(2006-0502-F) Boys Nation and Girls Nation

The materials in FOIA 2006-0502-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 2006-0502-F contains materials relating to the Ceremony for Boys and Girls Nation at the White House on July 18, 1996. Annually, the American Legion hosts the Boys and Girls Nation programs for high school students in Washington, D.C. As part of their activities, these groups traditionally visit the White House for a ceremony with the President. In 1996, for the 50th anniversary of Boys and Girls Nation, the groups visited the White House together for the second time in their history. President Clinton, who had been a part of Boys Nation in 1963, gave brief remarks at the ceremony. The President referred to various accomplishments and policies, focusing on violence and children's programming on television. In addition, TWA Flight 800 exploded shortly after take off the day before the 1996 White House Ceremony. The President referred to the tragedy in his remarks to the Boys and Girls Nation delegates. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Alpha Files contained no relevant records. The WHORM Subject files contained two documents of interest. WHORM Subject File ME002 is a packet of items pertaining to the President’s letter for publication in the 1996 Boys Nation Yearbook. These include the request from Boys Nation representatives for the letter, drafts of the letter, and the 1995 Boys Nation Yearbook. WHORM Subject File WE009 is a group of documents regarding the President’s remarks at the Boys and Girls Nation ceremony. These include speech drafts and lists of the Boys and Girls Nation representatives. The White House Staff and Office Files contain correspondence, memoranda, publications, research materials, schedules and speeches maintained by individual offices and staff members. The Public Liaison’s office files contain correspondence between Boys Nation staff members and the White House, lists of Boys Nation participants, and information on Boys Nation ceremonies in 1993, 1994, and 1995. In the Office of Speechwriting, both Laura Capps’ and David Shipley’s files contained relevant documents. Laura Capps’ file contains research materials including biographical information on President Clinton, information on the American Legion and the Boys Nation program, and transcripts of President Clinton’s 1996 Boys and Girls Nation speech, as well as other speeches on related topics. David Shipley’s files contain handwritten notes and drafts of the President’s remarks to Boys and Girls Nation, as well as research on specific topics covered in the speech. The Automated Records Management System (ARMS) Emails contain more documents relating to the 1996 Boys and Girls Nation ceremony. These emails are dated from July 9, 1996 to August 5, 1996. They include conversations regarding planning for the event, schedules, the media advisory, drafts of the remarks, and talking points on children’s television, a topic addressed in the President’s speech.