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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.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-095
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of May 17, 1962 (News Conference 33). During this press conference President Kennedy answers 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.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-214-006
This folder contains memoranda for the record of European Policy Review group meetings. Topics include United States military forces in Europe and within NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the European Economic Community (EEC) and France, a proposed multilateral nuclear force (MLF) within NATO, relations between France and Germany, and French President Charles de Gaulle.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-097-008
This folder contains Department of State telegrams regarding the United States, Soviet Union, and Berlin. Topics include air corridor violations; guidelines for assisting East German refugees injured at the Berlin Wall; meetings between the Berlin Commandants for the United States, Great Britain, and France; and the use of armored vehicles (APCs) in the transport of Soviet guards to the war memorial in West Berlin.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-322-021
This folder contains memoranda from Henry Owen, National Security Council Assistant for East-West Negotiations and Berlin, to various persons regarding matters of foreign affairs including Berlin and the Soviet Union; relations with France; and MRBMs (medium range ballistic missiles).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-322-017
This folder contains memoranda from Colonel L.J. Legere, Assistant to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maxwell D. Taylor, to various persons regarding foreign affairs and national security issues including a defense program within NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), military agreements and training exercises with France, and the Western European Union (WEU).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-316-006
This folder contains background memoranda, summaries, and Record of Actions for National Security Council (NSC) Executive Committee meetings. Topics include Soviet Union military forces and equipment in Cuba; United States policy towards Cuba within the OAS (Organization of American States); U.S. policy towards Europe, particularly France; and discussion of a multilateral nuclear force in Europe and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-314-002
This folder contains an agenda, background memoranda, a list of attendees, and a Record of Action for meeting number 508 of the National Security Council (NSC) wherein President John F. Kennedy discusses national security issues. Topics include Cuba; France, Great Britain, and a multilateral nuclear force; United States trade negotiations; foreign aid; and the economy. Of note is a meeting summary containing the President’s handwritten notes. Also included in this folder is a transcript of a news conference held by White House Press Secretary Pierre Salinger.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-008
This folder contains memoranda from David Klein, National Security Council Assistant for Europe and Canada, to McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Topics include French military and nuclear policies; procedures for the harassment of U.S. military convoys by Soviet troops on the autobahn; travel requirements for East German residents; and negotiations between the U.S. and Soviet Union on German reunification, Berlin, and nuclear energy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-005
This folder contains memoranda of conversations between Henry Kissinger, consultant to the National Security Council (NSC), and various German and Belgian officials discussing nuclear weapons policies and the potential of a multilateral force (MLF) within NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-004
This folder contains letters and memoranda regarding an article by Henry Kissinger, consultant to the National Security Council (NSC), titled, “NATO’s Nuclear Dilemma,” discussing United States-European nuclear policy and a proposed multilateral force (MLF) within NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Also included in this folder are memoranda of conversations between Kissinger and various French, German, and British officials discussing foreign relations, nuclear weapons policies, and various other topics.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-003
This folder contains memoranda of conversations between Henry Kissinger, consultant to the National Security Council (NSC), and various French and Italian officials during Kissinger’s trips to France and Italy. Topics of the meetings include United States relations with France, reactions to the Nassau Agreement, potential withdrawal of U.S. Jupiter missiles from Italy, and a multilateral force (MLF) within NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-321-002
This folder contains memoranda and telegrams regarding trips by Henry Kissinger, consultant to the National Security Council (NSC), to Italy and France and his meetings with various officials. Topics of the meetings include United States nuclear policy, reactions to the Nassau Agreement, potential withdrawal of U.S. Jupiter missiles from Italy, and a multilateral force (MLF) within NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-320-026
This folder contains telegrams, letters, and memoranda to and from Henry Kissinger, consultant to the National Security Council (NSC), regarding a strategic defense concept for France; disarmament; and a meeting between Kissinger and Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic) Konrad Adenauer discussing nuclear weapons, United States defense policy, and the possibility of a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) nuclear force.
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.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-340-005
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 219 (NSAM 219) regarding the collection of information on aspects of discussions and negotiations between France and the Soviet Union, to Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone 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-292-004
This folder contains telegrams concerning a reduction of United States Military logistics facilities in France to improve the balance of payments.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-322-002
This folder contains memoranda from Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council (NSC) to McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Topics include negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, France-Algeria relations, Syria’s secession from the UAR (United Arab Republic), and United States military policy in Berlin and relations with the Soviet Union.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-292-003
This folder contains telegrams and reports concerning a reduction of United States Military logistics facilities in France to improve the balance of payments.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-229-002
This folder contains Department of State telegrams regarding a trip by Under Secretary of State George Ball to Paris, France and Bonn, Germany to discuss the Nassau Agreement and the proposed creation of a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Nuclear Force. Also included is a copy of a speech given by Under Secretary Ball to the Steering Group on Implementing Nassau Decisions at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) in Paris and reactions to the speech.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-087-002
Sound recording of a meeting between President John F. Kennedy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and the founder of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe Jean Monnet. The discussion provides the President with an informal view, from the European side, of the multilateral force negotiations with Europe and the overall relations between the United States and its Western allies. The President’s upcoming trip to Europe is also discussed. Partway through the meeting the President takes a telephone call about civil rights issues in Alabama. Only President Kennedy’s side of the telephone conversation is recorded on this tape. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 87, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 87 in its entirety.