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Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-26B
Dictation Belt 26B contains seven sound recordings. Item 26B.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy, Herbert S. Walters, Governor Frank G. Clement of Tennessee, and Walter Clement. They discuss the appointment of Herbert S. Walters to succeed the late Estes Kefauver as United States Senator from Tennessee. President Kennedy speaks briefly to Governor Clement’s father Walter. Item 26B.2 is a telephone conversation held in August 1963 between President John F. Kennedy and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John W. McCormack of Massachusetts. They discuss their legislative strategy on a tax bill, including how to deal with Representative Wilbur Mills of Arkansas. For most of the recording there is a strong echo. Item 26B.2A is a brief telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and Tazewell Shepard, Naval Aide to the President. Shepard asks what time President Kennedy will be available for a discussion. Item 26B.3 is a telephone conversation held on August 22, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Solicitor General Archibald Cox. They discuss a tidelands issue concerning Louisiana. Item 26B.3A is a brief telephone exchange on August 23, 1963, between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Arthur J. Goldberg. They chat while Justice Goldberg holds for President Kennedy. Item 26B.4 is a telephone conversation held on August 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Arthur J. Goldberg. Justice Goldberg advises President Kennedy on negotiations concerning a railroad work rules dispute. Item 26B.5 is part of a telephone conversation held on August 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Senator J. William Fulbright. They discuss hearings on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 26C.Transcript included. Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-24A
Dictation Belt 24A contains seven sound recordings. Item 24A.1 is a telephone conversation held on July 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and former President Harry S. Truman. Former President Truman congratulates President Kennedy on The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963. President Kennedy asks former President Truman to make a public statement about the treaty. Item 24A.1A is a brief telephone exchange on July 26, 1963, between a White House Operator and Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz. The operator speaks to Secretary Wirtz as he holds for President Kennedy. Item 24A.2 is a telephone conversation held on July 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz. They discuss legislation regarding railroad work rules and George Meany’s position and strategy on the matter. Item 24A.3 is a telephone conversation held on July 26, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. They discuss enlisting businessmen for an unidentified project. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 24A.4 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. The unidentified man reports on Cardinal (Richard J.) Cushing’s discussion of the election of Pope Paul VI. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 24A.5 is a telephone conversation held on July 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss whether United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General U. Thant and Ambassador to the U.N. Adlai E. Stevenson should attend the signing of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963. They also discuss releasing a statement concerning President Charles de Gaulle of France. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 24A.6 is a telephone conversation held on July 30, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John W. McCormack of Massachusetts, and Representative George H. Mahon of Texas. They discuss a defense budget cut, related concerns involving Korea and the Soviet Union, and potential political consequences. The recording begins in mid-conversation and ends abruptly.Transcript included. Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-23B
Dictation Belt 23B contains six sound recordings. Item 23B.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Senator George A. Smathers of Florida. It probably occurred between July 10 and July 17, 1963. They discuss President Kennedy’s response to an unidentified grievance, judgments about the suitability of men to serve in roles related to a railroad work rules dispute, and a press editorial critical of President Kennedy. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 23B.2 is closed. Personal conversations withdrawn under privacy provisions of the donor’s deed of gift. Item 23B.3 is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation held on July 17, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon. The topic of discussion is unclear. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 23B.4 is a telephone conversation held on July 19, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Senator George A. Smathers of Florida. They discuss a legislative strategy for a foreign aid bill. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 23B.5 is a telephone conversation held on July 19, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Senator Russell B. Long of Louisiana. They discuss a foreign aid bill. [White House Operator?] announces the call. Item 23B.6 is part of a telephone conversation held on July 24, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. They discuss hearings 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 the positions held by various Senators. The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 23C.Transcript included. Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-26D
Dictation Belt 26D contains eight sound recordings. The recording of the conversation in item 26D.1 begins on Dictation Belt 26C.3. Item 26D.1 is part of a telephone conversation held on August 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Louis Harris. They continue to discuss polling on various issues, including tax cuts, Congress, and regional attitudes. Item 26D.2 is a telephone conversation held on August 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Assistant Secretary of State Frederick G. Dutton. They discuss congressional hearings on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). Item 26D.3 is a telephone conversation held on August 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President Lawrence F. O’Brien. They discuss a bill on foreign aid and a bill on railroad work rules arbitration. Item 26D.3A is a brief telephone exchange on August 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and a White House Operator. President Kennedy asks to speak to Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz. Machine noise follows the exchange. Item 26D.3B is a brief telephone exchange on August 23, 1963, between a White House Operator and an unidentified man. They say hello. Machine noise follows the exchange. Item 26D.4 is a telephone conversation held on August 23, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz. They discuss arbitration legislation concerning a dispute over railroad work rules. There is an echo throughout the recording. Item 26D.5 is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. They talk about a memorandum and arrange a meeting. The recording begins in mid-sentence. Item 26D.6 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. They discuss unidentified legislation. A delay precedes the conversation. The recording ends abruptly and much of it is badly garbled. Transcript included. Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-26C
Dictation Belt 26C contains five sound recordings from August 23, 1963. The recording of the conversation in item 26C.1 begins on Dictation Belt 26B.5. Item 26C.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Senator J. William Fulbright. They continue to discuss hearings and legislative strategy on a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). Item 26C.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Representative Torbert H. Macdonald of Massachusetts. They discuss unidentified legislation and railroad work rules legislation. [White House Operator?] announces the call. Item 26C.2A is a brief telephone exchange between President John F. Kennedy and a White House Operator. President Kennedy asks the operator to place calls to Special Assistant to the President Frederick G. Dutton and Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz. Machine noise follows the exchange. Item 26C.2B is an unintelligible recording of something said by President John F. Kennedy. This is not a telephone exchange, but rather something said while the telephone was off the hook prior to the telephone conversation in item 26C.3. Item 26C.3 is part of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Louis Harris. They discuss polling on potential Republican Presidential candidates in 1964, tax cuts, and other issues. The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 26D.Transcript included. Each item listed above is also available individually as an excerpt derived from this full-length digitized recording. See Related Records for more information.