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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RH-01
In this interview Hilsman discusses his initial interactions with John F. Kennedy [JFK]; Hilsman’s appointment to the Department of State during the Kennedy Administration; Foreign Service officers and “hot-seat” jobs; issues with Dean Rusk as Secretary of State; reorganizing the Bureau of Intelligence and Research; the flow of information between the State Department and the White House; staffing the State Department; the use of satellite intelligence; John A. McCone; working with and around Robert F. Kennedy [RFK]; JFK, RFK, and Vietnam; Edward G. Lansdale; Maxwell D. Taylor; the connection between Vietnam and Laos; U.S. action in Laos; the Buddhist crisis in Vietnam; the impact of WWII on Hilsman and JFK’s generation; and the 1963 coup in Vietnam, among other issues.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-11-25-A
AR41, ST34, KN40
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-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.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-09-E
ST14
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-01-B
AR28, ST14, KN24
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-09-28-E
AR27, ST14, KN23
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-10-29-A
ST15
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C53-2-62
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: 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; 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; 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-KN-C24326
Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance (at microphones), delivers remarks at the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (right); President John F. Kennedy stands left of Secretary Vance. Standing in back (L-R): 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; 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 (mostly hidden); Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; General Maxwell D. Taylor; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze (mostly hidden); General Decker's children, James Inman Decker and Jane Decker Francisco. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C24325
Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance (at microphones), delivers remarks at the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (right); President John F. Kennedy stands left of Secretary Vance. Standing in back (L-R): 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; 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; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri (very back, mostly hidden); General Maxwell D. Taylor; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze (mostly hidden); General Decker's children, James Inman Decker and Jane Decker Francisco. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C24323
Visitors gather in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., for the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker. Standing on steps to the West Wing Colonnade at left are: President John F. Kennedy; Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance; General Decker; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Representative George H. Mahon (Texas); Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; 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; Senator Stuart Symington (Missouri); Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; General Maxwell D. Taylor; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; General Decker's children, James Inman Decker and Jane Decker Francisco. Also pictured: newsreel photographer for United Press Movietone, Thomas J. Craven, Sr.; 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-A26-25-62
President John F. Kennedy meets with members of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) regarding the crisis in Cuba. Clockwise from top right side of table: Under Secretary of State George Ball, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul Nitze, Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson, Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (mostly hidden), Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone (mostly hidden behind Director Foster). Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A26-18-62
President John F. Kennedy meets with members of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) regarding the crisis in Cuba. Seated at table (clockwise from bottom left): Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul Nitze, Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson (partially hidden), Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone (mostly hidden), Under Secretary of State George Ball (partially hidden), Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy stands at far left; President Kennedy (looking down, with hands on table) and Secretary of State Dean Rusk stand at far right; Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith (back left) sits against the wall, near the bookcase. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A26-16-62
President John F. Kennedy meets with members of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) regarding the crisis in Cuba. Seated at table (clockwise from bottom left): Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul Nitze, Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson (partially hidden), Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Under Secretary of State George Ball (mostly hidden), Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Kennedy (mostly hidden behind Secretary Rusk), and White House Press Secretary Pierre Salinger (on far edge of frame) stand at right; Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith (back left) sits against the wall, near the bookcase. Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A26-1-62
President John F. Kennedy meets with members of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) regarding the crisis in Cuba. Clockwise from top right side of table: Under Secretary of State George Ball, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell Gilpatric, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul Nitze, Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson, Special Counsel to the President Theodore C. Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security McGeorge Bundy (mostly hidden), Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (mostly hidden), Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William C. Foster, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone (mostly hidden behind Director Foster). Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C57-1-62
Members of the National Security Council (NSC) Special Group on Counter-Insurgency (CI) meet in the Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. Seated at table (clockwise from top): Chairman of the Special Group and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Maxwell D. Taylor; Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID), Fowler Hamilton; Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald M. Wilson; outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, U. Alexis Johnson; Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy. [Notes: White spotting and scratches on image are original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-415-6-62
President John F. Kennedy (center right, at microphones) delivers remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of General Maxwell D. Taylor as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS); General Taylor and Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy, stand right of President Kennedy. Looking on from the steps of the West Wing Colonnade, beginning at far left (left to right): 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.; General Omar Bradley; outgoing Chairman of the JCS, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Lydia Taylor; Admiral Arthur W. Radford; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. General John C. Munn; Secretary of the Navy, Fred Korth; Secretary of the Air Force, Eugene M. Zuckert; Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell Gilpatric; Mary Happer, sister-in-law of General Taylor; unidentified person; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John A. McCone; two unidentified persons; former Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker. Photographers observe at right, in the foreground. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-415-3-62
President John F. Kennedy (center right, at microphones) delivers remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of General Maxwell D. Taylor as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS); General Taylor and Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy, stand right of President Kennedy. Looking on from the steps of the West Wing Colonnade, beginning at far left (left to right): 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.; General Omar Bradley; outgoing Chairman of the JCS, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Lydia Taylor; Admiral Arthur W. Radford; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. General John C. Munn; Secretary of the Navy, Fred Korth; Secretary of the Air Force, Eugene M. Zuckert; Pearle Davenport Taylor; Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell Gilpatric; Mary Happer, sister-in-law of General Taylor; unidentified person; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John A. McCone; two unidentified persons; former Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker. Photographers observe at right, in the foreground. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-426-9-62
President John F. Kennedy shakes hands with retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (center right), after presenting him with the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). Standing in back (L-R): 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); Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric; Helen Decker; 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; Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri (partially hidden); Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; General Maxwell D. Taylor (mostly hidden); 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. [Scratch in upper left portion of image is original to the negative.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-426-2-62
Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance (at microphones), delivers remarks at the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (right); President John F. Kennedy stands left of Secretary Vance. Standing in back (L-R): Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John McCone; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Representative George H. Mahon of Texas (mostly hidden behind General Lemnitzer); 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; Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri (mostly hidden); Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; General Maxwell D. Taylor; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze (partially hidden); General Decker's children, James Inman Decker and Jane Decker Francisco. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C. [Scratch in upper right portion of image is original to the negative.]
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-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.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7508-D
Retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker, delivers remarks after receiving the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). Left to right: 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; Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell L. Gilpatric (partially hidden); President John F. Kennedy; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral George W. Anderson, Jr.; General Decker (at microphones); Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. General John C. Munn (partially hidden); Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara; Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri (mostly hidden); General Maxwell D. Taylor; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Paul Nitze; General Decker's son, James Inman Decker; Secretary of the Army, Cyrus R. Vance. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.