded a status
that is commensurate with its important responsibilities." Earlier in
1984, when the National Archives Act was being discussed, Senate Report
98-373 cautioned that if the Archivist was appointed "arbitrarily, or
motivated by political considerations, the historical records could be
impoverished [or] even distorted."

P. L. 98-497 clearly states that, "The Archivist shall be appointed
without regard to political affiliations and solely on the basis of the
professional qualifications required to perform the duties and
responsibilities of the office of Archivist." In 1984, House Report
98-707 noted, "The committee expects that [determining professional
qualifications] will be achieved through consultation with recognized
organizations of archivists and historians." The law also states that
when the Archivist is replaced, the President "shall communicate the
reasons for such removal to each House of Congress." President Bush has
not given a reason for the change, and there is no evidence to suggest
that it is being made because of John Carlin's resignation.

We agree with these statements and believe that the decision to appoint
a new Archivist should be considered in accordance with both the letter
and the spirit of the 1984 law.

We call on the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs to schedule open
hearings on this nomination in order to explore more fully 1) the
reasons why the Archivist is being replaced and 2) Professor Weinstein's
qualifications to become Archivist of the United States. Among other
issues, we believe it is important to learn more about Professor
Weinstein's:

* Knowledge and understanding of the critical issues confronting
NARA and the archival profession generally, especially the challenges of
information technology, and the competing demands of public access to
government records, privacy, homeland security, and ensuring the
authenticity and integrity of all records.
* Thoughts on how NARA should balance competing interests for
protecting sensitive or confidential information with those seeking to
gain access to records created by government agencies.
* Ideas for continuing essential programs as well as important new
archival initiatives, such as the Electronic Records Archives project.
* Thoughts on fully supporting the National Historical
Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), whose grants have been
instrumental in starting and supporting the production of published
editions of historical documents and in helping to raise the level of
archival practice at state and local levels.
* Experience and demonstrated ability to lead and manage a large
government agency such as NARA.
* Plans for protecting the professional integrity and political
non-partisanship of NARA as a governmental agency.

Association of Research Libraries
address@hidden

Council of State Historical Records Coordinators
address@hidden

Northwest Archivists, Inc.
address@hidden

Organization of American Historians
address@hidden

Society of American Archivists
address@hidden
527 S. Wells St.
5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
312/922-0140
fax 312/347-1452
http://www.archivists.org/