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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-MJH-01
In this interview Hillenbrand discusses President John F. Kennedy [JFK] entering office amid the Berlin crisis; working as the Director of the Office of German Affairs with JFK; the Berlin Task Force and the Ambassadorial Group; JFK's attitude towards the German problem and German reactions to the Kennedy Administration; the State Department and Germany; the 1961 Vienna talks with Nikita S. Khrushchev; the erection of the Berlin Wall and the crisis it generated; the Kennedy Administration's reaction and response to the Berlin Wall; talks with Russia over Berlin and the Wall; the press "leaks crisis" on the Germany problem; JFK's working style and approach to problems, according to Hillenbrand; the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the Berlin talks; JFK's German policy and relationship with German leaders; and what JFK accomplished related to Germany, among other issues.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6358-E
President John F. Kennedy meets with Foreign Minister Dr. Heinrich von Brentano of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C. (L-R) Seated: Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Minister von Brentano. (L-R) Standing: Associate Press Secretary Andrew Hatcher; Assistant Secretary of State Foy Kohler; United States Ambassador to Germany Walter C. Dowling; German Ambassador to the United States Dr. Wilhelm Grewe.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6358-B
President John F. Kennedy meets with Foreign Minister Dr. Heinrich von Brentano of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C. (L-R) Seated: Secretary of State Dean Rusk; President Kennedy; Minister von Brentano. (L-R) Standing: Assistant Secretary of State Foy Kohler; United States Ambassador to Germany Walter C. Dowling; German Ambassador to the United States Dr. Wilhelm Grewe; Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hasso von Etzdorf; interpreter Heinz Weber; State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Albert Hilger van Scherpenberg.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6358-D
President John F. Kennedy meets with Foreign Minister Dr. Heinrich von Brentano of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C. (L-R) Assistant Secretary of State Foy Kohler; President Kennedy; United States Ambassador to Germany Walter C. Dowling; German Ambassador to the United States Dr. Wilhelm Grewe; Minister von Brentano (seated); interpreter Heinz Weber; State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Albert Hilger van Scherpenberg.