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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.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-ECW-01
Welsh discusses the development of the space program under John F. Kennedy [JFK] and Lyndon B. Johnson. He covers the collaboration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Space Council, and the Department of Defense. He also discusses the space race with the Soviet Union, the lunar program, and communications satellites, among other issues.
Sound recording
Edward M. Kennedy Senate Files
EMKSEN-AU0007-005-011
Sound recording of the radio program "Face Off." Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy of Massachusetts and Senator Robert J. "Bob" Dole of Kansas debate a Senate resolution to provide security measures for Secretary of State George Shultz before his trip to Moscow. The episode aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System; the air date is undetermined, but likely circa April 1987.
Sound recording
Edward M. Kennedy Senate Files
EMKSEN-AU0007-005-001
Sound recording of the radio program "Face Off." Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy of Massachusetts and Senator Robert J. "Bob" Dole of Kansas debate nuclear test ban legislation, arms control negotiations between the United States and Soviet Union, and the roles of Congress and the President. The episode aired on Monday, April 13, 1987, on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
Sound recording
Edward M. Kennedy Senate Files
EMKSEN-AU0008-022-010
Sound recording of the radio program "Face Off." Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy of Massachusetts and Senator Alan K. "Al" Simpson of Wyoming debate low interest loans to the Soviet Union and a failed legislative amendment proposed by Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina to offer similar low interest loans to American farmers. The episode aired on Monday, August 13, 1990, on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-24A-6
Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on July 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John W. McCormack of Massachusetts, and Representative George H. Mahon of Texas. They discuss a defense budget cut, related concerns involving Korea and the Soviet Union, and potential political consequences.The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly.
This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 24A, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-24A, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 24A.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-24A
Dictation Belt 24A contains seven sound recordings. Item 24A.1 is a telephone conversation held on July 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and former President Harry S. Truman. Former President Truman congratulates President Kennedy on The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963. President Kennedy asks former President Truman to make a public statement about the treaty. Item 24A.1A is a brief telephone exchange on July 26, 1963, between a White House Operator and Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz. The operator speaks to Secretary Wirtz as he holds for President Kennedy. Item 24A.2 is a telephone conversation held on July 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz. They discuss legislation regarding railroad work rules and George Meany’s position and strategy on the matter. Item 24A.3 is a telephone conversation held on July 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss enlisting businessmen for an unidentified project. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 24A.4 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. The unidentified man reports on Cardinal (Richard J.) Cushing’s discussion of the election of Pope Paul VI. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 24A.5 is a telephone conversation held on July 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss whether United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General U. Thant and Ambassador to the U.N. Adlai E. Stevenson should attend the signing of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963. They also discuss releasing a statement concerning President Charles de Gaulle of France. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 24A.6 is a telephone conversation held on July 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John W. McCormack of Massachusetts, and Representative George H. Mahon of Texas. They discuss a defense budget cut, related concerns involving Korea and the Soviet Union, and potential political consequences. 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-18A
Dictation Belt 18A contains eight sound recordings. Item 18A.1 is a sound recording of a brief fragment of a telephone conversation held on April 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Walter W. Heller, Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. They talk about budgetary matters. The recording starts in mid-conversation. Item 18A.2 is a brief telephone exchange on April 4, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Ralph A. Dungan, Special Assistant to the President. They talk about a letter from Lucius Clay. Item 18A.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. The topic of discussion is unclear. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 18A.3A is a brief telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a White House Operator. The operator notifies Lincoln of an incoming call from Robert B. Troutman. The recording ends abruptly. The telephone conversation with Troutman is not recorded. Item 18A.4 is a telephone conversation held on April 10, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and W. Averell Harriman. They discuss fighting in Laos involving the Pathet Lao and the forces of Kong Le and others. They also discuss whether the United States should discuss the matter with Soviet officials. Item 18A.5 is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation held on April 10, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. They talk about a Laos statement and a list of raids. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 18A.6 is a telephone conversation held on May 6, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss Secretary Rusk’s trip to Europe, matters involving Yugoslavia, and arrangements for a meeting. Item 18A.7 is part of a telephone conversation held on May 7, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Representative Edith S. Green of Oregon. They discuss an education bill and a newspaper article that characterized their political relationship. The recording ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 18B.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-44
