November 16, 2001

Historians Attack Bush Executive Order on Presidential Records

By BEN GOSE and DAN CURRY

Historians and archivists, as well as Democrats and Republicans in Congress, are criticizing an executive order issued by President Bush this month that they say may usher in a new era of secrecy for the records of past presidents.

Mr. Bush's order reinterprets the Presidential Records Act of 1978, which requires the disclosure of the bulk of sensitive records 12 years after a president has left office. The order gives the current president and former presidents greater authority to

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