(2006-0165-F) Voice of America

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195 folders, approximately 8,300 pages

This collection consists of documents concerning the Voice of America (VOA). VOA broadcasts reach 100 million regular listeners in English and 52 other languages. This collection contains materials from several agencies and individuals, including the National Security Council. The files include but are not limited to correspondence, memos, testimony, talking points, email, and articles.

The materials in FOIA 2006-0165-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 2006-0165-F contains materials from several agencies and individuals, including the National Security Council. The VOA was founded in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda. It played a crucial role in the struggle against communism during the Cold War. VOA broadcasts reach 100 million regular listeners in English and 52 other languages. The VOA and the BBC World Service are the two most important international broadcasting agencies.

The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Alpha Files contain four records relating to the VOA. There is material concerning a memorial tribute for Willis Conover, an invitation for the President to speak at HEARTLAND USA, a cassette tape, and a request for an invitation to a State Dinner.

The WHORM Subject Categories for VOA contain sixteen different subject file classifications. These categories have correspondence pertaining to Radio Free Asia and VOA in China and the use of the Presidential Seal for an exhibit at VOA. Lists of H.R. and Senate bills, schedules, briefing materials, talking points, speech cards, speeches, information on VOA’s budget, and thank you letters can also be found in these records. Invitations to address VOA events such as ―Talk to America‖ and ―Press Conference USA‖ show up throughout the collection. In addition, the WHORM subject files contain a considerable amount of unrelated material in the form of booklets, reports, resumes, and letters requesting either employment or recommendations.

The White House Staff and Office Files contain correspondence, memos, testimony, talking points, and articles maintained by individual staff members. Included in these records are VOA reconciliation files from the White House Travel Office, a memo recommending someone for a position with the VOA, material for a speech to be given to Jazz/VOA by President Clinton, and two files from the President’s Daily Diary. The files of Cameron Munter consist primarily of correspondence dealing with the reduction of European language services in an effort to make the VOA more efficient. Mary DeRosa files include printed materials concerning the airing of VOA programs in Iran and China. Information about the creation of the VOA/Department of Justice ―International Most Wanted‖ project can be found in the records of Matthew Gobush. His papers contain memos, press releases, and public service announcements highlighting the theme of interagency cooperation as a way of fighting international crime and terrorism.

The Automated Records Management System (ARMS) Emails deal with a number of topics related to the operation of the VOA during the Clinton Administration. These matters include staff changes and assignments, particularly the appointment of Evelyn S. Lieberman as the director of the VOA in 1996. Of special note here is the coverage by the VOA of the spread of AIDS in Africa.
The NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management Systems give an overall picture of the activities of the VOA during the years that President Clinton was in office. VOA journalists interviewed world leaders on a daily basis, constantly sought the expertise of NSC staffers, and became involved in controversies attributed to biased reporting on their part. Throughout these records the independence and integrity of the VOA is stressed.

During the Clinton Administration the VOA experienced a period of transition and consolidation. Language services and staff were reduced in Europe as a result of the end of the Cold War. However, expansion took place in other parts of the world such as Asia and Africa. The NSC considered the VOA to be an important tool in its efforts to introduce democratic principles to fledgling republics and countries where repressive regimes held power. As a consequence, it was a key player in the decisions determining which areas of the globe would receive VOA broadcasts.

Textual

Voice of America (Organization)

Radio broadcasting
Television broadcasting

Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files

Box 1
      Category    Case Number
      Unknown    Scanned: Case Number bf1042
      Unknown    Scanned: Case Number 421497
      CO038    Scanned: Case Number 268212
      CO038    Scanned: Case Number 274224SS
      CO183    Scanned: Case Number 129800
      FE004    Scanned: Case Number 081702CU
      FG001-07    Scanned: Case Number 293282SS
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 091449
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [1]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [2]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [3]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [4]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [5]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [6]
Box 2
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [7]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [8]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [9]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [10]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [11]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 094212 [12]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 111004
Box 3
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [1]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [2]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [3]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [4]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [5]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [6]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [7]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [8]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [9]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [10]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [11]
Box 4
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [12]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [13]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [14]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [15]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [16]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [17]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [18]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [19]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [20]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [21]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [22]
Box 5
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [23]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [24]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [25]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [26]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [27]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [28]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [29]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 120560 [30]
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 222423
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 233227
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 235991
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 424014
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 440619
Box 6
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 013072
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 013360
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 015723
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 090279
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 113559
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 191795SS
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 238508
      GI002    Scanned: Case Number 035334
      GI002    Scanned: Case Number 037266
      HO006    Scanned: Case Number 152702
      LE    Scanned: Case Number 416740
      ME001    Scanned: Case Number 033159
      ME001    Scanned: Case Number 210713
      ME001    Scanned: Case Number 210965
      ME001-03    Scanned: Case Number 059293SS
      PP005-01    Scanned: Case Number 101696 [1]
      PP005-01    Scanned: Case Number 101696 [2]
      PP005-01    Scanned: Case Number 101696 [3]
Box 7
      PP005-01    Scanned: Case Number 101696 [4]
      PP005-01    Scanned: Case Number 174573
      PP005-01    Scanned: Case Number 174598
      PP005-01    Scanned: Case Number 187449
      PR015    Scanned: Case Number 130294
      SO002    Scanned: Case Number 076879
      SP1164    Scanned: Case Number 240879SS
      SP1164    Scanned: Case Number 242140SS
      UT001-01    Scanned: Case Number 240386

