(2020-0242-F) James Keith - National Security Council

73 folders, approximately 6,400 pages

This collection consists of the records of James Keith related to the People’s Republic of China. The collection dates from 1997 to 1998. The records relate primarily to a series of trips that National Security Advisor Samuel Berger took in anticipation of later summits between the Chinese and the United States. The collection addresses Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong, human rights issues, military, and nonproliferation issues. Other persons of note present in this collection are Wang Dan, Jiang Zemin, and Liu Huaqiu. The Asian Affairs directorate of the NSC during the Clinton administration had the tendency to share issues among multiple staff members. This collection reflects that practice and contains records related to China from Jeffery Bader and Ravic Huso. Open records include memoranda, correspondence, email, cables, and administrative forms.

The materials in FOIA 2020-0242-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was for all records of James Keith related to the People’s Republic of China. The collection dates from 1997 to 1998. The records relate primarily to a series of trips that National Security Advisor Samuel Berger took to prepare for later summits between the Chinese and the United States. The collection addresses Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong, human rights issues, military, and nonproliferation issues. Other persons of note present in this collection are Wang Dan, Jiang Zemin, and Liu Huaqiu. The Asian Affairs directorate of the NSC during the Clinton administration had the tendency to share issues among multiple staff members. This collection reflects that practice and contains records related to China from Jeffery Bader and Ravic Huso. Open records include memoranda, correspondence, email, cables, and administrative forms.

Ambassador James Keith grew up in Asia and began his career in foreign service in 1980. Keith spent his career as a foreign service officer for the U.S. Department of State, serving in multiple embassies across Asia. Immediately following his time in the White House, he was the Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs and later Counsel General for the United States to Hong Kong. President George W. Bush named him Ambassador to Malaysia in April 2007, and he was confirmed by the Senate in May. He served in Malaysia until March 2010 when he was tasked with taking up the Deputy Chief of Mission post at Kabul, Afghanistan.

Textual

Records that are responsive to this FOIA request were found in these collection areas—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.

This collection is open to all researchers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. Chapter 22, as amended) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C.§552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions.

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 U.S.C. Chapter 1) which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

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).

Falun Gong (Organization)

China--Hong Kong
Tibet
Panama--Panama Canal

Staff Archivist, 2026.

