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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RH-01
In this interview Hilsman discusses his initial interactions with John F. Kennedy [JFK]; Hilsman’s appointment to the Department of State during the Kennedy Administration; Foreign Service officers and “hot-seat” jobs; issues with Dean Rusk as Secretary of State; reorganizing the Bureau of Intelligence and Research; the flow of information between the State Department and the White House; staffing the State Department; the use of satellite intelligence; John A. McCone; working with and around Robert F. Kennedy [RFK]; JFK, RFK, and Vietnam; Edward G. Lansdale; Maxwell D. Taylor; the connection between Vietnam and Laos; U.S. action in Laos; the Buddhist crisis in Vietnam; the impact of WWII on Hilsman and JFK’s generation; and the 1963 coup in Vietnam, among other issues.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-11-25-A
AR41, ST34, KN40
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-08
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] Cabinet and appointing the various secretaries; problems in and JFK’s wariness of the Department of State; the ideal State Department organization; problems with Dean Rusk; Maxwell D. Taylor’s Cuba investigation; the Bay of Pigs and its effect on U.S. action in Laos; John McCone’s prediction of missiles in Cuba; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and foreign policy; JFK’s vice-presidential choice at the 1960 Democratic National Convention; Johnson’s hesitant acceptance of the vice-presidential slot; RFK’s appointment as Attorney General; RFK’s involvement in staffing the White House for JFK and other presidential appointments; Lord Harlech (William David Ormsby-Gore); and State Department staff, among other issues.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-29-A
ST15
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-11-17-A
AR29, ST16, KN25
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-03-09-C
AR17, KN13
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A10-1-62
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) delivers remarks at the dedication ceremony for Dulles International Airport, named after the late Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. On speakers' platform, left of lectern: Janet Avery Dulles (widow of former Secretary Dulles); Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr.; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; White House Secret Service agent, Floyd Boring; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Earl Warren; Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), Lieutenant General Harold W. Grant; Director of the Bureau of National Capital Airports, G. Ward Hobbs (behind lectern). Right of lectern: Governor of Virginia, Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; former president, General Dwight D. Eisenhower; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell T. Shepard, Jr.; Aline B. Saarinen (widow of the architect for the airport, Eero Saarinen); former director of the CIA, Allen W. Dulles. Chantilly, Virginia.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A26-25-62
President John F. Kennedy meets with members of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) regarding the crisis in Cuba. Clockwise from top right side of table: Under Secretary of State George Ball, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul Nitze, Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson, Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (mostly hidden), Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone (mostly hidden behind Director Foster). Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A26-18-62
President John F. Kennedy meets with members of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) regarding the crisis in Cuba. Seated at table (clockwise from bottom left): Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul Nitze, Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson (partially hidden), Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone (mostly hidden), Under Secretary of State George Ball (partially hidden), Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy stands at far left; President Kennedy (looking down, with hands on table) and Secretary of State Dean Rusk stand at far right; Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith (back left) sits against the wall, near the bookcase. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A26-16-62
President John F. Kennedy meets with members of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) regarding the crisis in Cuba. Seated at table (clockwise from bottom left): Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul Nitze, Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson (partially hidden), Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Under Secretary of State George Ball (mostly hidden), Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Kennedy (mostly hidden behind Secretary Rusk), and White House Press Secretary Pierre Salinger (on far edge of frame) stand at right; Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith (back left) sits against the wall, near the bookcase. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A26-1-62
President John F. Kennedy meets with members of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) regarding the crisis in Cuba. Clockwise from top right side of table: Under Secretary of State George Ball, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul Nitze, Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson, Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security McGeorge Bundy (mostly hidden), Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (mostly hidden), Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone (mostly hidden behind Director Foster). Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19591
President John F. Kennedy talks with John McCone at the swearing-in ceremony of McCone as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Standing in the background (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman Lemnitzer; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (Washington); and United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19590
Swearing-in ceremony of John McCone as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (L-R) Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (Washington); Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); Mr. McCone; United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren; President John F. Kennedy. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19589
President John F. Kennedy (far right) shakes hands with John McCone, upon his being sworn-in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (L-R) Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (Washington); United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19588
President John F. Kennedy shakes hands with retired Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Allen W. Dulles at the swearing-in ceremony of John McCone as Director of the CIA. Mr. McCone stands in the middle of Mr. Dulles and President Kennedy. Standing in the background (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman Lemnitzer; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (Washington). Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19587
