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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-MJH-01
In this interview Hillenbrand discusses President John F. Kennedy [JFK] entering office amid the Berlin crisis; working as the Director of the Office of German Affairs with JFK; the Berlin Task Force and the Ambassadorial Group; JFK's attitude towards the German problem and German reactions to the Kennedy Administration; the State Department and Germany; the 1961 Vienna talks with Nikita S. Khrushchev; the erection of the Berlin Wall and the crisis it generated; the Kennedy Administration's reaction and response to the Berlin Wall; talks with Russia over Berlin and the Wall; the press "leaks crisis" on the Germany problem; JFK's working style and approach to problems, according to Hillenbrand; the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the Berlin talks; JFK's German policy and relationship with German leaders; and what JFK accomplished related to Germany, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-ROWK-05
In this interview Komer discusses working with McGeorge Bundy; the “inner circle” of the Bundy State Department; Komer’s major contacts; the intelligence system; the power and responsibilities of the State Department; how Bundy screened what President John F. Kennedy [JFK] would see; relations with other key officials; Robert F. Kennedy and foreign policy issues; the Bundy State Department and White House staff; the “little State Department” in the White House; the bureaucratic role of the State Department; U.S. foreign policy in Asia; relations with key U.S. Ambassadors; handling Arab-Israeli issues; domestic pressures of American-Jewish community on JFK; Arabists in the Kennedy Administration; working with Myer Feldman on Israeli issues; the United States, Saudi Arabia, and oil; filling the power vacuum left by the British; dealing with Congress on foreign aid matters; counterinsurgency; and looking back at programs during the Kennedy Administration, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-08
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] Cabinet and appointing the various secretaries; problems in and JFK’s wariness of the Department of State; the ideal State Department organization; problems with Dean Rusk; Maxwell D. Taylor’s Cuba investigation; the Bay of Pigs and its effect on U.S. action in Laos; John McCone’s prediction of missiles in Cuba; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and foreign policy; JFK’s vice-presidential choice at the 1960 Democratic National Convention; Johnson’s hesitant acceptance of the vice-presidential slot; RFK’s appointment as Attorney General; RFK’s involvement in staffing the White House for JFK and other presidential appointments; Lord Harlech (William David Ormsby-Gore); and State Department staff, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-02
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses the 1961 Berlin crisis; American forces, military and diplomatic, in Germany; John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] recommendation for Americans to have fallout shelters; nuclear testing; problems with the Department of State; the start of the conflict in Vietnam, 1961; the Department of Justice under RFK and organized crime; RFK’s difficult relationship with J. Edgar Hoover; the wiretapping bill; new federal judgeships in 1961 and other presidential appointments; the Alliance for Progress; Red China; crises during JFK’s presidency and how he was an optimist; RFK’s move for an income tax increase during the Berlin crisis; RFK’s disagreements with President JFK; indecisiveness over picking JFK’s running mate, 1960; the missile gap; fighting and UN operations in the Congo; Nikita S. Khrushchev’s speeches; RFK’s 1962 trip to Japan, Indonesia, Germany, and other countries; the release of Allen L. Pope; Dutch disputes in Southeast Asia; the 1961 crisis in the Dominican Republic and the assassination of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina; the 1962 disarmament conference in Geneva; Edward M. Kennedy’s 1962 campaign for U.S. Senate; the Kennedy family national and political reputation; the Justice Department under RFK and civil rights; and the 1962 steel crisis, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-KTY-02
In this interview Young discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the high level visit; the need for scholarly diplomacy in U.S. relations with Asian countries; the role of an ambassador; the relationships between the Embassies in Thailand and Laos; William Averell Harriman’s meetings with Thai and Laotian leaders; different strategy proposals for and conflicting opinions on Laos; U.S. programs in Thailand; and the Dean Rusk-Thanat Khoman Agreement, among other issues.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17157
Reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps, White House, Washington, D.C. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, descend the Grand Staircase to the Entrance Hall. Behind them (L-R) are Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton; Air Force Aide to the President General Godfrey McHugh; Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Naval Aide to the President Commander Tazewell Shepard, Jr. (partially hidden); Dean Rusk's wife Virginia Rusk.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17155-B
Reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps, White House, Washington, D.C. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, descend the Grand Staircase to the Entrance Hall. Behind them (L-R) are Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton; Secretary of State Dean Rusk and wife Virginia Rusk; Naval Aide to the President Commander Tazewell Shepard, Jr.; Air Force Aide to the President General Godfrey McHugh.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17155-A
Reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps, White House, Washington, D.C. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy descend the Grand Staircase to the Entrance Hall. Behind them (L-R) are Military Aide to the President Chester V. Clifton; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of State Dean Rusk (partially hidden); Lady Bird Johnson; Dean Rusk's wife Virginia Rusk; Naval Aide to the President Tazewell Shepard, Jr.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17158
Reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps, White House, Washington, D.C. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, descend the Grand Staircase to the Entrance Hall. Behind them (L-R) are Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton (partially hidden); Air Force Aide to the President General Godfrey McHugh (partially hidden); Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Naval Aide to the President Commander Tazewell Shepard, Jr.; Dean Rusk's wife Virginia Rusk.
Collection
USDS
Records 1961-1963. Microfilm copies of memorandums for the President, Presidential memorandums of conversation, memorandums to White House staff, chronologies of Presidential conferences abroad and official visits to Washington, incoming and outgoing telegrams, files of American Foreign Service posts, files of bureaus and divisions, personal papers of Secretary Dean Rusk, ceremonial messages with foreign governments, and miscellaneous Central Files related to President Kennedy.