I've been thinking about the exchanges among Richard, Peter, Bruce and me. I know it is easy to argue that NARA never can operate independently. However, that does not mean that it cannot or should not admit to impairments. Perhaps NARA should consider its responsibilities to the public by examining more closely the standards under which auditors operate. Government Auditing Standards state that "3.05 Auditors need to consider three general classes of impairments to independence—personal, external, and organizational. If one or more of these impairments affects an individual auditor’s capability to perform the work and report results impartially, that auditor should either decline to perform the work, or in those situations in which the government auditor, because of a legislative requirement or for other reasons, cannot decline to perform the work, the impairment or impairments should be reported in the scope section of the audit report." Go to http://gaoweb.gao.gov/guides.php and click on the link for the June 2003 edition of Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) and you can read more about how impairments are defined. While I understand why NARA faces pressure and struggles with difficult balancing tests, I believe it can and should act forthrightly in discussing these issues. That includes stating up front if there are any factors or internal or external impairments that affect the release of records (be they Federal, Presidential, etc.). Most of the records in NARA's holdings deal with government activities, that is, management officials. Should they be the ones to call the shots over what the public will see? Here too it is worth looking at auditors' evidence standards. "Evidence obtained from a credible third party may in some cases be more competent than that secured from management or other officials of the audited entity." Also, "Testimonial evidence obtained under conditions where persons may speak freely is more competent than testimonial evidence obtained under compromising conditions (for example, where the persons may be intimidated)." Since NARA handles what during Carlin's tenure was called "the essential evidence" of government action, it must act with integrity in all steps of the process. Unfortunately, there are not enough standards and protocols in place to ensure that this always will happen. And, of course, the archivists who actually do the work never should be viewed contemptuously by their managers. Managers always should strive to protect them and, whenever possible, enable them to work ethically. Maarja A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>