Expand All Collapse All Extent 148 folders, approximately 10,800 pages Summary This collection consists of records regarding relations with France during the Clinton Administration. Despite areas of tension on nuclear testing and economic matters, President Clinton enjoyed a constructing working relationship with French Presidents Francois Mitterand and Jacques Chirac and cooperation on humanitarian, United Nations, and NATO activities. President Clinton also visited France five times during his eight years in office. The records in this collection include correspondence, memoranda, press materials, reports, briefing papers, speeches, and publications. Scope and Content Note The materials in FOIA 2008-1184-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2008-1184-F contains records regarding bilateral relations between the United States and France during the administration of President William Jefferson Clinton. During Clinton’s two terms, Francois Mitterrand and his successor, Jacques Chirac, were the presidents of France. Generally, President Clinton and the United States enjoyed a friendly collaboration with France and her leaders during the 1990s, though their were some areas of tension. Nuclear weapons issues were one source of disagreement between the two nations. The United States, along with several nations, began negotiating the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1993. France, after signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1992, had suspended her nuclear testing. However, after he entered office in May 1995, Chirac announced the resumption of testing at the Murora Atoll in the Pacific - a move was unpopular both domestically and internationally. In September, following the first test, the Clinton Administration publicly “regretted” France’s actions. This lead to significant tension between the two nations. In February 1996, just before his official state visit, President Chirac announced the completion of nuclear testing. The United States and France signed the CTBT that same year. The two nations also clashed over economic matters in the 1990s. Disagreements arose over the issues of genetically modified food, as well as competition between American and French airlines and airplane manufacturers. An incident in 1995, involving alleged CIA economic espionage, further strained relations. France also disapproved of the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran and Libya, as well as the embargo against Cuba. Despite these disagreements, the administrations of Mitterrand, Chirac, and Clinton cooperated on many matters. Together, they supported peacekeeping and humanitarian aid activities in Africa, United Nations Security Council resolutions in Iraq, and NATO matters. Both nations participated significantly in NATO exercises in Bosnia and Kosovo. In 1995, France, after a thirty year absence, rejoined NATO’s military structure. In July 1997, the NATO nations, including France, invited the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join the alliance. Through the decade, Clinton administration officials enjoyed constructive rapport with their French counterparts, meeting multiple times to discuss matters of mutual interest. Chirac, who had spent part of his youth traveling the United States, made an official visit to the United States in February 1996. President Clinton visited France five times during his eight years in office. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton made a much-publicized trip with Mme Chirac to Paris and to the region of Corrèze in May 1998. There were other gestures of mutual respect. When President Mitterrand died of cancer in 1996, Clinton sent personal notes of condolence to Mme Mitterrand and to President Chirac. When the American Ambassador to France, Pamela Harriman, passed away, President Chirac conferred France’s highest decoration, the Legion of Honor, upon her. All of the records responsive the FOIA request are White House Staff and Office Files. They are all located within the National Security Council (NSC) records. In the NSC Administration Office, Marsha Dimel’s file contains travel material for the presidential delegation for the Paris funeral of Ambassador Pamela Harriman on February 8, 1997. President Clinton dispatched Air Force One to carry the delegation and to return Harriman’s remains to the United States for burial in New York. The files in the African Affairs directorate contain materials related to French-American cooperation on African Policy. The relevant records, located in the Files of Susan Rice, MacArthur DeShazer, Shawn McCormick, Roban Sanders, Gayle Smith, James Steinberg, Ernest Wilson, Cathy Byrne, and Jendayi Frazer include public statements, speeches, articles, reports, briefing papers, correspondence, and memoranda. Administrative material related to National Security Advisor Anthony Lake’s May 1996 travel to France, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, and Italy is also found in these files. In the Defense Policy Office, the records of Steven