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Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-313-031
This folder contains an agenda and a Record of Actions for meeting number 499 of the National Security Council (NSC) regarding a proposed atmospheric nuclear testing program. Of note is a letter to President John F. Kennedy from Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), regarding a proposed schedule for the atmospheric testing program and seeking the President’s approval for the program.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-332-014
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 112 (NSAM 112) titled, “Atmospheric Testing Policy,” to Secretary of State Dean Rusk; Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara; Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); and Jerome B. Wiesner, Special Assistant to the President on Science and Technology, from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are a memorandum from Chairman Seaborg to President John F. Kennedy on the atmospheric test program, and a list of nuclear weapons tests conducted by the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-338-013
This file contains a copy of National Security Action Memoranda number 185 (NSAM 185) titled, “Approval of Additional Nuclear Tests,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg from President John F. Kennedy. Also included is a letter to the President from Secretary McNamara and Chairman Seaborg regarding high altitude nuclear tests in the Johnston Island area and a request for approval of additional tests.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-331-017
This folder contains materials regarding National Security Action Memoranda number 87 (NSAM 87) and a memorandum of decision for the resumption of nuclear weapons testing. Of note is a letter to President John F. Kennedy from Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), discussing the nuclear weapons tests.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-330-001
This folder contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 51 (NSAM 51) titled, “Safety of Nuclear Weapons and Weapons Systems,” to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included in this folder is correspondence between Bundy and Representative Chet Holifield, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy; and a letter from Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Glenn T. Seaborg to Congressman Holifield regarding a review of safety standards for nuclear weapons.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-041-037
This folder contains a press copy of President John F. Kennedy's remarks at the presentation of the 1962 Enrico Fermi Award to Dr. Edward Teller in the White House Rose Garden. In his speech the President proudly describes the United States as a haven for talented scientists, and discusses Dr. Teller's contributions to thermonuclear research and the peaceful use of nuclear explosives. The press copy includes remarks from Dr. Teller and Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-299-020
This folder contains a letter from Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, to President John F. Kennedy concerning atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. Attached to the letter is a memorandum from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, concerning Dr. Seaborg’s recommendations.
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-103-001
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 31, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Director of Livermore Laboratories Dr. John Foster, Director of the Los Alamos Laboratory Dr. Norris Bradbury, Dr. Glenn Seaborg, and Commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) John Palfrey. President Kennedy and the four scientists discuss the functions of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). President Kennedy attempts to gauge their support or lack of support for the Treaty since the scientists will likely be asked to testify before the U.S. Senate as scientific nuclear experts. During the early part of the meeting, President Kennedy comments on the possibility of the Treaty bringing about a détente with the Soviet Union. Nine segments of the recording totaling 24 minutes and 38 seconds have been removed for reasons of national security. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 103, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 103 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.