Government Documents - U.S.

Executive Branch of Government: Regulations and Executive Orders
The executive branch of Government enforces the laws of the land. It was established in Article II of the Constitution. Many laws enacted by Congress require agencies to issue regulations. Executive branch agencies are granted the power to implement regulations relating to matters within their jurisdiction. Regulations are published daily in the Federal Register and are then codified in the Code of Federal Regulations once a year.

Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each volume of the CFR is updated once each calendar year and is issued on a quarterly basis. More about the Code of Federal Regulations from: GPO.

• FDSys: Code of Federal Regulations 1996 (partial) to present
• FDSys: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
  Updated daily, the e-CFR is a currently updated version of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), but it is not an official legal edition of the CFR. The e-CFR is an editorial compilation of CFR material and Federal Register amendments produced by the National Archives and Records Administration's Office of the Federal Register (OFR) and the Government Printing Office.
• HeinOnline (AU Community only) 1938-2011.

Federal Register
The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. It is updated daily by 6 a.m. and is published Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. More about the Federal Register from: GPO.

Presidential Directives
Presidential directives are signed or authorized by the President. They are issued by the National Security Council. Many recent ones are classified. More about Presidential Directives.

• Federation of American Scientists' Presidential Directives and Executive Orders

 

 

Presidential Papers

Inaugural Addresses
The inaugural addresses of the presidents can also be found in presidental papers.

• American Presidency Project
• Avalon Project
• HeinOnline (AU Community only)
• Inaugural addresses of the Presidents of the United States from George Washington, 1789, to Lyndon Baines Johnson, 1965. Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1965. (Call number: J81.C61 A1 1965)
• A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897. Pub., by authority of Congress. By James D. Richardson. 10 vols. (Call number: J81 .B96)
• A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1915]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson. (Call number: J81 .B962)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States
The Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States is the official publication of United States Presidents' public writings, addresses, and remarks of a public nature.
Issued: Volumes are published approximately twice a year, and each volume covers approximately a 6-month period. 

• FDSys 1991 (George H.W. Bush) to 2005 (George W. Bush) 
• HeinOnline (AU Community only) 1929 (Herbert Hoover) to 2004 (George W. Bush)
• Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States [Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush] (Call number: J80 .A283 1930- )

Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents & Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
The Compilation of Presidential Documents is the official publication of presidential statements, messages, remarks, and other materials released by the White House Press Secretary. The Daily Compilation replaced the Weekly Compilation on January 20, 2009 (Obama). From 1977 onward, all material appearing in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is incorporated into the Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States. More about the Compilation of Presidential Documents from GPO's FDsys.
Issued: Daily
Citation: Daily Comp. Pres. Docs., 2009 DCPD No. 00001, p.3 means the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents in the year 2009, in the first document, on page three.

• GPO January 20, 2009 (Barack Obama) to present
  Most up to date source.
• HeinOnline (AU Community only) January 20, 2009 (Barack Obama) to present

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
Official publication of presidential statements, messages, remarks, and other materials released by the White House Press Secretary. Replaced by the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents on January 20, 2009.
Issued: Weekly (Monday)

• GPO 1993 (George H.W. Bush) to January 29, 2009 (George W. Bush)
• HeinOnline (AU Community only) 1965 (Lyndon B. Johnson) to January 29, 2009 (George W. Bush)

Papers of Individual Presidents
Many of these collections are not government documents per se because they include private as well as public papers of presidents. Moreover, many of these collections are collected and published privately.

 

1. George Washington, 1789-1797

• The Diaries of George Washington. Donald Jackson, editor, Dorothy Twohig, associate editor. 6 vols.
  (Call number: E312.8 1976). AU Library has print copy.
• The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series.
  (Call number: E312.72 1982). AU Library has print copy.
• The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series.
  (Call number: E312.72 1985). AU Library has print copy.
• The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series.
  (Call number: E312.7 1992). AU Library has print copy.
• The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series.
  (Call number: E312.72 1987). AU Library has print copy. 
• The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, editor .
  (Call number: E312.7 1931). AU Library has print copy.
• The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private: Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts: With a Life of the Author, Notes, and Illustrations.  Jared Sparks.
  AU Library has online copy.