Andreasen, Robert Bell, and Anne Wikowsky contain reports, memoranda, correspondence, and publications addressing specific nuclear issues with France. These include the development of the CTBT, the French resumption of nuclear testing in 1996, and rumors of French aircraft overflying the United States while carrying nuclear material to their test sites in the Pacific. The majority of the documents responsive to this FOIA are found in the files of European Affairs staffers, including Donald Bandler, Antony Blinken, Keirn Brown, John Feeley, Anthony Gardner, Philip Gordon, Charles Kupchan, Julien Lebourgeois, Nancy McEldowney, and Mary Ann Peters. These records contain memoranda, press materials, emails, correspondence, and briefing materials on a variety of matters pertaining to U.S.-French relations. The documents address issues of meetings and visits between officials from both nations, trade matters, extradition issues, the NATO alliance, and Iraq policy. Many of these records related to the processing of correspondence between President Clinton, President Mitterrand, and Chirac. Although a large number of documents were processed in response to this FOIA, the majority of these records are closed for national security reasons. Record Type Textual System of Arrangement Records that are responsive to this FOIA request were found in the following collection area – Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files. Staff and Office files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. 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. 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, 2012. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. Last Modified Date 2012-04-24 Container List The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2008-1184-F: Box 1 Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files National Security Council NSC Admin Dimel, Marsha SRB [Berger] Trip to Paris, 2/7-2/8/97 [OA/ID 3289] African Affairs Rice, Susan/DeShazer, MacArthur/McCormick, Shawn France 1996 [1] [OA/ID 1146] France 1996 [2] [OA/ID 1146] Sanders, Robin Africa-France [OA/ID 1871] G-7/8, France [OA/ID 1871] Steinberg, James/Rice, Susan/Smith, Gayle Briefing Book: Lake Trip to France, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Italy (May 1996) [1] [OA/ID 2358] Briefing Book: Lake Trip to France, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Italy (May 1996) [2] [OA/ID 2358] Briefing Book: Lake Trip to France, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Italy (May 1996) [3] [OA/ID 2358] Wilson, Ernest J./Rice, Susan/Smith, Gayle/Frazer, Jendayi/Byrne, Cathy et al. France [1] [OA/ID 2850] Box 2 France [2] [OA/ID 2850] France [3] [OA/ID 2850] Defense Policy Andreasen, Steven [United Kingdom-France Coopeation, 1995] [OA/ID 3314] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] Negotiations, Nuclear Testing, France (AprilAugust 1995) [1] [OA/ID 3331] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] Negotiations, Nuclear Testing, France (AprilAugust 1995) [2] [OA/ID 3331] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] Negotiations, Nuclear Testing, France (AprilAugust 1995) [3] [OA/ID 3331] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] Negotiations, Nuclear Testing, France (AprilAugust 1995) [4] [OA/ID 3331] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] Negotiations, Nuclear Testing, France (AprilAugust 1995) [5] [OA/ID 3331] Box 3 Nuclear Test-France (October-November 1993) [OA/ID 3333] [United Kingdom/France Cooperation, September-October 1993] [OA/ID 3559] Presidential Memcons France/Nuclear, 1994 [OA/ID 3559] Nuclear Testing-France, August-September 1995 [OA/ID 3650] [US/France Cooperation, October-December 1996] [OA/ID 3850] France Overflights [OA/ID 4128] Bell, Robert Paris Airshow - April 1993 [OA/ID 379] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France-August 1993 [OA/ID 381] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France-July 1993 [OA/ID 381] [France Cooperation – July 1993] [OA/ID 381] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France, September 1993 [OA/ID 741] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France-April 1994 [OA/ID 844] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France-July 1994 [OA/ID 937] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France-August 1994 [OA/ID 938] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France-October 1994 [OA/ID 939] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France – November-December 1994 [OA/ID 941] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France-May 1994 [OA/ID 942] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France-June 1994 [OA/ID 942] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France, April-June 1995 [OA/ID 1428] Box 4 [France Cooperation, April-June 1995] [OA/ID 1428] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France, July-September 1995 [OA/ID 1588] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France, January-March 1996 [OA/ID 1831] [France Cooperation, October-December 