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And, now that I brought John Carlin up, don't forget he's the same archivist who presided over Sandy Berger and who is a buddy of John Kerry :

Mr. Carlin was appointed Archivist by President William J. Clinton in 1995. He immediately began a comprehensive strategic planning effort that resulted in a 10-year plan to refocus the agency and bring it into the 21st century. -------- "John W. Carlin, Archivist of the United States ," January 13, 2005 , http://www.archives.gov/welcome/bio_carlin.html

To: cyncooper; Miss Marple; Howlin
I just phoned the National Archives because when I googled - John Carlin archives - the first hit was to the NARA website - where he is STILL THE ARCHIVIST! What is going on! I spoke to an actual employee who said that his last day will be sometime in March 2005 The Dems had a) an extra year to 'straighten up' some files from the Clinton days; and b) reasons to expect that if Kerry were to be elected, Carlin would stay. Why did the Bush admin not pursue getting rid of him? Weakness? Chess moves?

[* Unfortunately it's more likely because there is way too much Barbara Streisand going on and we're playing catch up, or Heinz Ketchup, as the case may be.]

To: maica; livius Pinging livius to your investigative work. Good job.
The Bush administration did take steps to remove him. In September 2003, after the first visit where Archives employees noticed missing documents after Berger left, the first step was taken.
On December 5, 2003 Alberto Gonzales requested Carlin's resignation.
Now, I figured he was granted the extra months he requested (July 2004 he wanted 4 more months which would have been last November and he obviously was granted a few extra months). I don't think we can conclude at this point he was culpable in the Berger matter so I'm not surprised or bothered that he's still there, and it looks like he'll be gone shortly.
410 posted on 01/13/2005 7:18:45 AM PST by cyncooper

Carlin is also tight with a figure named Thomas Blanton who was exec director for the National Security Archives.

To: livius
When I first read your findings, I, too, thought Carlin tendered his resignation before the Berger business happened. That is not correct. The FBI was brought in in January 2004, BUT the DOJ was aware of what was going on almost immediately.
According to the following, Carlin's letter of resignation was dated December 19, 2003. Berger began visiting the Archives in July 2003 and the staff noticed documents missing in September and set up the sting in October (see my Berger timeline link at post #160).
I can't believe I had missed Carlin's resignation and the dems' intense questioning about it, but thank you so much for bringing that up. Here's the link to the article I just found and the excerpts:

Report on the Hearing on Allen Weinstein's Nomination as Archivist of the United States
Excerpts:
On July 22, 2004, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing on the pending nomination of historian Allen Weinstein to become Archivist of the United States. Weinstein is the Bush administration's choice to succeed the present archivist, John Carlin.
~snip~
Senator Lieberman asked whether Weinstein had any knowledge of Archivist John Carlin's December 19, 2003 letter indicating his intent to resign. (That letter was produced by the White House as evidence that Carlin had initiated the replacement search process.) Weinstein stated he had no such knowledge and then described the circumstances in which the White House approached him about the position.
Weinstein stated that on September 23, 2003 he was invited to meet with Ms. Dina Powell, Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel about the possibility of a nomination as the next Archivist of the United States. In late November and early December he was then asked to fill out investigative and ethics forms that precede all presidential nominations. Weinstein stated that he was made aware that he would be the White House's nominee "in early January 2004." Under questioning, Weinstein also stated that he had several "generalized" conversations with White House Counsel Judge Alberto Gonzales and several others but that at no time were there any discussions about issues relating to archival records relating to the presidency.
~snip~
Senator Levin then introduced a bombshell document into the hearing record -- a letter from current Archivist Carlin that was prepared in response to a number of questions posed to him by Levin regarding whether he [Carlin] approached the administration, or had the administration initially had approached him about resigning as Archivist.
(The National Coalition for History and several of its member organizations have repeatedly called on the committee to get to the bottom of the issue relating to the Carlin controversy.)
In Carlin's response (dated July 21-my note: July 21, 2004--) obtained by the history coalition, the Archivist stated: "In answer to the first question, the Administration initially approached me. On Friday, December 5, 2003, the Counsel to the President [Alberto Gonzales] called me and told me the Administration would like to appoint a new Archivist. I asked why and there was no reason given."
Carlin then stated in the letter that he wants to continue as Archivist at least four more months as "there are initiatives I would like to complete before concluding my service as Archivist"...specifically the campaign to raise $22 million to fund the Public Vaults permanent exhibit that will open in November 2004 and since "we are on the verge of awarding a contract for the design of the Electronic Records Archives...I would like to see that budget request through to fruition over the next four months."
Levin and Durbin expressed concern that, contrary to provisions of the Archives independence act, the White House was requesting Carlin's resignation without stating a reason required in the law. Following a cordial but doggedly persistent pursuit of his objective, Levin asked Chairman Collins that the committee send a letter to the White House to explain why Carlin was being asked to resign as these actions endanger "the independence of the Archivist's office." If the committee declined to do so, Levin would do so independently.
~SNIP~
I do indeed think it is extremely likely that the Berger business is at issue here and the tone from Levin is very interesting. Very interesting.
223 posted on 01/12/2005 9:33:56 AM PST by cyncooper