In 2001, President Bush issued an executive order that permitted former presidents and vice presidents to review their public records before they were released under the Freedom of Information Act.

A federal judge in Washington last week ordered the National Archives not to withhold any more documents based on that part of the order.

The judge's action is a step toward the access that the public, journalists and historians ought to have. But further action may be needed, perhaps by passing a congressional bill that would overturn the executive order.

Lawyer Meredith Fuchs says "hard questions" remain about the control former presidents, former vice presidents and their heirs might have over disclosure of records. Ultimately, she says, President Bush's daughters could be deciding whether to release records from his administration.

Who elected them?

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