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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-114-A50c
Sound recording of two meetings. First is a meeting on Brazil held on October 7, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Edwin Martin, United States Ambassador to Brazil Lincoln Gordon, Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) David Bell, Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Marshall Carter, Director of Covert Operations for the CIA Richard Helms, and Special Assistant to the President Ralph Dungan. They discuss the conditions in Brazil, President of Brazil Joao Goulart’s popularity, and the possible removal of President Goulart and his possible successors. There are also discussions on Brazilian military intervention, President Kennedy's possible trip to Brazil, and a Presidential statement regarding coups. Second is a meeting on Vietnam held on October 8, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor. They discuss a possible coup and the position of the United States on a possible coup and Vietnamese military leaders, press leaks, the use of Lucien Conein, a military display for Vietnamese Independence Day, appearances by Secretary McNamara and General Taylor before the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Congressional adjournment. At the end of the meeting, several Senators enter the room and talk among themselves briefly before the tape cuts off.
This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 114/A50, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 114/A50 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-114-A50b
Sound recording of a meeting on Vietnam held on October 5, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) David Bell, and Senior Member of the National Security Council (NSC) Michael Forrestal. They discuss the possible impact on the government of South Vietnam if the United States cuts off commodities and also discuss the Vietnamese oppression of Buddhists. They also discuss General Paul D. Harkins's meeting with President of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem and Colonel Le Quang Tung, the role of United States Ambassador to Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge, conditions needed for the resumption of aid, General Harkins’s role regarding the military, proposed testimony before a Congressional committee, and the timing of the reduction of troops and advisors. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 114/A50, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 114/A50 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-114-A50a
Sound recording of a meeting held on October 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy; Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy; Under Secretary of State George Ball; Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman; Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) David Bell; Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Edwin Martin; United States Coordinator, Alliance for Progress, Agency for International Development Teodoro Moscoso; and United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic John Martin. Topics of discussion include the conditions for the recognition of the Dominican Republic, the coup in Honduras, the possibility of relations, opposition, and warnings of a coup. In addition there is discussion about the possibility of U.S. influence in the Dominican Republic and Honduras and the timing of U.S. recognition, economic and military aid, and Congressional support. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 114/A50, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 114/A50 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-114-A49c
Sound recording of two meetings held on October 2, 1963. First is a brief discussion on Malaysia between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor. Topics of discussion include the U.S./ANZUS (The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty) trade obligations and also Australian actions and interpretation of the ANZUS Treaty.Second is a meeting on Vietnam held in the morning between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) David Bell, and CIA Deputy Director for Intelligence Ray S. Cline. Discussion topics include news coverage of Viet Cong and American casualties, possible troop reduction, North Vietnamese supply difficulties, Madame Nhu (Tran Le Xuan), and news coverage of a dispute between United States Ambassador to South Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge and the CIA. In addition there are further discussions on the relationship between Ambassador Lodge and CIA station chief in Saigon John H. Richardson, reporting on Richardson, Ambassador Lodge's position regarding South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, and Congressional briefings. During the meeting, President Kennedy has telephone conversations about labor contract talks, a "Time" magazine article, and an upcoming trip. Four segments of the recording totaling 39 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. Three segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 57 seconds has been removed in accordance with the donor's deed of gift.
This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 114/A49, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 114/A49 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-109-004
Sound recording of a meeting about Vietnam held on September 10, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy; former United States Ambassador to Vietnam Frederick Nolting; Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell D. Taylor; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone; Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman; Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric; Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow; Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman; Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy; National Security Council (NSC) member Michael Forrestal; Specialist on Counterinsurgency for the JCS General Victor Krulak; Executive Secretary of the NSC Bromley Smith; Foreign Service Officer Joseph Mendenhall; Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman; Military Aide to the President General Chester Clifton; Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy; USIA Official-Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam, John Mecklin; Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) David Bell; and Assistant Director for Rural Affairs, Operations Mission in Vietnam Rufus Phillips. This meeting is essentially the platform through which General Krulak and Foreign Service Officer Mendenhall report to President John F. Kennedy on their fact-finding mission to South Vietnam in September 1963. General Krulak and Mendenhall's four-day trip was intended to gain an overview of the military and civilian views of the country. General Krulak’s view, taken from his visits with military leaders, is generally optimistic on the progress of the war. Mendenhall presents the opposite view, one of widespread military and social discontent. After the two men present their views, President Kennedy quips, “You both went to the same country?” In this rather long and involved meeting, they delve into divergent views and possible steps to take. Responding to a question from former Ambassador Frederick Nolting, State Department official Rufus Phillips comments, “This was not a military war, but a political war.” Four segments of the recording totaling 3 minutes and 46 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 109, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 109 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-104-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 12, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs William Bundy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, CIA official James Critchfield, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, member of the National Security Council Robert W. Komer, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs Phillips Talbot, Administrator for the Agency for International Development (AID) David Bell, and Department of State Official Turner Cameron. Under Secretary Ball is leaving shortly for a mission to Pakistan. Meeting participants review what discussions should take place between Under Secretary Ball and President Mohammad Ayub Khan of Pakistan. The performance of a choral group follows. Most likely a group of visiting Irish teachers, they sing for President Kennedy. The quality of the recording is poor and the performance lasts for two minutes. Six segments of the recording totaling 4 minutes and 38 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. The quality of the recording is poor and the performance lasts for two minutes. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 104, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 104 in its entirety.