Hillary Clinton’s political experience — as governor’s wife, the nation’s first lady and U.S. senator — is one of her strongest selling points as a presidential candidate.

But experience produces a record, and a record can make her look bad as well as good.

A report by Newsweek magazine shows that former President Bill Clinton is being cagey about the public release of many records of his administration, 1993-2001. And these records include those that would shed light on Mrs. Clinton’s experience.

Critics of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library call it “Little Rock’s Fort Knox.” That’s because so much information housed there remains off-limits to journalists, historians and other researchers.

Only about one-half of 1 percent of the library’s documents and e-mails have been made public, according to the National Archives. Maybe they should call it the William J. Clinton Presidential Shrine. The word “library” implies that you can read the books and papers there.

Mrs. Clinton has assailed the Bush administration’s secrecy and promised transparent government. The Clintons should practice what she preaches. Except where national security is at risk, they should just let everything out as fast as possible and take the bad publicity with the good.

Email This Page