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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-OLH-01
In this interview Father Huber discusses hearing about John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] assassination and heading to Parkland Memorial Hospital; administering the last rites to JFK and speaking with Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis immediately after; and Catholic beliefs about death and the soul, “apparent death” versus “real death,” and the reason behind giving the last rites, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-JJH-01
In this interview Holtz discusses his relationship with John F. Kennedy [JFK]; working on JFK’s 1952 Senate campaign; comparisons between JFK and Henry Cabot Lodge during the 1952 Senate race; JFK, Holtz, and the Algerian crisis; JFK’s involvement with Holtz’s 1954 and 1956 congressional campaigns; discussing Senator Joseph McCarthy with JFK; the 1956 Democratic National Convention; and JFK and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis’ wedding, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-WH-01
In this interview Holness discusses her job at the White House; interactions with and impressions of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis; the Kennedy family moving into the White House; traveling with presidential families; interacting with the Kennedy children; and learning of President Kennedy’s death, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-JAPH-01
In this interview Hirsh discusses working at the White House as the French instructor for the Kennedy children; taking Caroline Kennedy on outings; interactions with President JFK; JFK’s secret French studies; the Kennedys’ pride in their children; difficulties for Caroline after JFK’s death; JFK’s effect on Hirsh; and JFK as a French student and his Boston accent, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-LUH-01
Hennessey discusses meeting the Kennedy family, her role as the family nurse, accompanying them to London, her memories of her time spent with the Kennedys, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RJH-01
In this interview Heffernan discusses his work as the Kennedy family doctor, including delivering several of the family’s children and operating on Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-AUG-01
In this interview Heckscher discusses John F. Kennedy [JFK] and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis as an “inspiration to cultural life”; Heckscher’s involvement in government affairs prior to becoming a Special Consultant to the President; the invitation of 168 artists to JFK’s 1961 inauguration and its impact; how Heckscher came to work for the White House; discussing Heckscher’s position with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.; the reasoning behind the creation of the new position of Special Consultant on the Arts and the favorable public reaction to it; enlarging the definition of “The Arts,” especially regarding architecture; Arthur Goldberg; the establishment of the Freedom Medal; creating the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts through executive order; personal impressions of JFK; setting up Heckscher’s office and staff; how Heckscher was meant to advise JFK and what his position entailed; the Cultural Center [Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]; conversations with JFK; Mrs. Kennedy’s expansive work for the arts; the arts as part of national policy; working with other White House staff members and other Departments; designing special postage stamps; what the President’s role in the arts should be; and the Fine Arts Commission, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-BJC-02
In this interview she discusses the White House photographers, Pierre Salinger’s policies, White House pressoperations, and the Kennedy family’s reaction to press coverage, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-JAC-03
In this interview Carver discusses federal regulation of the Alaska Railroad, including rates and personnel; the debate over congressional oversight versus executive prerogatives in acquiring areas for the National Park Service; the interaction between the Department of the Interior and then First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis to preserve the White House as a monument; and the management style of Interior Secretary Stewart L. Udall, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-LB-01
Bernstein discusses John F. Kennedy’s (JFK) inauguration, public and private dinners he attended at the White House, and humorous anecdotes about his interactions with JFK and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-CLB-01
Bartlett discusses his role in introducing Jacqueline Bouvier to John F. Kennedy (JFK), JFK’s relationship with Lyndon Baines Johnson, and JFK’s Cabinet appointments, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-BLB-02
In this interview Boutin discusses New Hampshire politics; presidential elections and Democratic National Conventions from 1956 through 1968; various staff members of John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] presidential campaign from 1956 to 1960; JFK’s presidential campaign in several different states; the 1960 presidential primary in New Hampshire; working as the Administrator of the General Services Administration [GSA], including public works projects, federal buildings and sites, reorganization of GSA structure and personnel, and working with Congress and other federal agencies on GSA matters; the National Archives and Records Administration and presidential libraries; the Democratic National Committee during JFK’s Administration; Boutin’s memories of immediately following JFK’s assassination in 1963; tensions between Robert F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; and “Johnson people” versus “Kennedy people,” among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-JKG-03
Galbraith discusses Jacqueline B. Kennedy’s trip to India and Pakistan, her strained relationship with the press after the assassination, and their friendship with the Kennedy family, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-SLF-01
Fox discusses Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy’s aesthetic influence on White House social events, presidential citations, and the White House renovation, and Fox’s work in preparing for John F. Kennedy’s funeral, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-AGF-01
Forbes discusses JFK’s political development and maturation, his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy, and his friendship with William David Ormsby-Gore Harlech, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-PBF-02
Fay discusses Jacqueline Kennedy’s relationship with Ethel Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s personal friends, Lafayette Square, balance of payments, his relationship and opinions of Robert S. McNamara, and cost effectiveness and systems analysis in the Department of Defense, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-WVE-01
Elder discusses the White House renovation project, the media attention, and the roles of JFK and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-ABD-03
Duke discusses John F. and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy’s state visits to Paris, London, Venezuela and Colombia, and John F. Kennedy’s 1961 meeting with Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev in Vienna, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-TGW-02
In this interview Wicker discusses John F. Kennedy's [JFK] unique way of giving speeches; Lyndon B. Johnson’s unhappiness with his position as Vice President; Anthony J. Celebrezze’s appointment to the Cabinet, 1962; Wicker’s sources for Kennedy Without Tears; traveling with JFK to Texas in November, 1963; the motorcade through Dallas on November 22, 1963; the confusion after the shooting and learning what happened; gathering information from witnesses and hospital staff at Parkland Hospital; the announcement of JFK’s death and the general atmosphere after; Johnson’s swearing in as President; reporting on the day’s events from the airport; and the rapid transition to the Johnson White House, among other issues.
Oral history
Robert F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
RFKOH-LWH-01
In this interview Lord Harlech discusses his earlier memories of Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] from the 1930s through the 1950s; RFK’s religion; RFK’s character, including some of his interests, faults, and struggles; dealings in Vietnam under John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] Administration; RFK’s difficult relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson; RFK’s relationship with Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis after JFK’s death; and life with RFK at Hickory Hill, among other issues.
Oral history
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Collection
RPCV-ACC-2019-112
Terry Adcock served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia from June 1961 to July 1963 in community development. Prior to joining Peace Corps, Adcock was politically active and a strong supporter of John F. Kennedy. When the Peace Corps was announced, he immediately decided to join. His group, Colombia I, was the first to undergo Peace Corps training, which was conducted at Rutgers University. It included language, community development, history, and physical fitness. Prior to departing, Adcock's group was invited to the White House to meet President Kennedy. Upon arrival in Colombia the group was housed at an experimental agriculture station in Tibaitata where additional training was provided. On weekends the trainees lived with local families. Adcock was assigned to the town of Cogua, along with another volunteer and a local counterpart. They shared living quarters and worked as a team. The interview includes a discussion of Adcock's experience working with the local community, traveling in-country, and meeting visiting VIPs from the U.S., including JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy. Interviewed and recorded by Julius (Jay) Sztuk, June 22, 2019. 3 digital audio files (web streaming files combined into 1 file).
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-MCS-01
This interview focuses on Schlesinger’s impressions of the Kennedys, her reasons for supporting Governor Stevenson, and the 1960 presidential election and its aftermath, among other issues.