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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-119-005
Sound recording of a meeting about Berlin, Germany, held on November 5, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, and President Kennedy’s Personal Representative in Berlin General Lucius Clay. Topics of discussion include the stopping of a United States convoy in Berlin, a review of the situation, speculation on its significance, alternative courses of action, press guidance, the Soviet Union’s November celebration, diplomatic representation, the use of small force, Soviet ship movements, and possible Allied action. They also discuss the Ambassadorial Group, Soviet press coverage, and a possible conversation with the Canadian foreign minister. There is further discussion of the possible situation that may arise in Berlin and the possible U.S. response and contingency plans. One segment of the recording totaling 1 minute has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 119/A55, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 119/A55 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-119-003
Sound recording of a meeting about Vietnam held on November 2, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, and Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman. Assistant Secretary Hilsman provides a briefing on Vietnam covering whether or not United States Ambassador to South Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge should return to the United States for a briefing, the restoration of constitutional government in Vietnam, and information on the deaths of President of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem and Ngo Dinh Nhu. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 119/A55, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 119/A55 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-118-005
Sound recording of a meeting about Vietnam held on November 1, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Far East Division William Colby, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Military Advisor to the President General Maxwell Taylor, and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. Topics include a report on the military coup in Vietnam, the constitutional government in Vietnam, a press conference and statement, United States troop movements, incoming cables, and briefing Senator Richard Russell (Georgia). Additional topics include Morocco and Algeria, Cuba, administrative procedures, a vote on United Nations (UN) relief in the Caribbean, and U-2 aircraft. After the meeting, Director of the CIA John McCone makes a telephone call. President Kennedy and Director McCone also discuss the Dominican Republic with topics covering the country's election schedule, political parties, the counter-coup of a few days before, and instructions for U.S. staff. Three segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 34 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 118/A54, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 118/A54 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-118-004
Sound recording of a meeting about Vietnam held on October 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman. They discuss the drafting of a message to United States Ambassador to South Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge, communications, the chain of command, an assessment of the present situation, and United States staffing in Vietnam. Four segments of the recording totaling 12 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 118/A54, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 118/A54 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-118-003
Sound recording of a meeting about Vietnam held on October 29, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Far East Division William Colby, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Military Advisor to the President General Maxwell Taylor, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Director of the CIA John McCone, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They discuss an intelligence report on Vietnam, the orientation of various Vietnamese forces, a 1960 coup attempt, messages to United States staff in Vietnam, whether or not United States Ambassador to South Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge should return to the United States, the chain of command, and convoy procedures for Berlin, Germany. Seven segments of the recording totaling 27 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 118/A54, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 118/A54 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-116-001
Sound recording of three meetings. First is a meeting held on October 11, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, President Kennedy’s Berlin Representative General Lucius Clay, Press Secretary Pierre Salinger, Military Aide to the President General Chester Clifton, Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze, Special Military Assistant to the President General Maxwell Taylor, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant for Europe and Canada David Klein, and Executive Secretary of the NSC Bromley Smith. President Kennedy and his staff review in detail recent issues that Allied troops have faced regarding convoy holdups by the Soviet Union in Berlin, Germany. They discuss changes to the dismount instructions for Berlin convoys and also discuss having talks with Allies concerning these changes. One segment of this recording totaling 29 seconds has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526.Second is an October 16, 1963, meeting on the Dominican Republic. This meeting is closed in full under NLK-10-154a and NLK-01-393-6-4-7: one segment of the recording totaling 38 minutes and 48 seconds has been removed.
Third is a meeting on Berlin, Germany, held on October 21, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Ambassador-at-Large Llewellyn Thompson, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs William Tyler, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Richard Davis; John Ausland from the Department of State; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze, Special Military Assistant to the President General Maxwell Taylor, President Kennedy’s Berlin Representative General Lucius Clay, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and the following meeting participants listed in the President's schedule: Mr. Janney, Mr. Whitman, Colonel William Smith, and Mr. Diklein. This meeting is similar to a meeting that was held on October 11, 1963. They review recent problems with the Soviets on convoy procedures. They debate further the sorts of discussions that need to be held with officials of the Soviet Union concerning these ongoing problems. One segment of the recording totaling 26 seconds has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526.
This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 116/A52, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 116/A52 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-114-A50c
Sound recording of two meetings. First is a meeting on Brazil held on October 7, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Edwin Martin, United States Ambassador to Brazil Lincoln Gordon, Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) David Bell, Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Marshall Carter, Director of Covert Operations for the CIA Richard Helms, and Special Assistant to the President Ralph Dungan. They discuss the conditions in Brazil, President of Brazil Joao Goulart’s popularity, and the possible removal of President Goulart and his possible successors. There are also discussions on Brazilian military intervention, President Kennedy's possible trip to Brazil, and a Presidential statement regarding coups. Second is a meeting on Vietnam held on October 8, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor. They discuss a possible coup and the position of the United States on a possible coup and Vietnamese military leaders, press leaks, the use of Lucien Conein, a military display for Vietnamese Independence Day, appearances by Secretary McNamara and General Taylor before the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Congressional adjournment. At the end of the meeting, several Senators enter the room and talk among themselves briefly before the tape cuts off.
