Bush puts lid on presidential papers

BUSH

WASHINGTON, November 1, 2001 -- President Bush signed an executive order to extend the period during which the papers of former presidents are sealed from the view of the public and of scholars. The executive order, presented as an interpretation of the 1978 Presidential Records Act, stipulates that both former and current presidents will have unlimited veto power over the release of presidential records. The order allows exceptions for a "demonstrated, specific need" but prescribes a lengthy legal process. Otherwise, the documents will remain closed indefinitely. In contrast, the 1978 Public Records Act, read literally, gives exclusive access to presidential papers to Congress, the courts and the incumbent president only for five years. After that, limitations are only for classified national security information, trade secrets, and other specifically identified kinds of information.

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