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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-HAB-05
Brown discusses the U.S. and Soviet Union’s nuclear testing, the debate within the Kennedy Administration over whether to have atmospheric or underground testing, and negotiations leading to the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, among other issues.
Sound recording
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-TPH-26A
Dictation Belt 26A contains six sound recordings. Item 26A.1 is a telephone conversation held on August 16, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. In preparation for Secretary Rusk’s press conference, they discuss the prospect of answering a question about France and a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The recording begins in mid-conversation, and machine noise follows the conversation. Item 26A.1A is a telephone conversation between Personal Secretary Evelyn Lincoln and a White House Operator. The operator brings Lincoln up to date on President John F. Kennedy’s recent telephone calls. Machine noise follows the conversation. Item 26A.2 is a telephone conversation held on August 16, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. They discuss the possibility of appointing United States Ambassador to Costa Rica Raymond L. Telles to a new position. They also discuss the prospects of political problems in California, where Latin American groups could resent a perceived favoritism in appointments given to Texans. The recording begins in mid-conversation. Item 26A.3 is a telephone conversation held on August 19, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and Under Secretary of State George W. Ball. They discuss foreign aid given to countries that engage in merchant shipping to Cuba. They also discuss foreign aid for India and negotiations with the Soviet Union on nuclear test inspections. They also discuss American troops in Europe and German officials’ views on the matter. Item 26A.4 is a brief telephone exchange between President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Attorney General Kennedy asks to visit President Kennedy to review an unidentified matter. Item 26A.5 is a brief fragment of a telephone conversation between President John F. Kennedy and an unidentified man. The recording is noisy and ends abruptly. The full conversation (including this fragment) is recorded on Dictation Belt 26B.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
Edward M. Kennedy Senate Files
EMKSEN-AU0007-021-007
Sound recording of the radio program "Face Off." Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy of Massachusetts and Senator Alan K. "Al" Simpson of Wyoming debate banning underground nuclear weapons testing as a key to ending the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Senator Kennedy comments on President John F. Kennedy's negotiations in 1963 for the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), also known as the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The episode aired on Friday, April 22, 1988, on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-184-005
This file contains copies, drafts, and memoranda regarding correspondence between Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev and President John F. Kennedy on Laos, Cuba, nuclear weapons, and a nuclear test ban treaty.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-315-013
This folder contains a Record of Actions and a summary for a National Security Council (NSC) Standing Group meeting regarding Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman’s trip to the Soviet Union to participate in nuclear test ban treaty negotiations.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-314-009
This folder contains an agenda, memoranda, a summary, a list of attendees, and a Record of Actions for meeting number 515 of the National Security Council (NSC) discussing a trip by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman to the Soviet Union to participate in nuclear test ban treaty negotiations. Also included in this folder is a draft of a nuclear weapons test ban treaty.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-317-026
This folder contains a draft of the test ban treaty and summaries of meetings regarding the test ban treaty negotiations between the United States, Soviet Union, and Great Britain; potential French reaction to the treaty; and instructions for Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman in his communication with members of the Russian delegation.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-317-025
This folder contains a draft of a letter from President John F. Kennedy to President of France Charles de Gaulle regarding test ban treaty negotiations between the United States, Soviet Union, and Great Britain. Also included in this folder is a summary of a meeting discussing the test ban treaty, revisions to the letter to President de Gaulle, and potential French reaction to the treaty.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-317-024
This folder contains summaries of meetings regarding a trip by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman to the Soviet Union to participate in nuclear test ban treaty negotiations. Of note is a letter from President John F. Kennedy to British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Also included in this folder are drafts of a non-aggression pact and a test ban treaty by the Soviet Union and the United States.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-341-014
This file contains copies of National Security Action Memoranda number 254 (NSAM 254) requesting a review of the technical possibilities for clandestine violations of the test ban agreement for atmospheric, underwater, and outer space tests, to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Also included are memoranda and reports related to NSAM 254.