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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-44
Dictation Belt 44 contains three sound recordings. Item 44.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, and Secretary of Agriculture Orville L. Freeman. President Kennedy and Secretary Freeman discuss a farm bill. Sorensen and Secretary Freeman discuss a trade bill and its effect on the cotton industry. There is an echo during part of the recording. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 44.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss stoning incidents in Berlin and dealings with the Soviet Union. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 44.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss defense appropriations and issues concerning the United States Air Force. The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly.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
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-045
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s address to the American public regarding the impending possibility of war between the United States and the Soviet Union over the crisis in Berlin, Germany. In his speech the President discusses the Soviet Union’s attempts to cut off American access to West Berlin, thus making it impossible to secure freedom from communism for the people of Berlin. President Kennedy also discusses the imminent threat of nuclear war and his plan to increase funding and manpower for the military, provide appropriate communications for air raid warnings, and ensure that all Americans have access to fall-out shelters in the event of a nuclear holocaust. The recording contains some distortion.