(2021-0471-F) White House Website

The materials in FOIA 2021-0471-F (Segment 1) are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. This collection consists of email records related to the creation of the first presidential internet website. This collection contains correspondence between the White House and a team of individuals and organizations that were involved in transforming communications and connectivity at the White House. Email from this collection is mostly exchanged between 1993 and 1994, with a few emails from 1995. Email from 1993 mostly concerns connecting White House users to the internet and the development and maintenance of the White House email account. The Executive Office of the President (EOP) internet group included representatives from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Office of Communications, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Trusted Information Systems (TIS). Email from 1994 mostly concerns the development of the White House website or webpage, “Welcome to the White House.” The EOP web team consisted of David Lytel of the OSTP, Tom Kalil of the National Economic Council, Jock Gill of the Office of Media Affairs, Paul Richard of the Office of the Staff Secretary, and Lynda Rathbone of the Office of the Counselor to the President. Smart Valley Inc. (SVI), an internet infrastructure company, also contributed to the development and testing of the White House website. The White House internet website was made public on October 20, 1994. The new internet website was described as an electronic “citizen’s handbook” and announced by Vice President Al Gore at the “Future of Communications” White House public event.