http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,586873,00.html

Fury as Bush keeps key to the archives Matthew Engel in Washington Saturday November 3, 2001 The Guardian In the sort of dispute normally more associated with secretive Britain than the open-minded US, American historians and political scientists reacted with outrage yesterday after President Bush acted to block automatic access to the archives of previous administrations. He has signed an executive order allowing incumbent presidents to maintain the secrecy of past documents, even if the former president involved wanted them released. The order was made despite specific objections from his own predecessor, Bill Clinton. By statute, papers are supposed to be released 12 years after a president leaves office, and 68,000 pages from Ronald Reagan's term, which ended in 1989, were due to be available in January this year.

But Mr Bush's administration stalled on the issue the moment it took office, and has now formalised its objections, turning the White House itself into the gatekeeper of history. The order is expected to be challenged in Congress and the courts. Ari Fleischer, the president's spokesman, insisted that the change was intended to be helpful. "More information will be forthcoming and it will be available through a much more orderly process," he said.

.... long article with quotes from experts.

MOST LIKELY A COVERUP OF REAGAN/BUSH ERA SUPPORT FOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH COULD BRING DOWN THE CURRENT PRESIDENCY.

-- Mark Blaine (ytokca@yahoo.com), November 03, 2001

Answers

That was my first thought when I heard Bush had signed the order. Because I have a basic mistrust of anything the man or his father did or does, I thought I was just over reacting. Nice to see someone else considered it as well.

-- diane (lurkergal@the.homestead), November 03, 2001.

So.

-- Rick V (rickv@mc.net), November 03, 2001.

There goes the Guardian again, reguritating its utter nonsense.

-- Chance (fruitloops@hotmail.com), November 03, 2001.