10 9 2019 Trump can’t crumple up history at will - The Washington Post Democracy Dies in Darkness Trump can’t crumple up history at will By Editorial Board June 26 2019 at 7 11 p m EDT WHEN PRESIDENT Ronald Reagan sat down with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at the Reykjavik summit on Oct 11 1986 Gorbachev broke the ice with a wry observation that they both had brought a lot of paperwork Did that mean something Reagan said it was to remind each other of what happened the last time they met The summit went on to make history How do we know what was said Because in addition to interpreters both men were accompanied by notetakers and those records once marked “secret” and “sensitive ” are now declassified for all to see President Trump ought to take a cue from Reagan when he meets Friday with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting in Osaka Japan The notes of the meeting must be preserved under the Presidential Records Act of 1978 which covers Mr Trump’s activities or the Federal Records Act which applies to agencies such as the State Department In his previous meetings with Mr Putin the president has been careless about compliance The Post has reported there is no detailed record even in classified files of Mr Trump’s face-to-face interactions with Mr Putin at five locations over the past two years In one case Mr Trump seized the notes made by an interpreter who was present https www washingtonpost com opinions trump-cant-crumple-history-at-will 2019 06 26 0a377f0c-983c-11e9-8d0a-5edd7e2025b1_story html 1 6 10 9 2019 Trump can’t crumple up history at will - The Washington Post Mr Trump should change course He must ensure notes of his meetings are correctly maintained because it is the law and because such records are vital for use by policymakers in his own administration provide the basis for holding Mr Trump to account for his actions and are essential for historical research Mr Trump’s odd affinity for Mr Putin Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential campaign and the intensified hostility between Washington and Moscow all make it imperative that good records be kept Surely the Russians will be taking notes too AD Proper record-keeping should not infringe on Mr Trump’s prerogative to talk in confidence to Mr Putin or other world leaders Notes can be kept secret until properly declassified https www washingtonpost com opinions trump-cant-crumple-history-at-will 2019 06 26 0a377f0c-983c-11e9-8d0a-5edd7e2025b1_story html 2 6 10 9 2019 Trump can’t crumple up history at will - The Washington Post Mr Trump’s earlier neglect also must be examined and rectified as far as possible Several organizations are turning to the courts seeking to force Mr Trump and his subordinates to follow the law Meanwhile Rep Elijah E Cummings D-Md chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform has renewed questions to the White House about Mr Trump’s handling of notes during previous meetings with Mr Putin Mr Cummings has asked what happened to the notes from the meeting with Mr Putin at Hamburg on July 7 2017 and about who in the White House might have summaries or readouts of the meetings in Hamburg and in Helsinki on July 16 2018 Mr Cummings says the White House has been unresponsive to earlier questions These are legitimate issues and Mr Trump’s staff should stop stonewalling Mr Trump may be making his own history but he does not own it The American people do He cannot crumple it up at will Read more Randall D Eliason Don’t subpoena Trump’s interpreter The Post’s View President Trump’s penchant for secrecy is about to be tested in court Jennifer Rubin No president has ever been asked Are you a Russian agent Max Boot Here are 18 reasons Trump could be a Russian asset https www washingtonpost com opinions trump-cant-crumple-history-at-will 2019 06 26 0a377f0c-983c-11e9-8d0a-5edd7e2025b1_story html 3 6