Essay. Gordon writes about his experience in trying to obtain his FBI and CIA files. He focuses more not on what the files contain, but rather on what is missing. He believes that "if a citizen's request for his file brings such careless or incomplete responses, the purpose of the Freedom Act is being circumvented in effect if not in intent." "Carelessness, incompetence, or inefficiency are not sufficiently compelling explanations." He does not discourage anyone from trying to obtain their files, but says that one should not expect too much.