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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-02
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses the 1961 Berlin crisis; American forces, military and diplomatic, in Germany; John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] recommendation for Americans to have fallout shelters; nuclear testing; problems with the Department of State; the start of the conflict in Vietnam, 1961; the Department of Justice under RFK and organized crime; RFK’s difficult relationship with J. Edgar Hoover; the wiretapping bill; new federal judgeships in 1961 and other presidential appointments; the Alliance for Progress; Red China; crises during JFK’s presidency and how he was an optimist; RFK’s move for an income tax increase during the Berlin crisis; RFK’s disagreements with President JFK; indecisiveness over picking JFK’s running mate, 1960; the missile gap; fighting and UN operations in the Congo; Nikita S. Khrushchev’s speeches; RFK’s 1962 trip to Japan, Indonesia, Germany, and other countries; the release of Allen L. Pope; Dutch disputes in Southeast Asia; the 1961 crisis in the Dominican Republic and the assassination of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina; the 1962 disarmament conference in Geneva; Edward M. Kennedy’s 1962 campaign for U.S. Senate; the Kennedy family national and political reputation; the Justice Department under RFK and civil rights; and the 1962 steel crisis, among other issues.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-026-009
This folder contains telegrams from the Department of State and drafts of correspondence between President John F. Kennedy and President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek. Topics include the representation of China (Peoples Republic) in the United Nations (UN), the Republic of China’s opposition to representation of Outer Mongolia in the UN, relations between the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, and relations between the United States and the Republic of China.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-314-010
This folder contains an agenda, a summary, a list of attendees, and a Record of Actions for meeting number 516 of the National Security Council (NSC) discussing a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) memorandum titled, “Possibilities of Greater Militancy by the Chinese Communists.” The memorandum focuses on China’s relations with the Soviet Union, India, Laos, and other countries in Asia.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-314-008
This folder contains an agenda, background memoranda, a summary, a list of attendees, and a Record of Actions for meeting number 514 of the National Security Council (NSC) discussing United States policy towards India and a proposed shared commitment with Great Britain to provide air defense for India if Communist China should attack.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-327-002
This folder contains memoranda to and from Arthur Schlesinger, Special Assistant to the President, on various foreign affairs issues. Also included in this folder are articles regarding former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Morgenthau Plan to control Germany after World War II; and a letter to Schlesinger from journalist and author Theodore H. White discussing White’s trip to Asia with comments on Communist China, Vietnam, and the U.S. Department of State.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-106-019
This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning Sino-Soviet relations during the Kennedy administration, particularly the gradually worsening of relations between the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China during the Cold War. Materials in this folder include memoranda and reports by Under Secretary of State George W. Ball and J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, regarding Sino-Soviet economic assistance to less developed countries and a public confrontation between Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and members of the Communist Party of China.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-328-025
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 24 (NSAM 24) titled, “RB-47 Reconnaissance Flights,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara regarding the resumption of RB-47 reconnaissance flights near the Sino-Soviet bloc.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-026-005
This folder contains correspondence between President John F. Kennedy and President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek. Topics include the representation of China (Peoples Republic) in the United Nations (UN), the Republic of China’s opposition to representation of Outer Mongolia in the UN, relations between the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, and relations between the United States and the Republic of China.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-024
This folder contains memoranda from Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council (NSC) to McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Topics include nuclear weapons test resumptions by the Soviet Union, representation of China (Peoples Republic) in the United Nations (UN), United States policy towards Outer Mongolia, and Berlin.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-021
This folder contains memoranda from Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council (NSC) to McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Topics include United States policies towards China (Peoples Republic), China (Republic), and South Vietnam; nuclear weapons tests and negotiations with the Soviet Union; and proposed areas of responsibilities for NSC staff.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-020
This folder contains memoranda from Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council (NSC) to various persons including President John F. Kennedy and McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, regarding the representation of China (Peoples Republic) in the United Nations (UN), Indonesia, and a review of the national security policy. Also included in this folder is a draft paper by Komer on the United States policy towards China.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-019
This folder contains background materials from Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council (NSC) for President John F. Kennedy’s meeting with British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan regarding the representation of China (Peoples Republic) in the United Nations (UN).
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Senate Files
JFKSEN-0915-025
This file contains copies of Senator John F. Kennedy's remarks titled, "India and China." In this speech, the Senator discusses competition for control of leadership of the East between the two countries and a proposal for the creation of a multi-nation long-term development fund for India in the struggle against communism and Red China. A note on one copy indicates that the speech was given during a trip to Wisconsin in April 1959.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-056a-007
This folder contains background material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President's News Conference of June 27, 1962 (News Conference 37). Materials primarily consist of memorandums and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the recent action by Chinese Communist military forces in the Taiwan Strait area, the situation in Laos, the President's forthcoming trip to Mexico, Berlin negotiations, and United States policy towards India. Also included are draft press conference announcements and a Department of Defense publication titled "The Changing Pattern of Defense Procurement." Of note are handwritten notes and doodles by President Kennedy.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-328-004
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number three (NSAM 3) titled, “Bunkering of Free World Ships Under Communist Chinese Charter,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1030-005
This folder contains copies and drafts of a speech by Senator John F. Kennedy titled, "India and China," concerning competition for control of leadership of the East between the two countries and a proposal by Senator Kennedy for the creation of a multi-nation long-term development fund for India in the struggle against communism and Red China.