In response to NARA's evaluation report and as required by Federal regulation, the IRS has submitted an action plan to NARA that outlines their proposed implementation of the report's recommendations. The plan addresses each recommendation, including those directed to field sites, and contains estimated completion dates for each action. NARA is in basic agreement with the plan. The first progress report is due September 30. The value of records, such as those of the IRS or the Nixon presidency, for evaluating the conduct of public officials is undeniable.
Accessible records are essential for accessible government at every level in our democracy.
The need for analysis of actions and thus the need for accessible records is ongoing because the ultimate evaluator of us all is history. Informed citizens need to make judgments in the broader light of historical perspective. They need a continuing analysis of the nation's experience as a whole. At NARA we are committed to ensuring ready access to essential evidence. In a democracy, the records that constitute our archives belong to the citizens, and providing ready access is no incidental service.