(2008-0015-F) 2001 Presidential Transition

The materials in FOIA 2008-0015-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2008-0015-F contains records regarding the transition from the administration of President William Jefferson Clinton to the administration of George Walker Bush in January 2001. On October 12, 2000, President Clinton signed the Presidential Transition Act to facilitate the change of administrations following the November 7, 2000 election. However, disputed elections results in the state of Florida prolonged the election for 36 days. On December 12, 2000, the United States Supreme Court 5-4 ruling in Bush v. Gore halted the recount of votes in Florida. Vice President and Democratic candidate Albert Gore, Jr. conceded the election, and Republic Governor of Texas George Bush became the 43rd President-elect of the United States. The disputed election had shortened the transition period by over a month, and the Clinton and Bush transition teams had to move quickly to ensure a smooth transition. As part of this effort, National Security Council staff prepared memos and briefing materials to pass off to the incoming Bush national security team, headed by Condoleeza Rice and Stephen Hadley. The researcher should note that several files responsive to this FOIA may be found with FOIA requests 2006-0588-F and 2007-0019-F. The White House Staff and Office files contain materials that reflect preparations on the part of Clinton administration staff to facilitate a transition to the next administration. In the Counsel’s Office, Jane Schaffner’s files contain notes and materials from a retreat at the Brookings Institution on November 16, 2000 that focused on the Presidential transition. However, most of the textual records responsive to this FOIA request originated in the National Security Council. In the Intelligence Programs directorate, James Smith’s papers contain notes, papers, and minutes of Security Policy Board meetings regarding the clearance of incoming transition team staff. In International Economic Affairs, Richard Samans’ files and include correspondence and press materials regarding issues ongoing in that directorate at the time of the 2000 election. There is also a presentation and a paper by Marcel Lettre of Harvard University detailing suggestions for the coordination of National Security Policy and Economic Policy in the next administration. Similar materials, though dealing with different topics, are located in the files Gary Samore in the Nonproliferation and Export Control Directorate. In the office of the Legal Advisor, Mary Derosa’s files contain memoranda, correspondence, schedules, and forms regarding the production of transition documents and the transfer of Clinton Presidential Records to the National Archives and Records Administration. The NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management System also contains documents responsive to the topics of the FOIA request. The NSC Records Management numbered documents contain a January 12, 2001 memo from Greg Schulte to Executive Secretary Robert Bradtke regarding the transition papers on the implementation of the Dayton Accords. The NSC Cables consist of electronic cables dating between November 8, 2000 and January 20, 2001 regarding ongoing foreign policy issues and reference consultations with the transition team. The cables also include requests from foreign officials to visit the United States after the transition, meet with the next administration’s transition team, meeting with the President-elect, or attend the inauguration. There are also numerous congratulatory messages intended for President-elect Bush. The majority of the responsive materials are found in the NSC Email system. These emails, dating between November 8, 2000 and January 19, 2001, primarily concern administrative matters. These include transition planning meetings, guidance on the retention and transfer of Presidential records, the preparation of transition and administrative history papers, personnel matters, contact information for the Bush transition team, and the logistical challenges in finding workspace for transition team staff. The emails also contain drafts of the unclassified transition papers and some mention of ongoing foreign policy issues. The researcher should be aware that many of the records related to this FOIA case are closed for national security reasons.