Close
Not finding the information you're looking for? Please contact the Archives research staff.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-EDAG-04
In this interview Gullion discusses his impressions of President John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] character; JFK’s attitude toward and experience with disarmament; President JFK and the arts; and JFK’s concept of the presidency, among other issues.
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.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-295-012
This folder contains memoranda and correspondence concerning civil defense and a pamphlet prepared by the Atomic Energy Commission for the Department of Defense entitled, “Fallout Protection – What to Know About Nuclear Attack – What to Do About It.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-295-007
This folder contains memoranda concerning civil defense, a fallout shelter program, and a pamphlet prepared by the Atomic Energy Commission for the Department of Defense entitled, “Fallout Protection – What to Know About Nuclear Attack – What to Do About It.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-332-018
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 116 (NSAM 116) titled, “Instructions from President as a result of November 30 meeting re: atmospheric testing,” to Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; and Jerome B. Wiesner, Special Assistant to the President on Science and Technology, from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are copies of a report titled, “A Program to Explain U.S. Position on Testing in the Atmosphere,” by a sub-committee of the National Security Council Committee on Atmospheric Testing Policy, chaired by Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-332-014
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 112 (NSAM 112) titled, “Atmospheric Testing Policy,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); and Jerome B. Wiesner, Special Assistant to the President on Science and Technology, from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are a memorandum from Chairman Seaborg to President John F. Kennedy on the atmospheric test program, and a list of nuclear weapons tests conducted by the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-341-005
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 245 (NSAM 245) titled, “High Yield Nuclear Weapons,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg 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-340-028
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 240 (NSAM 240) titled, “MLF [multilateral force],” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg 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-340-026
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 238 (NSAM 238) titled, “Atmospheric Testing, 1964,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg 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-340-023
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 235 (NSAM 235) titled, “Large-Scale Scientific or Technological Experiments with Possible Adverse Environmental Effects,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall; Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges; Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Anthony J. Celebrezze; Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg; Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb; Director of the National Science Foundation Alan Tower Waterman; Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy; and Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Jerome B. Wiesner from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-340-022
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 234 (NSAM 234) regarding the government in Canada to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, and Special Representative for Trade Negotiations Governor Christian Herter 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-340-018
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 230 (NSAM 230) titled, “Assignment of Highest National Priority to Project PAL (Permissive Links for Nuclear Weapons in NATO),” to Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb, Director of the Bureau of the Budget Kermit Gordon, and Director of the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) Edward McDermott 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-340-012
This file contains a draft and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 226 (NSAM 226) titled, “Directive Relating to the Transmittal of Information to the Watch Committee of the USIB [United States Intelligence Board],” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, Director of the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) Edward McDermott, Director of the Bureau of the Budget Kermit Gordon, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb, and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) J. Edgar Hoover from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-024
This file contains a draft and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 210 (NSAM 210) titled, "Underground 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 Office of Science and Technology Jerome B. Wiesner, Director of the Bureau of the Budget David Bell, and Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are memoranda related to NSAM 210 and the proposed program for underground nuclear tests.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-017
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 203 (NSAM 203) titled, "Responsibility for Port Security," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Najeeb Halaby, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-008
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 198 (NSAM 198) titled, “Presidential Authorization for KINGFISH,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, and Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb from Carl Kaysen, Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are a report and memoranda regarding anticipated effects from the KINGFISH test event.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-007
This file contains drafts and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 197 (NSAM 197) titled, “(a) Improved Procedure—Communication to Other Countries of RD on Nuclear Weapons, (b) Approved Determinations for France, Italy, and the Netherlands,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from Carl Kaysen, Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-003
This file contains drafts and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 193 (NSAM 193) regarding the sensitivity of findings of the Foreign Weapons Evaluation Group (also known as the Bethe Panel) to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-013
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 185 (NSAM 185) titled, “Approval of Additional Nuclear Tests,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from President John F. Kennedy. Also included is a letter to the President from Secretary McNamara and Chairman Seaborg regarding high altitude nuclear tests in the Johnston Island area and a request for approval of additional tests.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-011
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 183 (NSAM 183) titled, “Space Program of the United States,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Director of Central Intelligence John McCone, Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Jerome B. Wiesner from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are position and contingency papers related to NSAM 183.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-003
This file contains a draft and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 176 (NSAM 176) titled, “Release of Public Information Concerning Soviet Nuclear Tests,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy; Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Anthony J. Celebrezze; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone; Director of the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) Edward McDermott; Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg; Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow; Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb; and Director of the Office of 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-337-008
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 168 (NSAM 168) titled, “Comparison of U.S. and USSR Atomic Energy,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. This file contains material that is closed due to security restrictions.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-336-017
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 161 (NSAM 161) titled, "U.S. Internal Security Programs," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Military Representative to the President General Maxwell Taylor, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Najeeb Halaby, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-336-016
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 160 (NSAM 160) titled, "Permissive Links for Nuclear Weapons in NATO," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, and Director of the Bureau of the Budget David Bell from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-330-001
This folder contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 51 (NSAM 51) titled, “Safety of Nuclear Weapons and Weapons Systems,” 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 correspondence between Bundy and Representative Chet Holifield, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy; and a letter from Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg to Congressman Holifield regarding a review of safety standards for nuclear weapons.