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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.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-01
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses beginning John F. Kennedy's [JFK] presidential Administration with no political obligations; carefully picking Cabinet members, specifically Secretaries of State, Defense, and Treasury; RFK’s decision on what role to play in JFK’s Administration; JFK’s unhappiness with Dean Rusk as Secretary of State; JFK’s advisers and other presidential appointments; Cabinet meetings; Department of Justice organization under RFK; the first 100 days of the Kennedy Administration; the role of the Vice President, according to RFK; JFK’s relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson and why JFK put Johnson on the ticket in 1960; what JFK was most concerned with as President; domestic programs versus foreign affairs in the Kennedy Administration; Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.’s role during JFK’s presidency; the Bay of Pigs, the aftermath, and its effect on JFK; how JFK approached problems as President; dealing with Georgi Bolshakov; negotiating with the Soviet Union in Vienna, over Laos and Cuba, etc.; JFK’s relationship with foreign heads of state; State Department staff and U.S. Ambassadors; the military coup in Vietnam; the Berlin crisis of the summer of 1961 and the Berlin Wall; RFK’s 1961 trip to the Ivory Coast; and Soviet and American nuclear testing, among other issues.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-083-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks in the White House Rose Garden to members of the Inter-American Defense Board concerning the committee’s 20th anniversary. In his speech President Kennedy describes the ways in which military defense operations have developed in the last 20 years, and discusses his administration’s efforts to improve relations between countries in the western hemisphere through the Alliance for Progress.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-03-29-C
AR18, KN14
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-333-001
This file contains a paper for President John F. Kennedy from the Joint Chiefs of Staff titled, “Military Actions for Latin America,” discussing the United States military program and objectives in Latin America, particularly in support of the Alliance for Progress initiative. The paper precedes National Security Action Memoranda number 118 (NSAM 118) titled, “Participation of U.S. and Latin American Armed Forces in the Attainment of Common Objectives in Latin America.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-057-009
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 August 22, 1962 (News Conference 41). Materials primarily consist of draft press conference announcements and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the economy, disarmament, the military space program, Latin America and the Alliance for Progress, the Soviet Union and Berlin, and foreign aid. Of note are materials relating to recent activity surrounding Cuba, including an increase in supplies and technicians from the Soviet Union and the possibility of lawyer James B. Donovan traveling to Cuba to negotiate for the release of prisoners.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-061-008
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 November 14, 1963 (News Conference 64). Materials primarily consist of briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security, department and agency reports, and newspaper clippings. Topics include the recent coup in Vietnam, the Alliance for Progress, a border agreement between Algeria and Morocco, and the harassment of U.S. military convoys by Soviet troops on the autobahn.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20830
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Unidentified man (in back); Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy (partially hidden behind the president’s shoulder); President Kennedy; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns (at microphones); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army; unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy; unidentified; unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy; Staff Director of the Inter-American Defense Board, Brigadier General James W. “Lou” Coutts; two unidentified men; Major Cecilio Castro, Honduran Army (on edge of frame). [Discoloration at bottom of image is original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20837
Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns, presents President John F. Kennedy with a display of flags, during the President’s visit with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary). Left to right: Unidentified; President Kennedy; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Lt. Gen. Burns; unidentified interpreter; two unidentified men (in back); Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy; three unidentified men. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20836
President John F. Kennedy addresses delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Unidentified; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard (in back); President Kennedy (at microphones); Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns; unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy; two unidentified men; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army; unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy (face partially hidden); Staff Director of the Inter-American Defense Board, Brigadier General James W. “Lou” Coutts (behind Admiral Haywood); two unidentified men.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20835
Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns, presents President John F. Kennedy with a display of flags, during the President’s visit with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary). Left to right: Unidentified; President Kennedy; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy (behind the President); Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Lt. Gen. Burns (holding flags); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army (behind Lt. Gen. Burns); unidentified interpreter; unidentified (in back); unidentified (in front); Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy (mostly hidden); unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20834
Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns, presents President John F. Kennedy with a display of flags, during the President’s visit with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary). Left to right: Unidentified; President Kennedy; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard (in back); Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Lt. Gen. Burns (holding flags); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army (in back); unidentified (in back); unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy (in back); two unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20833
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: President Kennedy; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy (at microphones); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army (in back); Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns; unidentified (in back); unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy (behind interpreter); unidentified; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army; unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy; Staff Director of the Inter-American Defense Board, Brigadier General James W. “Lou” Coutts (in back).
