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Clintons Keep White House Papers Buried

Hillary's documents unlikely to see daylight before 2008 election

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 21, 2007 1:40 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – People curious about Hillary Clinton’s role in her husband’s White House won’t find anything helpful in his presidential library, Newsweek reports. Less than 1% of the 98 million documents and emails there are public, though all are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Bill Clinton instructed librarians to “consider withholding” anything related to “policy, personal, or political” matters.

The restrictions are legal, but unusually expansive. “You start to wonder what’s not included,” grumbled an anti-secrecy advocate. The library’s six caretakers have almost 300 FOIA requests to process, making it unlikely much will be released before the election. Clinton blames Bush secrecy policies for slowing down the process, but White House officials say they haven’t blocked any requests.

Former President Clinton sits on a set of steps as he listens to his wife, presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., as she speaks during a fundraiser in Washington, Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Clinton has blocked access to a huge amount of the papers related to his presidency. (AP...
Former President Clinton sits on a set of steps as he listens to his wife, presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., as she speaks during a fundraiser in Washington, Tuesday, March 20, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Hillary Rodham Clinton celebrates with her husband, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, and their daughter Chelsea in Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 20, 1991, during his inauguration as governor. Though Clinton touts her experience in her husband's White House, a vast amount of documents related to her work there remain buried at...
Hillary Rodham Clinton celebrates with her husband, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, and their daughter Chelsea in Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 20, 1991, during his inauguration as governor. Though Clinton touts...   (Associated Press)
Democratic Presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. talks on a cell phone upon her arrival at a Presidential Health Care Forum, sponsored by Families USA and the Federation of American Hospitals, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Democratic Presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. talks on a cell phone upon her arrival at a Presidential Health Care Forum, sponsored by Families USA and the Federation of American...   (Associated Press)
Democratic Presidential hopeful and second-term Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., left, walks in the hallway of the Russell Senate office building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 22, 2007, with Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Though Clinton touts her experience in her husband's White House, a vast amount...
Democratic Presidential hopeful and second-term Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., left, walks in the hallway of the Russell Senate office building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 22, 2007,...   (Associated Press)
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Politics • US

 
Hillary Clinton • Bill Clinton • Freedom of Information Act • Clinton administration • Clinton 2008 • Clinton Presidential Library • presidential library

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