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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-LCH-01
In this interview Heinz discusses how he came to work in the Office of International Security Affairs [ISA] in the Department of Defense [DOD]; the changeover in the DOD between the Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy Administrations; Heinz’s view of the Bay of Pigs; the regular operations and organization within ISA, including the different regional desks’ responsibilities; relationships between the ISA and other agencies; ISA as “the little State Department”; differences of opinion between DOD and the State Department, the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the debate over whether to put troops in Laos; Robert S. McNamara and Roswell L. Gilpatric; the status of Okinawa; the question of U.S. defense perimeters; and W. Averell Harriman’s trip to Geneva and the neutralization solution for Laos, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-03
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses the 1962 steel crisis; some major issues and accomplishments of John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] presidency; choosing the U.S. Ambassador to Russia; foreign aid and treaties; the military coup in Peru; the space race during the Kennedy Administration; the 1962 congressional and gubernatorial campaigns; JFK’s dinner for the Nobel Prize winners; the Polaris submarines; problems with the New York Herald Tribune; New York politics; various pieces of federal legislation, 1961–1963; the Dominican Republic; Department of Justice investigations under RFK; the difficulties of being Attorney General; congressional issues in early 1963; the Vietnam War escalation in 1963; American support of the coup in Vietnam; Henry Cabot Lodge as the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam; the prisoners from the Bay of Pigs invasion; American actions in Cuba; unemployment and civil rights; RFK’s meeting with James Baldwin; JFK’s trips to the South and speeches on civil rights; the nuclear test ban treaty; and JFK’s trip to Ireland and Rome, among other issues.
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.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-333-016
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 124 (NSAM 124) titled, “Establishment of the Special Group (Counter-Insurgency),” from President John F. Kennedy to Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy; General Lyman Lemnitzer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Director of Central Intelligence John McCone; Fowler Hamilton, Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID); Edward R. Murrow, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA); and General Maxwell Taylor, Military Representative to the President.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-018
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 204 (NSAM 204) titled, "Special Group (Counter-Insurgency)," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) Fowler Hamilton, and Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-003
This file contains drafts and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 193 (NSAM 193) regarding the sensitivity of findings of the Foreign Weapons Evaluation Group (also known as the Bethe Panel) to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-014
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 186 (NSAM 186) titled, "Countries under the Cognizance of the Special Group (CI)," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman L. Lemnitzer, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Administrator for the Agency for International Development (AID) Fowler Hamilton, and Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-012
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 184 (NSAM 184) titled, "Countries under the Cognizance of the Special Group (CI)," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman L. Lemnitzer, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Administrator for the Agency for International Development (AID) Fowler Hamilton, and Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-010
This file contains a draft and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 182 (NSAM 182) titled, “Counterinsurgency Doctrine,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman Lemnitzer, Director of Central Intelligence John McCone, Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) Fowler Hamilton, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, and Military Representative to the President General Maxwell Taylor from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included is a paper prepared by the Department of State in conjunction with the Special Group (CI) titled, “U.S. Overseas Internal Defense Policy.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-009
This file contains memoranda relating to National Security Action Memoranda number 181 (NSAM 181) regarding action to be taken in response to new activity in Cuba by the Soviet Union to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of Central Intelligence John McCone, and Military Representative to the President General Maxwell Taylor from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Topics include United States reconnaissance operations in Cuba, protocol for U.S. flights over Cuba, and increased economic and military aid to Cuba by the Soviet Union. Of note is a draft of a proposed statement on Cuban policy for President John F. Kennedy containing annotations and edits by the President.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-008
This file contains drafts of National Security Action Memoranda number 181 (NSAM 181) regarding action to be taken in response to new activity in Cuba by the Soviet Union to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of Central Intelligence John McCone, and Military Representative to the President General Maxwell Taylor from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are memoranda discussing Soviet Union military shipments to Cuba; the military significance of missile installations in Cuba; and the probable military, political, and psychological impact of missiles in Cuba.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-007
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 180 (NSAM 180) titled, “Membership of the Special Group (CI),” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman Lemnitzer, Director of Central Intelligence John McCone, Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) Fowler Hamilton, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, and Military Representative to the President General Maxwell Taylor from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-003
This file contains a draft and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 176 (NSAM 176) titled, “Release of Public Information Concerning Soviet Nuclear Tests,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy; Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Anthony J. Celebrezze; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone; Director of the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) Edward McDermott; Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg; Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow; Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb; and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Jerome B. Wiesner from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-001
This file contains a draft and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 174 (NSAM 174) regarding the ability to detect small underground shots to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone from President John F. Kennedy. Also included is a memorandum to President Kennedy from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, discussing nuclear weapons testing.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-337-010
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 170 (NSAM 170) titled, “Intelligence Collection through Audio Surveillance (President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board Recommendation No. 35),” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. This file contains material that is closed due to security restrictions.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-337-008
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 168 (NSAM 168) titled, “Comparison of U.S. and USSR Atomic Energy,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. This file contains material that is closed due to security restrictions.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-337-004
This file contains a draft and copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 165 (NSAM 165) titled, "Assignment of Additional Responsibility to the Special Group (CI)," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman L. Lemnitzer, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Administrator for the Agency for International Development (AID) Fowler Hamilton, and Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included is a draft of NSAM 162.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-330-012
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 62 (NSAM 62) titled, “Berlin,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Bureau of the Budget David Bell, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles, and Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-330-009
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 59 (NSAM 59) titled, “Berlin,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Allen Dulles from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included in this folder is a study on Germany and Berlin in response to NSAM 59.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-329-022
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 47 (NSAM 47) titled, “Soviet Assistance to Cuba,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Allen Dulles from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-329-013
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 38 (NSAM 38) titled, “Questions Arising from CIA Support of Certain Activities,” to Director of the Bureau of the Budget David Bell from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Of note is a memorandum from Bundy to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Director of Central Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Allen W. Dulles regarding the use of United States armed forces and paramilitary support in a Cuban invasion (later known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-329-010
This folder contains memoranda and a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 35 (NSAM 35) titled, “Deployment of IRBM’s to Turkey,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Director of Central Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Allen W. Dulles from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-329-003
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 28 (NSAM 28) titled, “Guerilla Operations in Viet-Minh Territory,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Director of Central Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Allen W. Dulles from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, regarding instructions by President John F. Kennedy to commence guerrilla operations in Viet-Minh territory (Vietnam).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-342-013
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 269 (NSAM 269) titled, “Procedure for Approval of Certain Nuclear Tests,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, and Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Jerome B. Wiesner from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.