United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren (on left) swears-in John McCone as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). President John F. Kennedy looks on. Standing in the background (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman Lemnitzer, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (Washington). Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C. [Blue spot on bottom right is on the original negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19586
President John F. Kennedy attends the swearing-in ceremony of John McCone as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. (L-R) Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Lyman Lemnitzer; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (Washington); Mr. McCone; United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren; President Kennedy. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19585
United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren (on left) swears-in John McCone as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). President John F. Kennedy looks on. Standing in the background are (L-R) Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (Washington). Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20392
President John F. Kennedy meets with advisors on disarmament in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Washington, D.C. L-R (around table): Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Jerome B. Wiesner; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Chairman of the US Delegation to the Geneva Conference on Disarmament, Arthur Dean; Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA), William C. Foster; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), General Lyman L. Lemnitzer. Assistant Secretary of State, Foy Kohler, sits in background along windows.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7589-1G
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), Najeeb Halaby (at lectern), delivers remarks at the dedication ceremony for Dulles International Airport, named after the late Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles; President John F. Kennedy sits left of lectern. On speakers' platform, left of lectern: former Administrator of the FAA, General Elwood R. “Pete” Quesada; Janet Avery Dulles (widow of former Secretary Dulles); Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Earl Warren; Deputy Administrator of the FAA, Lieutenant General Harold W. Grant; President Kennedy. Right of lectern: Governor of Virginia, Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; former president, General Dwight D. Eisenhower; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Aline B. Saarinen (widow of the architect for the airport, Eero Saarinen); former director of the CIA, Allen W. Dulles. Chantilly, Virginia.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7089-B
President John F. Kennedy meets with advisors on disarmament in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Washington, D.C. L-R (around table): Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Jerome B. Wiesner; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Chairman of the US Delegation to the Geneva Conference on Disarmament, Arthur Dean; Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA), William C. Foster; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), General Lyman L. Lemnitzer. Protocol officer for the State Department, Clement E. "Clem" Conger, sits against wall in background at left. Along windows, L-R: unidentified; Assistant Secretary of State, Foy Kohler; Under Secretary of State, George Ball; unidentified.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7089-A
President John F. Kennedy meets with advisors on disarmament in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Washington, D.C. L-R (around table): Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Jerome B. Wiesner; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Chairman of the US Delegation to the Geneva Conference on Disarmament, Arthur Dean; Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA), William C. Foster; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), General Lyman L. Lemnitzer. Protocol officer for the State Department, Clement E. "Clem" Conger, sits against wall in background. Along windows at right, L-R: unidentified; Assistant Secretary of State, Foy Kohler; Under Secretary of State, George Ball.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-24978
Former president, General Dwight D. Eisenhower (center), leaves the lectern after delivering remarks at the dedication ceremony for Dulles International Airport, named after the late Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles; President John F. Kennedy sits left of lectern. Seated on speakers' platform, left of lectern: former Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), General Elwood R. “Pete” Quesada; Chaplain of the United States Senate, Reverend Frederick Brown Harris; Janet Avery Dulles (widow of former Secretary Dulles); Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Earl Warren; President Kennedy. Right of lectern: Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell T. Shepard, Jr.; Aline B. Saarinen (widow of the architect for the airport, Eero Saarinen); former director of the CIA, Allen W. Dulles. White House Secret Service agent, Ken Giannoules, stands at left in front of platform. Chantilly, Virginia.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7589-1M
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) delivers remarks at the dedication ceremony for Dulles International Airport, named after the late Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. On speakers' platform, left of lectern: former Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), General Elwood R. “Pete” Quesada; Janet Avery Dulles (widow of former Secretary Dulles); Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Earl Warren; Deputy Administrator of the FAA, Lieutenant General Harold W. Grant. Right of lectern: Administrator of the FAA, Najeeb Halaby; Governor of Virginia, Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; former president, General Dwight D. Eisenhower; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Aline B. Saarinen (widow of the architect for the airport, Eero Saarinen); Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell T. Shepard, Jr.; former director of the CIA, Allen W. Dulles. Chantilly, Virginia.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7589-1L
Former president, General Dwight D. Eisenhower (at lectern), delivers remarks at the dedication ceremony for Dulles International Airport, named after the late Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles; President John F. Kennedy sits left of lectern. On speakers' platform, left of lectern: Janet Avery Dulles (widow of former Secretary Dulles); Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Earl Warren; Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), Lieutenant General Harold W. Grant; President Kennedy. Right of lectern: Governor of Virginia, Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell T. Shepard, Jr.; Aline B. Saarinen (widow of the architect for the airport, Eero Saarinen). Chantilly, Virginia.