2. John Adams, 1797-1801

• Diary and Autobiography of John Adams. L. H. Butterfield, editor, Leonard C. Faber and Wendell D. Garrett, assistant editors. 4 vols.
  (Call number: E322 .A3). AU Library has print copy.
• The Earliest Diary of John Adams. L. H. Butterfield, editor. Wendell D. Garrett and Marc Friedlaender, associate editors.
  (Call number: E322 .A34). AU Library has print copy.
• Adams Family Correspondence. L.H. Butterfield, editor; Wendell D. Garrett, associate editor; Marjorie E. Sprague, assistant editor. 9 vols.
  (Call number: E322.1 .A27). AU Library has print copy.
• Legal Papers of John Adams. L. Kinvin Wroth and Hiller B. Zobel, editors. 3 vols.
  (Call number: E321 .A3). AU Library has print copy.
• Papers of John Adams. Robert J. Taylor, editor ; Mary-Jo Kline, associate editor ; Gregg L. Lint, assistant editor. 15 vols.
  (Call number: E302 .A27). AU Library has print copy.
• Portraits of John and Abigail Adams.
  (Call number: E322 .O55). AU Library has print copy.
• The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States.
  (Call number: E302 .A26). AU Library has online copy.

3. Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809

• Jefferson's Extracts From the Gospels. Dickinson W. Adams, editor ; Ruth W. Lester, assistant editor ; introduction by Eugene R. Sheridan.
  (Call number: BS2549.J5 J43). AU Library has print copy.
• Jefferson's Parliamentary Writings.
• Jefferson's Literary Commonplace Book.
• Jefferson's Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany.
• Papers of Thomas Jefferson. J. Jefferson Looney, editor. 6 vols.
  (Call number: E302 .J463). AU Library has print copy.
• The Works of Thomas Jefferson. Collected and ed. by Paul Leicester Ford. 12 vols.
  (Call number: E302 .J49w). AU Library has print copy.
• The Writings of Thomas Jefferson. Collected and edited by Paul Leicester Ford
  AU Library has online copy.

4. James Madison, 1809-1817

• The Papers of James Madison, Congressional Series.
• The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series. Edited by Robert J. Brugger. 8 vols.
  (Call number: JK111 .M2423). AU Library has print copy.
• The Papers of James Madison, Presidential Series. Edited by Robert A. Rutland. 6 vols.
  (Call number: JK111 .M242). AU Library has print copy.
• The Papers of James Madison, Retirement Series. Edited by David B. Mattern
  (Call number: E302 .M19). AU Library has print copy.
• Writings of James Madison. Edited by Gaillard Hunt.
  AU Library has online copy
• The Mind of the Founder: Sources of the Political Thought of James Madison. Edited, with an introduction and commentary, by Marvin Meyers.
  (Call number: E302 .M185). AU Library has print copy.

5. James Monroe, 1817-1825

• A Comprehensive Catalogue of the Correspondence and Papers of James Monroe.
  (Call number: E302.M74 Z997 2001). AU Library has print copy.
• The Papers of James Monroe.
  (Call number: E302 .M74). AU Library has print copy.
• The Writings of James Monroe.
  (Call number: E302 .M74). AU Library has print copy.
• Papers of James Monroe. (Microfilm, 11 reels).
• James Monroe papers, 1772-1836. (Microfilm, 8 reels).
• James Monroe Papers in Virginia Repositories. (Microfilm, 13 reels).

6. John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829

• Diary of John Quincy Adams.
  (Call number: E377 .A185). AU Library has print copy.
• Adams Family Correspondence.
  (Call number: E322.1 .A27). AU Library has print copy.
• Portraits of John Quincy Adams and his Wife.
  (Call number: E377 .O5) AU Library has print copy.
• Writings of John Quincy Adams.
  (Call number: E337.8 .A21). AU Library has print copy.
• The Memoirs of John Quincy Adams. Comprising Portions of his Diary from 1795-1848.
• Writings of John Quincy Adams. Edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford. 7 vols.
  (Call number: E337.8 .A21) AU Library has print copy.

7. Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837

• Legal Papers of Andrew Jackson.
  (Call number: KF213.J29 E59). AU Library has print copy.
• The papers of Andrew Jackson.
  (Call number: E302 .J35). AU Library has print copy.
• Correspondence of Andrew Jackson.
  (Call number: E382 .J115). AU Library has print copy.
• Papers (Microfilm, 78 reels)
• Papers (Microfilm, 78 reels)
• The Papers of Andrew Jackson: Guide and Index to the Microfilm Editions. Harold D. Moser ... [et al.] ; editors, Philip Lucas, Julie Macpherson, Wyatt Wells, editorial associates.
  (Call number: E337.8.J3 Z996). AU Library has print copy.

