Allen Weinstein Quotes

We live in a world of increasing dependence on electronic records and retrieval, unprecedented security and preservation concerns, and insufficient attention to civic and democratic education.

Thus, the Archivist must display at all times scrupulous independence and a devotion to the laws and principles which govern the responsibilities of the office.

This awareness instills a fierce desire to protect that heritage and – in doing so – to educate Americans in the meaning and importance of our pivotal documents.

Then as now, whatever disagreements over policies existed among Americans – and there were many such bitter policy disputes – the purposes and goals for which Americans fought were clearly understood.

The Archivist of the United States essentially works for the American people across partisan lines and not, regardless of which Administration nominates the person, for a particular President or political party.

Not only the Archivist alone but all who work for NARA are designated custodians of America’s national memory.