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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.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-340-012
This file contains a draft and copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 226 (NSAM 226) titled, “Directive Relating to the Transmittal of Information to the Watch Committee of the USIB [United States Intelligence Board],” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, Director of the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) Edward McDermott, Director of the Bureau of the Budget Kermit Gordon, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb, and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) J. Edgar Hoover from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-017
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 203 (NSAM 203) titled, "Responsibility for Port Security," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Najeeb Halaby, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from President John F. Kennedy.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-336-017
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 161 (NSAM 161) titled, "U.S. Internal Security Programs," to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Military Representative to the President General Maxwell Taylor, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Najeeb Halaby, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from President John F. Kennedy.