1995] [OA/ID 1861] US/France Cooperation, April-June 1996 [OA/ID 1864] CTB [Comprehensive Test Ban] – France, October-December 1995 [OA/ID 1946] France Nuclear Doctrine, December 1993 [OA/ID 3662] Pimentel, Betsy/Bolton, Edward Remote Sensing Cooperation – France [OA/ID 2904] Witkowsky, Anne France [1] [OA/ID 733] France [2] [OA/ID 733] European Affairs Bandler, Donald France [1] [OA/ID 1506] France [2] [OA/ID 1506] France/Iraq [OA/ID 1506] Box 5 France/NATO [OA/ID 1506] Jospin Trip [France] [OA/ID 1507] Jospin Visit [France] [1] [OA/ID 1509] Jospin Visit [France] [2] [OA/ID 1509] Jospin Visit [France] [3] [OA/ID 1509] Jospin Visit [France] [4] [OA/ID 1509] Blinken, Antony France-Small Arms [OA/ID 3506] France-ESDI [European Security Defense Initiative] [OA/ID 3506] France-French American Business Council [OA/ID 3506] France-Trip Memo, February 1-5, 1999 [OA/ID 3506] France-Chirac Visit, Pre-briefing, February 19, 1999 [OA/ID 3506] France-Chirac Visit Schedule, February 18-19, 1999 [OA/ID 3506] France-Chirac Visit Meeting Memo, February 19, 1999 [OA/ID 3506] Box 6 France-Talbott Delegation Meeting, February 2, 1999 [OA/ID 3506] France-Meeting with Dominique Perben, April 1999 [OA/ID 3506] France-Steinberg Meeting with Hennekinne, April 2, 1999 [OA/ID 3506] France-Meeting with [Gérard] Errera, May 29, 1999 [OA/ID 3506] France-Meeting with Political Director Gérard Errera [OA/ID 3506] France-Berger Meeting with France Minister of Defense Alain Richard [OA/ID 3506] France-Berger Meeting with Felix Rohatyn, April 10, 2000 [OA/ID 3506] France-Meeting with Diplomatic Advisors Sabliere and Levitte, February 25, 2000 [OA/ID 3506] France-Berger Meeting with MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] Hubert Vendrine, May 12, 2000 [OA/ID 3506] France-Meeting with Pascale Andreani, et al., June 23, 2000 [OA/ID 3506] France-Meeting with Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, June 27, 2000 [OA/ID 3506] France-Meeting with Ambassador Felix Rohatyn, October 12, 2000 [OA/ID 3506] Kosovo-Managing France [OA/ID 3772] Brown, Keirn France [OA/ID 2194] Chirac Visit [France] [1] [OA/ID 2196] Chirac Visit [France] [2] [OA/ID 2196] Chirac Visit [France]: 6698 [OA/ID 2196] Feeley, John [POTUS] Telcons, 1995-1996 [President Jacques Chirac of France] [OA/ID 905] France and NATO [OA/ID 910] Box 7 Gardner, Anthony France [1] [OA/ID 529] France [2] [OA/ID 529] France [3] [OA/ID 529] France [4] [OA/ID 529] France [5] [OA/ID 529] France [6] [OA/ID 529] France [7] [OA/ID 529] France [8] [OA/ID 529] Box 8 France [9] [OA/ID 529] France [10] [OA/ID 529] France [11] [OA/ID 529] France II [1] [OA/ID 529] France II [2] [OA/ID 529] France II [3] [OA/ID 529] Gordon, Philip France [1] [OA/ID 2470] France [2] [OA/ID 2470] Box 9 France [3] [OA/ID 2470] Kupchan, Charles France [OA/ID 53] France [OA/ID 55] Lebourgeois, Julien France I [1] [OA/ID 359] France I [2] [OA/ID 359] France I [3] [OA/ID 359] France I [4] [OA/ID 359] France I [5] [OA/ID 359] France I [6] [OA/ID 359] Box 10 France I [7] [OA/ID 359] McEldowney, Nancy France [Mary Ann Peters] [1] [OA/ID 1191] France [Mary Ann Peters] [2] [OA/ID 1191] France [Mary Ann Peters] [3] [OA/ID 1191] France [Mary Ann Peters] [4] [OA/ID 1191] France [Mary Ann Peters] [5] [OA/ID 1191] France [Mary Ann Peters] [6] [OA/ID 1191] France [Mary Ann Peters] [7] [OA/ID 1191] Box 11 France 1997 [Peters] [1] [OA/ID 1191] France 1997 [Peters] [2] [OA/ID 1191] France 1997 [Peters] [3] [OA/ID 1191] France 1997 [Peters] [4] [OA/ID 1191] France [Peters] [1] [OA/ID 1191] France [Peters] [2] [OA/ID 1191] France [Peters] [3] [OA/ID 1191] France [Peters] [4] [OA/ID 1191] Box 12 France [Peters] [5] [OA/ID 1191] France [Peters] [6] [OA/ID 1191] Berger Trip to Paris [1] [OA/ID 1719] Clinton Presidential Library’s web site Berger Trip to Paris [2] [OA/ID 1719] Berger Trip to Paris [3] [OA/ID 1719] FLOTUS [First Lady of the United States] Trip to France [1] [OA/ID 1719] FLOTUS [First Lady of the United States] Trip to France [2] [OA/ID 1719] FLOTUS [First Lady of the United States] Trip to France [3] [OA/ID 1719] Jospin Visit [France] [1] [OA/ID 1720] Box 13 Jospin Visit [France] [2] [OA/ID 1720] Jospin Visit [France] [3] [OA/ID 1720] Jospin Visit [France] [4] [OA/ID 1720] Jospin Visit [France] [5] [OA/ID 1720] Peters, Mary Ann POTUS [President of the United States] Trip to Paris, The Hague, London, May 1997 [OA/ID 891] France – Legislative Elections [OA/ID 891] [Closed Folder Title] [OA/ID 891] Lake Trip to Paris, November 1, 1996 [France] [1] [OA/ID 1012] Lake Trip to Paris, November 1, 1996 [France] [2] [OA/ID 1012] Box 14 Lake Trip to Paris, November 1, 1996 [France] [3] [OA/ID 1012] Levitte Visit, January 24, 1997 [France] [1] [OA/ID 1012] Levitte Visit, January 24, 1997 [France] [2] [OA/ID 1012] Levitte Visit, January 24, 1997 [France] [3] [OA/ID 1012] Chirac Visit, February 1, 1996 [France] [1] [OA/ID 1012] Chirac Visit, February 1, 1996 [France] [2] [OA/ID 1012] Box 15 Chirac Visit, February 1, 1996 [France] [3] [OA/ID 1012] Chirac Visit, February 1, 1996 [France] [4] [OA/ID 1012]