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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-119-005
Sound recording of a meeting about Berlin, Germany, held on November 5, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, and President Kennedy’s Personal Representative in Berlin General Lucius Clay. Topics of discussion include the stopping of a United States convoy in Berlin, a review of the situation, speculation on its significance, alternative courses of action, press guidance, the Soviet Union’s November celebration, diplomatic representation, the use of small force, Soviet ship movements, and possible Allied action. They also discuss the Ambassadorial Group, Soviet press coverage, and a possible conversation with the Canadian foreign minister. There is further discussion of the possible situation that may arise in Berlin and the possible U.S. response and contingency plans. One segment of the recording totaling 1 minute has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 119/A55, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 119/A55 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-116-001
Sound recording of three meetings. First is a meeting held on October 11, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, President Kennedy’s Berlin Representative General Lucius Clay, Press Secretary Pierre Salinger, Military Aide to the President General Chester Clifton, Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze, Special Military Assistant to the President General Maxwell Taylor, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant for Europe and Canada David Klein, and Executive Secretary of the NSC Bromley Smith. President Kennedy and his staff review in detail recent issues that Allied troops have faced regarding convoy holdups by the Soviet Union in Berlin, Germany. They discuss changes to the dismount instructions for Berlin convoys and also discuss having talks with Allies concerning these changes. One segment of this recording totaling 29 seconds has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526.Second is an October 16, 1963, meeting on the Dominican Republic. This meeting is closed in full under NLK-10-154a and NLK-01-393-6-4-7: one segment of the recording totaling 38 minutes and 48 seconds has been removed.
Third is a meeting on Berlin, Germany, held on October 21, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Ambassador-at-Large Llewellyn Thompson, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs William Tyler, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Richard Davis; John Ausland from the Department of State; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze, Special Military Assistant to the President General Maxwell Taylor, President Kennedy’s Berlin Representative General Lucius Clay, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and the following meeting participants listed in the President's schedule: Mr. Janney, Mr. Whitman, Colonel William Smith, and Mr. Diklein. This meeting is similar to a meeting that was held on October 11, 1963. They review recent problems with the Soviets on convoy procedures. They debate further the sorts of discussions that need to be held with officials of the Soviet Union concerning these ongoing problems. One segment of the recording totaling 26 seconds has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526.
This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 116/A52, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 116/A52 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-115-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on October 10, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (USSR) Andrei Gromyko, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Soviet Ambassador to the United States Anatoliy Dobrynin, Under Secretary of State Llewellyn Thompson, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Semenov, member of the Soviet Foreign Ministry Mr. Sukhodrev, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor (briefly). President Kennedy and Foreign Minister Gromyko discuss numerous topics during this long (just under two hours) White House meeting. Topics of discussion include Autobahn situations and access in Berlin, Germany; the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests (later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty or Limited Test Ban Treaty); disarmament; reduction in the military; nuclear weapons; the multilateral force (MLF); China; trade; the Civil Air Agreement; Cuba; and the relations between the superpowers. Prior to the meeting there is a brief discussion between President Kennedy, General Taylor, and Secretary Rusk on what the staff expects Foreign Minister Gromyko to bring up at the meeting. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 115/A51, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 115/A51 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-103-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Under Secretary of State George Ball, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Richard H. Davis. President Kennedy and his advisors discuss the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), especially the issues that might come up with the Soviet Union during Secretary Rusk’s upcoming trip to Moscow. They also discuss Berlin, the multilateral force (MLF), and the non-aggression pact. Two segments of the recording totaling 1 minute and 23 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 103, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 103 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-100-003
Sound recording of a meeting that seems to be held on July 24, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs U. Alexis Johnson, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, Benjamin Read, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. This meeting is mostly a continuation on of the previous day’s staff discussion on the language of instructions to Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, the language of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and the note on the treaty, as well as the wording of a speech by President Kennedy. Shortly after the meeting begins President Kennedy leaves to call former President Harry S. Truman to discuss the Test Ban Treaty and does not return for the remainder of the meeting. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 100, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 100 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-100-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, John McCloy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith. They discuss instructions for Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman concerning the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The staff group had reworked the instructions to Under Secretary Harriman and to Charles Bohlen in France. There is also a long discussion about Article 1 and how the nuclear test ban would not and could not limit a country from defending itself with nuclear weapons in a time of war. Also, there is discussion on the Congressional Delegation and the Test Ban Treaty. (Please note that President Kennedy leaves the meeting after 15 minutes and does not return for the remainder of the meeting. According to the White House Appointment Books, he left to attend the Congressional Social Hour.) After this meeting there is a short break in the tape, followed by a brief discussion between President Kennedy, Secretary Rusk, McGeorge Bundy, and others. They discuss issues concerning the proposed test ban treaty. Two segments of the recording totaling 51 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 100, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 100 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-099-007
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 22, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith. They discuss the negotiations going on in Moscow concerning the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). Drafts of documents and letters to French President Charles de Gaulle and to Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman are also reviewed. There is also mention of the upcoming debate on the treaty that will take place on Capitol Hill. Please note that the last 17 minutes of this tape is blank. Three segments of the recording totaling 1 minutes and 8 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 99, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 99 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-098-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, and Special Assistant Ben Read from the Department of State. This meeting provides a forum in which President Kennedy and his staff review the “withdrawal clause” in the drafts of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and how it might be received in the United States Congress. There is also discussion on how and when to approach the United Kingdom, France, and Germany and related foreign policy issues with each of these countries. Near the meeting’s end there is also discussion about keeping the test ban treaty and the non aggression pact negotiations as separate and distinct entities. Four segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 11 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 98, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 98in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-096-005
Sound recording of two meetings held on July 9, 1963, concerning negotiations on the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). Specifically discussed is Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman’s upcoming mission to Moscow. The first is the larger National Security Council (NSC) meeting held in the Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C. Participants in the first meeting include President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Assistant Director of the ACDA Adrian Fisher, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn Seaborg, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense John McNaughton, Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor, member of the National Security Council (NSC) Edward McDermott, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State Averell Harriman, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Assistant Secretary of State William R. Tyler, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Deputy Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Nitze, Deputy Special Assistant to the President Carl Kaysen, and Executive Director of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. The second meeting is held in the Oval Office of the White House immediately following the NSC meeting. Participants in the second meeting include President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor. In the second meeting, issues the Kennedy Administration is having with Congress and the Joint Chiefs concerning the test ban are discussed in detail. After the Oval Office meeting concludes, there is approximately ten minutes of hallway conversations and drilling sounds. Seven segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 29 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 96, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 96 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-096-001
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 3, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, Assistant Secretary of State William R. Tyler, Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor, Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, Deputy Special Assistant to the President Carl Kaysen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense John McNaughton, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Nitze, Assistant Director of ACDA Adrian Fisher, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. This meeting takes place in the late afternoon (another meeting had taken place earlier in the day). The main topic of conversation is Averell Harriman's upcoming mission to Moscow for negotiations on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and how those negotiations would or could affect relationships between the United States and West Germany and its Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, France and its President Charles DeGaulle, and the United Kingdom and its Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Ideas for letters from President Kennedy to Chancellor Adenauer are also discussed. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 96, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 96 in its entirety.