While the early press for the Obama presidency has largely centered on his order to close Guantánamo Bay and his de-authorization of torture, his repeal of Executive Order 13233 created a minor celebratory stir with librarians, archivists, and historians. Bush enacted EO 13233 in 2001 in order to restrict access to presidential papers.
Even though it was seen by many as an attempt to remove the transparency of the White House, the real problem for our profession was the damage it did to academic inquiry. As a research librarian who routinely requests documents from the Truman Library, the Roosevelt Library, the North Carolina State Library (home to many of Andrew Jackson’s papers), and the National Archives, it came across as an overreaching executive order that was ultimately unnecessary.
John Wertman wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post back in 2006 about the trouble this EO caused, and quoted former President Ford, who said:
“I firmly believe that after X period of time, presidential papers, except for the most highly sensitive documents involving our national security, should be made available to the public,” he said, “and the sooner the better.” He also told me that the researchers he’s talked to at his presidential library have been grateful that most of his documents were made available.
I would certainly echo those feelings of gratitude, as I’ve created entire sections of exhibits from presidential library documents. Needless to say, I’m rather pleased that Obama revoked this EO on his first day in office.
