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Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-081
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of March 21, 1962 (News Conference 28). The President begins the press conference with an announcement concerning the reply he received from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to his letter regarding on United States-Soviet cooperation in outer space exploration. Following this announcement the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including disarmament discussions in Geneva, the United Nations bond issue proposal, Guantanamo Bay, and demonstrations by United States military reservists.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-143-004
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s radio and television statement on the dismantling of Soviet missile bases in Cuba. In his speech President Kennedy indicates that the missile bases are in the dismantlement process, and explains that the naval quarantine on Cuba will remain in effect until the situation is resolved.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-142-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s radio and television address to the nation regarding the former Soviet Union’s military presence in Cuba. In his speech President Kennedy reports the establishment of offensive missile sites presumably intended to launch a nuclear offensive against Western nations. The President characterizes the transformation of Cuba into an important strategic base as an explicit threat to American security, and explains seven components to his proposed course of action: quarantine all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba, increase the degree of surveillance, regard a possible attack launched from Cuba as a Soviet attack, reinforce the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, call for a meeting of the Organ of Consultation, call for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, and demand that Premier Nikita Khrushchev cease his current course of action. In his speech the President famously states, “Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right- not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this Hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world.”
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-124
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 29, 1962 (News Conference 42). The President begins the press conference by announcing the retirement of Associate Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter for health reasons and the appointment of Secretary of Labor Arthur J. Goldberg to fill the vacancy. He also announces that the Soviet representative in Geneva has proposed a cut-off date of January 1, 1963 for all nuclear weapons testing. The President agrees with the proposed date and urges all affected governments to accelerate negotiations in order to meet the goal. The President then answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including nuclear test agreements, Berlin, the influx of supplies and technicians into Cuba from the Soviet Union, and a scientific investigation into the side effects of pesticides, particularly DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane).
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-041
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of June 28, 1961 (News Conference 13). President Kennedy begins the press conference with a statement concerning the death of journalist Ed Koterba, followed by lengthy statements concerning the situation in Berlin and the Soviets’ refusal to negotiate on a nuclear test ban at Geneva. He then responds to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s statement that the Soviet Union would out produce the United States by 1970. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation in Berlin, the rate of economic growth in the United States, and foreign policymaking for Latin America.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-004
Sound recording of the President's News Conference of January 25, 1961 (News Conference 1). President Kennedy begins the press conference with a statement concerning the scheduling of the Geneva negotiations for a nuclear test ban. He then announces that the United States Government has decided to increase famine relief for the Congo and that the Soviet Union has released two members from the crew of the United States Air Force RB-47 aircraft. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including United States policy on nuclear disarmament negotiations, diplomatic relations with Cuba, and communications with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-154
Sound recording of the second part of President John F. Kennedy’s edited radio and television interview entitled “After Two Years: A Conversation with the President” broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). In the interview President Kennedy discusses America’s conflict with the Soviet Union, the spread of communism, and nuclear weapons proliferation. The interview includes remarks from journalists Bill Lawrence of ABC, George H. Herman of CBS, and Sander Vancour of NBC. Part one of the interview begins with JFKWHA-153.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-151
Sound recording of the second part of President John F. Kennedy’s unedited radio and television interview entitled “After Two Years: A Conversation with the President” broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). In the interview President Kennedy discusses America’s conflict with the Soviet Union, the spread of communism, nuclear weapons proliferation, efforts to improve international communication, and foreign policy, with particular emphasis on Berlin and Cuba. The interview was recorded on December 16, 1962, and broadcast on December 17, 1962. Part one of the interview begins with JFKWHA-150 and part three continues with JFKWHA-152.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-076-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s address, “Nuclear Testing and Disarmament.” In his speech President Kennedy announces and explains his decision to resume nuclear testing as a matter of national security, noting that true security can only be achieved in mutual disarmament with effective inspection, and that tests might be cancelled by the signing of a satisfactory treaty with the Soviet Union.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-053-007
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks concerning the testing and development of nuclear weapons. In his statement President Kennedy explains his policy concerning the testing and development of nuclear weapons, and characterizes the recent series of nuclear tests conducted by the Soviet Union as dangerous and irresponsible.