(2006-0651-F) Jean-Bertrand Aristide - President of Haiti

287 folders, approximately 9,879 pages

This collection contains materials related to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti. In 1990, the Salesian priest won election to the office of President of Haiti at the head of his Organisation Politique “Lavalas.” However, military coup forced him into exile in the United States the next year. In 1994, with the diplomatic, economic, and military assistance of the Clinton Administration, Aristide returned to Haiti. He remained in office until February 1996. Aristide won his second Presidential election in 2000, though a violent rebellion forced him from office in 2004. Aristide spent his second exile in South Africa and returned to Haiti in 2011. The records in this collection, dating from January 1993 to January 2001, consist of emails, cables, and correspondence concerning the Clinton Administration’s relationship with Aristide, as well as the latter’s return to Haiti in 1994.

The materials in FOIA 2006-0651-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Jean-Bertrand Aristide was born in Haiti in 1953. After receiving an education at the College Notre Dame, the State University of Haiti, and the Grande Seminaire Notre Dame, he became an ordained Salesian priest. Assigned to a parish in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, Aristide embraced liberation theology and preached in opposition to the regimes of dictator François “Papa Doc” Dulavier and his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Dulavier. Aristide eventually became the leader of the “ti legiz” movement against the Dulaviers. In 1990, Aristide successfully ran for President of Haiti at the head of the new political party, Organization Politique “Lavalas” (OPL). Although President Aristide was able to bring about some reforms during his first months in office, opposition from businessmen and the military lead to a coup d’etat which forced the Haitian President into exile on September 29, 1991. Aristide first fled to Venezuela and then to the United States, where he resided for the duration of his exile. During this period, the Haitian government was primarily controlled by Army General Raoul Cédras. In July 1993, under international pressure in the form of sanctions, Aristide and Cédras met at Governors Island, New York, to discuss terms for Aristide’s return to Haiti and resolution of the political crisis. The resulting document, the Governors Island Accord, specified these terms, including the appointment by Aristide of a new prime minister, the granting of amnesty for members for those involved in the coup, and the return of Aristide in October 1993. However, Aristide’s return was postponed due to fears for his safety should he return to Haiti. On July 31, 1994, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 940, which authorized the deployment of a multinational force under American leadership to restore Aristide to the presidency of Haiti. In addition to sending troops to Haiti under Operation Uphold Democracy on September 19, 1994, President Clinton sent a diplomatic delegation consisting of former President Jimmy Carter, Senator Sam Nunn, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell. Under this pressure, Cédras resigned and left for exile in Panama in early October. Aristide returned to Haiti on October 15, 1994. During the remainder of his first term in office, President Aristide created a civilian police force in place of the Haitian army, which he disbanded. The Haitian constitution, which does not allow for consecutive presidential terms, prevented Aristide from running for reelection in the fall of 1995. Although some felt that Aristide’s term should have been extended by three years due to his exile, Aristide left the presidency on February 7, 1996. His first Prime Minister, René Préval succeeded him. In the meantime, Aristide’s differences with the Catholic hierarchy led him to leave the clergy, allowing him to marry American lawyer and speechwriter Mildred Trouillot in January 1996. The couple has two daughters. Throughout President Préval’s term, Aristide remained an active political figure. In 1996, he abandoned OPL, which changed its name to Organization du Peuple en Lutte, and created the Fanmi Lavalas party. As the head of this party, Aristide successfully ran again for the Haitian presidency in the fall of 2000. His second term in this office began on February 7, 2001. However, a violent rebellion, which began in September 2003, forced Aristide out of office on February 28, 2004. Aristide eventually settled in South Africa for his second exile. Aristide returned to Haiti on March 18, 2011. The NSC Cables, Emails, and Records Management Systems (RMS) contain much of the material responsive to FOIA 2006-0651-F. The NSC Cables, dating January 1993 through January 2001, contain international media coverage of Aristide throughout this time period, transcripts of his speeches, reports of a general nature regarding his activities, and routine correspondence between him and President Clinton. Correspondence between National Security Council Staff members regarding Aristide, dating February 1993 through January 2001, is located in the NSC Emails. These emails include press guidance on Aristide and the political situation in Haiti, discussions of Haitian President’s activities, references to dialogue with interested members of Congress, and planning documents for Aristide’s numerous visits to Washington, D.C. The emails also include discussion of Radio Democracy, a station created by the U.S. to broadcast Aristide’s messages to the Haitian people in the months prior to his return, as well as references to correspondence between Aristide and the Clinton Administration. NSC Records Management materials consist largely of tracking sheets and administrative paperwork. Much of this material is closed for national security reasons. However, there are substantive letters from members of congress and the public at-large, primarily celebrities, regarding Jean-Bertrand Aristide. There are also talking points, speeches, and correspondence related to state visits or the return of Aristide to Haiti. The collection also contains some limited correspondence between President Clinton and Aristide. The Automated Records Management System (ARMS) Emails contains correspondence, memos, press analysis, and talking points concerning President Aristide. Specifically, the emails consist of interoffice correspondence concerning visits by Aristide to the White House. Responsive ARMS records also contain interoffice correspondence and world press analysis concerning American involvement in restoring democracy to Haiti. The Worker and Visitor Entry System (WAVES) contains material responsive to FOIA 2006-0651-F. Responsive WAVES entries are related to Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s entry to the White House and appointments with President Clinton. Many of the records related to this FOIA case are closed for national security reasons.

