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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-108-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on September 3, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, former United States Ambassador to Vietnam Frederick Nolting, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) General Marshall Carter, Director of the CIA John McCone, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, Specialist on Counterinsurgency for the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Victor Krulak, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman, Director of the CIA's Far Eastern Division William Colby, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Military Aide to the President General Chester Clifton, National Security Council member Michael Forrestal, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith. This meeting is the continued discussion between President Kennedy and a wide range of Department of State, Department of Defense, CIA, and White House advisors on the volatile situation in South Vietnam. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 108, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 108 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-108-003
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 29, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, former United States Ambassador to Vietnam Frederick Nolting, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) General Marshall Carter, Director of the United States Information (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, Specialist on Counterinsurgency for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Victor Krulak, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman, Deputy Director of the CIA for Plans Richard Helms, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Military Aide to the President General Chester Clifton, National Security Council member Michael Forrestal, Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith. This meeting is a discussion between President Kennedy and a wide range of Department of State, Department of Defense, CIA, and White House advisors on the volatile situation in South Vietnam. Three segments of the recording totaling 1 minute and 44 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 108, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 108 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-107-006
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 27, 1963, President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State George Ball, National Security Council (NSC) member Robert Komer, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Director of South Asian Affairs for the Department of State Turner Cameron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Grant. The meeting takes place prior to Under Secretary Ball’s trip to Pakistan and Portugal. They discuss Portugal, Portuguese Africa, and the Azores, Israel, and discussions with members of Congress concerning the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 107, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 107 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-107-005
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 27, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, former United States Ambassador to Vietnam Frederick Nolting, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) General Marshall Carter, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, Deputy CIA Director for Plans Richard Helms, Director of the CIA's Far Eastern Division William Colby, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, member of the National Security Council (NSC) Michael Forrestal, Specialist on Counterinsurgency for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Victor Krulak, and Executive Secretary of the NSC Bromley Smith. This meeting on Vietnam is a follow-up to the meeting from the day before. President Kennedy asked Frederick Nolting, the recently replaced Ambassador to Vietnam, to attend this meeting in order to discuss his views on the Vietnam situation. One segment of the recording totaling 8 seconds has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 107, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 107 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-107-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Marshall Carter, Director of the CIA's Office of Special Operations (OSO) Richard Helms, 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, and Specialist on Counterinsurgency for the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Victor Krulak. This meeting on Vietnam takes place the Monday following the now infamous Saturday telegram concerning a possible coup in Vietnam. The meeting is contentious at times between the Department of State and the Department of Defense/White House staff on what steps should be taken in Vietnam. Near the end of the meeting, President Kennedy changes the topic to foreign aid cuts requested by Congress and what can be done to sway opinions in the opposite direction. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 107, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 107 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-103-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 5, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Under Secretary of State George Ball, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy (who joins later in the meeting). This long meeting covers a variety of issues concerning the Federal Republic of Germany. Secretary McNamara just returned from a meeting with German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and relays the specifics to President Kennedy. The German reservations about the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), criticisms of the State Department by Chancellor Adenauer, the effect of German abstention on the U.S. Senate debate on the Treaty, and the German political climate are discussed in detail. In addition, during the latter half of the meeting, President Kennedy discusses the upcoming U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on the Treaty, who should testify in front of the Committee, who the White House would like to testify to offset negative testimony from such witnesses as Teller and General Curtis LeMay. There is also a brief discussion that is difficult to hear concerning a Northeast Airline issue and the Civil Aeronautics Board. Six segments of the recording totaling 7 minutes and 48 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 this one. See Related Records to access Tape 103 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-102-003
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Special Assistant to the President Lawrence F. O’Brien. They discuss American troop movements and exercises in Europe; personnel appointments; an aircraft contract and Douglas Aircraft; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); German-French relations; U.S. weapons and equipment in Europe; and Secretary Dillon’s testimony before Congress and the Treasury matters before Congress and how to handle them. Additional subjects include German military programs; recent fighting in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with casualties and a possible U.S. response; consultation with Allies regarding Laos, the Geneva accords, the nature of U.S. aid, future plans, and Communist actions; U.S. bases in the Azores; and a briefing for Adlai Stevenson. Six segments of the recording totaling 1 minute 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 102, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 102 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-098-003
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) Adlai Stevenson, Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Charles W. Yost, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Harlan Cleveland, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Frank Sloan, Legal Advisor for the Department of State Abram Chayes, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs William Bundy. The meeting focuses on the steps to be taken in the United Nations pertaining to a resolution on self-determination for Portuguese Africa. Topics include the wording of the resolution, the setup of any mediation, the level of U.S. involvement, the possible effect on the Azores base, an arms embargo, and the effect of all of these matters on U.S. foreign policy with African nations and with Portugal. 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 and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 98 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-098-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 16, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Secretary of Commerce Luther Hodges, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs Richard Holton, Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) David Bell, Chief United States Trade Negotiator Christian Herter, member of the Council of Economic Advisers Walter Heller, Director of the Bureau of the Budget Kermit Gordon, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore Sorensen, and Under Secretary of Commerce Franklin Roosevelt, Jr. The discussions concerning the balance of payments are similar to discussions in a meeting the previous day, only in a larger group. Actions by the Federal Reserve as well as the President’s Special Message to Congress on the Balance of Payments are also covered. In addition, military budget cuts in personnel and in aid, and export-trade difficulties are discussed in detail. Two segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes 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 and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 98 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-096-006
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 9, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss civil rights situations taking place in several cities. Please note that this meeting was opened in July 1984 as part of the "Civil Rights 1963" tape release. Also note that the discussions are very difficult to hear. After the Civil Rights meeting ends, the remainder of the recording on Reel 3 is simply office noises and drilling sounds, lasting approximately 30 minutes. Four segments of the recording totaling 27 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.
Sound recording
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.
Sound recording
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.
Sound recording
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.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-089-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 25, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss European Defense and Canadian/European balance of payments issues. Soon after the meeting begins President Kennedy takes a 14-minute telephone call with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, during which President Kennedy is provided with a synopsis of the previous day’s meeting in New York between Attorney General Kennedy, Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte, James Baldwin and other black leaders who met to discuss the present civil rights situation in Alabama. Please note that only the President’s side of the conversation can be heard in this recording. Meeting discussions resume after the telephone call. Three segments of the recording totaling 1 minutes and 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 89, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 89 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-088-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 20, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor. They discuss North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) force requirements, the Multilateral Force (MLF), and NATO financing. There is very little paperwork available on this meeting. The meeting begins with a brief discussion about Cuba. In addition there is an interesting exchange later in the meeting concerning the Civil Aeronautics Board and a memo that President Kennedy wrote on some recent issues of concern, and there is some discussion about President Kennedy's upcoming trip to Europe. Eight segments of the recording totaling 4 minutes and 9 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 88, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 88 in its entirety.