Box 8
      Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files-CF    
      FG006-01    Scanned: Case Number 251067
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 249759
      FG298-01    Scanned: Case Number 255013SS

      Clinton Presidential Records: National Security Council [URMS]
      VOA/Voice of America
9302542    [OA/ID 460]
9303236    [OA/ID 461]
9303517    [OA/ID 462]
9304701    [OA/ID 463]

      Clinton Presidential Records:  White House Staff and Office Files
      National Security Council
            Legal Adviser
    Mary B. DeRosa Files 
        Voice of America [1] [OA/ID 2952]
        Voice of America [2] [OA/ID 2952]
        
Press
Matthew N. Gobush Files
VOA “Most Wanted” Program, July 1996 [OA/ID 3293]

    Democracy/Human Rights
Morton Halperin Files 
International Broadcasting – VOA, Mandarin Broadcasts/RFA [OA/ID 436] (pulled for FOIA request 2006-0202-F)

    European
Cameron Munter Files 
        Radios (VOA – RFE) [OA/ID 3645]

Public Liaison/Cuban Affairs
Richard A. Nuccio Files 
VOA Editorial – August 1995 [OA/ID CF 832] (pulled for FOIA request 2006-0165 unclassified)

      Presidential Diarist
    Ellen McCathran Files
        February 11, 1995 [OA/ID CF 200158]
        May 24, 1999 [OA/ID CF 200064]

      Presidential Personnel
        International Broadcasting Bureau (Voice of America) [OA/ID 24005]

      Speechwriting
    Jeff Shesol Files
        Jazz/Voice of America [OA/ID 19943]

      Travel Office    
    Charles Olson Files
        VOA Reconciliation [1] [OA/ID 23614]
        VOA Reconciliation [2] [OA/ID 23614]
        VOA Reconciliation [3] [OA/ID 23614]
                        VOA Reconciliation [4] [OA/ID 23614]

Box 9
      Clinton Presidential Records:  ARMS Emails
      OPD 1993/01-1998/12    
        [04/28/1993-09/20/1997] [OA/ID 250000]

      OPD 1999/01-1999/10
        [03/09/1999-04/08/1999] [OA/ID 300000]

      OPD 2000/05-2001/01
        [07/03/2000-09/26/2000] [OA/ID 400000]

      WHO 1993/01-1995/12
        [04/13/1993-05/10/1993] [OA/ID 500000]
        [05/11/1993-06/04/1993] [OA/ID 500000]
        [06/08/1993-07/16/1993] [OA/ID 500000]
        [07/19/1993-08/30/1993] [OA/ID 500000]
        [09/01/1993-09/30/1993] [OA/ID 500000]
        [10/01/1993-12/20/1995] [OA/ID 500000]
Box 10
      WHO 1996/01-1997/12
        [01/11/1996-05/07/1997] [OA/ID 550000]
        [05/08/1997-07/07/1997] [OA/ID 550000]
        [07/07/1997-11/07/1997] [OA/ID 550000]        

      WHO 1998/01-1998/11
        [01/05/1998-09/23/1998] [OA/ID 600000]

      WHO 1998/12-1999/06
        [12/03/1998-05/19/1999] [OA/ID 650000]

      WHO 1999/07-1999/11
        [08/05/1999-11/12/1999] [OA/ID 700000]

      WHO 1999/12-2000/03
        [12/15/1999-03/29/2000] [OA/ID 750000]

      WHO 2000/04-2000/06
        [06/16/2000-06/24/2000] [OA/ID 800000]

      WHO 2000/07-2000/09
        [07/26/2000-09/26/2000] [OA/ID 850000]

      WHO 2000/10-2001/01
        [10/19/2000-12/07/2000] [OA/ID 900000]
      
      CEA 1996/07 – 1999/12 [OA/ID 950,000]
     [05/27/1997 – 07/26/1999]

      Default 1993/01 – 1997/12 [OA/ID 1,050,000]
    [04/28/1993 – 07/21/1997]

      Default 1998/01 – 1999/12 [OA/ID 1,100,000]
    [07/23/1999]

      Default 2000/01 – 2001/01 [OA/ID 1,150,000]
    [03/20/2000 – 10/31/2000]

      NSC 1994/08 – 1999/12 [OA/ID 1,200,000]
    [12/20/1995 – 05/19/1999]

      NSC 2000/01 – 2001/01 [OA/ID 1,250,000]
[04/19/2000 – 10/24/2000]