Textual

Records that are responsive to this FOIA are found in these collection areas – Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files, Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files CF, Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files; Clinton Presidential Records: ARMS Emails, Clinton Presidential Records: Electronic Daily Diary, Clinton Presidential Records: Electronic WAVES Files, and Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails, and Records Management System. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) contains a variety of series created to organize and track documents and correspondence. The WHORM Subject file was compiled by the White House Office of Records Management and is a series of categories designated by a letter/number combination. In addition, there are WHORM, WHORM Counsel, WHORM (CL), WHORM (OP), WHORM (Too Late); WHORM (Various Offices); and WHORM (Alpha Project) series. Staff and Office Files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and documents all levels of administrative activity. WHORM files are processed at the document level; whereas, 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. The Automated Records Management System (ARMS) is a database that contains email records of the Executive Office of the President. This system maintained unclassified Presidential email. The ARMS dataset is comprised of 6 sub-series of email records called “Buckets.” The buckets include NPR, OPD, POTUS, WHO, CEA, and Default. ARMS emails are arranged chronologically by creation date. The Electronic Daily Diary is a log of the President’s daily activities and is arranged by chronologically by date. The Electronic WAVES Search System is a log of visitors/appointments to the White House and is arranged by name of visitor there under by date. FOIA 2006-0651-F includes WHORM records from these subject codes: CO001-01 Africa CO072 Haiti, Republic of CO156 South Africa, Republic of FG001-02 Personal Representative of the President FG006-01 White House Office FG006-06 National Security Council FG035 Senate FO006-06 Summit of the Americas, Miami, FL, Dec94 (Hemispheric Summit) GI002 Gifts to the President GI003 Gifts to or from the U.S. IV096 Invitations 1996 JL002 Civil Matters ME001 Messages (sent to individuals) PU001-07 Clippings to the President TR126-04 Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 3/31/95

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.

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).

Haiti
Haitians

Aristide, Jean-Bertrand

Staff Archivist, 2011. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released.

