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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-EMZ-01
Zuckert discusses his relationship with Robert S. McNamara and both of their transitions into the Kennedy Administration. He discusses his role as Secretary of the Air Force, McNamara’s as Secretary of Defense, and the immediate concerns regarding nuclear weapons at the beginning of John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] presidency, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-JKR-01
In this interview Ruina discusses the Nike-Zeus antiballistic-missile-missiles; briefing President John F. Kennedy [JFK] on the Nike-Zeus missiles; JFK’s comprehension of the briefing material and the type of questions he asked; Project Defender; the background and organization of the Advanced Research Projects Agency; the leadership and organization of the Department of Defense; interactions with Robert S. McNamara; competition between the military and the Defense Department on research and development and for resources and congressional funds; the period of new, advanced—but not always useful—technology; and Project AGILE and counterinsurgency efforts in Vietnam, among other issues.