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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-RFK-05
In this interview Robert F. Kennedy [RFK] and Marshall discuss how John F. Kennedy [JFK] and RFK grew increasingly more involved with and concerned about civil rights; getting Martin Luther King out of jail during JFK’s 1960 campaign; civil rights advisers during JFK’s 1960 campaign; RFK becoming Attorney General amidst the civil rights battle and the transitional period in the Department of Justice [DOJ]; how Marshall got his position in the DOJ; the struggle over school desegregation; the New Orleans school crisis of February 1961; the Freedom Riders and violence against them; sending federal marshals to Alabama; trying to find a bus driver to get the Freedom Riders out of Birmingham, Alabama; criticism of RFK’s response to the Freedom Riders; how Freedom Riders were arrested and threatened in Mississippi; African-American voting rights in the South and DOJ authority; difficulties with judges; Supreme Court appointments; the FBI and organized crime; reorganization of the DOJ; RFK’s interactions with the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover after JFK’s death; Hoover’s allegations about JFK and the Kennedy family; the alleged FBI wiretapping of officials; JFK’s opinion of Hoover; FBI press releases; connecting the civil rights movement with communism to discredit it; FBI involvement in civil rights matters; issues with the FBI as having civilian control of a police force; JFK’s communication with King and other civil rights leaders; civil rights legislation; the issue of equal employment; the Civil Rights Commission; and violence against African Americans in Birmingham in the spring of 1963, among other issues.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-22B-3
Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on June 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Allen C. Thompson. President Kennedy and Mayor Thompson discuss civil rights issues in Jackson, including demonstrations and civil unrest, plans to hire African Americans to fill various jobs, and the need to resolve matters in a way that various groups will accept. They also discuss consulting Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.At the beginning of the recording, [White House Operator?] addresses Mayor Thompson.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 22B, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding and following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-22B, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 22B.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-22B-1
The recording of this conversation begins on Dictation Belt 22A.4. Sound recording of part of a telephone conversation held on June 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Allen C. Thompson. They continue to discuss demonstrations and other aspects of the civil rights situation in Mississippi.Machine noise follows the conversation.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 22B, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-22B, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 22B.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-22B
Dictation Belt 22B contains four sound recordings from June 18, 1963. The recording of the conversation in item 22B.1 begins on Dictation Belt 22A.4. Item 22B.1 is a part of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Allen C. Thompson. They continue to discuss demonstrations and other aspects of the civil rights situation in Mississippi. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 22B.2 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and Representative Wayne L. Hays of Ohio. They discuss a legislative strategy for a foreign aid bill, taking into account the negotiating stance taken by Representative Otto E. Passman of Louisiana. Machine noise precedes and follows the conversation. Item 22B.3 is a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Allen C. Thompson. President Kennedy and Mayor Thompson discuss civil rights issues in Jackson, including demonstrations and civil unrest, plans to hire African Americans to fill various jobs, and the need to resolve matters in a way that various groups will accept. They also discuss consulting Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. At the beginning of the recording, [White House Operator?] addresses Mayor Thompson. Item 22B.4 is a brief telephone exchange between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Allen C. Thompson. Lincoln speaks to Mayor Thompson while trying to transfer his call to an outside line to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The recording 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-22A-4
Sound recording of part of a telephone conversation held on June 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Allen C. Thompson. They continue to discuss demonstrations and other aspects of the civil rights situation in Mississippi. President Kennedy asks about issues raised by visiting clergymen from Jackson.The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 22B.1.
Transcript included. This sound recording was originally recorded on Dictation Belt 22A, which contains additional sound recording(s) preceding this one. To hear all of the recordings on the Dictation Belt, see Digital Identifier: JFKPOF-TPH-22A, Title: Telephone recordings: Dictation Belt 22A.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-22A
Dictation Belt 22A contains four sound recordings. Item 22A.1 a brief telephone exchange on June 12, 1963, between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a White House Operator. Lincoln asks the operator to place a call to Mrs. John Fell on behalf of President John F. Kennedy. Machine noise precedes and follows the exchange. Item 22A.2 is a telephone conversation held on June 12, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Representative Carl Albert of Oklahoma. They discuss the defeat of a bill in the House of Representatives, votes of particular congressmen, and the effect of an order requiring racial integration. [White House Operator?] speaks to Representative Albert while he holds for President Kennedy. There is an echo during a brief segment of the recording. Item 22A.3 is a telephone conversation held on June 14, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Governor Jimmie Davis of Louisiana. They discuss a close vote in Louisiana and a possible visit by Governor Davis. The quality of recording of Governor Davis’s side of the conversation is very poor. Most of Governor Davis’s speech is inaudible. Item 22A.4 is part of a telephone conversation held on June 18, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Allen C. Thompson. They continue to discuss demonstrations and other aspects of the civil rights situation in Mississippi. President Kennedy asks about issues raised by visiting clergymen from Jackson. The recording of this conversation ends abruptly and continues on Dictation Belt 22B.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.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Pre-Presidential Papers. Senate Files
JFKSEN-0898-017
This folder contains a draft of a speech given by Senator John F. Kennedy at a Young Democrats dinner in Jackson, Mississippi. In his speech the Senator discusses foreign and domestic policy under President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration and a need for strong leadership to fight the growing threat of communism. The draft includes notations by the Senator. Also included in this folder are notes by Senator Kennedy and a newspaper article discussing the Senator’s position on the Supreme Court case upholding school desegregation.