The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2006-0651-F:
Box 1
Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM: Subject File
Category Case Number
CO001-01 080611
CO072 000634
CO072 000675
CO072 001742
CO072 002021
CO072 004194
CO072 006390
CO072 007606
CO072 007996SS
CO072 010872
CO072 015890
CO072 020193
CO072 029417SS
CO072 034161
CO072 036229
CO072 040821
CO072 040924
CO072 041617
CO072 043590
CO072 045588
CO072 048140
CO072 049204
CO072 052502
CO072 054456
CO072 058898
CO072 060606
CO072 063901
CO072 064390
CO072 072005
CO072 073272
Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM: Subject File (continued)
CO072 079323
CO072 080179SS
CO072 080870
CO072 081163
CO072 083276
CO072 083631
CO072 083778SS
CO072 089487
CO072 109616
CO072 122735SS
CO156 080836
CO156 084090SS
FG006-01 117262
FG006-06 016752
FG035 087227
FO006-06 094170[1]
Box 2
FO006-06 094170[2]
FO006-06 094170[3]
FO006-06 094170[4]
GI002 124812
GI003 085813SS
IV096 174975
JL002 041053CU
ME001 138360
PU001-07 042556SS
PU001-07 087474SS
TR126-04 120695
Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM: Subject File CF
CO072 000259
CO072 020378
CO072 083778
CO072 008555SS
CO072 172607SS
FG001-02 092278
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Communications
Walker, Ann
Aristide Development: Haiti and the US Article [OA/ID10490]
Legislative Affairs
Millsap, Elsa
Events-October: Event with Aristide West Lobby 10/14/94 [OA/ID 6522]
National Security Council
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Lake, Anthony
Memcons/Telcons [President Aristide of Haiti] [OA/ID 1466]
Executive Secretary
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files (continued)
Itoh, William
Aristide, March 1993 [OA/ID 822]
Aristide, October 14, 1994 [OA/ID 825]
FG006-01
212691 [Aristide] [OA/ID 8538]
Global Affairs
Darragh, Sean
Narcotics-Aristide [Haiti] [OA/ID 272]
Box 3
Inter-American Affairs
Rossin, Lawrence
[Haiti] – Aristide Allegations [OA/ID 366]
Legal Advisor
Baker, James
Haiti – Aristide [OA/ID 2374]
Speechwriting
Blinken, Anthony
Clinton – Aristide Farewell, October 14, 1994 [OA/ID 3386]
Points for Aristide 10/14/94 [OA/ID 3384]
Boostin, Robert
Aristide Speeches [OA/ID 423]
Haiti – Aristide Goodbye – 10/14/94 [OA/ID 421]
Haiti – Aristide Delegation – 10/16/94 [OA/ID 421]
Staff Director
Soderberg, Nancy
Haiti – Aristide, October 1993 [OA/ID 1392]
Haiti – Calls, October, 1993 [OA/ID 1392]
Haiti – Calls to Aristide/Malval, Press Statement and Talking Points, October 29
[OA/ID 1392]
[Haiti] – CIA and Aristide, 1993 [OA/ID 1392]
Haiti, 1993 [OA/ID 1392]
Haiti Crisis, 1993 [OA/ID 1392]
Transnational Threats
Clarke, Richard
Haiti – Aristide [OA/ID 3550]
Public Liaison
McAfee, Flo
Aristide Ceremony 10/14/94 [OA/ID 11052]
Haiti Delegation 10/15/94 [OA/ID 11052]
Haiti Preval Inaugural Delegation 2/7/96 [OA/ID 11052]
Box 4
Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email]
OPD [OA/ID 250,000]
[Aristide]
 [10/31/1997]
WHO [OA/ID 500,000]
[Aristide]
[03/04/1993 – 10/01/1993]
[10/11/1993 – 09/15/1994]
Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email] (continued)
[09/15/1994 – 10/27/2000]
Default [OA/ID 1,100,000]
[Aristide]
[03/12/1993 – 07/13/1994]
NSC [OA/ID 1200000]
[Aristide]
[06/14/1996]
Clinton Presidential Records: Electronic Daily Diary
[Aristide]
[03/16/1993 – 12/26/1995] [OA/ID 150,000]
Clinton Presidential Records: Electronic Waves Search System
[Aristide]
[07/22/1993 – 03/25/1994] [OA/ID 180,000]
Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails and Records Management System (RMS)
NSC Cables
Jan 1993 – Dec 1994
[Aristide]
[01/22/1993 – 02/27/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[03/01/1993 – 04/29/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[05/04/1993 – 06/09/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[06/10/1993 – 06/22/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
Box 5
