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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-JCPW-01
In this interview they discuss their article in Look magazine; personal recollections of President John F. Kennedy's [JFK] assassination; working on JFK’s 1960 presidential campaign; JFK’s campaigning style; JFK’s relationship with the press, White House staff, and his family; and JFK’s trips to Nassau, Europe, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson’s ranch, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-03
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses the 1962 steel crisis; some major issues and accomplishments of John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] presidency; choosing the U.S. Ambassador to Russia; foreign aid and treaties; the military coup in Peru; the space race during the Kennedy Administration; the 1962 congressional and gubernatorial campaigns; JFK’s dinner for the Nobel Prize winners; the Polaris submarines; problems with the New York Herald Tribune; New York politics; various pieces of federal legislation, 1961–1963; the Dominican Republic; Department of Justice investigations under RFK; the difficulties of being Attorney General; congressional issues in early 1963; the Vietnam War escalation in 1963; American support of the coup in Vietnam; Henry Cabot Lodge as the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam; the prisoners from the Bay of Pigs invasion; American actions in Cuba; unemployment and civil rights; RFK’s meeting with James Baldwin; JFK’s trips to the South and speeches on civil rights; the nuclear test ban treaty; and JFK’s trip to Ireland and Rome, 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.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-16A
Dictation Belt 16A contains five sound recordings. Item 16A.1 is a recording of remarks made by President John F. Kennedy to an unidentified group of visitors. The remarks concern the United States economy. This is not a telephone conversation. The recording begins in mid-sentence. Item 16A.2 is a fragment of a telephone conversation held on March 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss congressional hearings. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 16A.3 is a telephone conversation held on March 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss hearings concerning the TFX airplane. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 16A.4 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss Senate hearings concerning the TFX airplane. They also discuss a raid by Cuban exiles targeting a ship, concerns about a Russian ship being targeted, and consultations with John A. McCone. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 16A.5 is a telephone conversation held on March 28, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs William R. Tyler. They discuss press reports of Canadian Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker possessing a working paper written by Walt W. Rostow on relations between the United States and Canada.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-14A
Dictation Belt 14A contains five sound recordings. The recording of the conversation in item 14A.1 begins on Dictation Belt 13A. Item 14A.1 is part of a telephone conversation held on March 9, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Governor Harold E. Hughes of Iowa. They continue to discuss an appeal for clemency on behalf of a prisoner awaiting execution in Iowa. They also discuss Iowa politics. Machine noise follows the conversation.Item 14A.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss Henry R. (“Harry”) Luce and articles in “Time” and “Newsweek” magazines. They also discuss proposed school construction on military bases in the South. A fragment of unintelligible chatter from [White House Operator?] follows the conversation. Item 14A.3 is a telephone conversation held on March 11, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Edwin Martin, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs. They discuss whether Latin-American presidents will issue a statement on Cuba before President Kennedy’s trip to Costa Rica. Item 14A.4 is a telephone conversation held on March 11, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Sylvester. They discuss Sylvester’s remarks about hearings on the TFX airplane. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 14A.5 is part of a telephone conversation held on March 12, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon. They discuss Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules on expense accounts and the effects on businesses. The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly. The recording of this conversation continues on Dictation Belt 14B.
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
United States Information Agency Audio Recordings Collection
USIAAU-003
Sound recording of a news conference held by the Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow on May 29, 1961. Director Murrow begins the press conference by making a statement about an offer made by Prime Minister of Cuba Fidel Castro to exchange Cuban prisoners for tractors. Director Murrow calls it a major blunder by Prime Minister Castro and summarizes reactions to the offer as surveyed by the USIA, particularly negative press reactions in Latin America. Director Murrow then answers questions from news reporters relating to the prisoners-for-tractors offer, including some concerning the response of the United States and the role of the USIA. Accession MR-1972-096-003.
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-126
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of September 13, 1962 (News Conference 43). The President begins the press conference with a statement concerning the recent shipments of supplies and technicians into Cuba from the Soviet Union, events that led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He goes on to say that the United States would not take military action against Cuba unless necessary. The President then answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the Alliance for Progress, civil rights, the Chicago Northwestern Railway strike, the military space program, nuclear testing, and the President’s request for special reserve mobilization powers.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-124
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 29, 1962 (News Conference 42). The President begins the press conference by announcing the retirement of Associate Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter for health reasons and the appointment of Secretary of Labor Arthur J. Goldberg to fill the vacancy. He also announces that the Soviet representative in Geneva has proposed a cut-off date of January 1, 1963 for all nuclear weapons testing. The President agrees with the proposed date and urges all affected governments to accelerate negotiations in order to meet the goal. The President then answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including nuclear test agreements, Berlin, the influx of supplies and technicians into Cuba from the Soviet Union, and a scientific investigation into the side effects of pesticides, particularly DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane).
