36 C.F.R. PART 1270—PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS
Title 36 - Parks, Forests, and Public Property
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 2201–2207.
Source: 53 FR 50404, Dec. 15, 1988, unless otherwise noted.
These regulations implement the provisions of the Presidential Records Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95–591, 92 Stat. 2523–27, as amended by Pub. L. No. 98–497, sec. 107(b)(7), 98 Stat. 2287 (1984) (codified at 44 U.S.C. 2201–07), by setting forth the policies and procedures governing preservation, protection, and disposal of, and access to Presidential and Vice-Presidential records created during a term of office of the President or Vice President beginning on or after January 20, 1981. Nothing in these regulations is intended to govern procedures for assertion of, or response to, any constitutionally based privilege which may be available to an incumbent or former President. (a) These regulations apply to all Presidential records created during a term of office of the President beginning on or after January 20, 1981. (b) Vice-Presidential records shall be subject to the provisions of this part in the same manner as Presidential records. The Vice President's duties and responsibilities, with respect to Vice-Presidential records, shall be the same as the President's duties and responsibilities with respect to Presidential records. The Archivist's authority with respect to Vice-Presidential records shall be the same as the Archivist's authority with respect to Presidential records, except that the Archivist may, when he determines it to be in the public interest, enter into an agreement with a non-Federal archival repository for the deposit of Vice-Presidential records. For the purposes of this part— (a) The terms documentary material, Presidential records, personal records, Archivist, and former President have the meanings given them by 44 U.S.C. 2201 (1)–(5), respectively. (b) The term agency has the meaning given it by 5 U.S.C. 551(1) (A)–(D) and 552(f). (c) The term Presidential archival depository has the meaning given it by 44 U.S.C. 2101(1). (d) The term Vice-Presidential records means documentary materials, or any reasonably segregable portion thereof, created or received by the Vice President, his immediate staff, or a unit or individual of the Office of the Vice President whose function is to advise and assist the Vice President, in the course of conducting activities which relate to or have an effect upon the carrying out of the constitutional, statutory, or other official or ceremonial duties of the Vice President. The term includes documentary materials of the kind included under the term Presidential records. (e) The term filed means the date something is received in the office of the official to whom it is addressed. (a) A President or former President may designate some person or persons to exercise, upon death or disability of the President or former President, any or all of the discretion or authority granted to the President or former President by chapter 22 of title 44 U.S.C. (b) When a President or former President designates a person or persons to act for him pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, this designation shall be effective only if the Archivist has received notice of the designation before the President or former President dies or is disabled. (c) The notice required by paragraph (b) of this section shall be in writing, and shall include the following information: (1) Name(s) of the person or persons designated to act for the President or former President; (2) The current addresses of the person or persons designated; and (3) The records, identified with reasonable specificity, over which the designee(s) will exercise discretion or authority. In those instances where a President has specified, in accordance with 44 U.S.C. 2204(a), restrictions on access to Presidential records, but has not made a designation under §1270.20 of this subpart, the Archivist shall, upon the death or disability of a President or former President, exercise the discretion or authority granted to a President or former President by 44 U.S.C. 2204. A President may, while in office, dispose of any Presidential records which in his opinion lack administrative, historical, informational, or evidentiary value if one of the following two sets of requirements is satisfied: (a)(1) The President has obtained the written views of the Archivist concerning the proposed disposal; and (2) The Archivist states in his written views to the President that he does not intend to request, with respect to the President's proposed disposal of Presidential records, the advice of the Committees on Rules and Administration and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committees on House Administration and Government Operations of the House of Representatives because he does not consider— (i) The records proposed for disposal to be of special interest to the Congress; or (ii) Consultation with the Congress concerning the proposed disposal to be in the public interest; or (b)(1) The President has obtained the written views of the Archivist concerning the proposed disposal; (2) The Archivist states in his written views either— (i) That the records proposed for disposal may be of special interest to the Congress; or (ii) That consultation with the Congress concerning the proposed disposal is in the public interest; and (3) The President submits copies of the proposed disposal schedule to the Committees on Rules and Administration and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on House Administration and Government Operations of the House of Representatives at least 60 calendar days of continuous session of Congress in advance of the proposed disposal date. For the purpose of this section, continuity of session is broken only by an adjournment of Congress sine die, and the days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain are excluded in the computation of the days in which Congress is in continuous session. (a) The Archivist may dispose of Presidential records which he has appraised and determined to have insufficient administrative, historical, informational, or evidentiary value to warrant their continued preservation. (b) When Presidential records are scheduled for disposal pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the Archivist shall publish a notice of this disposal in the (c) The notice required by paragraph (b) of this section, shall include the following: (1) A reasonably specific description of the records scheduled for disposal; and (2) A concise statement of the reason for disposal of the records. (d) Publication in the (a) If a President, prior to the conclusion of his term of office or last consecutive term of office, as the case may be, specifies durations, not to exceed 12 years, for which access to certain information contained in Presidential records shall be restricted, in accordance with 44 U.S.C. 2204, the Archivist or his designee shall identify the Presidential records affected, or any reasonably segregable portion thereof, in consultation with that President or his designated representative(s). (b) The Archivist shall restrict public access to the information contained in those records identified as affected until— (1) The date on which the former President waives the restriction on disclosure of the record or information contained within; (2) The expiration of the period of restriction specified under 44 U.S.C. 2204(a) for the category of information under which a certain record, or a portion thereof, was restricted; or (3) The Archivist has determined that the former President