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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-LWH-01
In this interview, Lord Harlech discusses John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] early opinions on disarmament; dealings with Nikita S. Khrushchev and the Soviet Union; the Cuban crisis; issues with selling and testing American missiles; how JFK’s relationship with British Prime Minister M. Harold Macmillan developed over time and how they worked together on specific issues; how JFK’s interest in politics and foreign affairs developed; difficulties with France over their nuclear program in 1962; JFK’s skills and character; JFK’s different circles of friends; and JFK and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis’ approaches to life in the public eye, among other issues.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1961-09-25-A
ST04
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-02
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses the 1961 Berlin crisis; American forces, military and diplomatic, in Germany; John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] recommendation for Americans to have fallout shelters; nuclear testing; problems with the Department of State; the start of the conflict in Vietnam, 1961; the Department of Justice under RFK and organized crime; RFK’s difficult relationship with J. Edgar Hoover; the wiretapping bill; new federal judgeships in 1961 and other presidential appointments; the Alliance for Progress; Red China; crises during JFK’s presidency and how he was an optimist; RFK’s move for an income tax increase during the Berlin crisis; RFK’s disagreements with President JFK; indecisiveness over picking JFK’s running mate, 1960; the missile gap; fighting and UN operations in the Congo; Nikita S. Khrushchev’s speeches; RFK’s 1962 trip to Japan, Indonesia, Germany, and other countries; the release of Allen L. Pope; Dutch disputes in Southeast Asia; the 1961 crisis in the Dominican Republic and the assassination of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina; the 1962 disarmament conference in Geneva; Edward M. Kennedy’s 1962 campaign for U.S. Senate; the Kennedy family national and political reputation; the Justice Department under RFK and civil rights; and the 1962 steel crisis, among other issues.
Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-01
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses beginning John F. Kennedy's [JFK] presidential Administration with no political obligations; carefully picking Cabinet members, specifically Secretaries of State, Defense, and Treasury; RFK’s decision on what role to play in JFK’s Administration; JFK’s unhappiness with Dean Rusk as Secretary of State; JFK’s advisers and other presidential appointments; Cabinet meetings; Department of Justice organization under RFK; the first 100 days of the Kennedy Administration; the role of the Vice President, according to RFK; JFK’s relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson and why JFK put Johnson on the ticket in 1960; what JFK was most concerned with as President; domestic programs versus foreign affairs in the Kennedy Administration; Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.’s role during JFK’s presidency; the Bay of Pigs, the aftermath, and its effect on JFK; how JFK approached problems as President; dealing with Georgi Bolshakov; negotiating with the Soviet Union in Vienna, over Laos and Cuba, etc.; JFK’s relationship with foreign heads of state; State Department staff and U.S. Ambassadors; the military coup in Vietnam; the Berlin crisis of the summer of 1961 and the Berlin Wall; RFK’s 1961 trip to the Ivory Coast; and Soviet and American nuclear testing, among other issues.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-30
Dictation Belt 30 contains two sound recordings from October 22, 1962. Item 30.1 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and John J. McCloy. President Kennedy asks McCloy to return to the United States from Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to support the handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis at the United Nations (U.N.). The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 30.2 is a recording of three telephone exchanges. The first exchange is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. They discuss ways to deal with the Cuban Missile Crisis and consider possible consequences, including nuclear war and actions taken by the Soviet Union in Berlin, Germany. The recording begins in mid-conversation. The second exchange is chatter involving [White House Operators?]. Machine noise follows. The third exchange is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation between Secretary of State Dean Rusk and an unidentified man. They talk about an impending address to the nation on providing an “effective quarantine” against a threat.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
United States Information Agency Audio Recordings Collection
USIAAU-044
Sound recording of a Russian-language Radio Liberty (RFE/RL, Inc.) broadcast on October 12, 1961, called “War or Peace.” The radio broadcast includes excerpts from President John F. Kennedy's address in New York City before the General Assembly of the United Nations (U.N.) on September 25, 1961; excerpts cover nuclear testing and disarmament, a proposal for a treaty to stop nuclear testing, free elections, security, the crisis in Berlin, Germany, and the role and organization of the U.N. Also included are excerpts from remarks by the Premier of the Soviet Union Nikita S. Khrushchev and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union Andrei Gromyko. Accession MR-1965-143B
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.
