The reason why presidents can't keep their White House records dates back to Nixon
Congress changed the law in the 1970s when President Nixon prepared to leave with his documents — and infamous tape recordings.
For the first two centuries of U.S. history, outgoing presidents simply took their documents with them when they left the White House. The materials were considered their personal property.
But for the past four decades, every presidential document — from notebook doodles to top-secret security plans — is supposed to go directly to the National Archives as the material is considered the property of the American people.
So when former President, who served as director of litigation at the National Archives for 13 years.