This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 114/A50, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 114/A50 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-114-A50b
Sound recording of a meeting on Vietnam held on October 5, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) David Bell, and Senior Member of the National Security Council (NSC) Michael Forrestal. They discuss the possible impact on the government of South Vietnam if the United States cuts off commodities and also discuss the Vietnamese oppression of Buddhists. They also discuss General Paul D. Harkins's meeting with President of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem and Colonel Le Quang Tung, the role of United States Ambassador to Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge, conditions needed for the resumption of aid, General Harkins’s role regarding the military, proposed testimony before a Congressional committee, and the timing of the reduction of troops and advisors. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 114/A50, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 114/A50 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-111-003
Sound recording of a meeting about Vietnam held on September 17, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. The discussion centers around a proposed trip of General Taylor and Secretary McNamara to Vietnam. President Kennedy requested this trip as a way to get additional viewpoints on the current situation, both political and military, in Vietnam. Much of the discussion centers around how United States Ambassador to South Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge might react to the proposed trip and how to phrase a letter to Ambassador Lodge. There is also further discussion on South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem and Ngo Dinh Nhu and what course of action the United States should take to put pressure on them, particularly on President Diem. Eight segments of the recording totaling 6 minutes and 51 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 111, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 111 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-111-001
Sound recording of part of a National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on September 12, 1963. The recording of this meeting begins on Tape 110. Participants include President John F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Glenn Seaborg, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness Edward McDermott, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore Sorensen, Military Aide to the President Major General Chester Clifton, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. They discuss the Armed Services Committee and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and their thoughts on nuclear superiority, including what nuclear superiority means with regard to weaponry and strategy. One segment of the recording totaling 1 minute and 14 seconds has been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 111, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 111 in its entirety or the beginning of this recording on Tape 110.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-110-004
Sound recording of part of a National Security Council meeting meeting held on September 12, 1963. Participants include President John F. Kennedy, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Glenn Seaborg, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Maxwell Taylor, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness Edward McDermott, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore Sorensen, Military Aide to the President Major General Chester Clifton, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. The first portion of this NSC meeting concerns a recent Air Force Association statement on nuclear superiority and what that means in regards to weaponry and strategy. Only about 7 and a half minutes of the meeting are recorded on this tape. The recording ends abruptly and continues on Tape 111. Four segments of the recording totaling 3 minutes and 46 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 13526. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 110, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding one. See Related Records to access Tape 110 in its entirety or the remainder of this recording on Tape 111.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-104-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on August 12, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs William Bundy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, CIA official James Critchfield, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, member of the National Security Council Robert W. Komer, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs Phillips Talbot, Administrator for the Agency for International Development (AID) David Bell, and Department of State Official Turner Cameron. Under Secretary Ball is leaving shortly for a mission to Pakistan. Meeting participants review what discussions should take place between Under Secretary Ball and President Mohammad Ayub Khan of Pakistan. The performance of a choral group follows. Most likely a group of visiting Irish teachers, they sing for President Kennedy. The quality of the recording is poor and the performance lasts for two minutes. Six segments of the recording totaling 4 minutes and 38 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. The quality of the recording is poor and the performance lasts for two minutes. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 104, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 104 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-102-005
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 31, 1963, at 4:30 p.m., between President John F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman, Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, CIA Deputy Director for Intelligence Ray Cline, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Bundy, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, and General Earle Wheeler. In this National Security Council (NSC) meeting they discuss Chinese Communists intentions. They cover a variety of issues such as: the Sino-Soviet dispute, the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s remarks to Harriman, India, Korea, Laos, Indian Nehru, U.S. relations with India, Chinese troop movements, and Korean fighting. There was also a discussion on Southeast Asia, covering Laos, Vietnam, India, measures against communists, a draft statement concerning India and Korea and Chinese Communists. There are further discussions on India, covering the present position and defense situation, Taiwan, USIA coverage of the situation, and Buddhists throughout Southeast Asia. Four segments of the recording totaling 5 minutes and 34 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 102, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 102 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-096-005
Sound recording of two meetings held on July 9, 1963, concerning negotiations on the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). Specifically discussed is Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman’s upcoming mission to Moscow. The first is the larger National Security Council (NSC) meeting held in the Cabinet Room, White House, Washington, D.C. Participants in the first meeting include President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Assistant Director of the ACDA Adrian Fisher, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn Seaborg, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense John McNaughton, Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor, member of the National Security Council (NSC) Edward McDermott, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State Averell Harriman, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Assistant Secretary of State William R. Tyler, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon, Deputy Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Donald Wilson, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Nitze, Deputy Special Assistant to the President Carl Kaysen, and Executive Director of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. The second meeting is held in the Oval Office of the White House immediately following the NSC meeting. Participants in the second meeting include President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor. In the second meeting, issues the Kennedy Administration is having with Congress and the Joint Chiefs concerning the test ban are discussed in detail. After the Oval Office meeting concludes, there is approximately ten minutes of hallway conversations and drilling sounds. Seven segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 29 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 96, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 96 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-096-001
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 3, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, Assistant Secretary of State William R. Tyler, Military Representative of the President Maxwell Taylor, Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, Deputy Special Assistant to the President Carl Kaysen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense John McNaughton, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John McCone, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Nitze, Assistant Director of ACDA Adrian Fisher, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. This meeting takes place in the late afternoon (another meeting had taken place earlier in the day). The main topic of conversation is Averell Harriman's upcoming mission to Moscow for negotiations on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and how those negotiations would or could affect relationships between the United States and West Germany and its Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, France and its President Charles DeGaulle, and the United Kingdom and its Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Ideas for letters from President Kennedy to Chancellor Adenauer are also discussed. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 96, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 96 in its entirety.