Expand All Collapse All Extent 205 folders, approximately 4,933 pages Summary This collection consists of material related to gays in the military from January 20, 1993 through July 31, 1993. The records include correspondence, reports, memoranda, and email, and deal with the development of the policy that became known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". These records include documents describing the policy proposals made by Senator Sam Nunn and Representative Barney Frank, and the various legal cases of military personnel being discharged for admitting their homosexuality. Also included are letters from the public and from members of Congress expressing their views on the issue. Scope and Content Note The materials in FOIA 2006-0227-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA request 2006-0227-F contains records from several agencies and individuals, including the Counsel’s Office and the National Security Council. During his 1992 Presidential campaign, Bill Clinton promised that, if he were elected, he would repeal the ban on homosexuals serving in the military. Once in office, however, Clinton faced stiff opposition from many, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell, and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sam Nunn. On July 19, 1993, Clinton announced the compromise that became known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. The policy ordered the military to stop asking recruits about their sexual orientation, but allowed for a military discharge if a member of the armed forces states that he or she is homosexual. While Clinton acknowledged in his announcement of the new policy that this was not “a perfect solution”, he did consider it “a major step forward”. Documents were considered responsive to this FOIA if they were dated from the beginning of the Administration to the end of July 1993, when the new policy was announced. The WHORM Subject Files – General includes correspondence from the public and members of Congress voicing their opinions on allowing homosexuals to serve in the military. The WHORM Subject File – CF consists of one folder of correspondence from Deputy Staff Secretary R. Paul Richard to the President expressing his support following the announcement of the new policy. The White House Staff and Office Files contain correspondence, reports, memoranda, and press from various offices, including the Counsel’s Office and the National Security Council. The records include the July 1, 1993 Summary Report of the Military Working Group and the July 19, 1993 memo from Secretary of Defense Les Aspin announcing the new policy. Also included are legal briefs on relevant military cases and records dealing with the policy proposals of Senator Sam Nunn and Representative Barney Frank. The Automated Records Management System (Email) consists of talking points regarding Senator Nunn’s hearings on homosexuals serving in the military and the July 19, 1993 policy announcement. The NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management Systems contain additional information on the question of whether homosexuals should be allowed to serve in the Armed Forces. The NSC Cable System consists of one folder, which includes a cable from the American Consul in Rio de Janeiro to the Secretary of State documenting a pro-U.S. demonstration in that country. The NSC Email System consists mainly of “Q & A’s” for a Presidential press conference. The NSC Records Management System includes a January 27, 1993 statement from Senator Sam Nunn regarding the ban on homosexuals in the military. Also included, are letters from Congress and members of the Armed Forces on the subject of gays in the military, and an outline of a meeting between President Clinton and Les Aspin on a variety of military issues. Record Type Textual System of Arrangement Records that were responsive to this FOIA request were found in five collection areas—Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files-General, Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files-CF, Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files, Clinton Presidential Records: ARMS Emails, and Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management Systems. As policy, Staff and Office Files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area. WHORM Subject and WHORM Alpha files are processed at the document level. Access Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 USC 2201) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 USC 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions Copyright Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States government as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Researchers are advised to consult the copyright law of the United States (17 USC, 101), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Provenance Official records of William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency are housed at the Clinton Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA). Processed by Staff Archivist, 2009. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. Last Modified Date 2010-08-19 Container List The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2006-0227-F: Box 1 Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files-General Category Case Number BE006 Scanned: Case Number 003292 FG006-06 Scanned: Case Number 006588 FG031-01 Scanned: Case Number 002368 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 000103 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 000104 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 000450 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 000679 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 000736 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 000810 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 000828 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001042 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001072 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001154 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001189 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001297 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001425 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001427 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001427SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001537 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001561SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001695 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001720 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001891 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001894 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001919 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001920 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001937 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001945 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 001945SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 002046 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 002089 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 002232 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 002243 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 002400 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 002421 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 002543 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 003035SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 003244 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 003360 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 005001 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 005802 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 005810 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 006208 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 006370 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 006376 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 006627 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 008015SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 008347 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 008440 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 009456 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 009567 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 009632 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 009883 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 010250 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 010565 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 010673 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 010824 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 011601 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 013303 