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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.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17877
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson and President John F. Kennedy stand in front. Others, L-R: unidentified; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan (in back); Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn of Texas (in front); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); unidentified; Senator Everett M. Dirksen of Illinois; Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa; President Kennedy’s brother-in-law, Stephen Smith (in back); Vice President Johnson; several unidentified; Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and Public Events, Samuel L. King. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17876
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson, Vice President Johnson, and President John F. Kennedy stand in front. Others, L-R: unidentified; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); unidentified; Senator Everett M. Dirksen of Illinois; President Kennedy’s brother-in-law, Stephen Smith (in back); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa (behind the President and Vice President); others unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17875
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson, President John F. Kennedy, and Vice President Johnson stand in front. Others, L-R: unidentified; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Senator George A. Smathers (Florida); Senator Everett M. Dirksen of Illinois; Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa (behind the President and Vice President); President Kennedy’s brother-in-law, Stephen Smith (in back); others unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17874
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. President John F. Kennedy speaks into microphones; photographers, reporters, and Secret Service agents stand by. Also pictured: Vice President Johnson; Mrs. Johnson; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Senator George A. Smathers (Florida); Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa; Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Edward C. Welsh; Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and Public Events, Samuel L. King; White House Secret Service agent, Bill Payne. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17873
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. President John F. Kennedy speaks into microphones; photographers, reporters, and Secret Service agents stand by. Also pictured: Vice President Johnson; Mrs. Johnson; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa; Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Edward C. Welsh; Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and Public Events, Samuel L. King; White House Secret Service agent, Bill Payne. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17872
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Vice President Johnson speaks into microphones; Secret Service agents stand by. Also pictured: President John F. Kennedy; Mrs. Johnson; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa; Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Edward C. Welsh; Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and Public Events, Samuel L. King; White House Secret Service agent, Bill Payne. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17871
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Vice President Johnson speaks into microphones; Secret Service agents stand by. Also pictured: President John F. Kennedy; Mrs. Johnson; Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa; Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Edward C. Welsh; Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and Public Events, Samuel L. King; White House Secret Service agent, Bill Payne. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17870
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson speaks into microphones; photographers, reporters, and Secret Service agents stand by. Also pictured: President John F. Kennedy; Vice President Johnson; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Senator George A. Smathers (Florida); Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa; Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and Public Events, Samuel L. King; White House Secret Service agent, Bill Payne. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17869
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson, President John F. Kennedy, and Vice President Johnson stand in front. Others, L-R: unidentified; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); unidentified; Senator Everett M. Dirksen of Illinois (partially hidden); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa (behind the President and Vice President); President Kennedy’s brother-in-law, Stephen Smith (in back); several unidentified; Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Edward C. Welsh (far right). Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17868
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson, President John F. Kennedy, and Vice President Johnson stand in front. Others, L-R: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn of Texas (partially hidden); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton (far right, walking along colonnade); others unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
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White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17867
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson, Vice President Johnson, and President John F. Kennedy stand in front. Others, L-R: unidentified; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn of Texas (partially hidden behind Mrs. Johnson); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); unidentified; Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa (behind the Vice President and President); others unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17866
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson, President John F. Kennedy, and Vice President Johnson stand in front. Others, L-R: unidentified; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); Senator George A. Smathers (Florida); Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa (behind the President and Vice President); several unidentified; Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Edward C. Welsh (at right with head bowed, smoking cigarette). Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17865-A
Welcoming ceremony upon the return of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from their trip to Southeast Asia, during which they visited Vietnam, Laos, India, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Philippines. Mrs. Johnson and President John F. Kennedy stand in front. Others, L-R: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn (Texas); Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas); Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Carl T. Rowan (in back); Congressman Carl Albert (Oklahoma); unidentified; Senator Everett M. Dirksen (Illinois); Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa (partially hidden behind Johnson); Vice President Johnson; unidentified man right of column; Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Edward C. Welsh (at right, clapping); Assistant Chief of Protocol for Visits and Public Events, Samuel L. King; White House Secret Service agent, Bill Payne. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.