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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.
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
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-114
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of July 23, 1962 (News Conference 39). The President begins the press conference by announcing that part of the conference is being broadcast across the Atlantic Ocean by the Telstar communications satellite. He then states the importance of the satellite to provide fast communication, resulting in peace and security for all people. Following this statement the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including a possible peace treaty between the Soviet Union and East Germany (Democratic Republic), nuclear testing by the Soviet Union, tax cut hearings, the domestic economy, foreign affairs, Martin Luther King, Jr. and segregation, strike increases, and the appointment of General Lyman Lemnitzer as Commander in Chief of U.S. Forces in Europe.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-016
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of March 8, 1961 (News Conference 6). President Kennedy begins the press conference by urging the public to support Radio Free Europe. He then announces that he would be making a statement concerning his views of problems in the Americas following an upcoming reception at the White House; that he has directed Federal departments and agencies to speed up government spending; and the upcoming visit of Swedish Prime Minister Tage Erlander to the United States. He then makes several statements concerning the building of schools for Native American and Inuit children, the distribution of surplus food, and the polio outbreak in Cuba. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the President’s economic program, the situation in Laos, and federal aid to education.
Moving image
United States Government Agencies Collection
USG-01-26
Motion picture of the President's News Conference of March 1, 1961 (News Conference 5). President John F. Kennedy begins the press conference by announcing the upcoming visit of German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to the United States, proposed legislation to restore former President Eisenhower's military rank of General of the Army, the reduction in the outflow of gold to foreign countries, the reduction of home mortgage rates, and the establishment of the Peace Corps on a temporary pilot basis. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the Republic of the Congo, nuclear disarmament, the economy, and United States-Soviet relations.This is a recording by the United States Information Agency (USIA) and the White House Army Signal Agency (WHASA).
Moving image
Television Network Columbia Broadcasting System Collection
TNC-005
CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) motion picture covering the President's News Conference of March 1, 1961, from the State Department Auditorium, Washington, D.C. (News Conference 5). See "Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy, 1961: Item 62." President John F. Kennedy begins the press conference by announcing the upcoming visit of German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to the United States, proposed legislation to restore former President Eisenhower's military rank of General of the Army, the reduction in the outflow of gold to foreign countries, the reduction of home mortgage rates, and the establishment of the Peace Corps on a temporary pilot basis. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the Republic of the Congo, nuclear disarmament, the economy, and United States-Soviet relations. Question/Answer 24 as documented in the Public Papers was not included in the original material received from CBS, and it is not known if there was a malfunction during the recording or if the section was removed. Press Secretary Pierre Salinger and Associate Press Secretary Andrew Hatcher accompany the President onstage. CBS No. 610306-09. Copyright restrictions apply.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-054-008
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of March 8, 1961 (News Conference 6). President Kennedy began the press conference by urging the public to support Radio Free Europe. He then announced that he would be making a statement concerning his views of problems in the Americas following an upcoming reception at the White House; that he had directed Federal departments and agencies to speed up government spending; and the upcoming visit of Swedish Prime Minister Tage Erlander to the United States. He then made several statements concerning the building of schools for Native American and Inuit children, the distribution of surplus food, and the polio outbreak in Cuba. Following the announcements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the President's economic program, the situation in Laos, and federal aid to education. Background material in the folder consists of briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics of the briefing papers include nuclear weapons and disarmament, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), United States-Soviet relations, the situation in the Republic of the Congo, the increase in Communist military forces in Laos, and United States-Cuban relations. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-054-007
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of March 1, 1961 (News Conference 5). President Kennedy began the press conference by announcing the upcoming visit of German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to the United States, proposed legislation to restore former President Eisenhower's military rank of General of the Army, the reduction in the outflow of gold to foreign countries, the reduction of home mortgage rates, and the establishment of the Peace Corps on a temporary pilot basis. Following the announcements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the Republic of the Congo, nuclear disarmament, the economy, and United States-Soviet relations. Background material in the folder includes drafts of press conference announcements and a copy of President Kennedy's letter to Congressman Carl Vinson about restoring former President Eisenhower's military rank. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-056-007
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of May 17, 1962 (News Conference 33). During this press conference President Kennedy answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the investigation of Billie Sol Estes' involvement in federal farm programs; United States-French political differences concerning the Berlin negotiations and French President Charles De Gaulle's proposal for an independent European nuclear deterrent; the dispatch of United States forces to Thailand; and the situation in Laos. Background materials in this folder consist of briefing papers on domestic and foreign affairs including the economy and the Billie Sol Estes case. Of note are Department of State telegrams concerning West New Guinea dispute between the Dutch and Indonesian governments. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-056-004
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of April 18, 1962 (News Conference 31). The President began the press conference by announcing that the United States had that day presented an outline of basic provisions for a treaty on general and complete nuclear disarmament at Geneva. He then said a few words in follow-up to the previous week's events concerning steel prices emphasizing the goodwill and the commonality of goals between his administration and American industry. Then he announced that he had directed the Army to cancel the trial of reservist Private Larry D. Chidester and to remit the balance of sentence of reservist Private Bernis G. Owen, both court marshaled for their complaints about being called up for active service. Finally, the President briefly announced the release of reports by the Presidential Commission on Campaign Costs, and that former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower had agreed to serve as honorary co-chairman, with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, of the National Cultural Center. Following the announcements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation with the steel industry, nuclear disarmament and the status of a test ban treaty, and the situation in Berlin. Items consist of the official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-055-008
