National Archives considering asking past presidents and vice presidents to look again

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

CNN — The National Archives is looking into sending letters to all living former presidents and vice presidents, asking them go through their records to ensure there are no classified materials, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Representatives for four former presidents have all so far told CNN they do not have any classified records in their possession after news that former Vice President Mike Pence had classified documents in his Indiana home. The representatives for former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and the late George H.W. Bush all told CNN that all classified records had been turned over to the National Archives upon leaving office.

The discovery of classified documents in Pence’s Carmel, Indiana, home was the third such case in recent months. Former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden have also been subject to scrutiny after classified material was found in their homes.

None of the former presidents’ representatives said they were conducting additional searches of homes or offices where documents could potentially be stored. Instead, they reiterated the practices those leaders followed when departing the White House in 1993, 2001, 2009 and 2017.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/24/politics/bill-clinton-george-bush-barack-obama-classified-records

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Full headlines: National Archives considering asking past presidents and vice presidents to look again for classified materials

[Srkdqltr]

1. National Archives need to step up their game. They are the direct cause of this mess. They don't do

What they say they do.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Actually the problem is not NARA but the agencies that "own" and maintain the documents

A transcribed "Top Secret" communique between the President and some other head of state may have the State Department, DOD, or even the Office of the White House as an "owner".

Each agency then handles, preserves, and stores (eventually SENDING to NARA) those documents that their schedules deem need preservation and storing for some "x" amount of time.

NARA is nothing more than the "end point" for documents that are not designated for destruction right away, but need to be maintained somewhere.

[Srkdqltr]

4. Obviously the system needs upgrading. It obviously isn't working or the classified material

Isn't as important as they say and Biden, Trump and Pence are not guilty of any wrongdoing. Actually this isn't their mess it's the agency/ department.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Having worked for the federal government for 30+ years before retiring

the "system" works for the most part - i.e., with the average civil service employees. WE had the annual training on documents handling and were read the riot act complete with 5 CFR statute citations and whatnot.

The "issue" are your top-most people, elected or appointed, IOW the "GS-1000s" that I call them, and that is strictly "political deference".

What has happened here is that you had one individual who massively abused "the system", a "system" that when it comes to your highest officials, was based on "honor". When you have someone in there that has none, then you see the result.

[COL Mustard]

17. If you or I had handled classified as poorly as T, P and B apparently did

(And yes, I know for the most part it was their staffs who did it)...do you think we'd get a Special Counsel? I don't think so, from my cubicle in an unusually shaped building on the banks of the Potomac. These cases make it much harder for rank and filers to be held accountable....Hey, if the big bosses don't get punished, why am I losing my clearance? I didn't do anything they didn't do....

That reminds me, I need to send a reminder about just that to my workforce.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. Those "GS-1000s" enjoy the "benefits of the office"

But we both know it's a revolving door and they come and go. But they have "privileges" that you or I would never have so best not question it (unless you want to go the Whistleblower route). I know I had worked under 6 Presidents and just tried to keep my head down and do my job.

[oldsoftie]

3. There needs to be SOME way to know who has what if its classified.

Bob took these documents on feb 15th. Its now Aug 1st. Why hasn't Bob returned them? Just like checking out a library book. Each group that has control over secure docs needs to have a better way to keep up with them
This has gotten ridiculous. And now it gives the Trumpers the ability to say "see, they ALL do it"

[friend of a friend]

13. The Archives do not know what classified documents there are until they receive them.

Very few classified documents are actually sent to The National Archives. Many are written and then sent to someone who reads them and then puts them in a burn bag. In 9 months I wrote about 270 TOP SECRET NSA CODEWORD documents I doubt any of them went to the archive.

[oldsoftie]

16. Well then THAT needs to change.

As the originator of the document YOU should know that it WAS destroyed and if not where it is. Otherwise what's the point? Anyone could keep docs and nobody knows?
If thats the case the only thing we can get trump on is ignoring the subpoena

[friend of a friend]

22. My documents were coded and then sent to NSA headquarters.

NSA then decided whether or not the new equipment should be installed on other bases around the world. I don't know how many bases received the new equipment for testing. At the end of the experiment, I was ordered to put all documents in burn bags since it was no longer needed.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

23. Each area that originates a classified document is supposed

To follow a procedure and track aand secure. Separate and aside from Archiver

[friend of a friend]

27. In 1962-1963, once I had the Lt sign off on my coded document and gave it to communications,

I locked up the original.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

28. That makes total sense! Wonder if still true. If anyone

Still cares if original or not. Wonder if trump had originals.

[COL Mustard]

18. When I was in the Army we had TS Control Officers and still had to account for Secret documents.

That all started getting loosened in the 1980s and I think the horse has left the barn with the classified computers and printers that are now everywhere in DOD.

[former9thward]

20. There is a very easy way.

Its called a bar code. Its how Walmart or any store like it can tell you exactly where any one of its tens of millions of items are at anywhere in the country. No one needs to reinvent the wheel here.

[oldsoftie]

26. Sounds like a good idea to me; of maybe an RFID

[Laura PourMeADrink]

29. +1

[TygrBright]

5. They should probably also include members of Congressional Committees...

...that potentially have access to classified materials/briefings.

Not a bad idea to do a clean sweep at this point.

Also, it will keep the stickybeaks busy.

And it might make a few Russian agents nervous.

Can't really see a downside beyond cost, and we could always recoup that by repealing [Redacted]'s tax cuts for the obscenely wealthy. Which, incidentally, should also remove any pressure on the repayments to citizen-contributed funds such as Social Security and Medicare. A two-fer!

thoughtfully,
Bright

[Renew Deal]

6. Realistically, they are probably holding far more than the 10 or so living presidents and VP's

[Rebl2]

7. Is it possible

even former senators and congress people have documents at their homes as well?

[irisblue]

8. United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, every member

From the wiki page
"As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Committee performs an annual review of the intelligence budget submitted by the president and prepares legislation authorizing appropriations for the various civilian and military agencies and departments comprising the intelligence community. These entities include the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, as well as the intelligence-related components of Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Energy.

The Committee makes recommendations to the Senate Armed Services Committee on authorizations for the intelligence-related components of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. The Committee also conducts periodic investigations, audits, and inspections of intelligence activities and programs."

Follow the money trails

more there

[Igel]

14. Don't see the relevance.

They review the budget.

Looking at budget numbers doesn't mean reviewing the documents in each division.

I was on a Board of Directors. Similar budget-related charge. Never considered asking for employee contracts, sale figures for a given day in the student store, lists of applications for food service employment, or a list of vendors for BearWare.

Never had access to those dox. Budget, yes; in-house details ... not really.

[bluestarone]

9. I just gotta say here. WTF?

This is so fucked up, what's happening to our fucking classified material. Holy shit. NOBODY is watching our secrets!!

[Sneederbunk]

10. Mondale reportedly stonewalling.

[kewhawaii]

12. Start with Dick Cheney n/t

[Warpy]

15. It's probably a very good idea, wonder what Cheney's files would turn up

since "I barely know him" Mike Pence had a few oopsies in his papers.

[Oneironaut]

24. Including George Washington?

He better check his bed trunk for intelligence on the British Army.

[Polybius]

25. Cheney be like...