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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-23D-3
Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They discuss the timing of a presidential speech on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT).The recording begins in mid-conversation. Machine noise follows the conversation.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 23D, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-23D, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 23D.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-23D
Dictation Belt 23D contains six sound recordings. Item 23D.1 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester. They discuss the purchase of furniture at Otis Air Force Base and wasteful spending. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 23D.2 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and United States Air Force General Godfrey T. McHugh, Air Force Aide to the President. They discuss the purchase of furniture at Otis Air Force Base and the possible effect on the Air Force budget. Item 23D.3 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They discuss the timing of a presidential speech on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The recording begins in mid-conversation. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 23D.4 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss former Vice President Richard M. Nixon’s upcoming meeting with President Charles de Gaulle of France. They consider whether Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John A. McCone should speak to Nixon about the meeting. They also discuss the protection of U.S. embassy property in Havana, Cuba. Item 23D.5 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Deputy Attorney General Nicholas deB. Katzenbach. They discuss James M. Landis and an issue involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 23D.6 is a telephone conversation held on July 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Senator Clair Engle of California. They discuss the impending resignation of Postmaster General J. Edward Day and their thoughts on choosing a successor. Following this conversation, there is a fragment of another conversation; the entire conversation, including this fragment, is recorded on Dictation Belt 23E.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-342-013
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 269 (NSAM 269) titled, “Procedure for Approval of Certain Nuclear Tests,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, and Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Jerome B. Wiesner 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-341-014
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 254 (NSAM 254) requesting a review of the technical possibilities for clandestine violations of the test ban agreement for atmospheric, underwater, and outer space tests, to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are memoranda and reports related to NSAM 254.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-113-003
Sound recording of a meeting held on September 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Special Assistant to the President Ralph Dungan. This is a typical White House staff conversation between President Kennedy and high level White House staffers on a variety of issues. None of the issues are discussed in great detail, but the participants speak briefly about the recently signed treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests (later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty or Limited Test Ban Treaty) and France, British Guiana, the budget, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s trip to Greece, and ambassadorial posts. Before this meeting there is also a brief photo opportunity with retiring White House policeman and a brief discussion on the recent acquisition of “mini deer,” which President Kennedy requests be housed at Camp David, Maryland. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 113, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 113 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-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-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-096-005
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.