(2022-0442-F) William Perry and Russia

The materials in FOIA 2022-0442-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. Researchers interested in this FOIA may also want to see FOIA request 2020-0095-F. The researcher submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records related to memorandum of conversation, talking points, or briefing papers for meetings between Secretary of Defense William Perry and Russian politicians. Records to be opened include a press conference given by Secretary Perry in the air during a trip and administrative records related to records management. Records are from the National Security Council’s Cable, Email, and Records Management System. The collection dates from February 1994 to October 1996. William Perry was Secretary of Defense from February of 1994 through January of 1997. Previously Perry served as Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1993 to 1994 and prior to that as Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering from 1977-1981. Perry surprised most defense observers with his active foreign policy role. His tenure as Secretary of Defense coincided with the conclusion of the Bosnian War and the NATO led Implementation Force (IFOR) deployment to Bosnia-Hercegovina to enforce the peace agreed to at the Dayton Peace Accords. After leaving government service, Perry stayed active working on, among other issues, nuclear disarmament. This case has a majority of records withheld for national security reasons.