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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
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-14A
Dictation Belt 14A contains five sound recordings. The recording of the conversation in item 14A.1 begins on Dictation Belt 13A. Item 14A.1 is part of a telephone conversation held on March 9, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Governor Harold E. Hughes of Iowa. They continue to discuss an appeal for clemency on behalf of a prisoner awaiting execution in Iowa. They also discuss Iowa politics. Machine noise follows the conversation.Item 14A.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss Henry R. (“Harry”) Luce and articles in “Time” and “Newsweek” magazines. They also discuss proposed school construction on military bases in the South. A fragment of unintelligible chatter from [White House Operator?] follows the conversation. Item 14A.3 is a telephone conversation held on March 11, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Edwin Martin, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs. They discuss whether Latin-American presidents will issue a statement on Cuba before President Kennedy’s trip to Costa Rica. Item 14A.4 is a telephone conversation held on March 11, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester. They discuss Sylvester’s remarks about hearings on the TFX airplane. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 14A.5 is part of a telephone conversation held on March 12, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon. They discuss Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules on expense accounts and the effects on businesses. The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly. The recording of this conversation continues on Dictation Belt 14B.
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.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-10A
Dictation Belt 10A contains seven sound recordings from March 6, 1963. The recording of the conversation in item 10A.1 begins on Dictation Belt 9B.8. Item 10A.1 is part of a telephone conversation between Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln. Attorney General Kennedy completes his request to speak to President John F. Kennedy. Item 10A.2 is a telephone conversation President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They discuss a report that Arkansas National Guard personnel were involved in the Bay of Pigs invasion. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 10A.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They discuss a report on Arkansas and Alabama National Guard personnel involved in the Bay of Pigs invasion. Item 10A.4 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Helms. They discuss a report on Arkansas and Alabama National Guard personnel involved in the Bay of Pigs invasion. [White House Operator?] places the call at President Kennedy’s request. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 10A.5 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Lawrence F. O'Brien, Special Assistant to the President. They discuss a strategy for dealing with Congressional concern over subversion in Latin America. They also review a matter related to the Bay of Pigs invasion. [White House Operator?] speaks at the beginning of the call. Item 10A.6 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Clark M. Clifford. They discuss the impending publication of a “Washington Post” article about the Communications Satellite Corporation. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 10A.7 is part of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Deputy Attorney General Nicholas deB. Katzenbach. They discuss issues involving the Communications Satellite Corporation. The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 10B.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. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-065a-006
This folder contains memoranda between the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, and Arthur M. Schlesinger, Special Assistant to the President. Topics include an article titled "On the Track of the Facts," by Roberto Garcia-Pena, Latin American reactions to United States policy on the coup in Peru, a new labor code in Peru using the Taft-Hartley Law as a guideline, and the presidency and mid-term elections. Of note are two issues of El Obrero magazine distributed by the United States Embassy in Mexico City to trade unions in Mexico. This folder contains some foreign language material.