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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-02
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses the 1961 Berlin crisis; American forces, military and diplomatic, in Germany; John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] recommendation for Americans to have fallout shelters; nuclear testing; problems with the Department of State; the start of the conflict in Vietnam, 1961; the Department of Justice under RFK and organized crime; RFK’s difficult relationship with J. Edgar Hoover; the wiretapping bill; new federal judgeships in 1961 and other presidential appointments; the Alliance for Progress; Red China; crises during JFK’s presidency and how he was an optimist; RFK’s move for an income tax increase during the Berlin crisis; RFK’s disagreements with President JFK; indecisiveness over picking JFK’s running mate, 1960; the missile gap; fighting and UN operations in the Congo; Nikita S. Khrushchev’s speeches; RFK’s 1962 trip to Japan, Indonesia, Germany, and other countries; the release of Allen L. Pope; Dutch disputes in Southeast Asia; the 1961 crisis in the Dominican Republic and the assassination of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina; the 1962 disarmament conference in Geneva; Edward M. Kennedy’s 1962 campaign for U.S. Senate; the Kennedy family national and political reputation; the Justice Department under RFK and civil rights; and the 1962 steel crisis, among other issues.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-093
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of May 9, 1962 (News Conference (32). The President begins the press conference with a statement defending the pending legislation to withhold taxes on dividends and interests against misleading information distributed by the banks and savings and loan associations. Following this statement the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including negotiations with the Soviets over access control to Berlin, cease-fire violations in Laos, whether Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson would be dropped from the democratic ticket in the 1964 Presidential election, and if recent proposals concerning Berlin constituted a recognition of the East German Government by the United States.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-041
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of June 28, 1961 (News Conference 13). President Kennedy begins the press conference with a statement concerning the death of journalist Ed Koterba, followed by lengthy statements concerning the situation in Berlin and the Soviets’ refusal to negotiate on a nuclear test ban at Geneva. He then responds to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s statement that the Soviet Union would out produce the United States by 1970. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation in Berlin, the rate of economic growth in the United States, and foreign policymaking for Latin America.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-043
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of July 19, 1961 (News Conference 14). President Kennedy begins the press conference by reading a statement concerning the situation in Germany following Communist threats to close the border to East Berlin. He then makes several brief announcements concerning the Untied States economy; and announces that he would not be attending the Inter-American Economic and Social Council in Montevideo, Uruguay, but would send a delegation led by Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon in his place. Following these statements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including federal aid to education, defense expenditures and funds, the Freedom Riders movement, and Undersecretary of State Chester Bowles.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-075-002
This file contains memoranda and Department of State telegrams regarding relations between the United States and Germany including the sale of military equipment to Germany and the U.S. balance of payments. Also included are numerous Memoranda of Conversations between various U.S. and German officials, including President John F. Kennedy, German Ambassador to the United States Wilhelm G. Grewe, Chairman of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) Erich Mende, and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, discussing Berlin, disarmament, and the purchase of UN (United Nations) bonds and vested assets.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-305-006
This folder contains outlines, memoranda, and drafts for a speech given by President John F. Kennedy before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. In his speech President Kennedy discusses international relations, Berlin, disarmament, economic programs, and the importance of the UN as peacekeepers. Also included in this folder is a draft of remarks by President Kennedy to the American people regarding the crisis in Berlin, the Soviet Union's resumption of atmospheric nuclear testing, and disarmament.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-323-008
This folder contains speeches and memoranda by Walt Rostow, Chairman of the Policy Planning Council in the Department of State. Topics include Europe and the balance of payments, communism, the Soviet Union, Berlin, and nuclear weapons. Also included in this folder is a geographical listing of foreign nations and individuals titled, “Kind Words,” to be used as a reference guide for potential commendations by United States officials. Of note is a letter from Director General of the Atlantic Institute Henry Cabot Lodge to Rostow discussing international relations and proposing a new organization for all free nations called, “Confederation of the Free.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-327-003
This folder contains memoranda to and from Arthur Schlesinger, Special Assistant to the President, on various issues including Berlin, renegotiation of United States military bases in Spain and Portugal, an announcement of plans for a future presidential library for President John F. Kennedy, and the reassignment of Chester Bowles from Undersecretary of State. Also included in this folder is a copy of a speech given by Schlesinger before the Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi, India titled, “Ideology vs. Democracy.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-320-015