Moving image
Television Network Columbia Broadcasting System Collection
TNC-020
CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) motion picture of President John F. Kennedy's address before the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in New York City. See "Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy, 1961: Item 387." President of the General Assembly Mongi Slim, a Representative from Tunisia, introduces the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Venezuela Marcos Falcon Briceno, who addresses the General Assembly, speaking about the recent death of U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold and international relations. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy arrives at U.N. Headquarters. President Kennedy arrives and is introduced by President Slim. In his speech President Kennedy addresses the recent death of Secretary-General Hammarskjold, presents six proposals for the new Disarmament Program, and provides information on the current crises in Berlin, Germany, Laos, and South Vietnam. At the conclusion of the President's address, there are shots of delegates in the General Assembly, and President Kennedy being escorted out of the hall by President Slim. CBS No. 610925. Copyright restrictions apply.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Walter W. Heller
JFKWHSFWWH-MF31-009
This folder contains material compiled by Walter W. Heller concerning disarmament. Items include a report of the Panel on Economic Impacts of Disarmament that was submitted to the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; an article titled "Arms Control Will Not Cut Defense Cost" by T. C. Schelling, reprinted from Harvard Business Review; a paper titled "Economic Adjustments to Disarmament" by Murray L. Weidenbaum; the United States' to the Secretariat of the United Nations on "The Economic and Social Consequences of Disarmament"; a booklet titled "The Economics of Disarmament," published by the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Future; and a Council of Economic Advisers staff paper by Richard Nelson on "The Impact of Disarmament on Research and Development."
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-305-020
This folder contains a press release and drafts for a speech given by President Kennedy to the 18th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). In his speech the President discusses the recently signed treaty banning atmospheric, space, and underwater nuclear weapons tests (later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty or Limited Test Ban Treaty), and explains that the task of maintaining peace must be shared by all nations. President Kennedy also proposes ways for the United Nations to increase and improve their efforts in developing countries, specifically focusing on health, human rights, agriculture, communication, and the environment. Also included in this folder are telegrams regarding international media reaction to the President's speech.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-305-012
This folder contains a collection of memoranda titled "United States Strategy at the 16th GA," containing background information for a meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Topics include disarmament, Africa, the Soviet Union, the UN in space, foreign affairs, and the UN as an international peacekeeper.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-305-009
This folder contains a press release of President John F. Kennedy's speech before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. In his speech the President discusses the importance of disarmament and introduces a six-point disarmament program, a proposal to extend the UN charter to outer space, and advocates UN peacekeeping units for all member nations. Also included in this folder are telegrams concerning the international reaction to President Kennedy's speech.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-324-003
This folder contains memoranda from Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council (NSC) to Walt Rostow, Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, regarding disarmament negotiations and arms control. Also included in this folder is a press release containing reports on nuclear test ban negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland; a joint statement by the United States and Soviet Union on disarmament negotiations; and an exchange of letters between John J. McCloy, Advisor to the President on Disarmament, and Soviet Union Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Valerian A. Zorin.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-324-002
This folder contains memoranda to and by Walt Rostow, Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, regarding arms control; resumed disarmament negotiations; a United Nations (UN) draft resolution on disarmament for the Soviet Union; and a report titled, “The Theory and Practice of Deterrence.” Of note are drafts of a memorandum titled, “Stevenson Reply to Zorin on General and Complete Disarmament.”
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-312-006
This folder contains letters and memoranda between Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN); President John F. Kennedy; and McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President on National Security Affairs, regarding Chinese representation in the UN, disarmament, atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, and a nuclear test ban treaty.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-312-005
This folder contains correspondence between Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), and President John F. Kennedy regarding U.S. delegates, Chinese representation in the UN, disarmament, atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, and Portuguese territories in Africa.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-312-004
This folder contains cable telegrams from Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN); Dean Rusk, Secretary of State; and other officials concerning activities, operations, and issues of the UN. Topics include discussions with the Soviet Union delegation on UN financing; Portuguese territories in Africa; UN Security Council elections; outer space; Chinese representation in the UN; and nuclear weapons including test ban negotiations, proposals for denuclearized zones, and disarmament. Also included in this folder are weekly summaries of the 18th session of the UN General Assembly.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-312-002
This folder contains cable telegrams from Adlai Stevenson, United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN); Dean Rusk, Secretary of State; Charles W. Yost, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN; and other officials concerning activities, operations, and issues of the UN. Topics include proposals for denuclearized zones in Indonesia, Africa, and Brazil; colonialism and Portuguese territories in Africa; the appointment of U Thant as UN Secretary-General; the Committee of 17 (also known as the Committee of 24 and the Special Committee on Decolonization); and financing for the UN.
Textual folder
Papers of Robert F. Kennedy. Attorney General Papers
RFKAG-217-001
Textual folder
Papers of Robert F. Kennedy. Attorney General Papers
RFKAG-215-002
Textual folder
Papers of Robert F. Kennedy. Attorney General Papers
RFKAG-218-002
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-310-012
This folder contains memoranda regarding summaries and highlights of the 16th meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Topics include the appointment of a new UN Secretary-General, disarmament, outer space, colonialism, and Chinese representation in the UN.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-310-011
This folder contains memoranda regarding the appointment of a United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and Under Secretaries, Palestinian refugees, and development of the UN’s military force. Also included in this folder is a copy of a speech on disarmament by United States Ambassador to the UN Adlai Stevenson.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-322-001
This folder contains memoranda from Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council (NSC) to McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Topics include nuclear weapons test resumptions by the Soviet Union, representation of China (Peoples Republic) in the United Nations (UN), disarmament, and relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A10-1-61
President John F. Kennedy addresses the delegates of the General Assembly of the United Nations at the General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, New York City, New York.