8. Martin Van Buren, 1837-1841

• Guide and Index to the Papers of Martin van Buren.
• The Papers of Martin Van Buren. (Microfilm, 55 reels).
• Papers. (Microfilm 35 reels).

9. William Henry Harrison, 1841

• William Henry Harrison Papers. (Microfilm, 3 reels).
• Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison.

10. John Tyler, 1841-1845

• The Letters and Times of the Tylers.
• Papers. (Microfilm, 3 reels).

11. James Knox Polk, 1845-1849

• Correspondence of James K. Polk.
  (Call number: E337.8 .P63). AU Library has print copy.
• Diary of James K. Polk during His Presidency, 1845 to 1849.
  (Call number: E416 .P76). AU Library has print copy.
• Polk: The Diary of a President, 1845-1849.
  (Call number: E416 .P77). AU Library has print copy.
• Papers. (microfilm, 67 reels).

12. Zachary Taylor, 1849-1850

• Letters of Zachary Taylor from the Battlefields of the Mexican War.
  (Call number: E415 .T24). AU Library has print copy.
• Zachary Talyor Papers. (Microfilm, 2 reels).

13. Millard Fillmore, 1850-1853

• Millard Fillmore Papers.
  (Call number: F129.B8 B88 v.10-11). AU Library has print copy.
• Microfilm edition of the Millard Fillmore Papers. (Microfilm, 68 reels).

14. Franklin Pierce, 1853-1857

• Papers. (Microfilm, 7 reels).

15. James Buchanan, 1857-1861

• The Works of James Buchanan.
• James Buchanan Papers. (Microfilm, 60 reels).

16. Abraham Lincoln, 1861-1865

• The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln.
• Illinois Papers.
• The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln.
• Papers of President Abraham Lincoln. (Microfilm, 97 reels).

17. Andrew Johnson, 1865-1869

18. Ulysses Simpson Grant, 1869-1877

• The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant.
  (Call number: E660 .G74). AU Library has print copy.
• Papers, 1844-1885. (Microfilm, 32 reels).

19. Rutherford Birchard Hayes, 1877-1881

• Hayes: The Diary of a President.
• Papers of Rutherford Birchard Hayes. (Microfilm, 301 reels).
• Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes.
  (Call number: E682 .H418W). AU Library has print copy.
• Hayes: The Diary of a President 1875-1881.

20. James Abram Garfield, 1881

• The Diary of James A. Garfield.
  (Call number: E660 .G223). AU Library has print copy.
• Politics and Patronage in the Gilded Age: The Correspondence of James A. Garfield and Charles E. Henry.
  (Call number: E671 .G3). AU Library has print copy.
• The Wild Life of the Army: Civil War Letters of James A. Garfield.
  (Call number: E470 .G2). AU Library has print copy.
• Crete and James: Personal Letters of Lucretia and James Garfield.
  (Call number: E687 .A4 1994). AU Library has print copy.
• James A. Garfield Papers. (Microfilm, 177 reels).

21. Chester Alan Arthur, 1881-1885

• Papers. (Microfilm, 3 reels).

22. Grover Cleveland, 1885-1889

• The Letters of Grover Cleveland, 1850-1908.
• The Writings and Speeches of Grover Cleveland
  (Call number: E696 .C61). AU Library has print copy.
• Letters and Addresses of Grover Cleveland. 
• Grover Cleveland Papers. (Microfilm 164 reels).

23. Benjamin Harrison, 1889-1893

• The Correspondence Between Benjamin Harrison and James G. Blaine, 1882-1893.
  (Call number: Q11 .P612 v.14). AU Library has print edition.
• Through the South and the West with the President, April 14-May 16, 1891.
• Papers. (Microfilm 151 reels).

24. Grover Cleveland, 1893-1897

25. William McKinley, 1897-1901

26. Theodore Roosevelt, 1901-1909

• The Works of Theodore Roosevelt (Memorial edition).
• The Works of Theodore Roosevelt (National edition).
• Social Justice and Popular Rule.
• The Letters of Theodore Roosevelt.
  (Call number: E757 .R7958). AU Library has print copy.
• Addresses and Presidential Messages of Theodore Roosevelt, 1902-1904.
  (Call number: E660 .R853). AU Library has print copy.
• Selections from the Correspondence of Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge, 1884-1918.
  (Call number: E757 .R799). AU Library has print copy.
• Theodore Roosevelt: Letters from a Young Coal Miner.
• Theodore Roosevelt's Letters to His Children.
• Theodore Roosevelt Papers. (Microfilm, 485 reels).

