Access to Papers at Reagan Library

Your article on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and the TV commentaries that followed, seriously mislead the public into thinking that they are being deprived of normal access to presidential papers (“Nothing to Read at Reagan Library,” Part A, Feb. 10). Nothing could be further from the truth.

Prior to the Reagan presidency, all White House documents were considered the personal property of the President and their release could be withheld forever. By enacting the presidential Documents Act, “forever” was reduced to 12 years, and only applied to certain categories of documents. Contrary to the impression left by your article, there are far fewer controls on the release of President Reagan’s documents than any other President’s. Also, before he left office, President Reagan directed the National Archives to begin processing his papers so that the majority would be available to the public sooner than they would be otherwise.

The article stated that no documents would be available when the library opens in November. What the reporter failed to report is that in only one case in history have documents been available when a presidential library opened--and that was at the Kennedy Library which opened 16 years after President Kennedy’s death. The choice is to make papers available in large volume over a shorter period of time, versus dribbling them out early and extending the total time required for the National Archives to process the unprecedented number which the President will release.

It’s unfortunate that your coverage to date has focused only on misleading details and has not informed the public of the tremendous historical value that the library’s exhibits, artifacts, displays, files and facilities will bring.

WILLIAM B. GARBER JR.

Director of Public Affairs

Office of Ronald Reagan

Los Angeles