Understanding our records is key to understanding our history. As custodians of America's national memory, the National Archives is grateful for the generous support of both the Foundation and Discovery Communications in making Democracy Starts Here, which truly deepens our visitors' understanding of all that we hold at the National Archives.

Classified agreements are the antithesis of our reason for being. Our focus is on the preservation of records and ensuring their availability to the American public, while at the same time fulfilling the people's expectation that we will properly safeguard the classified records entrusted to our custody.

The idea is to let people get on with their research and not reclassify documents unless it's absolutely necessary.

This is an important step to achieve our goal to become an archive without walls. For the first time, the public will be able to view this collection of rare and unusual films on the Internet emphasizing the importance of providing access to records anytime, anywhere.

This is an important step for the National Archives to achieve its goal of becoming an archive without walls. Our new strategic plan emphasizes the importance of providing access to records anytime, anywhere.

The Foundation for the National Archives is a valuable partner with the National Archives in helping to make history relevant and exciting to all Americans. The Records of Achievement Award, given by the Foundation, helps underscore the importance of using primary sources to achieve this goal. I am delighted that Mr. Brokaw, distinguished broadcast journalist and historian, has agreed to accept the award this year. His books and his reporting have shown a keen understanding of American history and a respect for unearthing primary sources to tell the story.