In addition to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, classified records may be released via a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR). Authorized under Executive Order 13526, MDRs allow the public to request a declassification review of a withdrawn document. The document must be classified to qualify for MDR; otherwise, the request must be made through FOIA. The request must be specific in scope and individual documents that can be easily located are preferred. Classified documents about a particular subject must first be made through FOIA.
The following MDRs are available to view online. To learn more about researching open records from the Bush Administration, view the Finding Aids.
Mandatory Declassification Review Requests
- 2011-1256-M
- 7/23/2003 Memcon with President Nestor Kirchner of Argentina
- 2011-1468-M
- “China-Related Trade Actions” [N.D.]
- 2011-1508-M
- Handwritten notes from PC Meeting on Persian Gulf and Iraq [6/4/2002]
- 2011-1510-M
- Memorandum: “Summary of Conclusions for NSC Principals Committee Meeting on China Section 301 Petitions” [5/7/2004]
- Memorandum: “Summary of Conclusions for NSC Principals Committee Meeting on China Section 301 Petitions” [5/6/2004]
- 2012-0654-M
- 9/21/2008 Telcon with President Hu Jintao of China
- 8/21/2006 Telcon with President Hu Jintao of China
- 9/6/2007 Memcon with President Hu Jintao of China
- 2014-0310-M
- Handwritten notes re: Eric Chester [2/2004]
- List: “Canning 2: Responses to Steve’s questions” [N.D.]
- 2014-0324-M
- NSPD-50 “U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa” [9/28/2006]
- 2014-0395-M
- NSPD-34 “Fiscal Year 2004-2012 Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Plan” [5/6/2004]
- NSPD-45 “Fiscal Year 2006-2012 Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Plan [1/18/2006]
- 2014-0471-M*
- 3/31/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 4/10/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 4/30/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 6/8/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 6/18/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 6/29/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 8/1/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 8/3/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 9/12/2001 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 12/29/2001 Memcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 1/2/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 1/7/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 1/8/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 1/17/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 2/6/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 2/28/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 4/4/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 5/2/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 5/22/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 6/14/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 7/15/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 8/29/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 9/3/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 10/2/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 10/14/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 10/23/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 12/16/2002 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 4/23/2003 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 5/16/2003 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 6/26/2003 Telcon with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
- 2015-0048-M
- Memorandum: “Summary of Discussion for the NSC Meeting on the Chinese Visit” [4/3/2006]
- Memorandum: “Summary of Discussion for the NSC Meeting on the Chinese Visit” [N.D.]
- 2015-0058-M
- Letter: Pope John Paul II to POTUS re: Iraq [3/3/2003]
- 2015-0060-M
- Fact Sheet: “Stopping the Genocide in Darfur” [4/18/2007]
- Fact Sheet: “Stopping the Genocide in Darfur” [4/18/2007]
- Fact Sheet: “Stopping the Genocide in Darfur” [4/18/2007]
- 2016-0047-M
- “Camp David Agenda” re: Iraqi Policy [N.D.]
- 2016-0095-M**
- 12/8/2005 Memcon with Chancellor Wolfgang Schuesel of Austria
- 2016-0136-M
- “Senior Executive Intelligence Brief” [8/7/2001]
- 2016-0149-M
- Memorandum: “August 27 Principals Meeting” [8/26/2002]
- Memorandum: “National Security Council Meeting” [8/14/2002]
- 2016-0151-M
- Memorandum: “Iraq WMD Talking Points” [8/28/2002]
- 2016-0152-M
- Memorandum: “Iraq WMD Declaratory Policy” [8/17/2002]
- 2016-0155-M
- Note re: Iraq Papers [8/23/2002]
- Handwritten note re: session with Turkish delegation [8/26/2002]
- 2016-0167-M
- Cable re: Iraq [N.D.]
- 2016-0187-M
- Memorandum: “Adjusting our Security Strategy to the New Realities in Iraq [7/19/2006]
- Discussion Paper: “Taskings from September 30 Meeting with Secretary of Defense, Military Commanders, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq [N.D.]
- “Formalizing the Ongoing Iraq Review” [N.D.]
- Report: “Ongoing Iraq Strategic Review” [11/24/2006]
- Report: “The Way Forward: 4 Organizing Constructs” [N.D.]
- Report: “Iraq, the United States, and Sectarian Violence” [12/7/2006]
- Report: “Ongoing Iraq Strategic Review” [12/7/2006]
- 2016-0189-M
- Briefing: “Joint Campaign Plan” [6/12/2006]
- Briefing: “Overall Strategic Assessment” [6/12/2006]
- Briefing: “Iraq – Political Process” [6/12/2006]
- 2016-0190-M
- Discussion Paper: “Questions to be Discussed with Secretary of Defense, Military Commanders, and United States Ambassador to Iraq” [N.D.]
