This box of documents can be found here.
Background
These documents are from John Roberts' service in the White House Counsel's Office. From what I've heard, pretty much any matter that enters the White House that requires legal analysis goes to that office. In this box, the documents relate to the various nominations and appointments made by the President.
Summary of documents
The documents in this box fall into these broad categories:
Withdrawal sheets - these are document requests that were denied on the basis of exemption number six, "Release would constitute a clearly unwarrented invasion of personal privacy."
Clearances memo - JGR was cc'd in these perfunctory memos indicating that reviews of nominees and appointments were completed.
Press releases - JGR received copies of press releases regarding the nominations and appointments.
Memos written by JGR - In this box, there were five memos written by JGR, see pages 6-7, 8, 9, 32-33 and 38.
Other documents - JGR received copies of documents relating to the appointment of Weston to be Ambassador to Malawi, see pages 21-28.
Documents that might draw interest
None. The documents that were released are uncontroversial. Most of the documents were not prepared by JGR and were probably kept on file for his reference.
It will be interesting to see if any lobby groups, media or senators will expend political capital to get the release in whole or redacted, the memos mentioned in the "withdrawal sheets."
Summary of the 5 memos prepared by JGR
The pp. 6-7 memo was in regards to reappointments to the National Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention. There were some statutory requirements for membership on the committee and JGR indicated that the individuals reappointed remain qualified.
The p. 8 memo was in regards to the nomination of D. Gene Rickenbaker to the US Court of Military Appeals. There were some statutory criteria for this judgeship. JGR indicated that Rickenbaker was qualified.
The p. 9 memo was in regards to the nomination of Joel Gerber to the United States Tax Court. JGR cited Gerber's qualifications for the judgeship. He noted that a controversy over religously based Bob Jones University (they lost tax-exempt status due to racially discrimatory practices) occured while Gerber was Deputy Chief Counsel at the IRS but since his role was small he didn't expect it to be a problem. Undoubtedly, JGR will be asked about First Amendment and religion issues but this memo itself is uncomplicated.
The pp. 32-33 memo was in regards to appointments to the National Cancer Advisory Board. As in other memos in this box, JGR discussed the statutory requirements for members of the Board. Because the requirements were more complex, the memo was longer addressing how the appointees qualified in particular whether the appointees fufilled the carcinogenesist requirement. He also advised that some members might have to recuse themselves if conflicts of interests arise while reviewing grants.
The p. 38 memo was in regards to the appointment of Charleton Heston to the JFK Center for the Performing Arts Board of Trustees. JGR indicated that Heston met the statutory requirement for the position. Heston mentioned that he had been involved in disputes within the Screen Actors Guild and opposed the Nuclear Freeze movement. JGR did not believe those issues would be a problem.
Summary of other documents
The pp. 21-28 documents were various letters mostly written by Weston Adams in regards to his appointment to the Ambassadorship of Malawi probably kept by JGR in his files. Adams wanted to be in compliance with governmental ethics rules while retaining his name at his law firm during his service as ambassador and clarification of compensation issues for past work at his firm.
Brief description of each page
p. 1 - cover sheet
pp. 2-3 - withdrawal sheet, 10 documents not released due to personal privacy
p. 4 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
p. 5 - clearances have been accomplished memo regarding Moore and Smith reappointment
pp. 6-7 - memo from JGR regarding reappointment of Smith, Moore, Rouse and Koppenhoefer
p. 8 - memo from JGR regarding Rickenbaker appointment
p. 9 - memo from JGR regarding Gerber appointment
p. 10 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
p. 11 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
p. 12 - clearances have been accomplished memo regarding Nitze appointment
p. 13 - clearances have been accomplished memo regarding Carmen appointment
p. 14 - clearances have been accomplished memo regarding King nomination
p. 15 - clearances have been accomplished memo regarding Miller appointment
p. 16 - press release regarding Fairbanks nomination
p. 17 - press release regarding Nitze nomination
p. 18 - press release regarding various nominations and reappointments
p. 19 - press release regarding Loeb appointment
p. 20 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
pp. 21-28 - various letters and documents pertaining to Adams appointment
p. 29 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
p. 30 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
p. 31 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
pp. 32-33 - memo regarding appointments to National Cancer Advisory Board prepared by JGR for FF
p. 34 - correspondence tracking worksheet
p. 35 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
p. 36 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
p. 37 - withdrawal sheet, 1 document not released due to personal privacy
p. 38 - memo by JGR regarding Heston appointment
p. 39 - clearances have been accomplished memo regarding Heston appointment
p. 40 - clearances have been accomplished memo regarding Bosworth nomination
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