LETTER FROM ARTHUR SCHLESINGER, JR.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73-00402R000100190001-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 19, 2006
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 23, 1962
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved FWe a 2006/09/25: CIA-PDP73-004M0c D0190001-3
THE WHITE HOUSE
Last November the President announced that plans were being made
for the establishment of a Presidential library and museum at Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts, for the preservation of papers and other his-
torical materials relating to his Administration.
In making this announcement, the President was, of course, following
the precedent established by the three previous Presidents. Statutory
authorization for the operation of Presidential archival depositories is
contained in the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of
1949, as amended (44 USC 397). The new Presidential library will be
administered by the National Archives and Records Service of the
General Services Administration in close collaboration with Harvard
University. Four existing Presidential libraries are also administered
by the National Archives and Records Service.
The hope is that each of these Presidential libraries will become a
center for the study of American history in the period of the President's
tenure. The nucleus of each library's collections will, of course, be
the President's papers, including those accumulated in the White House
Office by him and his immediate staff. The resources of a Presidential.:
library, however, are greatly enhanced by the acquisition of related
materials. While the disposition of personal papers is naturally a
matter for the personal decision of each member of the Admini-strationq.
it is the President's hope that his friends and associates will wish to
assist in making the collections as complete as possible.
It is not proposed, of course, that official records of your department
or agency be given to the Kennedy Library. The disposition of official
records is governed by the provisions of the Records Disposal Act of
1943 (44 USC 366). Official records of the Executive ranch must be
scrupulously maintained so that they will properly document the conduct
of this Administration.
As distinct from official records, however, certain. papers may properly
be maintained as your personal files and it is these that the President
 Approved ?fase 2006/09/25: CIA-RDP73-001001.90001-3
hopes will be placed in the Kennedy Library at the close of his Adminr
istration. Personal correspondence files, including family corre-
spondence, are perhaps most valuable of all. Personal work aids,
such. as appointment books, are also useful, and personal notes or
accounts of events written as reminders are indispensable. Materials
of this kind, reflecting the activities and observations of a high official
as an individual before, during, and after his public career, add im-
mensely to the resources of Presidential libraries. Presidential
libraries are authorized by law to accept such papers. I would em-
phasize that there is statutory authorization for donors to place what-
ever restrictions and stipulations they may wish to impose on their use.
Additional material which would appropriately come to a Presidential
library would include such categories as an extra set of transcripts
of your press conferences; a set of your press releases; reading
copies and drafts of speeches; transcripts, printed or typescript
.of the testimony of yourself and associates at Congressional hearings;
a "reading file" of extra copies of your outgoing official correspondence,
arranged chronologically; microfilm or other copies of selected official
records required to document major policies of the Administration (the
originals going to the National Archives); and copies of photographs,
sound recordings, and motion pictures of official or other events in
which you participated. Scrapbooks of newspaper and publicity clip-
pings are useful when well organized and mounted. More important
are articles, books, pamphlets, broadsides and leaflets published in
this country or abroad concerning you or your work, or written by you.
A statement of the acquisition policies of the proposed Kennedy Library
is enclosed. Space in the Library building itself is not expected to be
available until after the President leaves office, but arrangements for
storage space during the interim period may be made by calling the
-Office of the Archivist of the United States.
Arthur Schlesinger, jr.
Special Assistant
. to the President