President Bush’s April nomination of Allen Weinstein to
the position of the ninth U.S. archivist ““ a job that
includes overlooking the release of federal documents ““ has
sparked criticism from historians and national history
organizations.
The archivist oversees the National Archives and Records
Administration’s 34 facilities, which hold all major
government documents, including the Constitution, and makes
declassified documents available to the public.
Historians rely on these documents to research the history of
the U.S. government.
Some historians say Weinstein has a record of keeping sources
private, and they fear his position as archivist will hinder or
delay the availability of government documents for historical
research.
“His own record is one of secrecy and refusal to make
documents available. You hope that the national archivist would
have a very different kind of record,” said Jon Wiener, a UC
Irvine history professor.
“He has not practiced the right values for the archivist
position in the past,” Wiener added.
Other critics of the president’s nomination believe a
political motive is present.
Some say Weinstein will be able to prevent or delay access to
documents from George H.W. Bush’s administration that are
scheduled for release next January.
“It looks like someone in place to keep (President
Bush’s) files and his father’s files either secret or
not reachable,” said Melissa Meyer, a UCLA history
professor.
Historical organizations, including the Organization of American
Historians and the American Historical Association issued a
statement following the nomination expressing their concerns.
The organizations said this was the first nomination to occur
without prior public discourse and consultation of historians.
In addition, they called for the Senate Committee of Government
Affairs to further asses Weinstein’s knowledge of the
issues the archive faces and his planned approach to handling the
archive’s responsibilities.
Senate hearings will take place to confirm Weinstein’s
nomination, though they have not yet been set.
While many historical organizations expressed concern, some
historians affirmed Weinstein’s capabilities as
archivist.
“Weinstein is a distinguished U.S. historian, but also of
very conservative bent, hence his appointment. I have no reason to
think, however, that he will be other than professional,”
said Ellen Dubois, a UCLA history professor, in an e-mail from
Italy. Â
Weinstein, a former professor at Boston University, Georgetown
University and Smith College, has authored a number of books
including “Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case,” and
“The Haunted Wood.”
Critics say the unavailability of the sources Weinstein used for
both publications is problematic.
Research conducted for the 1978 book, “Perjury: The
Hiss-Chamber Case,” which concluded that Alger Hiss was a
Soviet spy, partly relied on interviews. Six of the interviewees
said they were misquoted, Wiener said.
Weinstein has not followed through with a promise made 26 years
ago to make the interview tapes available at the Truman Library,
Wiener added.
“He has violated the ethics of our profession, the history
profession, and that is pretty serious for someone who is supposed
to run the National Archives. It has to be looked into
carefully,” said Gary Nash, a UCLA history professor
emeritus.
Weinstein’s 1999 publication, “The Haunted
Wood,” co-authored with former KGB agent Alexander Vassiliev,
also generated controversy.
Payments were made by the publisher, Random House, to a group of
retired Soviet agents for exclusive access to Soviet documents, a
move Wiener called unethical.
Open access to historical sources cited by historians in their
research is key to studying history, Meyer said.
“That is really the epitome of the historical discipline.
“˜Can we look at your records?'”
When someone says no, you can’t … that raises a huge red
flag,” she added.
Critics also say current archivist John Carlin, who was
appointed in 1995, had announced his intentions to maintain his
position until June 2005 ““ which raises the possibility of a
political motive to the recent nomination.
“You have to ask “˜Why is Bush doing this?’ and
“˜Why is he doing this now?’ and it seems to me that
Bush wants someone he can rely on to keep the secrets of the Bush
administration,” Wiener said.
Carlin wrote a letter to the White House in December requesting
that the president search for a new archivist this year. He has
declined to comment to the press.
Despite varying opinions on Weinstein’s capabilities as
archivist, historians agree that openness of sources and
accessibility to the National Archives is crucial for historical
research.
“It is essential that records be open and they be
accessible,” said Jessica Wang, a UCLA history professor.
Wang said she has used the National Archives extensively to
research the effects of science and technology on the public policy
of the New Deal period. Over the past year she spent two months
researching at the National Archives original center in Washington,
D.C.
“For anybody who wants to do anything on the history of
the national government the National Archives are absolutely
essential,” Wang said.