- 10/16/2006 Telcon with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq
- “Summary of Discussion on Iraq Strategy” [7/22/2006]
- Briefing: “Iraq: Potential Civilian and Military Requirements” [12/7/2006]
- 2016-0216 ISCAP Appeal
- Memorandum: “Consolidation and Updating of Outdated Presidential Counterterrorism Documents” [1/24/2007]
- “Annex II to NSPD-26/HSPD-15 (U.S. Policy and Strategy in the War on Terror)” [N.D.]
- 2017-0052-M
- Agenda: “NSC Principals Committee Meeting on Pakistan” [2/12/2002]
- 2017-0054-M
- Agenda: “NSC Deputies Committee Meeting on China” [4/16/2001]
- 2017-0117-M
- Memorandum: “Agenda and Discussion Paper for Principal’s Committee Meeting on FTAA Strategy” [6/27/2003]
- Letter: Jose Augusto Navarro to Dylan C. Glenn re: Farm bill [2/7/2002]
- Cover Sheet: Pope John Paul II to POTUS re: Letter of introduction for Cardinal Laghi and thoughts on Iraq [3/3/2003]
- Cover Sheet: Pope John Paul II to POTUS re: Letter of introduction for Cardinal Laghi and thoughts on Iraq [3/3/2003]
- Memorandum: “Letter of Introduction for Cardinal Laghi and Thoughts on Iraq [3/5/2003]
- Receipt: “Letter of Introduction for Cardinal Laghi and Thoughts on Iraq [3/3/2003]
- 2017-0232-M
- “Summary of Conclusions of DC Meeting on India and Pakistan” [9/10/2001]
- 2018-0091-M
- 12/8/2003 Telcon with President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan
- 12/8/2003 Telcon with Chairman John Garang of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
- 3/22/2004 Telcon with President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan
- 3/22/2004 Telcon with Chairman John Garang of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
- 11/16/2004 Telcon with President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan
- 11/16/2004 Telcon with Chairman John Garang of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
- 8/8/2005 Telcon with President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir of Sudan
- 5/1/2006 Telcon with President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir of the Government of National Unity of Sudan
- 7/20/2006 Memcon with Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President of the Government of National Unity of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan
- 11/15/2007 Memcon with Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President of the Government of National Unity of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan
- 2018-0125-M
- Memorandum: “Meeting with National Security Council” re: 9/11 terrorist attacks [9/18/2001]
- Agenda: “National Security Council Meeting” [9/19/2001]
- Memorandum: “Meeting with National Security Council” re: 9/11 terrorist attacks [9/20/2001]
- Agenda: “National Security Council Meeting” [9/21/2001]
- Memorandum: “Meeting with National Security Council” re: 9/11 terrorist attacks [9/21/2001]
- Agenda: “National Security Council Meeting” [9/22/2001]
- Memorandum: “Meeting with National Security Council” re: 9/11 terrorist attacks [9/21/2001]
- Agenda: “National Security Council Meeting” [9/24/2001]
- Handwritten note re: Saudi Arabia [9/12/2001]
- Agenda: “NSC Meeting” [9/12/2001]
- 2019-0174-M
- Memorandum: “Memorandum of Conversation with Prime Minister Siim Kallas of the Republic of Estonia” [9/6/2002]
- Memorandum: “President’s Meeting with Prime Minister Siim Kallas of Estonia” [8/28/2002]
- Memorandum: “President’s Meeting with Prime Minister Siim Kallas of Estonia” [8/28/2002]
**See FOIA Request 2014-0226-F
How To Make MDR Requests
Download Presidential Libraries Mandatory Review Request - NA Form 14020. Complete Sections I, II, and III by copying the information from the Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet into Sections II and III. Download and complete the Mandatory Declassification Review Address Form.
Send the completed NA Form 14020 and MDR Address Form to gwbush.library@nara.gov (include Mandatory Declassification Review in the subject line) or mail it to:
Mandatory Declassification Review Archivist
George W. Bush Presidential Library
2943 SMU Blvd, Dallas, TX 75205
Details About MDR Requests
- The Presidential Libraries Mandatory Declassification Review Request - NA Form 14020 must be used to submit a request for a Mandatory Declassification Review in accordance with Section 3.5 of Executive Order 13526.
- The requestor must provide contact information in Section I.
- Sections II and III must be completed by the requestor using the information provided on the Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet. The documents identified on the request form must be from one folder only.
- If all documents requested from a single folder cannot be listed on a single form, use additional forms as necessary.
- If you request documents from more than one folder, use a separate request form for each folder, even if the folders are from the same box. The Bush Library may, at its discretion, divide requests and assign separate case numbers to facilitate handling by the reviewing agencies.
- Documents reviewed by an agency with declassification authority and exempted from declassification may not be resubmitted for declassification review again until two years from the date of an agency’s final determination. The two year rule applies whether or not the agency reviewed the document as a mandatory declassification review in accordance with Section 3.5 of Executive Order 13526 or as systematic declassification review in accordance with Section 3.4 of the Order.
Contact Us
Contact the Bush Library for further assistance.
George W. Bush Presidential Library
2943 SMU Blvd, Dallas, TX 75205
Phone: 214-346-1557