CFR > Title 22 - Foreign Relations > CHAPTER I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE > SUBCHAPTER R—ACCESS TO INFORMATION (parts 171 to 172) > PART 171—AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION AND RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC > SUBPART C—Executive Order 12958 Provisions (§171.20 to §171.25) > 171.24—Access by historical researchers and certain former government personnel.

171.24—Access by historical researchers and certain former government personnel.

(a) The restriction in E.O. 12958 and predecessor orders on limiting access to classified information to individuals who have a need-to-know the information may be waived, under the conditions set forth below, for persons who:
(1) Are engaged in historical research projects;
(2) Have served as Presidential or Vice Presidential appointees as defined in § 171.20(j), or
(3) Served as President or Vice President.
(b) Requests by such persons must be submitted in writing to the Information and Privacy Coordinator at the address set forth in § 171.5 and must include a general description of the records sought, the time period covered by the request, and an explanation why access is sought. Requests for access by such requesters may be granted if:
(1) The Secretary or the Senior Agency Official determines in writing that access is consistent with the interests of national security;
(2) The requester agrees in writing to safeguard the information from unauthorized disclosure or compromise;
(3) The requester submits a statement in writing authorizing the Department to review any notes and manuscripts created as a result of access;
(4) The requester submits a statement in writing that any information obtained from review of the records will not be disseminated without the express written permission of the Department;
(c) If a requester uses a research assistant, the requester and the research assistant must both submit a statement in writing acknowledging that the same access conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(4) of this section apply to the research assistant. Such a research assistant must be working for the applicant and not gathering information for publication on his or her own behalf.
(d) Access granted under this section shall be limited to items the appointee originated, reviewed, signed, or received while serving as a Presidential or Vice Presidential appointee or as President or Vice President.
(e) Such requesters may seek declassification and release of material to which they have been granted access under this section through either the FOIA or the mandatory declassification review provisions of E.O. 12958. Such requests shall be processed in the order received, along with other FOIA and mandatory declassification review requests, and shall be subject to the fees applicable to FOIA requests.