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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-01
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses beginning John F. Kennedy's [JFK] presidential Administration with no political obligations; carefully picking Cabinet members, specifically Secretaries of State, Defense, and Treasury; RFK’s decision on what role to play in JFK’s Administration; JFK’s unhappiness with Dean Rusk as Secretary of State; JFK’s advisers and other presidential appointments; Cabinet meetings; Department of Justice organization under RFK; the first 100 days of the Kennedy Administration; the role of the Vice President, according to RFK; JFK’s relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson and why JFK put Johnson on the ticket in 1960; what JFK was most concerned with as President; domestic programs versus foreign affairs in the Kennedy Administration; Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.’s role during JFK’s presidency; the Bay of Pigs, the aftermath, and its effect on JFK; how JFK approached problems as President; dealing with Georgi Bolshakov; negotiating with the Soviet Union in Vienna, over Laos and Cuba, etc.; JFK’s relationship with foreign heads of state; State Department staff and U.S. Ambassadors; the military coup in Vietnam; the Berlin crisis of the summer of 1961 and the Berlin Wall; RFK’s 1961 trip to the Ivory Coast; and Soviet and American nuclear testing, among other issues.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6485-D
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball; Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen (partially hidden); Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sir Patrick Dean (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; unidentified man (mostly hidden); U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man (partially hidden); Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man (mostly hidden); former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man; President's Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Walt W. Rostow. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17765
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Louise Brewer Shepard (wife of Commander Shepard); First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy; Commander Shepard; Secretary of the Navy, John Connally, Jr.; Chief of Staff of the United States Navy, Admiral Arleigh A. Burke; Senator Styles Bridges (New Hampshire); President John F. Kennedy. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon; Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles; Assistant Special Counsel to the President, Richard Goodwin; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
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White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17764
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Commander Shepard; Deputy Administrator of NASA, Hugh L. Dryden; astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr.; astronaut Captain Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom; President John F. Kennedy; Congressman Overton Brooks (Louisiana); astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon (behind); Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles; Assistant Special Counsel to the President, Richard Goodwin. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
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White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17763
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Commander Shepard; Deputy Administrator of NASA, Hugh L. Dryden; astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (partially hidden); President John F. Kennedy; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon; Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles. Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Edward C. Welsh, stands on colonnade at far left. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
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White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17762
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Louise Brewer Shepard (wife of Commander Shepard); Renza (Emerson) Shepard (mother Commander Shepard); Commander Shepard; astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr.; Administrator of NASA, James E. Webb; President John F. Kennedy; astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon; Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles; Assistant Special Counsel to the President, Richard Goodwin. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17758
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Louise Brewer Shepard (wife of Commander Shepard); Commander Shepard; First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy; President John F. Kennedy; astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr.; astronaut Captain Gordon Cooper, Jr.; Administrator of NASA, James E. Webb; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon (behind); Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17756
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Commander Shepard; Louise Brewer Shepard (wife of Commander Shepard); Deputy Administrator of NASA, Hugh L. Dryden; President John F. Kennedy; Administrator of NASA, James E. Webb; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Congressman Overton Brooks (Louisiana); astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon; Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles; Assistant Special Counsel to the President, Richard Goodwin. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17755
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Commander Shepard; Renza (Emerson) Shepard (mother of Commander Shepard); astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr.; Secretary of the Navy, John Connally, Jr.; President John F. Kennedy; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Congressman Overton Brooks (Louisiana); astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon; Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles; Assistant Special Counsel to the President, Richard Goodwin; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17425
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: unidentified man (mostly hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook (partially hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man (partially hidden); former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; unidentified man; Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; two unidentified men (one mostly hidden); Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17424
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen; unidentified man (partially hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook (mostly hidden); United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sir Patrick Dean (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man (partially hidden); former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; unidentified man; Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; two unidentified men (one mostly hidden); Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17423
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball (mostly hidden); Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen (mostly hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man; Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; Military Aide to the President Chester V. Clifton (partially hidden); unidentified man; Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17422
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: unidentified man (mostly hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sir Patrick Dean (partially hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; unidentified man (mostly hidden); U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man (mostly hidden); former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; unidentified man; Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man (looking backward); Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy (mostly hidden); Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man; President's Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Walt W. Rostow. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-66-2-61
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball; Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man (partially hidden); former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; unidentified man (partially hidden); Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man (partially hidden); Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; unidentified man (partially hidden); Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man; President's Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Walt W. Rostow. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-66-1-61
President John F. Kennedy meets with Prime Minister of Great Britain Harold Macmillan and members of British and American cabinets. (L-R) Front row: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Prime Minister Macmillan; British Minister for Foreign Affairs and Earl of Home Alec Douglas-Home; Ambassador of Great Britain Harold Caccia. (L-R) Back row: Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball; Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs Charles Bohlen; unidentified man; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams; Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Sir Norman Brook (mostly hidden); Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman; U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain David K. E. Bruce; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles; unidentified man; former Secretary of State Dean Acheson; unidentified man (mostly hidden); Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified man; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; unidentified man; Chairman of State Department Policy Planning Council George McGhee (partially hidden); Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Foy Kohler; President's Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy; Permanent Under Secretary for the Foreign Office Sir Frederick Hoyer-Millar; unidentified man; President's Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Walt W. Rostow. Rose Garden, White House. Washington, D.C.