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of February 14, 1962 (News Conference 24). The President began the press conference with a statement concerning the release of Soviet intelligence officer Colonel Rudolph Abel in exchange for the release of the American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers and American student Frederic Pryor from detention in the Soviet Union and East Germany. Following this statement the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including United States involvement in Vietnam, the status of the nuclear test ban treaty, and restrictions on public statements by military personnel. Background materials in this folder include a draft press conference announcement, executive department and agency reports, and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics of the briefing papers include the economy, negotiations for a nuclear test ban treaty, and the situation in South Vietnam. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-060-007
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 1, 1963 (News Conference 59). Materials primarily consist of department reports and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, attacks on U.S. soldiers by North Koreans, balance of payments, Department of Defense budget cuts for fiscal year 1964, and whether East Germany would obtain recognition if they signed the Test Ban Treaty. Also included are draft press conference announcements and newspaper clippings.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-060-005
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 July 17, 1963 (News Conference 58). Materials primarily consist of department and agency reports and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the economy, disarmament, Post Office employment, the Chamizal settlement, and 59 American students who traveled to Cuba without proper passport validation. Also included is a draft press conference announcement concerning the federal budget.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-060-002
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 May 22, 1963 (News Conference 56). Materials primarily consist of department and agency reports and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the economy, taxes, disarmament, a fare increase of round-trip trans-Atlantic flights, and U.S. Government checks no longer being sent to individuals in Cuba due to possible forged endorsements. Also included are newspaper clippings. Of note is a memorandum dated July 17, 1963 concerning civil rights demonstrations for public accommodations in certain cities.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-059-008
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 April 24, 1963 (News Conference 54). Materials primarily consist of department and agency reports and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the situation in Birmingham, Alabama that resulted in the arrest of Martin Luther King, Jr.; the economy; the sinking of the USS Thresher; the nuclear test ban agreement; taxes; Cuba; and the proposed establishment of the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the Bahamas. Also included are draft press conference announcements and newspaper clippings. Of note is a booklet for the Joint Economic Committee by the Council of Economic Advisers titled "Economic Indicators: April 1963". This folder also contains three Peace Corps project description pamphlets for El Salvador, Ghana, and Morocco.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-059-004
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 March 21, 1963 (News Conference 52). Materials primarily consist of department and agency reports and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the economy; taxes; a multilateral nuclear force (MLF); Brazil-United States relations; Soviet troop withdrawal from Cuba; Soviet fly-over of Alaska; Vietnam crop destruction with herbicides; and a training exercise for United Nations troops in guerilla warfare called Water Moccasin III. Also included are draft press conference announcements, some with handwritten editorial marks and annotations by the President. Of note is a statement by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara to the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations regarding the TFX fighter plane contract controversy.
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-057-007
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 memorandums for the President on recent activities by various departments and agencies. Topics include the military space program, the economy, taxes, agriculture, legislation, and labor.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-057-004
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of July 23, 1962 (News Conference 39). The President began the press conference by announcing that part of the conference was being broadcast across the Atlantic Ocean by the Telstar communications satellite. He then stated the importance of the satellite to provide fast communication, resulting in peace and security for all people. Following this statement the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including a possible peace treaty between the Soviet Union and East Germany (Democratic Republic), nuclear testing by the Soviet Union, tax cut hearings, the domestic economy, foreign affairs, Martin Luther King, Jr. and segregation, strike increases, and the appointment of General Lyman Lemnitzer as Commander in Chief of U.S. Forces in Europe. Also included in this folder is a memorandum from Under Secretary of State George W. Ball clarifying U.S. nuclear policy. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1052-003
This folder contains a National Broadcasting Company (NBC) transcript of the second presidential debate between candidates Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The candidates answered questions on numerous issues, including civil rights, the Cold War, the economy, foreign policy, labor, national defense, taxes, Cuba, the invasion of Quemoy and Matsu, and Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev. The debate was moderated by Frank McGee of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1052-002
This folder contains an unofficial transcript of the second presidential debate between candidates Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The candidates answered questions on numerous issues, including civil rights, the Cold War, the economy, foreign policy, labor, national defense, taxes, Cuba, the invasion of Quemoy and Matsu, and Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev. The debate was moderated by Frank McGee of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1061-017
This folder contains unofficial transcripts of the first and second presidential debates between candidates Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The candidates answered questions on numerous issues, including agriculture, the economy, education, foreign policy, medical care for the aged, civil rights, the Cold War, labor, national defense, taxes, Cuba, the invasion of Quemoy and Matsu, and Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev. The first debate was moderated by Howard K. Smith of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and the second debate was moderated by Frank McGee of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).