Close
Not finding the information you're looking for? Please contact the Archives research staff.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-08B
Dictation Belt 8B contains five sound recordings. The recording of the conversation in item 8B.1 begins on Dictation Belt 8A.4. Item 8B.1 is a telephone conversation held on March 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They continue to discuss a press item about a proposed nuclear naval force and Soviet surveillance of naval vessels. Item 8B.2 is a telephone conversation held on March 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They discuss reconnaissance flights over Cuba and statements made by Senator Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 8B.3 is a sound recording of a telephone conversation held on March 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss reconnaissance flights over Cuba and surveillance of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) naval fleet and merchant ships. Item 8B.4 is a telephone conversation held on March 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss the Stennis Committee’s review of the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Item 8B.5 is a telephone conversation held on March 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss the Stennis Committee’s review of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, results of a recent Gallup Poll, and problems for Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York. The recording of the end of the conversation repeats on Dictation Belt 9A.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.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-331-023
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 93 (NSAM 93) titled, “Berlin Build-Up,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included in this folder is a memorandum to President Kennedy from Secretary McNamara titled, “Status of Berlin Build-up and Planning.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-328-003
This folder contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number two (NSAM 2) titled, “Development of Counter-Guerrilla Forces,” to the Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and a response by McNamara.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-111-001
Sound recording of part of a National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on September 12, 1963. The recording of this meeting begins on Tape 110. Participants include President John F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Glenn Seaborg, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness Edward McDermott, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore Sorensen, Military Aide to the President Major General Chester Clifton, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. They discuss the Armed Services Committee and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and their thoughts on nuclear superiority, including what nuclear superiority means with regard to weaponry and strategy. One segment of the recording totaling 1 minute and 14 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 111, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 111 in its entirety or the beginning of this recording on Tape 110.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-110-004
Sound recording of part of a National Security Council meeting meeting held on September 12, 1963. Participants include President John F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Glenn Seaborg, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness Edward McDermott, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore Sorensen, Military Aide to the President Major General Chester Clifton, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. The first portion of this NSC meeting concerns a recent Air Force Association statement on nuclear superiority and what that means in regards to weaponry and strategy. Only about 7 and a half minutes of the meeting are recorded on this tape. The recording ends abruptly and continues on Tape 111. Four segments of the recording totaling 3 minutes and 46 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 110, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding one. See Related Records to access Tape 110 in its entirety or the remainder of this recording on Tape 111.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-102-003
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Special Assistant to the President Lawrence F. O’Brien. They discuss American troop movements and exercises in Europe; personnel appointments; an aircraft contract and Douglas Aircraft; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); German-French relations; U.S. weapons and equipment in Europe; and Secretary Dillon’s testimony before Congress and the Treasury matters before Congress and how to handle them. Additional subjects include German military programs; recent fighting in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with casualties and a possible U.S. response; consultation with Allies regarding Laos, the Geneva accords, the nature of U.S. aid, future plans, and Communist actions; U.S. bases in the Azores; and a briefing for Adlai Stevenson. Six segments of the recording totaling 1 minute 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 102, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 102 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-089-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 28, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs William R. Tyler. The main subject of the meeting is Europe and specifically the current situation concerning the Multilateral Force (MLF). An interview that morning with German minister Kai-Uwe von Hassel has President Kennedy quite concerned over Germany and prospects for the MLF. The group also is working on gaining British support for the MLF; a draft letter to British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan is reviewed. Near the end of the meeting the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and possible upcoming negotiations on the treaty are debated, with President Kennedy taking a pessimistic view of the prospects for success of the negotiations. Four segments of the recording totaling 57 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 89, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 89 in its entirety.