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Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-078-002
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the Department of Defense. Materials include comments on a Readers Digest article titled, "We're Running the Wrong Race with Russia," a progress report for the Department of Defense cost reduction program, Space Project 461, and a report by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maxwell D. Taylor of their mission to South Vietnam.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-114-A49d
Sound recording of a National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on October 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. They discuss the mission to Vietnam for Secretary McNamara and General Taylor, and topics include the approval of a press release and a draft policy statement. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 114/A49, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 114/A49 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-112-002
Sound recording of a meeting about Vietnam held on September 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Acting Secretary of State George Ball, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. President Kennedy speaks with Secretary McNamara and General Taylor prior to their fact-finding mission to South Vietnam. Topics of discussion include whom Secretary McNamara and General Taylor should meet and what steps they should take to help the military win the war. At the end of the meeting there are also brief discussions about Indonesia, funding for the Apollo space mission, and the multilateral force (MLF). Two segments of this recording totaling 2 minutes and 47 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 112, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 112 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-109-004
Sound recording of a meeting about Vietnam held on September 10, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy; former United States Ambassador to Vietnam Frederick Nolting; Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell D. Taylor; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone; Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman; Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric; Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow; Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman; Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy; National Security Council (NSC) member Michael Forrestal; Specialist on Counterinsurgency for the JCS General Victor Krulak; Executive Secretary of the NSC Bromley Smith; Foreign Service Officer Joseph Mendenhall; Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman; Military Aide to the President General Chester Clifton; Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy; USIA Official-Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam, John Mecklin; Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) David Bell; and Assistant Director for Rural Affairs, Operations Mission in Vietnam Rufus Phillips. This meeting is essentially the platform through which General Krulak and Foreign Service Officer Mendenhall report to President John F. Kennedy on their fact-finding mission to South Vietnam in September 1963. General Krulak and Mendenhall's four-day trip was intended to gain an overview of the military and civilian views of the country. General Krulak’s view, taken from his visits with military leaders, is generally optimistic on the progress of the war. Mendenhall presents the opposite view, one of widespread military and social discontent. After the two men present their views, President Kennedy quips, “You both went to the same country?” In this rather long and involved meeting, they delve into divergent views and possible steps to take. Responding to a question from former Ambassador Frederick Nolting, State Department official Rufus Phillips comments, “This was not a military war, but a political war.” 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 109, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 109 in its entirety.