[06/23/1993 – 06/30/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[07/02/1993 – 07/30/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[08/02/1993 – 08/31/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[09/07/1993 – 09/30/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[10/05/1993 – 10/22/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[10/24/1993 – 10/29/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[10/29/1993 – 11/03/1993] [OA/ID 505000]
[01/04/1994 – 01/31/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[02/01/1994 – 02/25/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[03/01/1994 – 03/30/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
Box 6
[04/01/1994 – 04/29/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[05/02/1994 – 05/27/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[06/01/1994 – 06/30/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[07/01/1994 – 07/30/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[08/02/1994 – 08/12/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[08/16/1994 – 08/31/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[09/08/1994 – 09/20/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[09/21/1994 – 09/30/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[10/01/1994 – 10/06/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[10/07/1994 – 10/11/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
Box 7
[10/12/1994 – 10/15/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[10/16/1994 – 10/18/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails and Records Management System (RMS)
(continued)
[10/19/1994 – 10/20/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[10/21/1994 – 10/26/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[10/27/1994 – 10/31/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[11/01/1994 – 11/18/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[11/19/1994 – 11/30/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
[12/01/1994 – 12/13/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
Box 8
[12/14/1994 – 12/31/1994] [OA/ID 505000]
Jan 1995 – Dec 1996
[Aristide]
[01/04/1995 – 01/19/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[01/20/1995 – 01/31/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[02/02/1995 – 02/16/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[03/03/1995 – 03/31/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[04/01/1995 – 04/14/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[05/01/1995 – 05/16/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[05/17/1995 – 05/31/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[06/01/1995 – 06/09/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[06/14/1995 – 06/30/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
Box 9
[07/01/1995 – 07/19/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[07/20/1995 – 07/31/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[08/01/1995 – 08/22/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[08/23/1995 – 08/31/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[09/01/1995 – 09/19/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[09/20/1995 – 09/30/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[10/02/1995 – 10/15/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[10/16/1995 – 10/31/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[11/01/1995 – 11/15/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[11/17/1995 – 11/30/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
Box 10
[12/01/1995 – 12/22/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
[03/05/1996 – 06/29/1996] [OA/ID 510000]
[07/01/1996 – 09/29/1996] [OA/ID 510000]
[10/02/1996 – 12/20/1996] [OA/ID 510000]
Jan 1997 – Dec 1998
[Aristide]
[01/03/1997 – 04/22/1997] [OA/ID 520000]
[05/01/1997 – 07/30/1997] [OA/ID 520000]
[08/04/1997 – 11/19/1997] [OA/ID 520000]
[12/18/1997 – 02/03/1998] [OA/ID 520000]
Box 11
[03/10/1998 – 05/29/1998] [OA/ID 520000]