Dictation Belt 44 contains three sound recordings. Item 44.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, and Secretary of Agriculture Orville L. Freeman. President Kennedy and Secretary Freeman discuss a farm bill. Sorensen and Secretary Freeman discuss a trade bill and its effect on the cotton industry. There is an echo during part of the recording. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 44.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss stoning incidents in Berlin and dealings with the Soviet Union. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 44.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss defense appropriations and issues concerning the United States Air Force. The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly.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
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-112
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of July 5, 1962 (News Conference 38). The President begins the press conference by stating his support for two bills, one concerning foreign aid, and the second concerning medical care for the elderly. Following these statements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the Atlantic Alliance, current and future relations with the Soviet Union, the Sugar Act, a meeting between Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the domestic economy, and the Chamizal Zone in El Paso, Texas.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-144
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of November 20, 1962 (News Conference 45). The President begins the press conference with an update on the Cuban Missile Crisis, stating that Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev would withdraw IL-28 bomber planes in Cuba within 30 days and that the naval quarantine of Cuba was lifted as a result of the withdrawal. The President then announces the signing of Executive Order 11063, which prevented discrimination in housing facilities owned or operated by the federal government, and the creation of the Committee on Equal Opportunity in Housing. The President also announces advances in northeast India by the Chinese, and the deployment of a team headed by Assistant Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman to determine India’s military assistance needs. Following these statements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including Cuba, information policies between the press and the government, Executive Order 11063, and the current situation between India and China.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-122
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 22, 1962 (News Conference 41). The President begins the press conference with a statement concerning the historic rendezvous under the Arctic ice pack between two nuclear powered submarines, the USS Skate and the USS Sea Dragon. He then states the importance of five measures Congress was to act upon within the next seven days: the farm bill that extends the current feed grain program an additional year and repealed the 1958 Benson feed grain approach; the drug bill; a constitutional amendment to outlaw the poll tax in federal elections; the trade expansion bill; and the United Nations (UN) bond bill. Following these statements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including domestic and foreign affairs, the space program, the economy, the delay in the approval of Thurgood Marshall to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and an increase in supplies and technicians into Cuba from the Soviet Union.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-167
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of March 6, 1963 (News Conference 51). The President begins the press conference urging Congress to support three new bills: the Youth Employment Opportunities bill; a medical bill that provided funding for medical schools and students; and a bill to combat mental illness and retardation. Following this announcement the President answers questions on a variety of topics including proposed tax cut legislation; the nuclear test ban treaty; progress of Soviet troop withdrawal from Cuba; the Chamizal zone in El Paso, Texas; and the employment status of the four Americans who died during the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-295-017
This folder contains a Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) News transcript of the “Washington Report” concerning President John F. Kennedy’s radio and television address on civil rights, desegregation, legislation to protect the rights of all Americans, President Kennedy’s upcoming visit to Germany, the Cold War, the Soviet Union, and the space race.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-295-016
This folder contains a press release of President John F. Kennedy’s radio and television address concerning civil rights, the desegregation of the University of Alabama and the need to enact legislation to protect the rights of all Americans. Also included in this folder are telegrams and memoranda concerning President Kennedy’s address on civil rights, the Soviet Union’s media coverage of the racial issues in the United States, and worldwide interest in the civil rights movement in America.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-059-001
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President's News Conference of March 6, 1963 (News Conference 51). The President began the press conference urging Congress to support three new bills: the Youth Employment Opportunities bill; a medical bill that provided funding for medical schools and students; and a bill to combat mental illness and retardation. Following this announcement the President answered questions on a variety of topics including proposed tax cut legislation; the nuclear test ban treaty; progress of Soviet troop withdrawal from Cuba; the Chamizal zone in El Paso, Texas; and the employment status of the four Americans who died during the Bay of Pigs invasion. Background materials in this folder include briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and newspaper clippings. Of note is a briefing memorandum to the Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy from Executive Secretary of the Department of State William H. Brubeck regarding the forthcoming visit of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Dirk Stikker to the White House. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-058-001
