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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-332-018
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 116 (NSAM 116) titled, “Instructions from President as a result of November 30 meeting re: atmospheric testing,” to Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; and Jerome B. Wiesner, Special Assistant to the President on Science and Technology, from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are copies of a report titled, “A Program to Explain U.S. Position on Testing in the Atmosphere,” by a sub-committee of the National Security Council Committee on Atmospheric Testing Policy, chaired by Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-100-005
This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee and the Kennedy administration's efforts to achieve a substantial global reduction in national armaments and armed forces. Materials in this folder include memoranda to President Kennedy from William C. Foster, Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, concerning proposals and policy questions the United States should agree upon before entering future disarmament conferences.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-055-011
This folder contains background material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President's News Conference of March 7, 1962 (News Conference 26). Materials primarily consist of memorandums and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics of the briefing papers include the economy, foreign reaction to the President's recent speech on nuclear testing and disarmament, and the Alliance for Progress. Of note is a copy of a statement by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Council on the economy; and the transcript of a Meet the Press interview with William G. Foster, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, regarding the nuclear test ban treaty. Drafts of press conference announcements are also included.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-339-002
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 192 (NSAM 192) to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, 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 United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster from Carl Kaysen, Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. The NSAM is in regards to a memorandum titled, “A Separate Arms Control Measure for Outer Space,” to President John F. Kennedy from Director William C. Foster.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-103-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Under Secretary of State George Ball, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Richard H. Davis. President Kennedy and his advisors discuss the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), especially the issues that might come up with the Soviet Union during Secretary Rusk’s upcoming trip to Moscow. They also discuss Berlin, the multilateral force (MLF), and the non-aggression pact. Two segments of the recording totaling 1 minute and 23 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 103, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 103 in its entirety.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-100-003
Sound recording of a meeting that seems to be held on July 24, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs U. Alexis Johnson, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, Benjamin Read, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. This meeting is mostly a continuation on of the previous day’s staff discussion on the language of instructions to Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, the language of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and the note on the treaty, as well as the wording of a speech by President Kennedy. Shortly after the meeting begins President Kennedy leaves to call former President Harry S. Truman to discuss the Test Ban Treaty and does not return for the remainder of the meeting. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 100, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 100 in its entirety.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-100-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, John McCloy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith. They discuss instructions for Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman concerning the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The staff group had reworked the instructions to Under Secretary Harriman and to Charles Bohlen in France. There is also a long discussion about Article 1 and how the nuclear test ban would not and could not limit a country from defending itself with nuclear weapons in a time of war. Also, there is discussion on the Congressional Delegation and the Test Ban Treaty. (Please note that President Kennedy leaves the meeting after 15 minutes and does not return for the remainder of the meeting. According to the White House Appointment Books, he left to attend the Congressional Social Hour.) After this meeting there is a short break in the tape, followed by a brief discussion between President Kennedy, Secretary Rusk, McGeorge Bundy, and others. They discuss issues concerning the proposed test ban treaty. Two segments of the recording totaling 51 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 100, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 100 in its entirety.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-099-007
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 22, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith. They discuss the negotiations going on in Moscow concerning the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). Drafts of documents and letters to French President Charles de Gaulle and to Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman are also reviewed. There is also mention of the upcoming debate on the treaty that will take place on Capitol Hill. Please note that the last 17 minutes of this tape is blank. Three segments of the recording totaling 1 minutes and 8 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 99, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 99 in its entirety.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-098-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, and Special Assistant Ben Read from the Department of State. This meeting provides a forum in which President Kennedy and his staff review the “withdrawal clause” in the drafts of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and how it might be received in the United States Congress. There is also discussion on how and when to approach the United Kingdom, France, and Germany and related foreign policy issues with each of these countries. Near the meeting’s end there is also discussion about keeping the test ban treaty and the non aggression pact negotiations as separate and distinct entities. Four segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 11 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 98, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 98in its entirety.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-096-005
Sound recording of two meetings held on July 9, 1963, concerning negotiations on the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). Specifically discussed is Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman’s upcoming mission to Moscow. The first is the larger National Security Council (NSC) meeting held in the Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C. Participants in the first meeting include President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Assistant Director of the ACDA Adrian Fisher, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn Seaborg, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense John McNaughton, Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor, member of the National Security Council (NSC) Edward McDermott, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State Averell Harriman, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Assistant Secretary of State William R. Tyler, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Deputy Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Nitze, Deputy Special Assistant to the President Carl Kaysen, and Executive Director of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. The second meeting is held in the Oval Office of the White House immediately following the NSC meeting. Participants in the second meeting include President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor. In the second meeting, issues the Kennedy Administration is having with Congress and the Joint Chiefs concerning the test ban are discussed in detail. After the Oval Office meeting concludes, there is approximately ten minutes of hallway conversations and drilling sounds. Seven segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 29 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 96, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 96 in its entirety.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-096-001
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 3, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, Assistant Secretary of State William R. Tyler, Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor, Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, Deputy Special Assistant to the President Carl Kaysen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense John McNaughton, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Nitze, Assistant Director of ACDA Adrian Fisher, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. This meeting takes place in the late afternoon (another meeting had taken place earlier in the day). The main topic of conversation is Averell Harriman's upcoming mission to Moscow for negotiations on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and how those negotiations would or could affect relationships between the United States and West Germany and its Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, France and its President Charles DeGaulle, and the United Kingdom and its Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Ideas for letters from President Kennedy to Chancellor Adenauer are also discussed. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 96, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 96 in its entirety.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-089-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 28, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs William R. Tyler. The main subject of the meeting is Europe and specifically the current situation concerning the Multilateral Force (MLF). An interview that morning with German minister Kai-Uwe von Hassel has President Kennedy quite concerned over Germany and prospects for the MLF. The group also is working on gaining British support for the MLF; a draft letter to British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan is reviewed. Near the end of the meeting the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and possible upcoming negotiations on the treaty are debated, with President Kennedy taking a pessimistic view of the prospects for success of the negotiations. Four segments of the recording totaling 57 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 89, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 89 in its entirety.