Research Aids: Ready Reference

MO 7882main: Commemorative Cuban Missile Crisis Calendar Paperweight, Tiffany & Co. (Gift from John F. Kennedy to Jacqueline Kennedy), 1962

Overview

The ready reference section is composed of information frequently requested by researchers and is updated continually. If you are unable to find the information you seek on this page or elsewhere on our website, please contact the Library's Reference staff at Kennedy.Library@nara.gov or 617.514.1629. Have a research question? Ask an Archivist!

PX-86-8 (crop): Orville L. Freeman, Secretary of Agriculture (1961-1969), undated

Biographical Profiles

Biographical information about Kennedy Administration officials and staff members and other important contemporary individuals.

PC-8: The Kennedy Family on the Beach, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, 1931

Kennedy Family & Kennedy Library Fast Facts

JFKWHP-ST-C360-16-63: President Kennedy Signs Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Bill, 24 October 1963

Legislative Summary

A digest of major accomplishments (alphabetical by topic) of the 87th Congress and the First Session of the 88th Congress; includes the Summary's introductory statement by Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (Government Printing Office, 1964).

JFKWHP-ST-C400-18-63 (crop): President Kennedy at Cape Canaveral, 16 November 1963

Milestones of the Kennedy Presidency

A chronological list of important events, speeches, and legislation from John F. Kennedy's presidential administration.

JFKNSF-329-015-p0001: National Security Action Memorandum (NSAM) No. 40, 24 April 1961

National Security Action Memoranda (NSAMs)

Digitized versions of more than 250 NSAMs sent to various government agencies and staff members from President Kennedy or McGeorge Bundy, his National Security Adviser.

New York Times Chronology

A compilation of articles from The New York Times documenting each day of John F. Kennedy's presidency.

News Conferences

Online transcripts and digitized sound recordings of President Kennedy's news (press) conferences.

JFKCAMP1960-1032-027-p0012 (crop): "The New Frontier," Democratic Nomination Acceptance Speech by John F. Kennedy (Partial Quote), 15 July 1960

Quotations

A selection of famous quotations from John F. Kennedy's speeches, addresses, news conferences, and writings (pre-presidential and presidential).

WH-HO (crop): White House Portrait of President Kennedy, undated

Resources (External)

Public Papers of the Presidents (from the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara);
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961-1963, Volumes I-XXV (U.S. Department of State);
Executive Orders signed by President John F. Kennedy (National Archives and Records Administration);
FBI Files of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy.

JFKWHP-ST-387-4-62 (crop): President Kennedy Speaks at Rice University, 12 September 1962

Speeches

Online transcripts and, where available, digital facsimiles and sound recordings of selected speeches by John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy.