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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-JVC-01
Charyk discusses the Air Force programs that continued from the Eisenhower Administration to the Kennedy Administration, members of the U.S. military command, and the B-70 and RS-70 aircraft programs, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-HAB-06
Brown discusses the cancellation of the Skybolt missile program and problems that caused with U.S.-British relations; multilateral military forces; struggles between the Air Force and National Aeronautics and Space Administration over control of the space program; and the lunar program, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-TKF-01
In this interview Finletter discusses his appointment as the NATO Representative; John F. Kennedy’s character and his skills as a politician; and the proposal of and subsequent negotiations over the Multilateral Force Project.
Moving image
United States Government Agencies Collection
USG-03-18
Silent motion picture containing scenes of President John F. Kennedy presenting the Distinguished Service Medal to General Emmett O'Donnell, Jr. (retired), of the United States Air Force in the Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C. Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert and President Kennedy speak before President Kennedy presents the medal. General O'Donnell also speaks. Materials in this series were created, commissioned, or collected by the United States Air Force.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-EMZ-07
Zuckert discusses the space program, military oriented space programs, and the allocation of responsibilities between NASA and United States Air Force in regards to the space program. He also discusses his role as Secretary of the Air Force and various military relations and programs, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-EMZ-04
Zuckert discusses the United States Air Force’s work to build upon their aircraft capabilities as well as their Tactical Air Command [TAC]. He also touches upon the Air Force’s role in Southeast Asia and the possibility of non-nuclear conflicts in Western Europe regarding Russia, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-EMZ-03
Zuckert discusses the use of strategic weapons and programs, such as Polaris and Skybolt, and includes an overview of the opinions held by himself, John F. Kennedy [JFK], Robert S. McNamara, and the United States Air Force Chief of Staff regarding the use of them. He also discusses his own concerns as Secretary of the Air Force, touching upon general communication issues between the military and JFK regarding the use of strategic weapons, among other issues.
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.
Sound recording
Edward M. Kennedy Senate Files
EMKSEN-AU0008-024-012
Sound recording of the radio program "Face Off." Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy of Massachusetts and Senator Alan K. "Al" Simpson of Wyoming debate Secretary of Defense Richard B. "Dick" Cheney's decision to fire General Michael J. Dugan, the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, after he revealed information about classified U.S. military operations in the Middle East. The episode aired on Tuesday, October 2, 1990, on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-23D-2
Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and United States Air Force General Godfrey T. McHugh, Air Force Aide to the President. They discuss the purchase of furniture at Otis Air Force Base and the possible effect on the Air Force budget.This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 23D, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-23D, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 23D.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-23D-1
Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester. They discuss the purchase of furniture at Otis Air Force Base and wasteful spending.The recording begins in mid-conversation.
This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 23D, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-23D, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 23D.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-23D
Dictation Belt 23D contains six sound recordings. Item 23D.1 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester. They discuss the purchase of furniture at Otis Air Force Base and wasteful spending. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 23D.2 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and United States Air Force General Godfrey T. McHugh, Air Force Aide to the President. They discuss the purchase of furniture at Otis Air Force Base and the possible effect on the Air Force budget. Item 23D.3 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They discuss the timing of a presidential speech on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The recording begins in mid-conversation. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 23D.4 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss former Vice President Richard M. Nixon’s upcoming meeting with President Charles de Gaulle of France. They consider whether Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John A. McCone should speak to Nixon about the meeting. They also discuss the protection of U.S. embassy property in Havana, Cuba. Item 23D.5 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Deputy Attorney General Nicholas deB. Katzenbach. They discuss James M. Landis and an issue involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 23D.6 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Senator Clair Engle of California. They discuss the impending resignation of Postmaster General J. Edward Day and their thoughts on choosing a successor. Following this conversation, there is a fragment of another conversation; the entire conversation, including this fragment, is recorded on Dictation Belt 23E.Transcript included. Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-17B-2
Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on April 3, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss possible requests by the Air Force Inspector General to use polygraph tests to investigate a Defense Department leak. They also discuss seeking input on the matter from Press Secretary Pierre Salinger and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester.Machine noise follows the conversation.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 17B, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-17B, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 17B.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-17B
Dictation Belt 17B contains four sound recordings. The recording of the conversation in item 17B.1 begins on Dictation Belt 17A.4. Item 17B.1 is part of a telephone conversation held on April 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Sargent Shriver, Director of the Peace Corps. They discuss speaking to Richard M. Helms about the suspicion that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is trying to place people in the Peace Corps. They also discuss facilitating the movement of members of the Peace Corps into the Foreign Service. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 17B.2 is a telephone conversation held on April 3, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss possible requests by the Air Force Inspector General to use polygraph tests to investigate a Defense Department leak. They also discuss seeking input on the matter from Press Secretary Pierre Salinger and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 17B.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Louis Harris. They discuss polling on upcoming elections in Canada and Kentucky. They also discuss Harris’s professional plans. Item 17B.4 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. First they discuss a topic that is unclear. Then they discuss providing a recommendation for a student applying to Harvard. There is a brief delay before the conversation, and machine noise follows the conversation.Transcript included. Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-47-2
Sound recording of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert. They discuss the Air Force budget.[White House Operator?] places the call at President Kennedy’s request. After a brief delay and a fragment of an exchange, the conversation begins in mid-sentence.
This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 47, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-47, Title: Telephone Recordings: Dictation Belt 47.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-47
Dictation Belt 47 contains seven sound recordings. Item 47.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss defense appropriations and the military aspect of the space program. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 47.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert. They discuss the Air Force budget. [White House Operator?] places the call at President Kennedy’s request. After a brief delay and a fragment of an exchange, the conversation begins in mid-sentence. Item 47.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. They discuss the resignation of Robert B. Troutman, Jr., from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the appointment of an African-American. Item 47.4 is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified senator. President Kennedy congratulates the senator on passing an unidentified bill. [White House Operator?] speaks to the senator as he holds for President Kennedy. The recording of the conversation ends abruptly and a fragment of indistinct speech follows. Item 47.5 is a brief telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a White House Operator. The operator announces a call from “Sam Gallo” of Warner Brothers. Item 47.6 is a telephone conversation between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a woman called Miss “Gallenburg” from Protocol. They discuss gifts for Prime Minister Eric Eustace Williams of Trinidad and Tobago and others. [White House Operator?] announces the call. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 47.7 is part of a telephone conversation between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and Stanley Tretick. Tretick inquires about scheduling time with President John F. Kennedy to do work related to an article for “Look” magazine. [White House Operator?] announces the call. Occasionally there is an echo. The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 48.Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-44-3
Sound recording of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss defense appropriations and issues concerning the United States Air Force.The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly.
This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 44, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-44, Title: Telephone Recordings: Dictation Belt 44.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-44
Dictation Belt 44 contains three sound recordings. Item 44.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, and Secretary of Agriculture Orville L. Freeman. President Kennedy and Secretary Freeman discuss a farm bill. Sorensen and Secretary Freeman discuss a trade bill and its effect on the cotton industry. There is an echo during part of the recording. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 44.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss stoning incidents in Berlin and dealings with the Soviet Union. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 44.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss defense appropriations and issues concerning the United States Air Force. The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly.Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-241-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks upon departing from MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. In his speech President Kennedy thanks the officers for their military service.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-234-005
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks upon his departure from Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. In his speech President Kennedy discusses the role of the military during peace time, and commends the overseas military forces for their efforts to curtail the spread of communism.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-216-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks at the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal to General Emmett O'Donnell of the United States Air Force in the White House Rose Garden.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-182-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks to visiting Chiefs of Staff of Latin American Air Forces in the White House Rose Garden. In his speech the President discusses the organizations' shared missions and the importance of military cooperation between countries in the western hemisphere.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-088-010
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks in the White House Rose Garden to the Civil Air Patrol cadets. In his speech the President thanks the cadets for their military service, and discusses the enduring importance of manned aircrafts regardless of the contemporary focus on space exploration and missile technology.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-088-009
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida after witnessing a flying demonstration.