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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 folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-10-24-B
AR41, ST32
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-09-24-B
ST29
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-03-15-B
AR17, KN13
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20489
President John F. Kennedy (seated at desk) hands out pens after signing the Manpower Development and Training Act (Public Law 415). Looking on (L-R): Congressman Neal Smith (Iowa); Senator Maurice J. Murphy, Jr. (New Hampshire); Congressman Charles S. Joelson of New Jersey (partially hidden); Congressman Charles E. Goodell (New York); Director of the Department of Legislation for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Andrew J. Biemiller; Congressman Carroll D. Kearns (Pennsylvania); Senator Pat McNamara of Michigan (partially hidden); Senator Jennings Randolph (West Virginia); Senator Joseph S. Clark (Pennsylvania); Congressman James G. O'Hara of Michigan (in back); Congressman Elmer J. Holland (Pennsylvania); President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), George Meany (in back); Secretary of Labor, Arthur Goldberg; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20488
President John F. Kennedy (seated at desk) signs the Manpower Development and Training Act (Public Law 415). Looking on (L-R): Congressman Neal Smith (Iowa); Senator Maurice J. Murphy, Jr. (New Hampshire); Congressman Charles S. Joelson (New Jersey); Congressman Charles E. Goodell (New York); Congressman Carroll D. Kearns (Pennsylvania); Senator Pat McNamara (Michigan); Senator Jennings Randolph (West Virginia); Senator Joseph S. Clark (Pennsylvania); Congressman Adam Clayton Powell (New York); Congressman Elmer J. Holland (Pennsylvania); Secretary of Labor, Arthur Goldberg; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20486
President John F. Kennedy (seated at desk) delivers remarks at the bill-signing for the Manpower Development and Training Act (Public Law 415). Looking on (L-R): Senator Winston L. Prouty (Vermont); Congressman Carl D. Perkins (Kentucky); Congressman Neal Smith (Iowa); Senator Maurice J. Murphy, Jr. (New Hampshire); Congressman Charles E. Goodell (New York); Congressman Peter A. Garland of Maine (partially hidden); Director of the Department of Legislation for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Andrew J. Biemiller; Congressman Carroll D. Kearns (Pennsylvania); Senator Jennings Randolph (West Virginia); Senator Joseph S. Clark (Pennsylvania); Congressman Adam Clayton Powell (New York); Congressman Elmer J. Holland (Pennsylvania); President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), George Meany (in back); Secretary of Labor, Arthur Goldberg; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6671-A
President John F. Kennedy signs H.R. 6027 Public Law 87-64, Old Age, Survivors, and Dependents Insurance Act, an amendment to the Social Security Act of 1961. (L-R) Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Congressman Wilbur Mills (Arkansas); Senator John J. Williams (Delaware); Congressman Thomas J. O’Brien (Illinois); Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; President Kennedy; Senator Robert Kerr (Oklahoma); Congressman John W. Byrnes (Wisconsin); Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Abraham Ribicoff; and Assistant Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Wilbur J. Cohen. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7097-K
President John F. Kennedy (seated at desk) signs the Manpower Development and Training Act (Public Law 415). Looking on (L-R): Congressman Neal Smith (Iowa); Senator Maurice J. Murphy, Jr. (New Hampshire); Congressman Charles S. Joelson (New Jersey); Congressman Charles E. Goodell (New York); Congressman Peter A. Garland (Maine); Congressman Carroll D. Kearns (Pennsylvania); Senator Pat McNamara (Michigan); Senator Jennings Randolph (West Virginia); Senator Joseph S. Clark (Pennsylvania); Congressman Adam Clayton Powell (New York); Congressman Elmer J. Holland (Pennsylvania); Secretary of Labor, Arthur Goldberg; President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), George Meany; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7097-I
President John F. Kennedy (seated at desk) signs the Manpower Development and Training Act (Public Law 415). Looking on (L-R): Senator Winston L. Prouty (Vermont); Congressman Neal Smith (Iowa); Senator Maurice J. Murphy, Jr. (New Hampshire); Congressman Charles S. Joelson (New Jersey); Congressman Charles E. Goodell (New York); Congressman Peter A. Garland of Maine (partially hidden); Congressman Carroll D. Kearns (Pennsylvania); Director of the Department of Legislation for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Andrew J. Biemiller (in back, partially hidden); Senator Pat McNamara (Michigan); Senator Jennings Randolph (West Virginia); Senator Joseph S. Clark (Pennsylvania); Congressman Elmer J. Holland (Pennsylvania); Secretary of Labor, Arthur Goldberg; President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), George Meany; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-476-2-63
President John F. Kennedy (seated at table) signs the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendments of 1963, an amendment to the Social Security Act. Those standing around table include (beginning at far left): Representative John W. Byrnes (Wisconsin); Senator Vance Hartke (Indiana); Representative Wilbur D. Mills (Arkansas); Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Senator Abraham Ribicoff (Connecticut); Representative Eugene J. Keogh (New York); Senator Clinton P. Anderson (New Mexico); Senator Lister Hill (Alabama); Senator Frank Carlson (Kansas); Representative Howard H. Baker (Tennessee); President of the National Association for Retarded Children (NARC), John G. Fettinger; Gwendolyn Fettinger; Executive Director of NARC, Dr. Gunnar Dybwad; Eunice Kennedy Shriver, consultant to the President's Panel on Mental Retardation; Special Assistant to the President for Mental Retardation, Dr. Stafford L. Warren; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), Anthony J. Celebrezze; Deputy Special Counsel to the President, Myer Feldman. Motion picture photographers film at far right. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-476-1-63