[06/12/1998 – 12/23/1998] [OA/ID 520000]
Jan 1999 – Dec 2000
[Aristide]
[01/15/1999 – 09/21/1999] [OA/ID 530000]
Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails and Records Management System (RMS)
(continued)
[10/09/1999 – 12/30/1999] [OA/ID 530000]
[01/20/2000 – 03/31/2000] [OA/ID 530000]
[04/18/2000 – 06/28/2000] [OA/ID 530000]
[07/05/2000 – 09/27/2000] [OA/ID 530000]
[10/03/2000 – 10/30/2000] [OA/ID 530000]
[11/07/2000 – 12/29/2000] [OA/ID 530000]
Jan 2001
[Aristide]
[01/02/2001 – 01/19/2001] [OA/ID 540000]
Box 12
NSC Emails
A1 – Record (Jan 93 – Sept 94)
[Aristide]
[02/04/1993 – 04/15/1993] [OA/ID 570000]
[05/12/1993 – 07/30/1993] [OA/ID 570000]
[08/02/1993 – 10/29/1993] [OA/ID 570000]
[11/01/1993 – 12/30/1993] [OA/ID 570000]
[01/05/1994 – 03/30/1994] [OA/ID 570000]
[04/01/1994 – 04/28/1994] [OA/ID 570000]
[05/02/1994 – 05/23/1994] [OA/ID 570000]
[06/02/1994 – 07/27/1994] [OA/ID 570000]
[08/03/1994 – 09/22/1994] [OA/ID 570000]
Box 13
A1 – Non-Record (Apr 94 – Sept 94)
[Aristide]
[04/05/1994 – 09/22/1994] [OA/ID 580000]
MSMail – Record (Sept 94 – Sept 97)
[Aristide]
[09/22/1994 – 12/02/1994] [OA/ID 590000]
[01/17/1995 – 12/26/1995] [OA/ID 590000]
[01/18/1996 – 09/20/1996] [OA/ID 590000]
MSMail – Non-Record (Sept 94 – Sept 97)
[Aristide]
[10/05/1994 – 08/06/1996] [OA/ID 605000]
Exchange – Record (Sept 97 – Jan 01)
[Aristide]
[09/23/1998 – 01/12/2001] [OA/ID 620000]
Exchange – Non-Record (Mar 97 – Jan 01)
[Aristide]
[07/24/1998 – 12/14/2000] [OA/ID 630000]
NSC Records Management
[Aristide]
9300109 [OA/ID 139]
9300269 [OA/ID 139]
9300476 [OA/ID 140]
9300786 [OA/ID 140]
9300967 [OA/ID 141]
9301070 [OA/ID 141]
Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails and Records Management System (RMS)
(continued)
9301290 [OA/ID 142]
9301231 [OA/ID 142]
9301469 [OA/ID 143]
9301605 [OA/ID 143]
9301799 [OA/ID 144]
9302087 [OA/ID 145]
Box 14
9302902 [OA/ID 180]
9303388 [OA/ID 149]
9303422 [OA/ID 149]
9303527 [OA/ID 149]
9304452 [OA/ID 2271]
9305140 [OA/ID 2272]
9305294 [OA/ID 154]
9305297 [OA/ID 154]
9305366 [OA/ID 154]
9305405 [OA/ID 154]
9305455 [OA/ID 154]
9307277 [OA/ID 163]
9307493 [OA/ID 164]
9307620 [OA/ID 165]
9307732 [OA/ID 166]
9308095 [OA/ID 168]
9308181 [OA/ID 168]
9308193 [OA/ID 168]
9308233 [OA/ID 168]
9308343 [OA/ID 169]
9308369 [OA/ID 169]
9308379 [OA/ID 169]
9308457 [OA/ID 170]
9308458 [OA/ID 170]
9308470 [OA/ID 170]
9308555 [OA/ID 170]
9308947 [OA/ID 172]
9309287 [OA/ID 174]
9309524 [OA/ID 175]
9309541 [OA/ID 175]
9309590 [OA/ID 176]
Box 15
9309721 [OA/ID 176]
9309810 [OA/ID 177]
9309885 [OA/ID 177]
9400025 [OA/ID 181]
9400174 [OA/ID 181]
9400310 [OA/ID 467]
9400940 [OA/ID 469]
9401345 [OA/ID 185]
9401837 [OA/ID 2285]
Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails and Records Management System (RMS)
(continued)
9402079 [OA/ID 471]
9402296 [OA/ID 189]
9402312 [OA/ID 189]
9402348 [OA/ID 471]
9402367 [OA/ID 190]
9402499 [OA/ID 471]
9402666 [OA/ID 472]
9403074 [OA/ID 472]
9405615 [OA/ID 478]
9407723 [OA/ID 481]
9407744 [OA/ID 481]
9407798 [OA/ID 215]
9407813 [OA/ID 215]
9407937 [OA/ID 215]
9407947 [OA/ID 215]
9408012 [OA/ID 216]
9408225 [OA/ID 2298]
9408306 [OA/ID 217]
9408364 [OA/ID 482]
9408500 [OA/ID 218]
9808874 [OA/ID 482]
9410109 [OA/ID 226]
9500229 [OA/ID 559]
9500884 [OA/ID 563]
9500900 [OA/ID 564]
9501598 [OA/ID 568]
9501617 [OA/ID 568]
9503625 [OA/ID 581]
9504490 [OA/ID 587]
9504931 [OA/ID 591]
9505646 [OA/ID 596]
9505784 [OA/ID 597]
9505840 [OA/ID 597]
Box 16
9507221 [OA/ID 606]
9507987 [OA/ID 611]
9508446 [OA/ID 615]
9508467 [OA/ID 615]
9508666 [OA/ID 616]
9509166 [OA/ID 620]
9509187 [OA/ID 620]
9521437 [OA/ID 2177]
9600313 [OA/ID 1081]
9600709 [OA/ID 1084]
9604134 [OA/ID 1107]
9605142 [OA/ID 1114]
9607417 [OA/ID 1129]
Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails and Records Management System (RMS)
(continued)
9704348 [OA/ID 1627]
9704541 [OA/ID 1628]
9806308 [OA/ID 2058]
0003232 [OA/ID 4090]
0004209 [OA/ID 4096]
0007302 [OA/ID 4114]
0100206 [OA/ID 4183]