Clinton White House papers released

Thousands of secret papers have been released from Bill Clinton's time in the White House.

Former President Bill Clinton

Thousands of secret papers have been released from Bill Clinton's time in the White House. (AAP)

The National Archives has released thousands of secret papers from Bill Clinton's White House, shedding light on his leadership and the role of prospective 2016 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

A batch of more than 3500 pages of internal memos, executive orders and other documents was posted on Friday into the public domain on the website of the Clinton presidential library.

Among the collection are records from then-first lady Hillary Clinton's press office, documents about the health-care task force she headed which ultimately failed to bring about reforms, and national security documents and notes.

They also address key foreign-policy challenges of the 1990s including political unrest in Haiti, the slow response to atrocities in Rwanda, and terror strikes that preceded the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Hillary Clinton's friends and foes alike will be poring over the trove for insight into her role in her husband's presidency, and how the newly released information might impact her reputation as she mulls a second run for the White House.

The documents, released 13 years after Clinton left office, had been withheld under legislation that restricts disclosure of such documents for 12 years.

More releases are expected in the coming weeks.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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