(2006-0327-F) Olympic Park Bombing

The materials in FOIA 2006-0327-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. FOIA request 2006-0327-F contains material regarding the Centennial Olympic Park bombing that occurred on July 27, 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. Centennial Park was designed as the central gathering place for the 1996 Olympic Games. On the night of the bombing, thousands had gathered in the Park for a concert. At 1:20 a.m. a pipe bomb exploded killing one person, Alice Hawthorne, and injuring 111 others. Melih Uzunyol, a Turkish cameraman, also died when he suffered a heart attack while running to cover the blast. The bomb was later determined to be the work of Eric Rudolph. Despite his intentions, the Olympic Games continued and the Park was reopened. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject Files contain documents relevant to this request. WHORM Subject File JL003 is letter from President Clinton thanking Fidel V. Ramos, President of the Philippines, for his statement of condolence following the bombing. WHORM Subject 2006-0327-F File ME001-03 contains information regarding a telephone call from President Clinton to John Hawthorne, husband of the deceased Alice Hawthorne. Draft letters of condolence from the President to Mr. Hawthorne and to Mrs. Hawthorne’s daughter from a previous marriage are also located in this file. The White House Staff and Office Files contain no responsive records. However, the researcher is directed to FOIA request 2006-0459-F to view a speech writing file of Antony Blinken’s entitled “Remarks Following Olympic Bombing 7/27/1996”. The Automated Records Management System (Email) and the Tape Restoration Project (Email) contains correspondence from various White House staff email accounts and email accounts from outside of the White House concerning the Olympic Park Bombing in Atlanta, GA in 1996. Email includes but is not limited to White House reports, memorandum on potential terroristic acts and necessary security procedures, correspondence and emotional reaction to the bombing. Further, the email contains correspondence, memorandum, reports, etc. concerning the primary suspect in the bombing, Eric Rudolph. The NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management Systems contain additional records regarding the bombing. The NSC Cable System consists of condolence letters sent to the President from foreign leaders. Also included, are President Clinton’s responses to those letters. The NSC Email System consists of speech drafts and administration fact sheets on terrorism. The NSC Records Management System consists of one folder of responsive records, which contains additional condolence letters from foreign leaders.