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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-EJS-01
This interview focuses on Stahr’s responsibilities as the Secretary of the Army, the restructuring of the Army under John F. Kennedy (JFK)’s administration, and the Army’s role in U.S. diplomatic relations during the Cold War, among other issues.
Collection
JFKWHSFCVC
White House Staff Files 1961-1963. General, United States Army. Military Aide to the President (1961-1963). Correspondence and memorandums relating to President Kennedy's foreign trips.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-06-05-C
ST25, KN36
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-07-05-D
ST12
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-05-15-F
AR21, ST10, KN17
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-09-28-E
AR27, ST14, KN23
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-09-11-C
ST13, KN22
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C53-3-62
President John F. Kennedy (center left, partially hidden) presents a gift of a plaque to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (right, at microphones), during General Decker's Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) ceremony; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton (back to camera), holds plaque at left. Standing in back (L-R): Representative George H. Mahon of Texas (partially hidden on edge of frame); Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric; Helen Decker; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr.; Senator Stuart Symington (Missouri); General Maxwell D. Taylor; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze (partially hidden); General Decker's children, James Inman Decker and Jane Decker Francisco; Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C24327
President John F. Kennedy presents a gift of a plaque to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (right, at microphones), during General Decker's Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) ceremony; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton, holds plaque at left. Looking on (L-R): Representative George H. Mahon of Texas (partially hidden on edge of frame); Helen Decker; Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric (mostly hidden); Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr. (partially hidden); Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. General John C. Munn; Senator Stuart Symington (Missouri); Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; General Decker's son, James Inman Decker. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C. [Blemish in upper left portion of image is original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A5-19-61
Military officials and staff visit 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (L – R): General George H. Decker, Chief of Staff of the United States Army; Elvis Jacob Stahr, Jr., Secretary of the Army; unidentified man; Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton; White House Secret Service agent, Bob Lilley. Secret Service agent, Gerald A. "Jerry" Behn, stands in background (wearing sunglasses). Pope Air Force Base, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A5-41-61
President John F. Kennedy visits 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton (front, approaching President Kennedy); President Kennedy (front and center); Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara (behind President Kennedy, third from right); White House Secret Service agents, Bob Lilley (in foreground, arms crossed), Gerald A. "Jerry" Behn (center foreground, on edge of image), and Floyd Boring (right foreground); others unidentified. Pope Air Force Base, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A5-27-61
President John F. Kennedy visits 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. President Kennedy; Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton (on stairs); others unidentified. Pope Air Force Base, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A5-17-61
President John F. Kennedy visits 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. At center (L – R): Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton (wearing uniform); Elvis Jacob Stahr, Jr., Secretary of the Army; President Kennedy (back to camera); White House Secret Service agent, Floyd Boring. Others unidentified. Pope Air Force Base, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C4-3-62
Swearing-in ceremony for new Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance, and General Counsel of the Department of Defense, John T. McNaughton, at the Pentagon. Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton (left, with back to camera), visits with Secretary Vance. Arlington, Virginia.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C29087
Spectators sit in a reviewing stand during demonstrations at the White Sands Missile Range in White Sands, New Mexico; President John F. Kennedy (wearing sunglasses) sits at center under awning. A United States Army Honest John rocket is visible in the background. Also pictured: Governor of New Mexico, Jack Campbell; Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General Earle G. Wheeler; Commanding General of the White Sands Missile Range, General J. Frederick Thorlin; Senator Ralph W. Yarborough (Texas); Senator Strom Thurmond (South Carolina); Senator Edwin L. Mechem (New Mexico); Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance; Secretary of the Navy, Fred Korth; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell T. Shepard, Jr.; newsreel photographer for United Press Movietone, Thomas J. Craven, Sr. [Notes: Blemishes at top of image are original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C21783
President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and others attend a military reception at the White House. Front row (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Secretary of the Army, Elvis J. Stahr, Jr.; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Mrs. Kennedy; Katherine Lemnitzer, wife of General Lemnitzer; President Kennedy; Secretary of the Air Force, Eugene M. Zuckert; Secretary of the Navy, Fred Korth. Also pictured: General Maxwell D. Taylor and his wife, Lydia Taylor; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton, and his wife, Anne Bodine Clifton; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard, and his wife, Julia Ann Shepard; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay, and his wife, Helen LeMay; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr., and his wife, Mary Lee Lamar Anderson; Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker, and his wife, Helen Decker; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Vera Korth, wife of Secretary Korth; Dorothy Stahr, wife of Secretary Stahr; Barbara Jackman Zuckert, wife of Secretary Zuckert. Grand Staircase, Entrance Hall, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C21782