Box 1
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
National Security Council
Asian Affairs
Bader, Jeffrey / Keith, James
1999 Annual Renewal Normal Trade Relations [1] [OA/ID 2971]
1999 Annual Renewal Normal Trade Relations [2] [OA/ID 2971]
1999 Cox Committee [OA/ID 2971]
1999 Fact Sheets / Briefing Notes [OA/ID 2971]
China - Environment 2000 [OA/ID 2971]
China - Law Enforcement 2000 [OA/ID 2971]
China - PC/DC 2000 [OA/ID 2971]
China - POTUS Memcons 2000 [OA/ID 2971]
Chron 2000 [1] [OA/ID 2971]
Chron 2000 [2] [OA/ID 2971]
Chron 2000 [3] [OA/ID 2971]
Chron 2000 [4] [OA/ID 2971]
Chron 2000 [5] [OA/ID 2971]
Box 2
Chron 2000 [6] [OA/ID 2971]
Chron 2000 [7] [OA/ID 2971]
June 1, 1999 PC / Run Up to APEC Leaders Meeting [1] [OA/ID 2971]
June 1, 1999 PC / Run Up to APEC Leaders Meeting [2] [OA/ID 2971]
Kristoff - Pre-POTUS Trip [OA/ID 2971]
Miscellaneous Trip Books / Memcons [OA/ID 2971]
NODIS - NSC Meetings [1] [OA/ID 2971]
NODIS - NSC Meetings [2] [OA/ID 2971]
Box 3
NODIS - NSC Meetings [3] [OA/ID 2971]
Non-Proliferation - General 2000 [OA/ID 2971]
PetroChina / Frank Wolf 3/2000 [OA/ID 2971]
Taiwan July 1999 Summit [1] [OA/ID 2971]
Taiwan July 1999 Summit [2] [OA/ID 2971]
United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) 1999 [OA/ID 2971]
Keith, James
2 [China - Bader’s Folder] [OA/ID 1941]
3 [China - Berger’s 1998 Trip] [1] [OA/ID 1941]
3 [China - Berger’s 1998 Trip] [2] [OA/ID 1941]
3 [China - Berger’s 1998 Trip] [3] [OA/ID 1941]
Box 4
3 [China - Berger’s 1998 Trip] [4] [OA/ID 1941]
3 [China - Berger’s 1998 Trip] [5] [OA/ID 1941]
[Binder] Background Material Book One [1997] [1] [OA/ID 1942]
[Binder] Background Material Book One [1997] [2] [OA/ID 1942]
[Binder] Background Material Book Two [1997] [OA/ID 1942]
[Binder] NSA Berger China Trip OSD Briefing Book [1] [OA/ID 1942]
[Binder] NSA Berger China Trip OSD Briefing Book [2] [OA/ID 1942]
[Binder] Vice President Gore’s Trip to Asia, March 14, 1997 [1] [OA/ID 1942]
[Binder] Vice President Gore’s Trip to Asia, March 14, 1997 [2] [OA/ID 1942]
Briefing Book Samuel R. Berger Meeting with Liu Huaqiu, December 18, 1996 [1] [OA/ID 1942]
Box 5
Briefing Book Samuel R. Berger Meeting with Liu Huaqiu, December 18, 1996 [2] [OA/ID 1942]
Briefing Book Samuel R. Berger Meeting with Liu Huaqiu, December 18, 1996 [3] [OA/ID 1942]
China - 1998 [1] [OA/ID 1845]
China - 1998 [2] [OA/ID 1845]
China - 1998 [3] [OA/ID 1845]
China - 1998 [4] [OA/ID 1845]
China - 1998 [5] [OA/ID 1845]
China II 1997 [1] [OA/ID 1941]
Box 6
China II 1997 [2] [OA/ID 1941]
China II 1997 [3] [OA/ID 1941]
China II 1997 [4] [OA/ID 1941]
China II 1997 [5] [OA/ID 1941]
China II 1997 [6] [OA/ID 1941]
China Chron [1] [OA/ID 1845]
China Chron [2] [OA/ID 1845]
China Chron [3] [OA/ID 1845]
China Chron [4] [OA/ID 1845]
Box 7
China Chron [5] [OA/ID 1845]
China Chron [6] [OA/ID 1845]
China DC/PC 1998 [OA/ID 1845]
China DC/PC Meetings 1997 [OA/ID 1941]
China - Human Rights 1998 [OA/ID 1845]
China - Nonproliferation 1997 [1] [OA/ID 1941]
China - Nonproliferation 1997 [2] [OA/ID 1941]
China - Nonproliferation 1997 [3] [OA/ID 1941]
Box 8
Keith, James / Ravic, Huso
China - Berger Trip 1997 (Liu Huaqui Meeting) [1] [OA/ID 1943]
China - Berger Trip 1997 (Liu Huaqui Meeting) [2] [OA/ID 1943]
China - Berger Trip 1997 (Liu Huaqui Meeting) [3] [OA/ID 1943]
China - Berger Trip 1997 (Liu Huaqui Meeting) [4] [OA/ID 1943]
China - Berger Trip 1997 (Liu Huaqui Meeting): Berger 8/9-13, 1997 China Trip [1] [OA/ID 1943]
China - Berger Trip 1997 (Liu Huaqui Meeting): Berger 8/9-13, 1997 China Trip [2] [OA/ID 1943]
China - Berger Trip 1997 (Liu Huaqui Meeting): Berger 8/9-13, 1997 China Trip [3] [OA/ID 1943]
Electronic Records
National Security Council
Asian Affairs
Keith, James
[Disk] NSA Berger’s Talking Points [Disk 1] [OA/ID 1942]
[Disk] NSA Berger’s Talking Points [Disk 2] [OA/ID 1942]
[Disk] NSA Berger Meeting with Jiang, Li Peng, and Qian Qichen [OA/ID 1942]