(2008-1268-F) Pardon of Patricia “Patty” Hearst Shaw

5 folders, 44 pages

This collection contains records relating to the pardon of Patricia “Patty” Hearst Shaw. The records consist of reports, correspondence, and tracking sheets. The materials include letters to the President both in support of the pardon of Patty Hearst Shaw, and letters/reports in favor of denial. Patty Hearst was kidnapped in 1974 by the Symbionese Liberation Army, and was convicted in 1976 of armed robbery. President Carter commuted her sentence in 1979. President Clinton pardoned her January 20, 2001.

The materials in FOIA 2008-1268-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 2008-1268-F contains records relating to the pardon of Patricia “Patty” Hearst Shaw. The records consist of reports, correspondence, and tracking sheets. The materials include letters to the President both in support of the pardon of Patty Hearst Shaw, and letters/reports in favor of denial. Patty Hearst was kidnapped in 1974 by the Symbionese Liberation Army, and was convicted in 1976 of armed robbery. President Carter commuted her sentence in 1979. President Clinton pardoned her January 20, 2001.

Textual

Records that were responsive to this FOIA request were found in two collection areas – Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject File, and Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files. The Staff and Office files responsive to this request are from the Counsel’s Office files of Dawn Chirwa and Meredith Cabe. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) contains a variety of series created to organize and track documents and correspondence. The WHORM Subject file was compiled by the White House Office of Records Management and is a series of categories designated by a letter/number combination. Staff and Office files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. WHORM files are processed at the document level; whereas, 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. FOIA 2008-1268-F includes WHORM records from these subject codes: JL001 Amnesty - Clemency - Pardons.

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).

Staff Archivist, 2010. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released.

The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to 2008-1268-F:
Box 1
Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files
Category Case Number
JL001 Scanned: Case Number 407531 [OA/ID 23375]
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Counsel’s Office
Chirwa, Dawn
Pardons: Patty Hearst [OA/ID CF 1665]
Cabe, Meredith
Clemency Correspondence [Patty Hearst Shaw] [OA/ID 21454]
Misc. Clemency [Patty Hearst Shaw] [OA/ID 24954]
Pardons: Patty Hearst [OA/ID CF 2032]