National Archives and Obama Foundation Clarify Handling of Presidential Records

A recent article in the New York Times highlighting the new “virtual model” for the Barack Obama Presidential Library triggered a host of new questions concerning the accessibility, preservation and storage of presidential records by the National Archives. In response, the National Archives and the Obama Foundation have posted more detailed information on their websites to address issues raised in the article.

In May 2017, the National Archives and the Obama Foundation announced a new plan to make President Obama’s presidential library all digital. Few details were provided at the time save for a press release from NARA and a brief mention of the library in the announcement of the plans for the Obama Presidential Center by the Obama Foundation.