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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-LWH-01
In this interview, Lord Harlech discusses John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] early opinions on disarmament; dealings with Nikita S. Khrushchev and the Soviet Union; the Cuban crisis; issues with selling and testing American missiles; how JFK’s relationship with British Prime Minister M. Harold Macmillan developed over time and how they worked together on specific issues; how JFK’s interest in politics and foreign affairs developed; difficulties with France over their nuclear program in 1962; JFK’s skills and character; JFK’s different circles of friends; and JFK and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis’ approaches to life in the public eye, among other issues.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-11-25-C
ST34, KN40
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-05A-1
Sound recording of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy, John J. McCloy, and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss McCloy’s dealings with Vasilii V. Kuznetsov concerning the surveillance and quarantine of Cuba. They also discuss plans to speak to U Thant of the United Nations (U.N.).[White House Operator?] speaks to McCloy as he holds for President Kennedy.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 5A, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-05A, Title: Telephone Recordings: Dictation Belt 5A.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-05A
Dictation Belt 5A contains three undated sound recordings. Item 5A.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy, John J. McCloy, and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss McCloy’s dealings with Vasilii V. Kuznetsov concerning the surveillance and quarantine of Cuba. They also discuss plans to speak to U Thant of the United Nations (U.N.). [White House Operator?] speaks to McCloy as he holds for President Kennedy. Item 5A.2 is a telephone conversation between United States Army General Chester V. Clifton and an unidentified man. On the advice of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower, the man asks General Clifton to arrange a meeting with President John F. Kennedy for Clarence Francis and S.H. Egbert. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 5A.3 is a sound recording of a telephone conversation between Secretary of State Dean Rusk and an unidentified man. They discuss negotiations on Cuba at the United Nations (UN). The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly.Transcript included. 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
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-41
Dictation Belt 41 contains four sound recordings. Item 41.1 is a telephone conversation between unidentified men. They discuss aerial reconnaissance and various proposals involving airplanes or aerial photography, including the sale of an airplane to the United Nations (U.N.). Most of one speaker’s side of the conversation is indistinct. The conversation ends abruptly and machine noise follows. Item 41.2 is a telephone conversation held on October 28, 1962, between President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. They discuss dealings with Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev for ending the Cuban Missile Crisis. [White House Operator?] connects the call at President Kennedy’s request. Item 41.3 is a telephone conversation held on October 28, 1962, between President John F. Kennedy and former President Harry S. Truman. They discuss dealings with Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev for ending the Cuban Missile Crisis. [White House Operator?] places the call at President Kennedy’s request and a delay follows. Item 41.4 is a telephone conversation held on October 28, 1962, between President John F. Kennedy and former President Herbert Hoover. They discuss conditions for ending the Cuban Missile Crisis. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Machine noise follows the conversation.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
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-30
Dictation Belt 30 contains two sound recordings from October 22, 1962. Item 30.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and John J. McCloy. President Kennedy asks McCloy to return to the United States from Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to support the handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis at the United Nations (U.N.). The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 30.2 is a recording of three telephone exchanges. The first exchange is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. They discuss ways to deal with the Cuban Missile Crisis and consider possible consequences, including nuclear war and actions taken by the Soviet Union in Berlin, Germany. The recording begins in mid-conversation. The second exchange is chatter involving [White House Operators?]. Machine noise follows. The third exchange is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation between Secretary of State Dean Rusk and an unidentified man. They talk about an impending address to the nation on providing an “effective quarantine” against a threat.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
United States Information Agency Audio Recordings Collection
USIAAU-044
Sound recording of a Russian-language Radio Liberty (RFE/RL, Inc.) broadcast on October 12, 1961, called “War or Peace.” The radio broadcast includes excerpts from President John F. Kennedy's address in New York City before the General Assembly of the United Nations (U.N.) on September 25, 1961; excerpts cover nuclear testing and disarmament, a proposal for a treaty to stop nuclear testing, free elections, security, the crisis in Berlin, Germany, and the role and organization of the U.N. Also included are excerpts from remarks by the Premier of the Soviet Union Nikita S. Khrushchev and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union Andrei Gromyko. Accession MR-1965-143B
Sound recording
United States Information Agency Audio Recordings Collection
USIAAU-007
Sound recording of a taped program with United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Adlai Stevenson, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, and Arnold Michaelis. John MacVane of ABC (American Broadcasting Company) introduces the program. Ambasador Stevenson describes the program as an effort to inform people of what's being done "in diplomacy, in our foreign policy, and especially at the United Nations," and announces that the subject of this episode is communication. They discuss the USIA's efforts and challenges with print and broadcast communication abroad and in relation to the Soviet Union and China. They also discuss the challenges of diplomacy due to language differences. Other topics include accusations from Cuba that the United States interfered with the internal affairs of the Dominican Republic, the wide ranging involvement of the United States in international affairs, and issues in Latin American affairs. Accession MR-1972-096-007.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-081
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of March 21, 1962 (News Conference 28). The President begins the press conference with an announcement concerning the reply he received from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to his letter regarding on United States-Soviet cooperation in outer space exploration. Following this announcement the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including disarmament discussions in Geneva, the United Nations bond issue proposal, Guantanamo Bay, and demonstrations by United States military reservists.
