Report of the Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation (HAC) for Calendar Year 1992

The Role of the Historical Advisory Committee, 1990–94, in the Declassification of U.S. Foreign Policy Documents and Related Issues

“…A declassification unit, as recommended by HAC, had been established in the Historian's Office to accelerate the declassification process, and it seemed to be working effectively. Indeed, HAC noted "with pleasure that the thirty-year publication mark is nearly within grasp (Kimball 1994a)." HAC members were also assessing selected volumes of FRUS, having obtained access to denied documents.…”

“…Systematic declassification was reduced from 30 to 25 years. Warren Kimball (1994c) has noted, that he is "absolutely certain our [HAC's] input created a large-scale serious consideration in the State Department." Indeed, the new arrangements, as Steven Aftergood of the Federation of Independent Scientists noted, represents "a distinct improvement over the current system (Jehl 1995).…”

“…HAC's success, as chair Warren Kimball (1994b) noted in his letter to Secretary of State Warren Cristopher accompanying the HAC report of 1994, was partly due to the solid support it received from the Historian's Office and the Historian (the HAC's Executive Secretary, William Slany), as well as his superiors in the State Department Bureau of Public Affairs. Their joint efforts showed "how much can be accomplished, quickly and costeffectively, when responsible officials become actively involved in the issues facing the HAC and press an agenda of openness rather than secrecy."…”

“…The new Center for Declassification in State has not been provided with adequate facilities, and hiring limitations in State were threatening progress toward meeting the 30year publication goal. The risk assessment concept contained in the State Department's Action Plan of June 1993 had not been operationalized; declassifies continued to use very expensive page-by-page review procedures on all documents (Kimball 1994b). Also, despite its earlier success, HAC was preparing to contest declassification decisions by State and CIA over two Kennedy volumes (Kimball 1994a).…”

“…The risk assessment concept contained in the State Department's Action Plan of June 1993 had not been operationalized; declassifies continued to use very expensive page-by-page review procedures on all documents (Kimball 1994b). Also, despite its earlier success, HAC was preparing to contest declassification decisions by State and CIA over two Kennedy volumes (Kimball 1994a).…”