or an agent of the former President has placed in the public domain through publication a restricted record or a reasonably segregable portion thereof, if this date is earlier than either of the dates specified in paragraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section. (a) Any person denied access to a Presidential record (hereinafter the requester) because of a determination that the record or a reasonable segregable portion of the record was properly restricted under 44 U.S.C. 2204(a), and not placed in the public domain by the former President or his agent, may file an administrative appeal with the appropriate Presidential library director at the address cited in part 1253 of this chapter. (b) All appeals must be received by NARA within 35 calendar days of the date of NARA's denial letter. (c) Appeals shall be in writing and shall set forth the reason(s) why the requester believes access to the records sought should be allowed. The requester shall identify the specific records sought. (d) Upon receipt of an appeal, the appropriate Presidential library director has 30 working days from the date an appeal is received to consider the appeal and respond in writing to the requester. The director's response must state whether or not the Presidential records requested are to be released and the basis for this determination. The director's decision to withhold release of Presidential records is final and not subject to judicial review. [53 FR 50404, Dec. 15, 1988, as amended at 70 FR 16717, Apr. 1, 2005] (a) Notwithstanding any restrictions on access imposed pursuant to section 2204 or these regulations, and subject to any rights, defenses, or privileges which the United States or any agency or person may invoke, Presidential records shall be made available in the following instances: (1) Pursuant to subpoena or other judicial process properly issued by a court of competent jurisdiction for the purposes of any civil or criminal investigation or proceeding; (2) To an incumbent President if the records sought contain information which is needed for the conduct of current business of his office and is not otherwise available; (3) To either House of Congress, or, to the extent of matter within its jurisdiction, to a Congressional committee or subcommittee if the records sought contain information which is needed for the conduct of business within its jurisdiction and is not otherwise available. (b) Requests by an incumbent President, a House of Congress, or a Congressional committee or subcommittee pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section shall be addressed to the Archivist. All requests shall be in writing and, where practicable, identify the records sought with reasonable specificity. (c) Presidential records of a former President shall be available to the former President or his designated representative upon request. (a) The Archivist or his designee shall notify a former President or his designated representative(s) before any Presidential records of his Administration are disclosed. (b)(1) The notice given by the Archivist or his designee shall: (i) Be in writing; (ii) Identify the particular records with reasonable specificity; (iii) State the reason for the disclosure; and (iv) Specify the date on which the record will be disclosed. (2) In the case of records to be disclosed in accordance with §1270.44, the notice shall also: (i) Identify the requester and the nature of the request; (ii) Specify whether the requested records contain materials to which access would otherwise be restricted pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 2204(a) and identify the category of restriction within which the record to be disclosed falls; and (iii) Specify the date of the request. (c) If, after receiving the notice required by paragraph (a) of this section, a former President raises rights or privileges which he believes should preclude the disclosure of a Presidential record, and the Archivist nevertheless determines that the record in question should be disclosed, in whole or in part, the Archivist shall notify the former President or his representative of this determination. The notice given by the Archivist or his designee shall: (1) Be in writing; (2) State the basis upon which the determination to disclose the record is made; and (3) Specify the date on which the record will be disclosed. (d) The Archivist shall not disclose any records covered by any notice required by paragraph (a) or (c) of this section for at least 30 calendar days from receipt of the notice by the former President, unless a shorter time period is required by a demand for Presidential records under §1270.44. (e) Copies of all notices provided to former Presidents under this section shall be provided at the same time to the incumbent President. (a) For the processing of Presidential records compiled for law enforcement purposes that may be subject to 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7), the Archivist shall request specific guidance from the appropriate Federal agency on the proper treatment of a record if there is no general guidance applicable, if the record is particularly sensitive, or if the type of record or information is widespread throughout the files. (b) When specific agency guidance is requested under paragraph (a) of this section, the Archivist shall notify the appropriate Federal agency of the decision regarding disclosure of the specific documents. Notice shall include the following: (1) A description of the records in question; (2) Statements that the records described contain information compiled for law enforcement purposes and may be subject to the exemption provided by 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7) for records of this type; and, (3) The name of a contact person at NARA. (c) Agency guidance under this section is not binding on the Archivist. The final determination on whether Presidential records may be subject to the exemption in 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7) is the Archivist's responsibility.
Title 36: Parks, Forests, and Public Property
PART 1270—PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS
Section Contents
§ 1270.10 Scope of part.
§ 1270.12 Application.
§ 1270.14 Definitions.
§ 1270.20 Designation of person or persons to act for former President.
§ 1270.22 When Archivist may act for former President.
§ 1270.30 Disposal of Presidential records by incumbent President.
§ 1270.32 Disposal of Presidential Records in the custody of the Archivist.
§ 1270.40 Identification of restricted records.
§ 1270.42 Denial of access to public; right to appeal.
§ 1270.44 Exceptions to restricted access.
§ 1270.46 Notice of intent to disclose Presidential records.
§ 1270.50 Consultation with law enforcement agencies.
Subpart A—General Provisions
top
§ 1270.10 Scope of part.
top
§ 1270.12 Application.
top
§ 1270.14 Definitions.
top
Subpart B—Actions Taken on Behalf of Former Presidents
top
§ 1270.20 Designation of person or persons to act for former President.
top
§ 1270.22 When Archivist may act for former President.
top
Subpart C—Disposal of Presidential Records
top
§ 1270.30 Disposal of Presidential records by incumbent President.
top
§ 1270.32 Disposal of Presidential Records in the custody of the Archivist.
top
Subpart D—Access to Presidential Records
top
§ 1270.40 Identification of restricted records.
top
§ 1270.42 Denial of access to public; right to appeal.
top
§ 1270.44 Exceptions to restricted access.
top
§ 1270.46 Notice of intent to disclose Presidential records.
top
Subpart E—Presidential Records Compiled for Law Enforcement Purposes
top
§ 1270.50 Consultation with law enforcement agencies.
top
