Records related to the Public Health Insurance Option sent or received by Rahm Emanuel or David Axelrod, dated January 20, 2009 to March 23, 2010 (22-16547-F)

The materials in FOIA 22-16547-F are a selective, not necessarily all-inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult an archivist about related materials. 

FOIA 22-16547-F are requested all emails, documents, and memos regarding a "public option" and/or "public health insurance option," exchanged between January 20, 2009 and March 23, 2010, sent or received by Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel or Senior Advisor David Axelrod. This excludes any news clippings, press releases, or other publicly-released materials.

This FOIA primarily contains national surveys, polls, and emails sent to and from Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod. Emails are regarding finalized drafts of speeches, comments on news articles and press releases, and comments on correspondence from the public regarding the public healthcare option. It should be noted that many of the documents in this FOIA have been closed due to exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act. 

2 folders, approximately 834 pages / 4,561 assets

  • Electronic Records
  • Textual

The materials in FOIA 22-16547-F are a systematic body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult an archivist about related materials.  

Documents responsive to this FOIA were found in these collection areas – Obama Presidential electronic records, White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject Files, and Staff Member Office Files.

WHORM Subject Files are processed at the document level.  

The WHORM Subject File was compiled by the White House Office of Records Management and consists of a series of documents assigned a letter/number combination and filed in a subject category. A complete listing of the subject categories, including a detailed description of each category, is available on the National Archives Catalog.

Staff Member Office Files are maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity.  

Staff Member Office Files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area. 

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) instance of the Electronic Records Archive (ERA) contains electronic records created or received by Obama administration staff. These records are stored in Search and Access Sets (SAS) that represent their originating computer program, such as Exchange Email or the Worker and Visitor Entry System (WAVES). In addition to records captured from the White House’s electronic systems, EOP-ERA also contains records from the home and shared drives used by White House staff.

The following is a list of documents, folders, and electronic search results lists (SRLs) that were processed in response to FOIA 22-16547-F:

Textual Records

Records Management, White House Office of

Subject Files - FG006-03A (Chief of Staff - Rahm Emanuel)

1025759

Staff Member Office Files

Senior Advisor, Office of the

Axelrod, David - Subject Files

[National Healthcare Polling, 09/2009]

Electronic Records

Email_Other (updated) contains 1,247 assets, of which 9 are withheld in part and 1110 are withheld in full. 

Email_Presidential (updated) contains 3,737 assets, of which 85 are released in full, 38 are withheld in part, and 3,308 are withheld in full.

Email_SIP44 (updated) contains 3 assets, of which 3 are withheld in full. 

File Share contains 10 results, of which 10 are withheld in full. 

Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Barack Obama Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 USC 2201) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 USC 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions.

Official records of Barack Obama’s presidency are housed at the Barack Obama Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA).

Staff Archivists, 2024. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. 

  • File Share

    Electronic Records of the Office of the President / File Share

  • Email_Other

    Electronic Records of the Office of the President / Exchange Email - Other

  • Email_Presidential

    Electronic Records of the Office of the President / Exchange Email - Presidential

  • Email_SIP44

    Electronic Records of the Office of the President / Exchange Email - SIP 44

  • 1025759

    Records Management, White House Office of / Subject Files - FG006-03A (Chief of Staff - Rahm Emanuel)