From Pearl Harbor to Abu Ghraib: The Evolution of Classified National Security Information and

Declassification Policy and PracticeSociety of American Archivists, Chicago

Session 602: August 27, 2011

William C. CarpenterProgram Analyst, Information Security Oversight Office, National Archives and Records Administration

2

Timeline, 1917-2009

1917: Espionage Act 1940: E.O. 8381 (Roosevelt) 1946: Atomic Energy Act 1961: E.O. 10964 (Kennedy) 1972: E.O. 11652 (Nixon) 1995: E.O. 12958 (Clinton) 2009: E.O. 13526 (Obama)

3

Pearl Harbor “Magic” Volumes, 1977

4

VENONA Documents: 1944

5

Secret Writing Documents: WWI

6

Exemption Categories

1. Intelligence Sources and Methods

2. Weapons of Mass Destruction

3. Cryptology4. Weapons

Technology

5. War Plans6. Foreign Relations7. Protection of the

President8. Emergency

Planning9. Treaty or Statute

7

Declassification Milestones At 25 years: all permanent records declassified, unless

specifically exempted under an Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP)-approved exemption

At 50 years: all previously exempted records declassified, except for:• Identity of a human intelligence source• Design of weapons of mass destruction• Other “extraordinary cases,” as approved by the ISCAP

At 75 years: all previously exempted records declassified, except for specific information proposed by an agency head and approved by the ISCAP, with a specified future declassification date

8

Taguba Report, 2004

9

Sources and Contact Information Sources of sample documents:

• Pearl Harbor: The “Magic” Background of Pearl Harbor, vol. 1. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1977.

• VENONA: http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/declass/venona/index.shtml

• Secret Writing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usnationalarchives/sets/72157626452036717/

• Taguba Report: http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/operation_and_plans/Detainee/taguba/

Contact Information: • William.Carpenter@nara.gov• Phone: 202-357-5466• www.archives.gov/isoo