Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-057-012
This folder contains 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). The President began the press conference with a statement concerning the recent shipments of supplies and technicians into Cuba from the Soviet Union, events that led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He went on to say that the United States would not take military action against Cuba unless necessary. The President then answered questions from the press on a variety of topics including the Alliance for Progress, the Chicago Northwestern Railway strike, the military space program, nuclear testing, and the President's request for special reserve mobilization powers. Background materials in this folder include briefing papers and memorandums for the President on domestic and foreign affairs and national security. Of note is a telegram to various American Embassies from the Department of State detailing the influx of ships, supplies, and technicians to Cuba from the Soviet Union; memorandum from legal advisor to the Department of State Abram J. Chayes to Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs McGeorge Bundy titled "International Law Problems of Blockade;" and a memorandum to the President from Vice President Lyndon Johnson summarizing his trip of August 22 through September 7. The official White House transcript of the press conference and the stenotype transcript of the press conference are also included.