Dictation Belt 50 contains four sound recordings. Item 50.1 is a recording of two telephone exchanges. The first exchange is a telephone conversation between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a woman called “Barbara” who answers the telephone in the office of White House Social Secretary Letitia Baldrige. They discuss President John F. Kennedy’s decisions on social affairs, one involving Chief Justice Earl Warren and another involving a luncheon. A long delay precedes the conversation. [White House Operator?] places the call at Lincoln’s request. Machine noise follows the conversation. The second exchange is a brief telephone exchange between President John F. Kennedy and a White House Operator. President Kennedy asks the operator to place a call to Charles Bartlett. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 50.2 is a telephone conversation held in 1962 between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. They discuss James H. Meredith’s accusations of segregation within the United States Army. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 50.3 is a telephone conversation held in 1962 between President John F. Kennedy and Senator George A. Smathers of Florida. They discuss the signing of an unidentified bill, southern politics, and other congressional matters. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 50.4 is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation held in 1962 between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. The topic of discussion is unclear. The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly.

Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.