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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-03
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] discusses the 1962 steel crisis; some major issues and accomplishments of John F. Kennedy’s [JFK] presidency; choosing the U.S. Ambassador to Russia; foreign aid and treaties; the military coup in Peru; the space race during the Kennedy Administration; the 1962 congressional and gubernatorial campaigns; JFK’s dinner for the Nobel Prize winners; the Polaris submarines; problems with the New York Herald Tribune; New York politics; various pieces of federal legislation, 1961–1963; the Dominican Republic; Department of Justice investigations under RFK; the difficulties of being Attorney General; congressional issues in early 1963; the Vietnam War escalation in 1963; American support of the coup in Vietnam; Henry Cabot Lodge as the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam; the prisoners from the Bay of Pigs invasion; American actions in Cuba; unemployment and civil rights; RFK’s meeting with James Baldwin; JFK’s trips to the South and speeches on civil rights; the nuclear test ban treaty; and JFK’s trip to Ireland and Rome, among other issues.
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
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-215
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of September 12, 1963 (News Conference 61). The President begins the press conference with a statement on the importance of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and urges the Senate to pass the legislation. He goes on to announce that in the previous two weeks, schools in 150 Southern cities were desegregated with little difficulty. Following these statements the President answers questions on a variety of topics including the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Vietnam, Cuba, and civil rights.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-210
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 20, 1963 (News Conference 60). The President begins the press conference with a statement urging the House of Representatives to pass the Mutual Defense and Assistance Bill of 1964, stating that the foreign aid program is essential to the strength of the free world. Following this announcement the President answers questions on a variety of topics including the four safeguards proposed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to protect the country under the limited language of the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), the upcoming civil rights march in Washington D.C., atmospheric nuclear testing, British Guiana, and legislation.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-208
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 1, 1963 (News Conference 59). The President begins the press conference with a statement on the importance of education and urged parents and members of the community to help children stay in school. Following this announcement the President answers questions on a variety of topics including the nuclear test ban treaty, underground testing for nuclear weapons, miscegenation laws, civil rights demonstrations, and the second anniversary of the Alliance for Progress.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-060-008
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President’s News Conference of August 20, 1963 (News Conference 60). The President began the press conference with a statement urging the House of Representatives to pass the Mutual Defense and Assistance Bill of 1964, stating that the foreign aid program is essential to the strength of the free world. Following this announcement the President answered questions on a variety of topics including the four safeguards proposed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to protect the country under the limited language of the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), the upcoming civil rights march in Washington D.C., atmospheric nuclear testing, British Guiana, and legislation. Background materials in this folder include briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Of note is an article by David Halberstam from The New York Times titled “Vietnamese Reds Gain in Key Area,” and a critique of the article by Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Victor H. Krulak. Also included in this folder is a statement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding their position on the three-environment LTBT and a transcript of Meet the Press focusing on the treaty. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-058-008
This folder contains background material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President's News Conference of January 24, 1963 (News Conference 47). Materials primarily consist of department and agency reports, memorandums, and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Topics include the economy, taxes, and disarmament. Of note is a report from Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy summarizing civil rights efforts in 1962. Also included in this folder is a Senate report titled, "Berlin in a Changing Europe".
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-057-013
This folder contains background material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, for the President's News Conference of September 13, 1962 (News Conference 43). Materials primarily consist of memorandums and briefing papers for the President on domestic and foreign affairs. Topics include the economy, 1963 fiscal year appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration, and foreign aid. Of note is a joint report from the Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Defense, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration titled, "Status Report on Trapped Electrons from the Starfish High Altitude Nuclear Test," and a memorandum from the Department of Justice regarding the occurrence of violence with voter registration efforts in Georgia and Mississippi and the admittance of James Meredith to the University of Mississippi.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1051-008
This folder contains excerpts from speeches made by Senator John F. Kennedy during the 1960 presidential campaign. Topics include the aged, agriculture, civil rights, the Cold War, defense, disarmament, economic policy, education, foreign policy, labor, natural resources, and urban affairs.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1058-004
This folder contains speeches given by Senator John F. Kennedy in California discussing civil rights, international relations, legislation, the aged, employment, disarmament, education, and differences between the Democratic and Republican campaign platforms.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1057-010
This folder contains speeches given by Senator John F. Kennedy in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas. In his speeches Senator Kennedy discusses disarmament, education, legislation, civil rights, the economy, labor, and international relations.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1057-008
This folder contains speeches given by Senator John F. Kennedy in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In his speeches Senator Kennedy discusses disarmament, civil rights, labor, the economy, international relations, and education.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Presidential Campaign Files, 1960
JFKCAMP1960-1035-007
This folder contains press releases issued by the Publicity Division of the Democratic National Committee for Senator John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign. Topics include political appointments within the Democratic Party; civil rights; the aged; education; nuclear disarmament; international relations; urban and economic growth; and United States support of Africa and its countries.