Allen Weinstein

Dr. Allen Weinstein ("professor of history and a recognized leader in global democracy issues") was sworn in as the ninth Archivist of the United States by Senator Richard Lugar at the U.S. Capitol on 16 Febuary 2006. He is also a trustee of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a founding trustee of the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity.

"Most recently Dr. Weinstein was a senior advisor at IFES (International Foundation for Election Systems). From 1985 through 2003, Dr. Weinstein was founder, President, and CEO of The Center for Democracy, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that fostered initiatives in democratic transitions abroad, and served as a bridge in issue dialogues between political parties in the United States. Recognition for his international contributions include the United Nations Peace Medal for "efforts to promote peace, dialogue and free elections in several critical parts of the world" (1986); The Council of Europe's Silver Medal (1990 and 1996); and awards from the Presidents of Nicaragua and Romania for his efforts on behalf of democratization in those countries.

"Dr. Weinstein has held two Senior Fulbright Lectureships, served as a Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the American Council of Learned Societies, and was a Commonwealth Fund Lecturer at the University of London, among other awards and fellowships. In 1987 he delivered the Bicentennial Fourth of July Oration at Boston's Faneuil Hall, and from 1982-84 he directed the research study that led to creation of the National Endowment for Democracy and was Acting President of the Endowment.

"Dr. Weinstein also brings strong academic credentials to the position as Archivist of the United States. He was University Professor and Professor of History at Boston University, 1985-89; University Professor at Georgetown University, 1981-1984; and, from 1981 to 1983, Executive Editor of The Washington Quarterly at Georgetown's Center for Strategic and International Studies. He served as a member of The Washington Post editorial staff in 1981. From 1966-81 he was Professor of History at Smith College and Chairman of its American Studies Program. Dr. Weinstein was a founding member in 1985 of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace, remaining a Director until 2001." 

In 1983 the New York Times wrote that: "Allen Weinstein is chosen to serve as acting president of National Endowment for Democracy, Government-financed effort to encourage democratic institutions abroad, and Rep Dante B. Fascell is named chairman of its board of directors and Frank J Fahrenkopf Jr is vice chairman."

According to a New York Times published in 1982, Weinstein was involved in the debate surrounding the US's withdrawal from UNESCO in the early 1980s due to their oppositon to the proposed New World Information and Communication Order as deputy chairman of the US delegation:


 * "The United States has urged delegates at Unesco's world cultural conference not to recommend government restrictions on the international flow of news. "The freest flow of information, ideas, artifacts and cultural services among nations remains an essential principle of international cultural life,'' the American delegate, Allen Weinstein, said Friday in a speech at the 119-nation conference.


 * "Cuba and East Germany are circulating draft resolutions backing restrictions on satellite television and other international communications in order to restrict the influence of Western news organizations."

"He served as Vice Chairman on the United States delegation to the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies held in Mexico City in 1982. He was a member of the editorial board of the Washington Post in 1981 and served as professor of history at Smith College in 1966 - 1981." 


 * Director (Ex-officio), Foundation for the National Archives
 * President and Editor of the Center Magazine, 1984- 1985 (Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions)

Other interesting information
According to New York Time's abstracts:

"James Aronson lr criticizing Prof Allen Weinstein Mar 7 rev of his book The Press and the Cold War; Weinstein reply" 1971

"FBI turns over some of its secret files on Alger Hiss to Prof Allen Weinstein, who complains that FBI is failing to comply with Justice Dept rules providing access to such files by delivering only 17 pages out of file 53,000 pages thick. ACLU atty John H F Shattuck, who is representing Weinstein, says he will go to Fed ct and ask that FBI be required to comply with Justice Dept's order if FBI does not deliver substantial number of papers within next 2 wks. Says he will also ask ct to set timetable requiring FBI to turn over all documents within 3 or 4 mos. Weinstein says he will disclose contents of 17 pages when he gets official 'covering lr' that was supposed to accompany them." (1974)

"Dr Peter Irons challenges Prof Allen Weinstein's assertion that documents in Alger Hiss case convincingly demonstrate his guilt on charge of passing Govt documents to Whittaker Chambers. Irons says documents promise a great deal but expose very little, speech to Orgn of Amer Historians. Weinstein reiterates his position. Says Hiss 'had knowledge of Chambers's name, his whereabouts and his charges' many mos before Chambers made them public in Aug '48 appearance before now defunct HR Un-Amer Activities Com. Irving Younger says he agrees evidence at hand shows Hiss was guilty of espionage but that Hiss's conduct before his 2 trials, during them and since, is that of a man who does not believe himself guilty." (1974)

"Rutgers Univ Prof John Lowenthal claims that newly released FBI documents show that bureau covered up evidence helpful to Alger Hiss, who was convicted of perjury and jailed for 4 yrs for denying that he gave copies of classified Govt papers to confessed Soviet spy Whittaker Chambers in '48, article in June 26 issue of The Nation. Says bureau knew, even before start of Hiss trial, that important piece of prosecution evidence, a typewriter, did not in fact belong to Hiss family. Claims that such disclosure might have severed vital link in Govt case against Hiss by discrediting opinion of 'expert' document examiners that incriminating papers were typed on same machine used for typing some Hiss family lrs. Typewriter's importance in case recalled. Article recalls J Edgar Hoover's pressure on his agents to find typewriter. "Prof Allen Weinstein, who has also studied FBI documents, feels memos on which Lowenthal bases his assertion were written by agent who was trying to excuse himself for sloppy work." (1976)

Related Sourcewatch Resources

 * American Political Foundation
 * Peter G. Kelly