Sound recording
Edward M. Kennedy Senate Files
EMKSEN-AU0007-032-005
Sound recording of the radio program "Face Off." Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy of Massachusetts and Senator Alan K. "Al" Simpson of Wyoming debate General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev's visit to New York City and his speech at the United Nations (UN). They comment on the outlook for U.S. relations with the Soviet Union under the administration of President-elect George H. W. Bush. The episode aired on Thursday, December 8, 1988, on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-081a-008
This file contains a report to President John F. Kennedy from Henry Kissinger, consultant to the National Security Council (NSC), discussing the situation in Berlin including contingency planning, relations between the United States and Soviet Union, and the role of the United Nations.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-064-014
This file contains the text of correspondence between United Nations (UN) Secretary General U Thant, President John F. Kennedy, Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev, and Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-047-005
This file contains correspondence between President John F. Kennedy, Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev, United Nations Acting Secretary General U Thant, and Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis. This file contains some Spanish-language material.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-026-009
This folder contains telegrams from the Department of State and drafts of correspondence between President John F. Kennedy and President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek. Topics include the representation of China (Peoples Republic) in the United Nations (UN), the Republic of China’s opposition to representation of Outer Mongolia in the UN, relations between the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, and relations between the United States and the Republic of China.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-305-020
This folder contains a press release and drafts for a speech given by President Kennedy to the 18th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). In his speech the President discusses the recently signed treaty banning atmospheric, space, and underwater nuclear weapons tests (later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty or Limited Test Ban Treaty), and explains that the task of maintaining peace must be shared by all nations. President Kennedy also proposes ways for the United Nations to increase and improve their efforts in developing countries, specifically focusing on health, human rights, agriculture, communication, and the environment. Also included in this folder are telegrams regarding international media reaction to the President's speech.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-305-012
This folder contains a collection of memoranda titled "United States Strategy at the 16th GA," containing background information for a meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Topics include disarmament, Africa, the Soviet Union, the UN in space, foreign affairs, and the UN as an international peacekeeper.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-324-003
This folder contains memoranda from Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council (NSC) to Walt Rostow, Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, regarding disarmament negotiations and arms control. Also included in this folder is a press release containing reports on nuclear test ban negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland; a joint statement by the United States and Soviet Union on disarmament negotiations; and an exchange of letters between John J. McCloy, Advisor to the President on Disarmament, and Soviet Union Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Valerian A. Zorin.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-324-002
This folder contains memoranda to and by Walt Rostow, Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, regarding arms control; resumed disarmament negotiations; a United Nations (UN) draft resolution on disarmament for the Soviet Union; and a report titled, “The Theory and Practice of Deterrence.” Of note are drafts of a memorandum titled, “Stevenson Reply to Zorin on General and Complete Disarmament.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-327-001
This folder contains memoranda to and from Arthur Schlesinger, Special Assistant to the President, on various topics including an amendment to Executive Orders 10501 and 10816 for the automatic declassification of documents, the appointment of Rajeshwar Dayal as the United Nations (UN) Special Representative to Congo and its effect on United States and India relations, and a proposal to counteract the Soviet Union propaganda phrase of “peaceful coexistence.” Also included in this folder is a memorandum from Schlesinger to President John F. Kennedy titled, “How to Organize an Intelligence Service: Implications of the British Example.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-312-004
This folder contains cable telegrams from Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN); Dean Rusk, Secretary of State; and other officials concerning activities, operations, and issues of the UN. Topics include discussions with the Soviet Union delegation on UN financing; Portuguese territories in Africa; UN Security Council elections; outer space; Chinese representation in the UN; and nuclear weapons including test ban negotiations, proposals for denuclearized zones, and disarmament. Also included in this folder are weekly summaries of the 18th session of the UN General Assembly.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-312-001
This folder contains cable telegrams from Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN); Thomas K. Finlettter, U.S. Ambassador to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization); George Ball, Under Secretary of State; and other officials concerning activities, operations, and issues of the UN and NATO. Topics include the Soviet Union; the appointment of an interim UN Secretary-General; economic development for the UN; colonialism; the 16th session of the UN General Assembly; and talks between the United States, United Kingdom, and France on UN matters.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-311-011
This folder contains memoranda regarding the Soviet Union's dissatisfaction with the United Nations (UN) scale of assessments for shared expenses, the first session of the Committee of 24 (also known as the Special Committee on Decolonization), a UN conference on trade and development, a vote in the UN on racial discrimination, and a meeting between President John F. Kennedy and René Maheu, Director-General of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Also included in this folder are weekly reviews and forecasts of developments in the 18th session of the UN General Assembly.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-311-010
This folder contains a memorandum of conversation between President John F. Kennedy; Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN); and others regarding the President’s speech and U.S. strategy at the upcoming 18th session of the UN General Assembly. Also included in this folder is a list of expected appointments for President Kennedy with heads of government, chiefs of state, and foreign ministers; a copy of a speech given by Soviet Union Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko at the plenary meeting of the 18th UN General Assembly; and a draft of President Kennedy’s UN speech.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-311-008
This folder contains materials regarding the upcoming 18th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Topics include President John F. Kennedy’s attendance, United States strategy, and potential tactics of the Soviet Union on certain issues. Also included in this folder is President Kennedy’s report to Congress on U.S. participation in the UN during 1962.
Textual folder
Papers of Robert F. Kennedy. Attorney General Papers
RFKAG-217-001