President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and others attend a military reception at the White House. Front row (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Secretary of the Army, Elvis J. Stahr, Jr.; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Mrs. Kennedy; Katherine Lemnitzer, wife of General Lemnitzer; President Kennedy; Secretary of the Air Force, Eugene M. Zuckert; Secretary of the Navy, Fred Korth. Also pictured: General Maxwell D. Taylor and his wife, Lydia Taylor; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton, and his wife, Anne Bodine Clifton; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard, and his wife, Julia Ann Shepard; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay, and his wife, Helen LeMay; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr., and his wife, Mary Lee Lamar Anderson; Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker, and his wife, Helen Decker; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Vera Korth, wife of Secretary Korth; Dorothy Stahr, wife of Secretary Stahr; Barbara Jackman Zuckert, wife of Secretary Zuckert. Grand Staircase, Entrance Hall, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-426-5-62
President John F. Kennedy (center, partially hidden) visits with guests in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., following the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton, and General Omar Bradley stand to the left and right (respectively) of President Kennedy. Also pictured: newsreel photographer for United Press Movietone, Thomas J. Craven, Sr.; National Park Service (NPS) photographer, Abbie Rowe; White House photographer, Chief Robert Knudsen; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. General John C. Munn; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; White House Secret Service agent, Bill Payne. [Please see the President's schedule for a complete list of attendees.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-426-15-62
Retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (right, at microphones), delivers remarks after receiving the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM); President John F. Kennedy stands left of General Decker. Also pictured: Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Representative George H. Mahon (Texas); Helen Decker; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. General John C. Munn; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; General Maxwell D. Taylor; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-426-13-62
President John F. Kennedy shakes with General Omar Bradley (right), following the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton, stands in center. Also pictured: National Park Service (NPS) photographer, Abbie Rowe; Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; General Maxwell D. Taylor; General Decker. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C. [Please see the President's schedule for a complete list of attendees.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-426-12-62
President John F. Kennedy (center) presents a gift of a plaque to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (right, at microphones), during General Decker's Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) ceremony; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton, holds plaque at left. Standing in back (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Representative George H. Mahon (Texas); Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric; Helen Decker; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr. (mostly hidden); Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; Senator Stuart Symington (Missouri); Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; General Decker's children, James Inman Decker and Jane Decker Francisco; Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-426-1-62
Presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (standing in center, mostly hidden); President John F. Kennedy shakes hands with General Decker's daughter, Jane Decker Francisco (right). Standing in back (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton (partially hidden); Helen Decker; Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr.; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. General John C. Munn; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; General Maxwell D. Taylor; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; General Decker's son, James Inman Decker. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7508-G
President John F. Kennedy (center left, partially hidden in crowd) visits with guests in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., following the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker. Those pictured include: Senator Stuart Symington (Missouri); Washington Correspondent for the Guy Gannett Publishing Company of Maine, May Craig; White House correspondent for United Press International (UPI), Helen Thomas; Under Secretary of the Army, Stephen Ailes; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; General Decker; Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance; General Maxwell D. Taylor; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara. [Please see the President's schedule for a complete list of attendees.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7508-F
Presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (standing in center); President John F. Kennedy shakes hands with General Decker's son, James Inman Decker (right). Standing in back (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; Helen Decker; Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr.; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; General Maxwell D. Taylor; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7508-E
President John F. Kennedy presents a gift of a plaque to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (at microphones), during General Decker's Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) ceremony; Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton, holds plaque at left. Looking on (L-R): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Representative George H. Mahon (Texas); Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone (partially hidden); Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr. (mostly hidden); Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. General John C. Munn (facing away); Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; Senator Stuart Symington (Missouri); Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; General Maxwell D. Taylor; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.