Close
Not finding the information you're looking for? Please contact the Archives research staff.
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
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1961-09-27-A
KN08
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.
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.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-23D-4
Sound recording of 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.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
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-21B-2
Sound recording of a brief telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a White House Operator. Lincoln asks the operator to place a call to John A. McCone on behalf of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.Machine noise follows the exchange.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 21B, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-21B, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 21B.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-21B
Dictation Belt 21B contains two sound recordings. The recording of the conversation in item 21B.1 begins on Dictation Belt 21A. Item 21B.1 is a sound recording of part of a telephone conversation held on June 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon. They continue to discuss the decision of Juan T. Trippe, President of Pan American World Airways, to purchase an option to order Concorde supersonic jet transports, and how the announcement of this deal with the governments of Great Britain and France will affect an American program. Item 21B.2 is a brief telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a White House Operator. Lincoln asks the operator to place a call to John A. McCone on behalf of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Machine noise follows the exchange.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-16A-4
Sound recording of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss Senate hearings concerning the TFX airplane. They also discuss a raid by Cuban exiles targeting a ship, concerns about a Russian ship being targeted, and consultations with John A. McCone. The recording begins in mid-conversation.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 16A, 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-16A, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 16A.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-16A
Dictation Belt 16A contains five sound recordings. Item 16A.1 is a recording of remarks made by President John F. Kennedy to an unidentified group of visitors. The remarks concern the United States economy. This is not a telephone conversation. The recording begins in mid-sentence. Item 16A.2 is a fragment of a telephone conversation held on March 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss congressional hearings. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 16A.3 is a telephone conversation held on March 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss hearings concerning the TFX airplane. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 16A.4 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss Senate hearings concerning the TFX airplane. They also discuss a raid by Cuban exiles targeting a ship, concerns about a Russian ship being targeted, and consultations with John A. McCone. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 16A.5 is a telephone conversation held on March 28, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs William R. Tyler. They discuss press reports of Canadian Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker possessing a working paper written by Walt W. Rostow on relations between the United States and Canada.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-XXA-1
Sound recording of a brief telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner. Wiesner asks to speak to John A. McCone.Machine noise precedes and follows the exchange.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt XXA, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-XXA, Title: Telephone Recordings: Dictation Belt XXA.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-09B-2
Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They discuss John A. McCone’s testimony and involvement in press stories.The recording begins in mid-conversation.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 9B, 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-09B, Title: Telephone Recordings: Dictation Belt 9B.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-09B-1
The recording of this conversation begins on Dictation Belt 9A.6. Sound recording of part of a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They continue their discussion about John A. McCone’s testimony and involvement in press stories.Machine noise follows the conversation.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 9B, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-09B, Title: Telephone Recordings: Dictation Belt 9B.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-09B
Dictation Belt 9B contains eight sound recordings. The recording of the conversation in item 9B.1 begins on Dictation Belt 9A.6. Item 9B.1 is part of a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They continue their discussion about John A. McCone’s testimony and involvement in press stories. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 9B.2 is a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They discuss John A. McCone’s testimony and involvement in press stories. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 9B.3 a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester. They review the prelude to the Cuban missile crisis. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 9B.4 is an undated telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and a man identified as “Al.” They discuss a movie version of the PT-109 story. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 9B.5 is a telephone conversation held on March 6, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz. They discuss the status of negotiations concerning the New York newspapers strike. Item 9B.6 is a brief undated telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and an unidentified woman. The woman informs Lincoln of the imminent delivery of a package from William Haddad. At the beginning of the exchange, President John F. Kennedy says “hello.” Item 9B.7 is an undated telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and United States Navy Admiral George G. Burkley, a physician assigned to the White House Physician’s Office. President Kennedy asks for medication. [White House Operator?] places the call at President Kennedy’s request. Item 9B.8 is part of a telephone conversation held on March 6, 1963, between Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln. Attorney General Kennedy asks to speak to President John F. Kennedy. The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 10A.1.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-09A-6
Sound recording of part of a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss Doris Fleeson, John A. McCone’s testimony and involvement in press stories, and the TFX airplane.The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 9B.1.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 9A, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-09A, Title: Telephone Recordings: Dictation Belt 9A.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-09A
Dictation Belt 9A contains six sound recordings. Item 9A.1 is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation held on March 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They talk about results of a recent Gallup Poll. The full conversation (including this fragment) is recorded on Dictation Belt 8B.5. Item 9A.2 is a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Carl Kaysen. President Kennedy asks for balance of trade figures and other economic figures. Item 9A.3 is a recording of remarks delivered by President John F. Kennedy on March 4, 1963, to a group of visitors. This is not a telephone conversation. The recording begins in mid-sentence. Item 9A.4 is a sound recording of a brief telephone exchange. No topic is discernible. Machine noise follows the exchange. Item 9A.5 is a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and William C. Baggs. They discuss a proposed Inter-American exposition in Miami, Florida, and its possible effects on Latin America, arrangements for a meeting, and a request for a letter from President Kennedy to Fabien Sevitzky. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 9A.6 is part of a telephone conversation held on March 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss Doris Fleeson, John A. McCone’s testimony and involvement in press stories, and the TFX airplane. The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 9B.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
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-049-008
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island announcing John McCone as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In his speech President Kennedy discusses the retirement of former CIA Director Allen Dulles.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-09-E
ST14
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-01-B
AR28, ST14, KN24
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-09-28-E
AR27, ST14, KN23
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-29-A
ST15
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-04-10-D
KN33
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