Box 11
      Clinton Presidential Records:  NSC Cable, Email and Records Management Systems
      NSC Cables
    January 1993-December 1994
        [01/01/1993-02/26/1993] [OA/ID 500000]
        [03/01/1993-05/21/1993] [OA/ID 500000]
        [05/28/1993-10/19/1993] [OA/ID 500000]
        [01/03/1994-04/06/1994] [OA/ID 500000]
        [04/08/1994-06/30/1994] [OA/ID 500000]
        [07/01/1994-09/13/1994] [OA/ID 500000]
        [09/16/1994-10/27/1994] [OA/ID 500000]
        [11/01/1994-12/02/1994] [OA/ID 500000]
        [12/03/1994-12/30/1994] [OA/ID 500000]

    January 1995-December 1996
        [01/03/1995-03/09/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
        [03/10/1995-07/05/1995] [OA/ID 510000]
Box 12    
        [08/09/1995-11/20/1996] [OA/ID 510000]

    January 1997-December 1998
        [01/16/1997-12/09/1997] [OA/ID 520000]
        [12/19/1997-12/24/1998] [OA/ID 520000]

    January 1999-December 2000
        [02/09/1999-03/06/2000] [OA/ID 530000]
        [03/07/2000-12/22/2000] [OA/ID 530000]

    January 2001
        [01/12/2001] [OA/ID 540000]        

    January 1993-December 1994
        [03/01/1993-12/06/1994] [OA/ID 500000]

    January 1997-December 1998
        [06/27/1997-05/13/1998] [OA/ID 520000]

    January 1999-December 2000
        [04/08/1999-08/21/2000] [OA/ID 530000]

      NSC Emails
    January 1993-September 1994
        [03/16/1993-04/07/1994] [OA/ID 570000]
        [04/08/1994-05/18/1994] [OA/ID 570000]
        [05/19/1994-09/22/1994] [OA/ID 570000]

    April 1994-September 1994
        [05/01/1994-09/07/1994] [OA/ID 580000]

    September 1994-September 1997
        [10/31/1994-03/05/1996] [OA/ID 590000]
        [03/13/1996-05/09/1997] [OA/ID 590000]

    September 1994-September 1997
        [01/22/1996-05/09/1997] [OA/ID 600000]
    
September 1997-January 2001
        [10/30/1997-01/26/1998] [OA/ID 620000]
        [01/29/1998-02/02/1998] [OA/ID 620000]
Box 13
        [02/03/1998-02/04/1998] [OA/ID 620000]
        [02/09/1998-03/03/1998] [OA/ID 620000]
        [03/06/1998-05/04/1998] [OA/ID 620000]
        [06/04/1998-07/17/1998] [OA/ID 620000]
        [07/20/1998-10/22/1998] [OA/ID 620000]    
        [12/10/1998-06/28/1999] [OA/ID 620000]
        [06/28/1999-02/29/2000] [OA/ID 620000]
        [02/29/2000-10/10/2000] [OA/ID 620000]

March 1997-January 2001
        [06/10/1997-10/23/1997] [OA/ID 630000]
        [12/10/1997-05/26/1998] [OA/ID 630000]
        [05/27/1998-04/20/1999] [OA/ID 630000]
        [05/21/1999-05/25/2000] [OA/ID 630000]
        [05/26/2000-12/13/2000] [OA/ID 630000]

January 1993-September 1994
        [02/19/1993-05/24/1994] [OA/ID 570000]
        [05/25/1994-09/22/1994] [OA/ID 570000]

September 1994-September 1997
        [05/12/1997-05/13/1997] [OA/ID 590000]    

September 1994-September 1997
        [05/26/1994] [OA/ID 600000]

September 1997-January 2001
        [05/08/2000-09/29/2000] [OA/ID 620000]
        
March 1997-January 2001
        [10/27/1999-10/11/2000] [OA/ID 630000]

      NSC Records Management System
    PRS – Presidential Records
        9302474 [OA/ID 146]

    PRS – Presidential Records
        9303556 [OA/ID 149]

    PRS – Presidential Records 
        9401616 [OA/ID 186]
    
    PRS – Presidential Records
        9405419 [OA/ID 203]

    PRS – Presidential Records 
        9500022 [OA/ID 558]
    PRS – Presidential Records
        9500933 [OA/ID 564]
    
PRS – Presidential Records 
        9500938 [OA/ID 564]
Box 14
    PRS – Presidential Records
        9501003 [OA/ID 564]

    PRS – Presidential Records
        9505002 [OA/ID 591]

    PRS – Presidential Records
        9506304 [OA/ID 600]

    PRS – Presidential Records
        9600120 [OA/ID 1080]

PRS – Presidential Records
        9600129 [OA/ID 1080]    

    PRS – Presidential Records
        9708182 [OA/ID 3246]

    PRS – Presidential Records
        9804959 [OA/ID 3265]

    PRS – Presidential Records 
        9901949 [OA/ID 2717]

    PRS – Presidential Records
        9903935 [OA/ID 2731]

    PRS – Presidential Records
        0003577 [OA/ID 4092]

    PRS – Presidential Records
        0003625 [OA/ID 4093]

Last modified:  08/31/2006