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20832
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: President Kennedy; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy (at microphones); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army (in back); Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns; unidentified man (in back); unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy (behind interpreter); unidentified; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army; unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy; Staff Director of the Inter-American Defense Board, Brigadier General James W. “Lou” Coutts (on edge of frame).
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20831
President John F. Kennedy addresses delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Unidentified; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard; President Kennedy (at microphones); Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns; unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy; unidentified; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army; unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy (face partially hidden); Staff Director of the Inter-American Defense Board, Brigadier General James W. “Lou” Coutts; two unidentified men.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20829
President John F. Kennedy addresses delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Unidentified; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard (in back); President Kennedy (at microphones); Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns; unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy; unidentified; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army; unidentified man (holding flags); Staff Director of the Inter-American Defense Board, Brigadier General James W. “Lou” Coutts; unidentified.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-I
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the West Wing Colonnade of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Unidentified man (back to camera); President Kennedy; Colonel Luis Arrien, Bolivian Army; Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy; unidentified.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-H
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Unidentified; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy; President Kennedy; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns (at microphones); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army; unidentified man (in back); unidentified interpreter; two unidentified men (in back); unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy; Staff Director of the Inter-American Defense Board, Brigadier General James W. “Lou” Coutts (behind Admiral Haywood); two unidentified men; Major Cecilio Castro, Honduran Army; three unidentified men.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-G
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Two unidentified men; President Kennedy; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy (at microphones); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army (in back, partially hidden); Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns; two unidentified men (in back); unidentified interpreter; unidentified; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army; unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy; two unidentified men; Major Cecilio Castro, Honduran Army; unidentified.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-F
President John F. Kennedy (far left) visits with several unidentified delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-E
Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns, presents President John F. Kennedy with a display of flags, during the President’s visit with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary). Left to right: President Kennedy; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Colonel Fidel Sánchez Hernández, Salvadoran Army (in back); Lt. Gen. Burns; unidentified man (in back); unidentified interpreter. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-D
President John F. Kennedy addresses delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard (in back); Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (over the President’s shoulder); President Kennedy (at microphones); Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns; unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy; two unidentified men; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army; unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy (partially hidden); Staff Director of the Inter-American Defense Board, Brigadier General James W. “Lou” Coutts.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-C
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy; President Kennedy; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns (at microphones); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army (behind Lt. Gen. Burns); unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy (behind interpreter); unidentified; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army (in back); unidentified man (holding flags); Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood, Paraguayan Navy.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-B
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Two unidentified men (in back); President Kennedy; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Admiral Alberto Pablo Vago, Argentine Navy (at microphones); Brigadier General Orlando Gomes Ramagem, Brazilian Army (in back, partially hidden); Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Lieutenant General Robert W. Burns; unidentified man (in back); unidentified interpreter; Rear Admiral Alfredo Martin, Chilean Navy (behind interpreter); unidentified; Colonel Gonzalo Coba Cabezas, Ecuadorian Army; unidentified man (holding flags).
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7129-A
President John F. Kennedy visits with delegates from the Inter-American Defense Board (on the occasion of the board’s 20th anniversary) in the West Wing Colonnade of the White House, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Unidentified interpreter (on edge of frame); unidentified man (in back); President Kennedy; Colonel Fidel Sánchez Hernández, Salvadoran Army; two unidentified men; Major Cecilio Castro, Honduran Army (shaking hands with the President); unidentified.