Top Archivist Takes Oath

After surviving a contentious confirmation process, Allen Weinstein was sworn in Feb. 16, 2005, as national archivist of the United States.

His nomination stirred up controversy last year when former archivist John Carlin, who resigned in December 2003 pending replacement, revealed the Bush administration had asked him to step down. Legislation requires the president to notify Congress before removing a national archivist. The Society of American Archivists <www.archivists.org>, along with 28 other groups, issued a statement in April 2004 refusing to endorse Weinstein.

Weinstein most recently served as a senior advisor at Maryland’s International Foundation for Election Systems <www.ifes.org>. In 1984, he founded the nonprofit Center for Democracy, which provided assistance to countries transitioning to democratic governments, and ran the organization until it suspended activities in 2003. Weinstein also has held professorships and published several books, including American Book Award nominee Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case, revised edition (Random House).

As national archivist, Weinstein will oversee the National Archives and Records Administration <www.archives.gov>, the independent federal agency that preserves US government records and makes them available to the public.