    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [October 4, 1993]
    [Page 1685]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1685]]

    Memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act
    October 4, 1993

    Memorandum for Heads of Departments and Agencies

    Subject: The Freedom of Information Act

        I am writing to call your attention to a subject that is of great
    importance to the American public and to all Federal departments and
    agencies--the administration of the Freedom of Information Act, as
    amended (the ``Act''). The Act is a vital part of the participatory
    system of government. I am committed to enhancing its effectiveness in
    my Administration.
        For more than a quarter century now, the Freedom of Information Act
    has played a unique role in strengthening our democratic form of
    government. The statute was enacted based upon the fundamental principle
    that an informed citizenry is essential to the democratic process and
    that the more the American people know about their government the better
    they will be governed. Openness in government is essential to
    accountability and the Act has become an integral part of that process.
        The Freedom of Information Act, moreover, has been one of the
    primary means by which members of the public inform themselves about
    their government. As Vice President Gore made clear in the National
    Performance Review, the American people are the Federal Government's
    customers. Federal departments and agencies should handle requests for
    information in a customer-friendly manner. The use of the Act by
    ordinary citizens is not complicated, nor should it be. The existence of
    unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles has no place in its implementation.
        I therefore call upon all Federal departments and agencies to renew
    their commitment to the Freedom of Information Act, to its underlying
    principles of government openness, and to its sound administration. This
    is an appropriate time for all agencies to take a fresh look at their
    administration of the Act, to reduce backlogs of Freedom of Information
    Act requests, and to conform agency practice to the new litigation
    guidance issued by the Attorney General, which is attached.
        Further, I remind agencies that our commitment to openness requires
    more than merely responding to requests from the public. Each agency has
    a responsibility to distribute information on its own initiative, and to
    enhance public access through the use of electronic information systems.
    Taking these steps will ensure compliance with both the letter and
    spirit of the Act.

                                                          William J. Clinton