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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-ACE-01
Enthoven discusses his impressions of Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and his work applying systems analysis to Defense Department problems, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RSM-01
McNamara discusses the defense budget and military strategy during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations, the recruitment of Defense Department staff, his appointment as Secretary of Defense, the Bay of Pigs, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-CPR-01
This interview focuses on the 1960 Democratic primary in Wisconsin, the internal operations of the Defense Department under Robert S. McNamara, and the relations between the military and the Defense Department, among other topics.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-JKR-01
In this interview Ruina discusses the Nike-Zeus antiballistic-missile-missiles; briefing President John F. Kennedy [JFK] on the Nike-Zeus missiles; JFK’s comprehension of the briefing material and the type of questions he asked; Project Defender; the background and organization of the Advanced Research Projects Agency; the leadership and organization of the Department of Defense; interactions with Robert S. McNamara; competition between the military and the Defense Department on research and development and for resources and congressional funds; the period of new, advanced—but not always useful—technology; and Project AGILE and counterinsurgency efforts in Vietnam, among other issues.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Walter W. Heller
JFKWHSFWWH-MF22-008
This folder contains Walter W. Heller's correspondence with the Department of Defense. Types of material include letters, memoranda, directives, press releases, and reports. Correspondents include Roswell L. Gilpatric (Deputy Secretary of Defense) and Elvis J. Stahr, Jr. (Secretary of the Army). The file also contains a Congressional report on providing for fallout protection in federal structures and nonprofit institutions; an excerpt from the Federal Civil Defense Guide; and information on the National Fallout Shelter Survey Marking and Stocking Program.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-077-009
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the Department of Defense. Topics include troop withdrawals from Europe, the status of the civil defense program, Burns Waterway Harbor, and the defense of the Offshore Islands in Asia. Of note is a National Intelligence estimate titled, "Consequences of Certain U.S. Courses in Laos." Also included in this folder is a copy of a commencement speech by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara for the University of Michigan.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-077-007
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the Department of Defense. Topics include civil defense, the establishment of Logistics Management Institute to improve the procurement of defense supplies, and the reorganization of Army National Guard and Reserves. Of note is a memorandum to the President from Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara regarding the Department of Defense FY 1963 budget and the 1963-1967 defense program. Also included in this folder is a memorandum to the President from McNamara regarding a military build-up and possible action in Europe.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-329-023
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 48 (NSAM 48) titled, “Level of U.S. Efforts – Military, Foreign Policy, Civil Defense, Para-military,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Director of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization (OCDM) Frank B. Ellis from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-275-004
This folder contains memoranda regarding the Department of Defense budget for FY 1964 and principal issues, including civil defense incentives and strategic retaliatory forces ballistic missile defense programs.