Did you know the United States has a national archivist? This person is the chief official overseeing the operation of the National Archives and Records Administration. He is responsible for safeguarding and making available for study all the permanently valuable records of the Federal Government, including the actual Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which are displayed in the Archives' main building in Washington, D.C. The amount of history he is around every day and has to protect is absolutely astounding!
The current Archivist of the United States is David Ferriero. He was nominated by President Barack Obama and sworn in on November 13, 2009. He is the 10th individual to hold this distinct position.
Here are his remarks at the press preview for the exhibit, “Discovering the Civil War,” National Archives Building, Washington, DC.
