Expand All Collapse All Extent 4 folders, approximately 324 pages Summary This collection consists of speech drafts, press releases, news transcripts, memos, email and cables pertaining to the NASA discovery of the Allan Hills (ALH) Meteorite 84001 meteorite, mentioned by President Clinton in a statement on August 7, 1996. ALH 84001 is believed to be from Mars. The meteorite made worldwide headlines in 1996 when scientists announced that it might contain evidence for microscopic fossils of Martian bacteria. Scope and Content Note The materials in FOIA 2006-1878-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. The materials in FOIA 2006-1878-F concern the NASA discovery of the Allan Hills meteorite, mentioned by President Clinton in a statement on August 7, 1996. Allan Hills (ALH) Meteorite 84001 was found in Allan Hills, Antarctica on December 27, 1984. ALH 84001 is believed to be from Mars. The meteorite made worldwide headlines in 1996 when scientists announced that it might contain evidence for microscopic fossils of Martian bacteria. The discovery of this evidence of possible life on Mars prompted a response from the Clinton Administration. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject Files contained one responsive document. Subject file OS001 is a memo to the President regarding his statement in response to the discovery of the possible bacteria fossils on ALH 84001. Clinton Presidential Library website 2006-1878-F http://www.clintonlibrary.gov 2 In the White House Staff and Office Files, the files of Kris Balderston in the Cabinet Affairs Office contain drafts of the President’s remarks regarding ALH 84001 on August 7, 1996. The Automated Records Management System (ARMS) Emails also contain responsive documents. These consist primarily of emails discussing the 1996 discovery of fossils on the meteorite. The Tape Restoration Project (TRP) Emails contain a document directing the recipients to websites with photographs of the possible fossils on ALH 84001. The NSC Cable and Email Systems also contain responsive documents. The NSC Cables contain summaries of news reports which mention the possible evidence for life on the meteorite. The NSC Emails consist of statements of the Clinton Administration’s science policy and accomplishments. The discoveries related to ALH 84001 were referenced during the discussion of these achievements. Record Type Textual System of Arrangement Records that were responsive to this FOIA request were found in four collection areas – Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files, Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files, Clinton Presidential Records: ARMS Emails and TRP Emails, and Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable and Email 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 files are processed at the document level. The WHORM Subject file was compiled by the White House Office of Records Management and is a series of categories designed by a letter/number combination. A complete listing of the categories with detailed descriptions is provided in our research room. 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 record 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 Tape Restoration Project (TRP) is a database consisting of restored emails from the Automated Records Management System from July 1994 through June of 2000. The TRP is a database that contains email records of the Executive office of the President. This system maintained unclassified Presidential record email. The TRP 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. 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). Subject Headings Meteorites Organization Names United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Geographic Place Mars (Planet) Antarctica Processed by Staff Archivist, 2009. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. Last Modified Date 2011-04-05 Container List The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2006-1878-F: Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files Category Case Number OS001 Scanned: Case Number 180209SS [OA/ID 14087] Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files Cabinet Affairs Balderston, Kris NASA/MARS [OA/ID 11548] Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System (ARMS) Emails WHO [OA/ID 500,000] [Mars Meteorite] [08/06/1996 – 08/08/1996] Default [OA/ID 1,100,000] [Mars Meteorite] [08/06/1996 – 08/08/1996] Clinton Presidential Records: Tape Restoration Project (TRP) Emails CEA [OA/ID 950,000] [Mars Meteorite] [08/08/1996] Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable and Email Systems NSC Cables Jan 1995 – Dec 1996 [Meteorite and Mars] [08/08/1996 – 08/12/1996] [OA/ID 510000] NSC Emails Exchange – Record (Sept 97 – Jan 01) [Meteorite and Mars] [10/29/1997 – 12/22/2000] [OA/ID 620000] Exchange – Non-Record (Mar 97 – Jan 01) [Meteorite and Mars] [12/24/2000] [OA/ID 630000]