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President's News Conference of November 20, 1962 (News Conference 45). The President began the press conference with an update on the Cuban Missile Crisis, stating that Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev would withdraw IL-28 bomber planes in Cuba within 30 days and that the naval quarantine of Cuba was lifted as a result of the withdrawal. The President then announced the signing of Executive Order 11063, which prevented discrimination in housing facilities owned or operated by the federal government, and the creation of the Committee on Equal Opportunity in Housing. The President also announced advances in northeast India by the Chinese, and the deployment of a team headed by Assistant Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman to determine India's military assistance needs. Following these statements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including Cuba, information policies between the press and the government, Executive Order 11063, and the current situation between India and China. Background materials in this folder include briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security, newspaper clippings, memorandums, and special reports from the Department of State and the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Topics include the resumption of the Geneva Conference on November 26, 1962, the situation in Cuba, and a possible future Soviet satellite tracking station in Australia. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-057-008
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 August 22, 1962 (News Conference 41). Materials primarily consist of memorandums and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the economy, disarmament, the military space program, legislation, the Soviet Union, and foreign aid. Also included are draft press conference announcements, some with handwritten editorial marks and annotations by the President, and newspaper clippings. Of note is a statement by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara before the Senate Appropriations Committee in support of the Military Assistance Program for fiscal year 1963.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-057-006
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of August 22, 1962 (News Conference 41). The President began the press conference with a statement concerning the historic rendezvous under the Arctic ice pack between two nuclear powered submarines, the USS Skate and the USS Sea Dragon. He then stated the importance of five measures Congress was to act upon within the next seven days: the farm bill that extended the current feed grain program an additional year and repealed the 1958 Benson feed grain approach; the drug bill; a constitutional amendment to outlaw the poll tax in federal elections; the trade expansion bill; and the United Nations (UN) bond bill. Following these statements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including domestic and foreign affairs, the space program, the economy, the delay in the approval of Thurgood Marshall to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and an increase in supplies and technicians into Cuba from the Soviet Union. Background materials in this folder include weekly department and agency reports summarizing activities and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs. Of note is a memorandum to the President from the Director of the United States Information Agency Edward R. Murrow concerning the alleged suspension of high altitude nuclear tests by the United States at the request of the Soviet Union, and the status of the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-057-001
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the President's News Conference of July 5, 1962 (News Conference 38). The President began the press conference by stating his support for two bills, one concerning foreign aid, and the second concerning medical care for the elderly. Following these statements the President answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the Atlantic Alliance, current and future relations with the Soviet Union, the Sugar Act, a meeting between Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the domestic economy, and the Chamizal Zone in El Paso, Texas. Background materials in this folder include a weekly agency report summarizing Peace Corps activities and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-088-003
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the Department of State. Topics include legislation to establish the United States Disarmament Agency for World Peace and Security, Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles, aid to Guinea, issues with the German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union, and details of the ceremony to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Venezuela’s independence. Of note is a letter from the President to Vice President Johnson regarding the disarmament agency legislation.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1059-004
This folder contains speeches given by Senator John F. Kennedy in New York concerning the economy, social services legislation, Communism, the Soviet Union, international relations, and labor.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1030-019
This folder contains copies of a speech given by Senator John F. Kennedy at the Pulaski Day Dinner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In his speech Senator Kennedy discusses United States policy towards Poland, communism in Poland, and influence of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe. Senator Kennedy also remarks on an amendment to the Battle Act that would create economic tools to promote change behind the Iron Curtain.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1027-005
This folder contains press releases, statements, speeches, and transcripts of press conferences given by Senator John F. Kennedy in Alaska, California, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Washington during his 1960 presidential campaign. Topics addressed include voter registration, labor, legislation and congressional relations, the 1960 campaign, natural resources, Communism, Latin America, and the Soviet Union.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1027-002
This folder contains press releases, statements, and copies of speeches given by Senator John F. Kennedy during his 1960 presidential campaign. Topics include the achievement gap between the United States and the Soviet Union, a veto on the Anderson-Kennedy amendment to the medical care for the aged bill, United States policy towards Israel and the Middle East, and the minimum wage law.