The Back Story on the Freedom of Information Act at 40
· Story link The Freedom of Information Act, which established the public’s right of access to government information, turned 40…
The Freedom of Information Act, which established the public’s right of access to government information, turned 40 on July 4th. It almost didn’t happen, as National Security Archive director Tom Blanton relates in a back story on the grudging approval given the act by President Lyndon Johnson. Johnson refused to hold a signing ceremony and issued a signing statement that put as much emphasis on the need to keep secrets as it did the importance of openness. (7/10/06)