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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-016
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of March 8, 1961 (News Conference 6). President Kennedy begins the press conference by urging the public to support Radio Free Europe. He then announces that he would be making a statement concerning his views of problems in the Americas following an upcoming reception at the White House; that he has directed Federal departments and agencies to speed up government spending; and the upcoming visit of Swedish Prime Minister Tage Erlander to the United States. He then makes several statements concerning the building of schools for Native American and Inuit children, the distribution of surplus food, and the polio outbreak in Cuba. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the President’s economic program, the situation in Laos, and federal aid to education.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-054-008
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of March 8, 1961 (News Conference 6). President Kennedy began the press conference by urging the public to support Radio Free Europe. He then announced that he would be making a statement concerning his views of problems in the Americas following an upcoming reception at the White House; that he had directed Federal departments and agencies to speed up government spending; and the upcoming visit of Swedish Prime Minister Tage Erlander to the United States. He then made several statements concerning the building of schools for Native American and Inuit children, the distribution of surplus food, and the polio outbreak in Cuba. Following the announcements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the President's economic program, the situation in Laos, and federal aid to education. Background material in the folder consists of briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics of the briefing papers include nuclear weapons and disarmament, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), United States-Soviet relations, the situation in the Republic of the Congo, the increase in Communist military forces in Laos, and United States-Cuban relations. 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-056-007
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 17, 1962 (News Conference 33). During this press conference President Kennedy answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the investigation of Billie Sol Estes' involvement in federal farm programs; United States-French political differences concerning the Berlin negotiations and French President Charles De Gaulle's proposal for an independent European nuclear deterrent; the dispatch of United States forces to Thailand; and the situation in Laos. Background materials in this folder consist of briefing papers on domestic and foreign affairs including the economy and the Billie Sol Estes case. Of note are Department of State telegrams concerning West New Guinea dispute between the Dutch and Indonesian governments. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.