President John F. Kennedy (seated at table) delivers remarks at the signing of the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendments of 1963, an amendment to the Social Security Act. Those standing around table include (beginning at far left): Representative John W. Byrnes (Wisconsin); Senator Vance Hartke (Indiana); Representative Wilbur D. Mills (Arkansas); Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Senator Abraham Ribicoff (Connecticut); Representative Eugene J. Keogh (New York); Senator Clinton P. Anderson (New Mexico); Senator Lister Hill (Alabama); Senator Frank Carlson (Kansas); Representative Howard H. Baker (Tennessee); President of the National Association for Retarded Children (NARC), John G. Fettinger; Gwendolyn Fettinger; Executive Director of NARC, Dr. Gunnar Dybwad; Eunice Kennedy Shriver, consultant to the President's Panel on Mental Retardation; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), Anthony J. Celebrezze. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR8206-F
President John F. Kennedy (seated at table) hands a pen to Representative Wilbur D. Mills (Arkansas) after signing the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendments of 1963, an amendment to the Social Security Act. Standing (left to right): Under Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), Ivan A. Nestingen; Representative John W. Byrnes (Wisconsin); Senator Vance Hartke (Indiana); Representative Mills (receiving a pen from President Kennedy); unidentified (in back); Senator Abraham Ribicoff (Connecticut); Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Representative Albert Thomas of Texas (in back, partially hidden); Senator Clinton P. Anderson (New Mexico); unidentified (in back); Senator Lister Hill (Alabama); unidentified (in back); Senator Frank Carlson (Kansas); unidentified (in back); Representative Howard H. Baker (Tennessee); unidentified (in back). Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR8206-D
President John F. Kennedy (seated at table) signs the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendments of 1963, an amendment to the Social Security Act. Looking on (left to right): Senator Vance Hartke (Indiana); Representative Wilbur D. Mills (Arkansas); Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; unidentified (in back); Senator Abraham Ribicoff (Connecticut); Representative Albert Thomas of Texas (in back, partially obscured by flag); Representative Eugene J. Keogh of New York (in back); Senator Clinton P. Anderson (New Mexico); two unidentified (in back); Senator Lister Hill (Alabama); two unidentified (in back); Senator Frank Carlson (Kansas); Representative Howard H. Baker (Tennessee); five unidentified; President of the National Association for Retarded Children (NARC), John G. Fettinger (wearing bow tie); Gwendolyn Fettinger; unidentified; Executive Director of NARC, Dr. Gunnar Dybwad (wearing bow tie); two unidentified (in back); Eunice Kennedy Shriver, consultant to the President's Panel on Mental Retardation. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-435-6-63
President John F. Kennedy (seated at desk) delivers remarks at the signing of the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1963. Standing: Chief of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Robert E. Cooke; Senator Jacob K. Javits (New York); Under Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), Ivan A. Nestingen; Representative Claude Pepper (Florida); Director of the Department of Legislation for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Andrew Biemiller; Senator John O. Pastore (Rhode Island); Senator Ralph Yarborough (Texas); Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (Minnesota); Senator Lister Hill (Alabama); Senator Harrison A. Williams (New Jersey); Senator George A. Smathers (Florida); Representative Seymour Halpern (New York); Representative Paul G. Rogers (Florida); Representative Oren Harris (Arkansas); Special Assistant to the Secretary of HEW for Health and Medical Affairs, Boisfeuillet Jones (mostly hidden); Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (partially hidden); Representative Kenneth A. Roberts (Alabama); Representative Hale Boggs (Louisiana); Representative William L. Springer (Illinois); Senator Abraham Ribicoff (Connecticut); Senator Claiborne Pell (Rhode Island); Representative George M. Rhodes (Pennsylvania); Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, Luther L. Terry (partially hidden on edge of frame). Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C18243
President John F. Kennedy signs H.R. 6027 Public Law 87-64, Old Age, Survivors, and Dependents Insurance Act, an amendment to the Social Security Act of 1961. (L-R) Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Congressman Wilbur Mills (Arkansas); Senator John J. Williams (Delaware); Congressman Thomas J. O’Brien (Illinois); President Kennedy; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Senator Robert Kerr (Oklahoma); Congressman John W. Byrnes (Wisconsin); and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Abraham Ribicoff. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C18242
President John F. Kennedy signs H.R. 6027 Public Law 87-64, Old Age, Survivors, and Dependents Insurance Act, an amendment to the Social Security Act of 1961. (L-R) Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Congressman Wilbur Mills (Arkansas); Senator John J. Williams (Delaware); Congressman Thomas J. O’Brien (Illinois); President Kennedy; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Senator Robert Kerr (Oklahoma); Congressman John W. Byrnes (Wisconsin); and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Abraham Ribicoff. Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C.