Press Release
Press Release · Friday, March 4, 2005

Media Alert
March 4, 2005

Media Invitation to Ceremonial Swearing-In of Allen Weinstein as Ninth Archivist of the United States

WHAT: The swearing-in of Professor Allen Weinstein as the ninth Archivist of the United States. The ceremony is open to invited guests, National Archives employees, and members of the working press.

After the ceremony, Professor Weinstein will present a keynote address challenging Archives employees and stakeholders to undertake a total effort over the next five years to achieve at least two main goals:

• The fulfillment of the National Archives’ major electronic records initiatives, which he calls "inside greatness," and
  
  
• The creation, expansion, extension and—where necessary—redesign of educational and public programs to involve the American people and all NARA facilities, the achievement of which the new Archivist calls "outside greatness."

WHO: Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

WHEN: Monday, March 7, 2005 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: William G. McGowan Theater, National Archives Building. The press should use the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance between 7th and 9th Street, NW.

BACKROUND INFORMATION: In taking the oath of office, Professor Weinstein will use the Bible that Harry Truman used on April 12, 1945 when he was sworn in as President, following the death of President Roosevelt.

President Truman used this Bible again at his inauguration on January 20, 1949. It was also used by White House Press Secretary Charles G. Ross, Secretary of State Dean Acheson, and Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson. All of these events have been memorialized by notes written in the Bible's front pages.

The Bible is in the artifact collection of the Truman Presidential Museum & Library. It has a prominent place in the museum's permanent exhibition, "Harry S. Truman: The Presidential Years."

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Professor Weinstein is a noted historian who received a PhD in American Studies from Yale University. Among his many publications are The Story of America (2002), The Haunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America-The Stalin Era (1999), and Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case (1997). He served as a professor of history and American studies at Smith College, Georgetown University, and Boston University.

From 1985 through 2003, Dr. Weinstein was founder, President, and CEO of The Center for Democracy which fostered initiatives in democratic transitions abroad and served as a bridge in issue dialogues between political parties in the United States. Most recently, he was a senior advisor at the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES).

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-501-5526.

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