Embrace a position publicly. For example,
I want to go on record in favor of the mayor's reelection. It is also put as
for the record, as in
For the record, we support sending troops there. The
record in both signifies either publication or public knowledge. Both expressions date from the first half of the 1900s, although slightly different phrases, such as
put on record, are older. Also see
just for the record;
off the record.