This folder contains memoranda to and from Carl Kaysen, Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, on various topics of foreign affairs including international economics; Cuba; and Berlin, disarmament, and relations between United States and Soviet Union.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-054-015
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of July 19, 1961 (News Conference 14). President Kennedy began the press conference by reading a statement concerning the situation in Germany following Communist threats to close the border to East Berlin. He then made several brief announcements concerning the Untied States economy; and announced that he would not be attending the Inter-American Economic and Social Council in Montevideo, Uruguay, but would send a delegation led by Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon in his place. Following these statements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including federal aid to education, defense expenditures and funds, the Freedom Riders movement, and Undersecretary of State Chester Bowles. Background materials in this folder consist of draft press conference announcements, the President's reading copy of his statement on Germany and Berlin, and a memorandum concerning the Department of State and Undersecretary of State Chester Bowles. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-054-014
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of June 28, 1961 (News Conference 13). President Kennedy began the press conference with a statement concerning the death of journalist Ed Koterba, followed by lengthy statements concerning the situation in Berlin and the Soviets' refusal to negotiate on a nuclear test ban at Geneva. He then responded to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's statement that the Soviet Union would out produce the United States by 1970. Following the announcements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation in Berlin, the rate of economic growth in the United States, and foreign policymaking for Latin America. Background material in the folder includes a memorandum concerning unemployment rates and a draft press conference announcement. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-056-006
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of May 9, 1962 (New Conference 32). The President began the press conference with a statement defending the pending legislation to withhold taxes on dividends and interests against misleading information distributed by the banks and savings and loan associations. Following this statement the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including negotiations with the Soviets over access control to Berlin, cease-fire violations in Laos, whether Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson would be dropped from the democratic ticket in the 1964 Presidential election, and if recent proposals concerning Berlin constituted a recognition of the East German Government by the United States. Background materials in this folder include memorandums and department and agency reports on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Of note is a Commerce Department press release announcing the establishment of the Commerce Committee for the Alliance for Progress (COMAP) and a statement by Peace Corp Director Sargent Shriver concerning the death of two Peace Corp volunteers in Colombia. The official White House transcript of the press conference, a stenotype transcript of the press conference, and a stenotype transcript with handwritten editorial marks are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-058-008
This folder contains background material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President's News Conference of January 24, 1963 (News Conference 47). Materials primarily consist of department and agency reports, memorandums, and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the economy, taxes, and disarmament. Of note is a report from Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy summarizing civil rights efforts in 1962. Also included in this folder is a Senate report titled, "Berlin in a Changing Europe".
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-057-009
This folder contains background material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President's News Conference of August 22, 1962 (News Conference 41). Materials primarily consist of draft press conference announcements and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the economy, disarmament, the military space program, Latin America and the Alliance for Progress, the Soviet Union and Berlin, and foreign aid. Of note are materials relating to recent activity surrounding Cuba, including an increase in supplies and technicians from the Soviet Union and the possibility of lawyer James B. Donovan traveling to Cuba to negotiate for the release of prisoners.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-073-007
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). Topics include steel prices, the Clark Community Facilities Bill (S. 986), Berlin, and background information for a meeting between the President and Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board William McChesney Martin.
Textual folder
Robert H. Estabrook Personal Papers
RHEPP-001-028
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1052-004
This folder contains an unofficial transcript of the third presidential debate between candidates Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The candidates answered questions on numerous issues, including the economy, the Federal budget, foreign policy, labor, nuclear disarmament, taxes, Berlin, and the invasion of Quemoy and Matsu. The debate was moderated by Bill Shadel of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).
Textual folder
James P. Warburg Personal Papers
JPWPP-002-017
Textual folder
James P. Warburg Personal Papers
JPWPP-002-016
Textual folder
James P. Warburg Personal Papers
JPWPP-002-015
Textual folder
James P. Warburg Personal Papers
JPWPP-002-014
Textual folder
James P. Warburg Personal Papers
JPWPP-002-013