Spokesman says Obama is keeping his BlackBerry
1/22/2009WASHINGTON President Barack Obama is keeping his BlackBerry for his personal use, becoming the first sitting president to use e-mail.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says that a small group of senior advisers as well as personal friends will be permitted to have the e-mail address that reaches Obama's hand-held device.
Gibbs says the presumption is that e-mails will be subject to the Presidential Records Act. That law requires the National Archives to preserve presidential records.
Gibbs says use of the BlackBerry will be limited and security will be enhanced, and that the president reached a compromise to keep his cherished gadget. He didn't say with whom a compromise had been reached.