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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.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-ROWK-05
In this interview Komer discusses working with McGeorge Bundy; the “inner circle” of the Bundy State Department; Komer’s major contacts; the intelligence system; the power and responsibilities of the State Department; how Bundy screened what President John F. Kennedy [JFK] would see; relations with other key officials; Robert F. Kennedy and foreign policy issues; the Bundy State Department and White House staff; the “little State Department” in the White House; the bureaucratic role of the State Department; U.S. foreign policy in Asia; relations with key U.S. Ambassadors; handling Arab-Israeli issues; domestic pressures of American-Jewish community on JFK; Arabists in the Kennedy Administration; working with Myer Feldman on Israeli issues; the United States, Saudi Arabia, and oil; filling the power vacuum left by the British; dealing with Congress on foreign aid matters; counterinsurgency; and looking back at programs during the Kennedy Administration, 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.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-06-12-A
AR38, ST25
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-04-28-B
AR19
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-29-A
ST15
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-11-B
AR28, ST14, KN24
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-03-09-C
AR17, KN13
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-317-017
This folder contains summaries of meetings with President John F. Kennedy discussing relations with Pakistan and a trip by Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball, Portuguese territories in Africa, and an upcoming trip by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor to South Vietnam. Also included in this folder is a detailed agenda for a meeting regarding Secretary of State Dean Rusk's upcoming trip to Moscow and points for discussion including disarmament, Laos, trade, and Germany and Berlin.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6485-D
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball; Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen (partially hidden); Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sir Patrick Dean (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; unidentified man (mostly hidden); U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man (partially hidden); Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man (mostly hidden); former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man; President's Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Walt W. Rostow. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
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-AR6815-E
Swearing-in ceremony for Fowler Hamilton as Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID). (L – R): President John F. Kennedy; Fowler Hamilton; Katherine Miller Hamilton; Helen and Emily Hamilton (order undetermined); Associate Justice Charles E. Whittaker; unidentified woman; Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, George Ball. Conference Room (Fish Room), White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17423
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball (mostly hidden); Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen (mostly hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man; Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; Military Aide to the President Chester V. Clifton (partially hidden); unidentified man; Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7185-G
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain, Harold Macmillan, and others in the Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C. Clockwise around table, beginning at left: Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, Sir Norman Brook; Prime Minister Macmillan; Ambassador of Great Britain, Sir David Ormsby-Gore; two unidentified men; Director of the Office of British Commonwealth and Northern European Affairs, William C. Burdett, Jr.; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, William R. Tyler; Under Secretary of State, George Ball; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; unidentified (seated in back, by window); President Kennedy; United States Ambassador to Great Britain, David K. E. Bruce; and Special Assistant to the President for National Security, McGeorge Bundy. Also listed in the President's schedule: Deputy Under Secretary of State in the British Foreign Office, Sir Evelyn Shuckburgh; private secretary to PM Macmillan, Philip de Zulueta; and Officer in Charge of United Kingdom and Ireland Affairs, Joseph D. Sweeney.
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-ST-66-2-61
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball; Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man (partially hidden); former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; unidentified man (partially hidden); Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man (partially hidden); Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; unidentified man (partially hidden); Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man; President's Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Walt W. Rostow. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-66-1-61
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball; Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen; unidentified man; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man; former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; unidentified man; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee (partially hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man; President's Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Walt W. Rostow. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7970-J
President John F. Kennedy (at microphones) delivers remarks at the presentation ceremony of the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service. Standing to the right of President Kennedy (left to right): Chairman of the Distinguished Civilian Awards Board and Under Secretary of State, George Ball; member of the Awards Board and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric; Executive Secretary of the Awards Board and Chairman of the U.S. Civil Service Commission, John W. Macy, Jr. Standing in the background (left to right): award recipient and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Analysis, Dr. Alain C. Enthoven; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; award recipient and Deputy Commandant for Foreign Affairs of the National War College, Ambassador Winthrop G. Brown; award recipient and Associate Administrator of the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Sherman E. Johnson (in back, mostly hidden); unidentified; award recipient and Director of Air Traffic Service for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), David D. Thomas; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk (partially hidden); Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Leonard Carmichael (in back); Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, W. Averell Harriman. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7970-I
President John F. Kennedy and others listen as Executive Secretary of the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board and Chairman of the U.S. Civil Service Commission, John W. Macy, Jr., reads the citation for award recipient and Deputy Commandant for Foreign Affairs of the National War College, Ambassador Winthrop G. Brown, at the presentation ceremony of the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service. Left to right (in foreground): President Kennedy; Ambassador Brown's daughter, Anne Brown; Ambassador Brown; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Chairman of the Awards Board and Under Secretary of State, George Ball; member of the Awards Board and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric (in back); Chairman Macy (reading from a piece of paper). Standing in the background (left to right): Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Analysis, Dr. Alain C. Enthoven (face obscured); Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Secretary of Agriculture, Orville Freeman; award recipient and Associate Administrator of the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Sherman E. Johnson (in back); award recipient and Director of Air Traffic Service for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), David D. Thomas; Administrator of the FAA, Najeeb Halaby; Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Leonard Carmichael (in back); Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, W. Averell Harriman; White House Secret Service agent, Dick Johnsen (leaning against column). Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7970-H
President John F. Kennedy delivers remarks at the presentation ceremony of the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service. Left to right: award recipient and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Analysis, Dr. Alain C. Enthoven; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton (very back); award recipient and Director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Dr. Fred L. Whipple; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Leonard Carmichael (in back); President Kennedy (at microphones); award recipient and Deputy Commandant for Foreign Affairs of the National War College, Ambassador Winthrop G. Brown; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; award recipient and Associate Administrator of the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Sherman E. Johnson; member of the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric (in back); Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), Najeeb Halaby; award recipient and Director of Air Traffic Service for the FAA, David D. Thomas; Chairman of the Awards Board and Under Secretary of State, George Ball; Executive Secretary of the Awards Board and Chairman of the U.S. Civil Service Commission, John W. Macy, Jr. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.