Berger first visited the National Archives on July 18, 2003 , to review secret documents involving the Clinton administration‘s flawed response to terror plots.
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.
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.
Anything here?
July 2003: Berger starts visits to Archives (he later admits to taking notes and leaving with them, against the rules).
September 2, 2003: Berger visits the Archives. This is when the staff notices documents missing and devise a system for his next visit. There are two versions here: One is an Archives employee called Bruce Lindsey and informed of the missing docs. Lanny Breuer denies this version (see timeline line at #160).
September 23, 2003: The Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel contacts Weinstein, a potential replacement for the then director of the Archives, Carlin.
October 2003: Berger returns and again removes documents and is confronted. He acquires an attorney, Lanny Breuer, previously one of the WH counsel for you-know-who.
Shortly after DOJ is notified of Berger's actions.
December 5, 2003: Alberto Gonzales, WH counsel for President Bush, calls Carlin the Archives Director, and requests his resignation.
January 2004: FBI brought into Berger matter.
July 2004: Hearing for Carlin's potential replacement, Weinstein. WH does not reveal openly that Carlin's resignation was requested, nor do they reveal the reason.