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 013513 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 013853 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 016099 Box 2 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 016299 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 017083SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 017115 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 017512 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 017556 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 017618 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 018132 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 018824 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 019370 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 019542 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 019850 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 019896 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 020289 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 021005 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 021726 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 021783 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 022645 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 022936 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 023015 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 023544 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 023864 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025200 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025441CU HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025469 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025471 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025547 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025554 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025678 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025881 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025955 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025960 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 025990 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 026061 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 026142 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 026773 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 027155 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 027424 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 027577SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 027762 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 027821SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 027848 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028320SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028445 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028446 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028494 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028515 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028702 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028722 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028727 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028975 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028976 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 029121 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 029265 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 029349 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 029371 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 029505 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 029529CU HU010 Scanned: Case Number 029740SS Box 3 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 029952SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 030045 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 030492 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 030495SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 030509 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 030514 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 030568 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 030883SS HU010 Scanned: Case Number 031053 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 031214 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 031272 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 031402 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 031493 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 031560 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 032450 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 032451 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 034481 HU010 Scanned: Case Number 038792 SP568 Scanned: Case Number 029408SS Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files-CF Category Case Number HU010 Scanned: Case Number 028568SS Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files Chief of Staff Bill Burton Gays in the Military [1] [OA/ID 2779] Gays in the Military [2] [OA/ID 2779] Roy Neel Gays in the Military [OA/ID CF 27] Counsel’s Office Bruce Lindsey Gays in the Military [1] [OA/ID 24795] Gays in the Military [2] [OA/ID 24795] Box 4 Cheryl Mills Background – Gays in the Military [OA/ID 20287] Executive Orders – Gays in the Military [OA/ID 20289] Stephen Neuwirth Gays in Military [OA/ID CF 384] Gays in the Military [OA/ID CF 370] Cliff Sloan [Binder – Gays in the Military] [Folder 1] [OA/ID 4660] [Binder – Gays in the Military] [Folder 2] [OA/ID 4660] Gays in the Military [1] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military [2] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military [3] [OA/ID 4658] Box 5 Gays in the Military: Ben-Shalom (CA 7 1989) [Empty] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – General [1] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – General [2] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – General [3] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military: High Tech Gays (CA 9 190) [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – Meinhold #1 [1] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – Meinhold #1 [2] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – Meinhold #2 [1] [OA/ID 4658] Box 6 Gays in the Military – Meinhold #2 [2] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – Meinhold #2 [3] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – Meinhold #2 [4] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – Meinhold #2 [5] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – Meinhold #2 [6] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – Meinhold (Dist. C6) [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military – New Policy [OA/ID 4767] Gays in the Military – New Policy: Attorney General Memo [OA/ID 4767] Gays in the Military – New Policy: President’s Announcement [OA/ID 4767] Gays in the Military – New Policy: Secretary of Defense Announcement [OA/ID 4767] Gays in the Military: Press Statements [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military: Pruitt (CA 9 1991) [Empty] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military: Schowengerdt (CA 9 1991) [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military: Watkins (CA 9 1989) [Empty] [OA/ID 4658] Gays in the Military: Woodward (CA February 1989) [Empty] [OA/ID 4658] Box 7 First Lady’s Office Shirley Sagawa Americorps National Service Files Gays in the Military [OA/ID 24338] National Security Council Defense Policy Richard Beardsworth Gays in the Military, 1993-1999 [1] [OA/ID 3154] Gays in the Military, 1993-1999 [2] [OA/ID 3154] Gays in the Military, 1993-1999 [3] [OA/ID 3154] Gays in the Military, 1993-1999 [4] [OA/ID 3154] Press Jonathan Spalter Gay Military [OA/ID 294] Staff Director Nancy Soderberg Gays in the Military, January 1993 [OA/ID 1404] Public Liaison Alexis Herman Gays and Lesbians in Military [1] [OA/ID CF 23] Gays and Lesbians in Military [2] [OA/ID CF 23] Box 8 Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System (Email) WHO [Gays in the Military] [04/01/1993-07/30/1993] [OA/ID 500000] Default [Gays in the Military] [07/19/1993-07/20/1993] [OA/ID 1100000] Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management Systems (RMS) NSC Cables January 1993-December 1994 [Gays and Military] [02/11/1993-06/15/1993] [OA/ID 505000] NSC Emails A1-Record (January 1993-September 1994) [Don’t Ask] [05/14/1993-06/16/1993] [OA/ID 570000] [Gays and Military] [02/27/1993-04/23/1993] [OA/ID 570000] [05/05/1993-07/14/1993] [OA/ID 570000] NSC Records Management System PRS-Presidential Records [Gays and Military] 9300101 [OA/ID 2263] 9300106 [OA/ID 2263] 9300113 [OA/ID 139] 9300246 [OA/ID 2263] 9302037 [OA/ID 145] 9302632 [OA/ID 147] 9304738 [OA/ID 2271] 9304745 [OA/ID 152] 9304866 [OA/ID 2272] 9305079 [OA/ID 2272] 9305212 [OA/ID 2272] 9305365 [OA/ID 2272] 9305416 [OA/ID 2273]