Don W. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Don W. Wilson was appointed the Archivist of the United States
, serving from December 4, 1987, to March 24, 1993.
from Washburn University
in Topeka, Kansas
, and attended the University of Cincinnati
, which awarded Wilson both an M.A.
and Ph.D.
in history
. He served on the history faculties at the University of Michigan
and Washburn University and worked with the Center for Presidential Studies at Texas A&M University
as a research professor. Wilson also worked as Archivist
at the Kansas State Historical Society and as Associate Director at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
Wilson has extensive experience with presidential libraries, working as Deputy Director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
, as the first Director of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library, in Ann Arbor, Michigan
in 1981, as the Executive Director
of the George Bush Presidential Library
and George Bush Presidential Library Foundation (April 1993–1998) at Texas A&M University. The later position was a source of controversy when it was revealed that Wilson made an agreement with Bush that gave the president control over his records that was ultimately judged "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and contrary to law."
swore-in Wilson on December 4, 1987, with US Congressman Dick Cheney
, serving as the master of ceremonies.
On May 18, 1992, in his official capacity as Archivist, he officially certified the ratification of the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution
and on May 19, 1992, printed it in the Federal Register
, together with the certificate of ratification. Due to the length of time between the amendment’s submission and ratification (more than 202 years), doing this without congressional approval was controversial, with Speaker of the House
Tom Foley
and others called for a legal challenge to the amendment's unusual ratification.
However, Wilson had acted under statutory authority granted to his office by the Congress under Title 1, section 106b of the United States Code
, which states:
On May 20, 1992, each house of the 102nd Congress passed a version of a concurrent resolution
agreeing that the amendment was validly ratified, despite the unorthodox period of more than 202 years for ratification. However, neither resolution was adopted by the entire Congress.
During his time at the National Archives and Records Administration
, Wilson was a vocal advocate for the preservation of electronic records. In spite of his "advocacy" for the preservation of electronic records, late on the night of January 19, 1993 (the day before the end of George H. W. Bush
's presidency), Wilson signed a controversial deal, giving President Bush exclusive legal control over 5,000 tapes from White House
computers. Three weeks later, Wilson announced that he would become executive director of the Bush Presidential Library Center. Wilson was investigated for conflict of interest; the midnight deal was later declared null and void by a federal judge.
In late 1992 there was also a controversy regarding his prior choice of Lawrence Oberg as NARA Inspector General.
, and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Cincinnati in 1988.
Don W. Wilson was honored by having his portrait placed in the grand staircase of the National Archives Building along the National Mall in Washington.
Archivist of the United States
The Archivist of the United States is the chief official overseeing the operation of the National Archives and Records Administration. The first Archivist, R.D.W. Connor, began serving in 1934, when the National Archives was established as an independent federal agency by Congress...
, serving from December 4, 1987, to March 24, 1993.
Biography
Wilson earned a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, and attended the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, which awarded Wilson both an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He served on the history faculties at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and Washburn University and worked with the Center for Presidential Studies at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
as a research professor. Wilson also worked as Archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
at the Kansas State Historical Society and as Associate Director at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
Wilson has extensive experience with presidential libraries, working as Deputy Director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
Eisenhower Presidential Center
The Eisenhower Presidential Center, officially known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum or Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, includes the Eisenhower presidential library, President Dwight David Eisenhower's boyhood home, Museum, and gravesite...
, as the first Director of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library, in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in 1981, as the Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the George Bush Presidential Library
George Bush Presidential Library
The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. It was dedicated on Nov. 6, 1997 and opened to the public shortly thereafter...
and George Bush Presidential Library Foundation (April 1993–1998) at Texas A&M University. The later position was a source of controversy when it was revealed that Wilson made an agreement with Bush that gave the president control over his records that was ultimately judged "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and contrary to law."
National Archives
President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
swore-in Wilson on December 4, 1987, with US Congressman Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, serving as the master of ceremonies.
On May 18, 1992, in his official capacity as Archivist, he officially certified the ratification of the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution
Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-seventh Amendment prohibits any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of the Congress from taking effect until the start of the next set of terms of office for Representatives...
and on May 19, 1992, printed it in the Federal Register
Federal Register
The Federal Register , abbreviated FR, or sometimes Fed. Reg.) is the official journal of the federal government of the United States that contains most routine publications and public notices of government agencies...
, together with the certificate of ratification. Due to the length of time between the amendment’s submission and ratification (more than 202 years), doing this without congressional approval was controversial, with Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Tom Foley
Tom Foley
Thomas Stephen Foley was the 57th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1989 to 1995. He represented Washington's 5th congressional district for 30 years as a Democratic member from 1965 to 1995....
and others called for a legal challenge to the amendment's unusual ratification.
However, Wilson had acted under statutory authority granted to his office by the Congress under Title 1, section 106b of the United States Code
United States Code
The Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...
, which states:
On May 20, 1992, each house of the 102nd Congress passed a version of a concurrent resolution
Concurrent resolution
A concurrent resolution is a resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law and does not require the approval of the chief executive.-United States Congress:...
agreeing that the amendment was validly ratified, despite the unorthodox period of more than 202 years for ratification. However, neither resolution was adopted by the entire Congress.
During his time at the National Archives and Records Administration
National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records and with increasing public access to those documents, which comprise the National Archives...
, Wilson was a vocal advocate for the preservation of electronic records. In spite of his "advocacy" for the preservation of electronic records, late on the night of January 19, 1993 (the day before the end of George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
's presidency), Wilson signed a controversial deal, giving President Bush exclusive legal control over 5,000 tapes from White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
computers. Three weeks later, Wilson announced that he would become executive director of the Bush Presidential Library Center. Wilson was investigated for conflict of interest; the midnight deal was later declared null and void by a federal judge.
In late 1992 there was also a controversy regarding his prior choice of Lawrence Oberg as NARA Inspector General.
Awards
Wislon was a National Defense Fellow from 1964 to 1967 while at the University of CincinnatiUniversity of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Cincinnati in 1988.
Don W. Wilson was honored by having his portrait placed in the grand staircase of the National Archives Building along the National Mall in Washington.
Quotes
- Wilson on working in the field of philanthropy: “I take great satisfaction in seeing people and organizations achieve goals they might have originally believed to be beyond their reach.”
External links
- Archivists of the United States, 1934–present, archives.gov