27. William Howard Taft, 1909-1913

• The Collected Works of William Howard Taft.
• Papers of William H. Taft. (Microfilm, 658 reels).

28. Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1921

• The Papers of Woodrow Wilson.
  (Call number: E660 .W717). AU Library has print copy.
• A President in Love: The Courtship Letters of Woodrow Wilson and Edith Bolling Galt.
  (Call number: E767 .W837). AU Library has print copy.
• The Hoover-Wilson Wartime Correspondence: September 24, 1914, to November 11, 1918.
• Two peacemakers in Paris: The Hoover-Wilson Post-Armistice Letters, 1918-1920.
  (Call number: E802 .A4 1978). AU Library has print copy.

29. Warren Gamaliel Harding, 1921-1923

• Rededicating America: Life and Recent Speeches of Warren G. Harding.
• Our Common Country: Mutual Good Will in America.
• Warren G. Harding Papers. (Microfilm, 263 reels).

30. Calvin Coolidge, 1923-1929

• The Talkative President: The Off-the-Record Press Conferences of Calvin Coolidge.
  (Call number: J82 .D4 1964). AU Library has print copy
• Campaign speeches of 1932, by President Hoover [and] ex-President Coolidge.
• The Price of Freedom: Speeches and Addresses.
• Have Faith in Massachusetts: A Collection of Speeches and Messages by Calvin Coolidge.
• America’s Need for Education and other Educational Addresses.
• America’s Need for Education and other Educational Addresses. (Microfilm, 190 reels).
• The Personal Presidential Files of President Calvin Coolidge. (Microfilm, 12 reels).

31. Herbert Clark Hoover, 1929-1933

• Public Papers of the Presidents: Herbert Hoover.
• Proclamations and Executive Orders: Herbert Hoover, March 4, 1929 to March 4, 1933.
• Press Conferences, March 5, 1929-March 3, 1933.
• The New Day: Campaign Speeches of Herbert Hoover, 1928.
• Campaign speeches of 1932, by President Hoover [and] ex-President Coolidge.
• The Hoover-Wilson Wartime Correspondence: September 24, 1914, to November 11, 1918.
• Two Peacemakers in Paris: The Hoover-Wilson Post-Armistice Letters, 1918-1920.
  (Call number: E802 .A4 1978). AU Library has print copy.
• State Papers and Other Public Writings of Herbert Hoover.
  (Call number: E801 .U5). AU Library has print copy.
• Addresses Upon the American Road.
• Further Addresses Upon the American Road.
• Addresses Upon the American Road: 1940-1941.
• Addresses Upon the American Road: 1941-1945.
• Addresses Upon the American Road: 1945-1948.
• Addresses Upon the American Road: 1948-1950.
• The Hoover-Wilson Wartime Correspondence: September 24, 1914, to November 11, 1918.
• Two Peacemakers in Paris: The Hoover-Wilson Post-Armistice Letters, 1918-1920.
  (Call number: E802 .A4 1978). AU Library has print copy. 

32. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933-1945

• Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
  (Call number: E806 .R749). AU Library has print copy.
• The Complete Presidential Press Conferences of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt and Foreign Affairs.
  (Call number: E806 .R746). AU Library has print copy. 
• Documentary History of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration.
• FDR, His Personal Letters.
• FDR's Fireside Chats.
  (Call number: E742.5 .R65 1993). AU Library has print copy.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt and Conservation, 1911-1945.
• Churchill and Roosevelt: The Complete Correspondence.
  (Call number: DA566.9.C5 A4 1984). AU Library has print copy.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Office Files, 1933-1945. (Microfilm, 167 reels).
• Map Room Files of President Roosevelt, 1939-1945. (Microfilm, 105 reels).
• Franklin D. Roosevelt: Diary and Itineraries/Usher Books. (78 Microfiche).

33. Harry S. Truman, 1945-1953

• The Documentary History of the Truman Presidency.
• Off the Record: The Private Papers of Harry S. Truman.
  (Call number: E742.5 .T6). AU Library has print copy.
• Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess Truman, 1910-1959.
  (Call number: E814 .A4 1983). AU Library has print copy.
• Letters from Father: The Truman Family's Personal Correspondence
  (Call number: E814.1 .L47). AU Library has print copy.
• Strictly Personal and Confidential: The Letters that Harry Truman Never Mailed
• President Harry S. Truman's Office Files, 1945–1953. (Microfilm, 84 reels).
• Map Room Messages of President Truman, 1945–1946.

