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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-106-008
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 21, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Minister of the United States Bucharest legation William Crawford. They discuss the Romanian economy, Romania's relationship with the Soviet (U.S.S.R.) and Chinese Communists, and the Romanian standard of living. Please note that President Kennedy also takes brief telephone calls with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy on family matters and with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. Only President Kennedy’s side of these telephone conversations can be heard. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 106, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 106 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-104-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 12, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs William Bundy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, CIA official James Critchfield, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, member of the National Security Council Robert W. Komer, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs Phillips Talbot, Administrator for the Agency for International Development (AID) David Bell, and Department of State Official Turner Cameron. Under Secretary Ball is leaving shortly for a mission to Pakistan. Meeting participants review what discussions should take place between Under Secretary Ball and President Mohammad Ayub Khan of Pakistan. The performance of a choral group follows. Most likely a group of visiting Irish teachers, they sing for President Kennedy. The quality of the recording is poor and the performance lasts for two minutes. Six segments of the recording totaling 4 minutes and 38 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. The quality of the recording is poor and the performance lasts for two minutes. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 104, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 104 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-103-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 5, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Under Secretary of State George Ball, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy (who joins later in the meeting). This long meeting covers a variety of issues concerning the Federal Republic of Germany. Secretary McNamara just returned from a meeting with German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and relays the specifics to President Kennedy. The German reservations about the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), criticisms of the State Department by Chancellor Adenauer, the effect of German abstention on the U.S. Senate debate on the Treaty, and the German political climate are discussed in detail. In addition, during the latter half of the meeting, President Kennedy discusses the upcoming U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on the Treaty, who should testify in front of the Committee, who the White House would like to testify to offset negative testimony from such witnesses as Teller and General Curtis LeMay. There is also a brief discussion that is difficult to hear concerning a Northeast Airline issue and the Civil Aeronautics Board. Six segments of the recording totaling 7 minutes and 48 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 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-102-005
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 31, 1963, at 4:30 p.m., between President John F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman, Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, CIA Deputy Director for Intelligence Ray Cline, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Bundy, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, and General Earle Wheeler. In this National Security Council (NSC) meeting they discuss Chinese Communists intentions. They cover a variety of issues such as: the Sino-Soviet dispute, the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s remarks to Harriman, India, Korea, Laos, Indian Nehru, U.S. relations with India, Chinese troop movements, and Korean fighting. There was also a discussion on Southeast Asia, covering Laos, Vietnam, India, measures against communists, a draft statement concerning India and Korea and Chinese Communists. There are further discussions on India, covering the present position and defense situation, Taiwan, USIA coverage of the situation, and Buddhists throughout Southeast Asia. Four segments of the recording totaling 5 minutes and 34 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 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-102-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 31, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Special Assistant to the President Carl Kaysen. They discuss Soviet (U.S.S.R.) and Chinese Communists, Under Secretary Harriman’s mission to Moscow, Eastern Europe and the U.S.S.R., the non-aggression pact, stability of West Berlin, German unification, Cuba, and Laos. 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-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-102-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Under Secretary of State George Ball. They discuss the United Nations (UN) resolution on Portuguese Africa, the positions and responses of various countries, the language of the resolution, and the UN Security Council. Band music obscures some of the discussion. 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-100-001
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State George Ball, John McCloy, Assistant Secretary of State Phillips Talbot, United States Ambassador to the United Arab Republic (UAR) John Badeau, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Paul Nitze, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, member of the National Security Council Robert W. Komer, and Hermann Eilts. They discuss a possible Near East arms limitation agreement, and specifically relations between the UAR and Israel. Five segments of the recording totaling 15 minutes and 27 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) 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-097-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 11, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Deputy Special Assistant to the President Walt Rostow. They discuss a possible meeting on nuclear test ban negotiations with Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev, French President Charles DeGaulle, and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. The negotiations concern the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). President Kennedy describes Premier Khrushchev’s personality. One segment of the recording totaling 1 minute and 30 seconds has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 97, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 97 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-096-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman, and member of the National Security Council Michael Forrestal. The main focus of this White House off-the-record meeting is the situation in Vietnam. The meeting takes place not long after a Buddhist monk burned himself to death to protest the relationship between the government of Vietnam and the Buddhists and amidst recent Buddhist demonstrations. The possibility of a coup in Vietnam and differing staff assessments of that possibility are also presented. Other topics are discussed near the end of the meeting, including Laos, Indonesia, Brazil, and Averell Harriman’s upcoming mission to 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), and specific aspects of its negotiations. One segment of the recording totaling 35 seconds has been removed in accordance with the donor's deed of gift. Four segments of the recording totaling 41 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.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-090-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 31, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs U. Alexis Johnson, Director of the Office of British Commonwealth and Northern European Affairs in the Department of State William C. Burdett, Advisor Richard Helms, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. Please note that most of the British Guiana discussion remains closed, though a small portion of the meeting is open. There is also a discussion about Haiti, specifically about the possible return of United States Ambassador Raymond L. Thurston to Haiti and about President Francois Duvalier. The closed portions have been submitted to the appropriate agencies for review. Four segments of the recording totaling 10 minutes and 41 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 90, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 90 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.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-089-001
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 24, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. The first topic is an overview of the discussions that took place in Ottawa, Ontario, at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) North Atlantic Council Ministerial meeting. Specifically President Kennedy wants to know how much genuine interest there was in Europe for the Multilateral Force (MLF). President Kennedy next discusses the upcoming meeting with French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville. Congress and the United Arab Republic’s Abu Simbel temples are also briefly mentioned before the discussion turns to Israeli nuclear development. Seven segments of the recording totaling 6 minutes and 47 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) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 89 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-088-001
Sound recording of a meeting most likely held on May 17, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Philips Talbot, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs James P. Grant, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and member of the National Security Council Robert W. Komer. They discuss the Middle East, specifically the hope that an arms limitation agreement can be coordinated for that area of the world. Israel had wanted the United States to sign a security guarantee with them as a step towards the arms limitation agreement, but the Kennedy Administration is cautious about making any moves which will seem to align the United States with one side or the other and then alienate the Arabs or Israel. There was considerable finger-pointing between the United Arab Republic and Israel over each country possibly creating nuclear weapons. The goal of the United States is an arms limitation agreement with inspections, and this meeting provides an overview of the steps the Kennedy Administration wants to take to aid in the peace of the region. Eight segments of the recording totaling 5 minutes and 10 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. Please note that this meeting does not seem to be a continuation of the last meeting on tape 87, which covers the same subject. From the paperwork, this meeting on Tape 88 seems to be the 5:00 p.m. meeting that occurred on the same day (May 17, 1963). This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 88, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 88 in its entirety.