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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-102-001
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 29, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss plans for the signing of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), letters to congressmen supporting the treaty, and French President Charles de Gaulle’s speech and position on the treaty. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 102, which contains additional sound recording(s) following 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-100-003
Sound recording of a meeting that seems to be held on July 24, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs U. Alexis Johnson, Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) Edward R. Murrow, Benjamin Read, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) Bromley Smith. This meeting is mostly a continuation on of the previous day’s staff discussion on the language of instructions to Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman, the language of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and the note on the treaty, as well as the wording of a speech by President Kennedy. Shortly after the meeting begins President Kennedy leaves to call former President Harry S. Truman to discuss the Test Ban Treaty and does not return for the remainder of the meeting. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 100, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 100 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-100-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, John McCloy, Special Counsel to the President Theodore Sorensen, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith. They discuss instructions for Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman concerning the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The staff group had reworked the instructions to Under Secretary Harriman and to Charles Bohlen in France. There is also a long discussion about Article 1 and how the nuclear test ban would not and could not limit a country from defending itself with nuclear weapons in a time of war. Also, there is discussion on the Congressional Delegation and the Test Ban Treaty. (Please note that President Kennedy leaves the meeting after 15 minutes and does not return for the remainder of the meeting. According to the White House Appointment Books, he left to attend the Congressional Social Hour.) After this meeting there is a short break in the tape, followed by a brief discussion between President Kennedy, Secretary Rusk, McGeorge Bundy, and others. They discuss issues concerning the proposed test ban treaty. Two segments of the recording totaling 51 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 100, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 100 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-099-007
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 22, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Bromley Smith. They discuss the negotiations going on in Moscow concerning the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). Drafts of documents and letters to French President Charles de Gaulle and to Under Secretary of State W. Averell Harriman are also reviewed. There is also mention of the upcoming debate on the treaty that will take place on Capitol Hill. Please note that the last 17 minutes of this tape is blank. Three segments of the recording totaling 1 minutes and 8 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 99, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 99 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-098-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Under Secretary of State George Ball, Ambassador at Large Llewellyn Thompson, Director United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) William Foster, and Special Assistant Ben Read from the Department of State. This meeting provides a forum in which President Kennedy and his staff review the “withdrawal clause” in the drafts of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and how it might be received in the United States Congress. There is also discussion on how and when to approach the United Kingdom, France, and Germany and related foreign policy issues with each of these countries. Near the meeting’s end there is also discussion about keeping the test ban treaty and the non aggression pact negotiations as separate and distinct entities. Four segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 11 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 98, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. See Related Records to access Tape 98in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-098-003
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) Adlai Stevenson, Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Charles W. Yost, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Harlan Cleveland, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs G. Mennen Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Frank Sloan, Legal Advisor for the Department of State Abram Chayes, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs William Bundy. The meeting focuses on the steps to be taken in the United Nations pertaining to a resolution on self-determination for Portuguese Africa. Topics include the wording of the resolution, the setup of any mediation, the level of U.S. involvement, the possible effect on the Azores base, an arms embargo, and the effect of all of these matters on U.S. foreign policy with African nations and with Portugal. Four segments of the recording totaling 2 minutes and 11 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 98, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 98 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.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-089-004
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 28, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency William Foster, and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs William R. Tyler. The main subject of the meeting is Europe and specifically the current situation concerning the Multilateral Force (MLF). An interview that morning with German minister Kai-Uwe von Hassel has President Kennedy quite concerned over Germany and prospects for the MLF. The group also is working on gaining British support for the MLF; a draft letter to British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan is reviewed. Near the end of the meeting the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), and possible upcoming negotiations on the treaty are debated, with President Kennedy taking a pessimistic view of the prospects for success of the negotiations. Four segments of the recording totaling 57 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 89, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 89 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-089-001
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 24, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy. The first topic is an overview of the discussions that took place in Ottawa, Ontario, at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) North Atlantic Council Ministerial meeting. Specifically President Kennedy wants to know how much genuine interest there was in Europe for the Multilateral Force (MLF). President Kennedy next discusses the upcoming meeting with French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville. Congress and the United Arab Republic’s Abu Simbel temples are also briefly mentioned before the discussion turns to Israeli nuclear development. Seven segments of the recording totaling 6 minutes and 47 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 89, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 89 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-088-003
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 20, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and Under Secretary of State George Ball. They briefly discuss the issues and negotiations pertaining to the upcoming General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Conference. There is some commentary on foreign countries and trade issues. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 88, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 88 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-088-002
Sound recording of a meeting held on May 20, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Taylor. They discuss North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) force requirements, the Multilateral Force (MLF), and NATO financing. There is very little paperwork available on this meeting. The meeting begins with a brief discussion about Cuba. In addition there is an interesting exchange later in the meeting concerning the Civil Aeronautics Board and a memo that President Kennedy wrote on some recent issues of concern, and there is some discussion about President Kennedy's upcoming trip to Europe. Eight segments of the recording totaling 4 minutes and 9 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 88, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 88 in its entirety.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-MTG-088-001
Sound recording of a meeting most likely held on May 17, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Philips Talbot, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs James P. Grant, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy, and member of the National Security Council Robert W. Komer. They discuss the Middle East, specifically the hope that an arms limitation agreement can be coordinated for that area of the world. Israel had wanted the United States to sign a security guarantee with them as a step towards the arms limitation agreement, but the Kennedy Administration is cautious about making any moves which will seem to align the United States with one side or the other and then alienate the Arabs or Israel. There was considerable finger-pointing between the United Arab Republic and Israel over each country possibly creating nuclear weapons. The goal of the United States is an arms limitation agreement with inspections, and this meeting provides an overview of the steps the Kennedy Administration wants to take to aid in the peace of the region. Eight segments of the recording totaling 5 minutes and 10 seconds have been removed in accordance with Section 3.4 (b) (1), (3) of Executive Order 12958. Please note that this meeting does not seem to be a continuation of the last meeting on tape 87, which covers the same subject. From the paperwork, this meeting on Tape 88 seems to be the 5:00 p.m. meeting that occurred on the same day (May 17, 1963). This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 88, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 88 in its entirety.