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-022
Sound recording of the President's News Conference of April 12, 1961 (News Conference 9). President Kennedy begins the press conference by encouraging the public to get vaccinated for polio. He then announces the formation of an advisory group to assist in changes to the foreign aid program and the sale of a United States Naval Ordnance Plant in West Virginia. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the possibility of an intervention in Cuba by the United States Armed Forces, the United States and Soviet space programs, and a comparison of democracy versus communism.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-004
Sound recording of the President's News Conference of January 25, 1961 (News Conference 1). President Kennedy begins the press conference with a statement concerning the scheduling of the Geneva negotiations for a nuclear test ban. He then announces that the United States Government has decided to increase famine relief for the Congo and that the Soviet Union has released two members from the crew of the United States Air Force RB-47 aircraft. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including United States policy on nuclear disarmament negotiations, diplomatic relations with Cuba, and communications with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-174
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of April 3, 1963 (News Conference 53). During this press conference President Kennedy answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the budget, Soviet troop withdrawal from Cuba, the TFX fighter plane contract, hit and run raids on Cuba by Cuban exiles, an increase in the size of the Peace Corps for Latin America, and the space program.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-169
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of March 21, 1963 (News Conference 52). The President begins the press conference by reporting on his trip to Costa Rica where he met with Presidents of five Central American countries. The Presidents agrees to continue efforts on the Alliance for Progress and work together to fight communism and Cuban subversion. Following this statement the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including Soviet troop withdrawal from Cuba, the TFX fighter-plane contract, the South Korean military government extending their rule for four more years, and the economy.
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.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-150
Sound recording of the first part of President John F. Kennedy’s unedited radio and television interview entitled “After Two Years: A Conversation with the President” broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). In the interview President Kennedy discusses the state of the American economy, his relationships with his advisers, and foreign policy, with particular emphasis on Cuba and the Soviet Union. The interview includes remarks from journalists Bill Lawrence of ABC, George H. Herman of CBS, and Sander Vancour of NBC. The interview was recorded on December 16, 1962, and broadcast on December 17, 1962. Parts two and three of the interview continue with JFKWHA-151 and JFKWHA-152, respectively.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-147
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of December 12, 1962 (News Conference 46). The President begins the press conference with a statement thanking the French government for loaning Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa to the United States for exhibition at the National Gallery in Washington D.C. He then states that disputes between the American Athletic Union and athletic federation groups are jeopardizing U.S. participation in international competition, including the 1964 Olympic Games, and urges the groups to put their differences aside immediately. Following these statements the President answers questions on a variety of topics including the alleged information breach of the National Security Council regarding Governor Adlai Stevenson, the possibility of a direct line between the United States and the Soviet Union, the situation in Cuba, and the Alliance for Progress. He also announces he would deposit his papers in a Presidential Library in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Moving image
United States Government Agencies Collection
USG-01-25-2
Motion picture of President John F. Kennedy's News Conference of January 25, 1961 (News Conference 1). President Kennedy begins the press conference with a statement concerning the scheduling of the Geneva negotiations for a nuclear test ban. He then announces that the United States Government has decided to increase famine relief for the Congo and that the Soviet Union has released two members from the crew of the United States Air Force RB-47 aircraft. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including United States policy on nuclear disarmament negotiations, diplomatic relations with Cuba, and communications with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. This is the second of two versions.This is a recording by the United States Information Agency (USIA) and the White House Army Signal Agency (WHASA).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Pierre Salinger
JFKWHSFPS-141-005
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-306-003
This folder contains materials in preparation for President John F. Kennedy's speech before the Inter-American Press Association in Miami, Florida and include a draft of a speech on the Alliance for Progress by W. Averell Harriman, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; a draft of a paper on the Soviet Union presence in Latin America, communism and Cuba, and inter-American policy; and staff memoranda on various topics. Also included in this folder are excerpts from President Kennedy's press conference of November 14, 1963 (News Conference 64).
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-315-004
This folder contains background material for meeting number two of the National Security Council (NSC) Standing Group. Materials include excerpts of news conferences, speeches, and television interviews given by President John F. Kennedy regarding United States policy towards Cuba, the Bay of Pigs incident, the Soviet Union presence in Cuba, and U.S. military intelligence. Also included in this folder is a press release of President Kennedy’s remarks at the annual convention of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, as well as a transcript of the question and answer period following the President's speech.
Textual folder
Papers of Robert F. Kennedy. Attorney General Papers
RFKAG-202-006
Textual folder
Papers of Robert F. Kennedy. Attorney General Papers
RFKAG-202-005
Textual folder
Papers of Robert F. Kennedy. Attorney General Papers
RFKAG-202-004