In re Albert Gore, Jr: notification of preliminary investigation, Memoranda between judges; orders and motions, 1997-1998

The collection reflects ten years of John D. Butzner Jr.'s work as member of the special division of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for the purpose of appointing independent counsels.

The files consist of extensive correspondence between the judges, memoranda, orders and opinions, reports, applications for attorneys fees, and other related documents. The correspondence reflects the workings of the panels, the method of selecting independent counsel, various revisions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, and the costs of the investigations.

The judges in this special division were: Judge George E. MacKinnon, Judge Wilbur F. Bell, Judge David B. Sentelle, Judge Joseph T. Sneed, Judge Peter T. Fay.

There is correspondence with attorney generals Richard Lewis "Dick" Thornburgh and Janet Reno; and files about the appointments of independent counsels: Carol Elder Bruce, Daniel S. Pearson, Daniel K. Webb, David M. Barrett, Whitney North Seymour Jr., Donald C. Smaltz, James C. McKay, Arlin M. Adams, Lawrence Walsh, Joseph DiGenova, Kenneth R. Starr, and others.

People or matters under investigation during this period included Bruce R. Babbitt, secretary of the Interior; Ronald H. Brown, secretary of Commerce; Lauro F. Cavazos; Henry Cisneros, secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Michael D. Deaver, White House aide; Raymond J. Donovan, secretary of Labor; Alphonse Michael (Mike) Espy, secretary of Agriculture; Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan Association, better known as "Whitewater;" Janet G. Mullins, regarding the handling of President William Clinton's passport files; Franklyn C. Nofziger and Edwin Meese III; Oliver L. North in the Iran-Contra affair; Theodore B. Olson, assistant attorney general; and Samuel R. Pierce.

The largest case concerns Oliver L. North and the sale of arms to Iran. Included are files regarding President Ronald Reagan's and President George H. W. Bush's applications for attorney's fees resulting from that investigation. There is also extensive information on the case regarding Janet Mullins and the search of President William Clinton's passport files, and on the Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan case, better known as Whitewater, as well as the controversial appointment of Kenneth R. Starr to serve as independent counsel in that case.

Files are organized alphabetically by case name.