Press Release
April 10, 2009

National Archives to Release Reagan and Bush Presidential Records

Washington, DC. . . Acting Archivist of the United States Adrienne Thomas announced today that 245,763 pages of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush Presidential records will be opened for research on Monday, April 13, 2009, at their respective libraries. These records, which were still pending with the George W. Bush Administration as of January 20, 2009, today cleared the review process established by President Barack Obama under Executive Order 13489.

In making the announcement, Thomas said, “I am delighted that the Obama Administration has cleared the way to open these Presidential records. This action allows the American people to view historical records relating to the Presidency and judge for themselves the actions of federal officials.”

These Presidential records are being released in accordance with the Presidential Records Act and the new Executive Order 13489, titled “Presidential Records,” which was signed by President Obama on January 21, 2009.

On Monday, April 13, 2009, the Ronald Reagan library will open 244,966 pages of records processed in response to hundreds of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. These records include the Presidential Briefing Papers collection, Office of Speechwriting research material, and approximately 13,000 pages of declassified records on numerous foreign policy topics. To date, more than ten million pages of Presidential records have been processed at the Reagan library. The library is located at 40 Presidential Drive Simi Valley, California. Research room hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. See http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/research.html.

On Monday, April 13, 2009, the George H. W. Bush library will open 797 pages of records that deal with Saudi Arabia. To date, more than six million pages of Presidential records have been processed at the Bush library, which is located at 1000 George Bush Drive West, College Station, Texas. Research room hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. See http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research.

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For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at 202-357-5300.

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Source: National Archives