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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.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-47
Dictation Belt 47 contains seven sound recordings. Item 47.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss defense appropriations and the military aspect of the space program. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 47.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert. They discuss the Air Force budget. [White House Operator?] places the call at President Kennedy’s request. After a brief delay and a fragment of an exchange, the conversation begins in mid-sentence. Item 47.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. They discuss the resignation of Robert B. Troutman, Jr., from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the appointment of an African-American. Item 47.4 is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified senator. President Kennedy congratulates the senator on passing an unidentified bill. [White House Operator?] speaks to the senator as he holds for President Kennedy. The recording of the conversation ends abruptly and a fragment of indistinct speech follows. Item 47.5 is a brief telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a White House Operator. The operator announces a call from “Sam Gallo” of Warner Brothers. Item 47.6 is a telephone conversation between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a woman called Miss “Gallenburg” from Protocol. They discuss gifts for Prime Minister Eric Eustace Williams of Trinidad and Tobago and others. [White House Operator?] announces the call. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 47.7 is part of a telephone conversation between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and Stanley Tretick. Tretick inquires about scheduling time with President John F. Kennedy to do work related to an article for “Look” magazine. [White House Operator?] announces the call. Occasionally there is an echo. The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 48.Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.