White House Email

Presidential records from the White House email message system, Automated Records Management System (ARMS), are stored as part of the National Archives’ Electronic Records Archive (ERA). Electronic records are currently being processed by staff of the National Archives for release.

Presidential records created in electronic format are subject to the Presidential Records Act and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

ARMS contains every copy of every message sent or received by a staff member’s White House email account. Because each message is treated as a distinct, saved record, there are many duplicates.

Example: Kress Email Release

The B. Alexander “Sandy” Kress email release traces the creation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and consists of 106 messages with 23 containing unique content and 83 duplicates. See the Finding Aid for more information.

These emails start with the first day of the Bush Administration on January 20, 2001 and end on June 14, 2001 when the Senate passed the Act with changes and sent the legislation to the conference committee.
Each email was sent or received by Mr. Kress, Senior Advisor to the President on Education.
Most messages relate to the drafting of H.R. 1 (House Resolution 1, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) and S. 1 (Senate Bill 1, Better Education for Students and Teachers Act).
Other emails include press releases, scheduling requests, and related messages concerning the education of Limited English Proficient students, charter schools, supplementary educational services, and school accountability provisions within the House and Senate legislation.
Correspondents include White House staff members (Townsend McNitt, Nina Rees, Margaret LaMontagne Spellings, and Sarah Youssef) and Department of Education employees (Clayton Boothby, David Cleary, Sandra Cook, Paul Riddle, and Michael Sheridan).
Each unique message includes the full list of recipients, sender, and date stamp information, along with message content found in the duplicate copies.
Researchers may request copies of all 106 messages for a fee.