34. Dwight David Eisenhower, 1953-1961

• Public Papers of the Presidents: Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• Papers of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  (Call number: E742.5 .E37). AU Library has print copy.
• Eisenhower: The Prewar Diaries and Selected Papers.
  (Call number: E742.5 .E372 1998). AU Library has print copy.
• Dear General: Eisenhower's Wartime Letters to Marshall.
  (Call number: E836 .A42). AU Library has print copy.
• The Churchill-Eisenhower Correspondence, 1953-1955.
  (Call number: DA566.9.C5 A4 1990). AU Library has print copy.
• Ike's Letters to a Friend, 1941-1958.
  (Call number: E836 .A43). AU Library has print copy.
• Letters to Mamie.
• The Eisenhower Diaries.
  (Call number: E836 .A3155). AU Library has print copy.
• The Diaries of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-1961. (Microfilm, 28 reels).
• President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Office Files, 1953-1961. (Microfilm, 64 reels).
• Minutes and Documents of the Cabinet Meetings of President Eisenhower, 1953-1961. (Microfilm, 10 reels).
• President Eisenhower's Meetings with Legislative Leaders, 1953-1961.  (Microfilm, 2 reels).

35. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1961-1963

• Public Papers of the Presidents: John F. Kennedy.
• JFK Wants to Know: Memos From the President's Office, 1961-1963.
  (Call number: E838.5 .K418). AU Library has print copy.
• “Let the Word Go Forth:” The Speeches, Statements, and Writings of John F. Kennedy.
  (Call number: E838.5 .K42). AU Library has print copy.
• Kennedy and the Press: The News Conferences.
• The Speeches, Remarks, Press Conferences, and Statements of Senator John F. Kennedy, August 1 through November 7, 1960.
• Appointment Book of President Kennedy, 1961–1963. (Microfilm, 3 reels).
• The John F. Kennedy 1960 Campaign. (Microfilm, 22 reels).
• President John F. Kennedy's Office Files, 1961–1963. (Microfilm, 103 reels).
• Civil Rights During the Kennedy Administration. (Microfilm, 47 reels).

36. Lyndon Baines Johnson, 1963-1969

• Public Papers of the Presidents: Lyndon B. Johnson.
• Lyndon B. Johnson's Vietnam Papers: A Documentary Collection.
• Daily Diary of President Johnson (1963–1969). (Microfilm, 14 reels).
• The Confidential File of the Johnson White House, 1963–1969. (Microfilm, 103 reels).
• Political Activities of the Johnson White House, 1963–1969. (Microfilm, 67 reels).
• Minutes and Documents of the Cabinet Meetings of President Johnson (1963–1969).  (Microfilm, 17 reels).
• Vietnam, the Media, and Public Support for the War. (Microfilm, 11 reels).
• The War on Poverty, 1964–1968. (Microfilm, 41 reels).
• Civil Rights During the Johnson Administration, 1963–1969. (Microfilm, 69 reels).

37. Richard Milhous Nixon, 1969-1974

• Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard M. Nixon.
• Papers of the Nixon White House. (Microfilm, 1701 reels).
• Civil Rights During the Nixon Administration, 1969-1974 Part 1: White House Central Files and Aides Files. (Microflim, 46 reels).

38. Gerald Rudolph Ford, 1974-1977

• Public Papers of the Presidents: Gerald R. Ford

39. James Earl Carter, Jr., 1977-1981

• Public Papers of the Presidents: Jimmy Carter

40. Ronald Wilson Reagan, 1981-1989

• Public Papers of the Presidents: Ronald Reagan

41. George Herbert Walker Bush, 1989-1993

• Public Papers of the Presidents: George Bush

42. William Jefferson Clinton, 1993-2001

• Public Papers of the Presidents: William J. Clinton

43. George Walker Bush, 2001-2009

• Public Papers of the Presidents: George Bush

44. Barack Hussein Obama, 2009-

• Public Papers of the Presidents: Barack Obama

Declassified Documents

• Declassified Documents Reference System (DDRS) (AU Community only)
•  
• National Security Archives
• U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
  The site does not separate out previously classified documents. Includes Quarterly Report of Withdrawals of Previously Declassified Records.