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JFK Meets with the Earl Mountbatten

by David Coleman

JFK meets with the British Admiral of the Fleet, the Earl Mountbatten, in the Oval Office to discuss plans for a NATO multilateral force and supplying the British with Polaris submarines.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: David Ormsby-Gore, Earl of Mountbatten, JFK, Maxwell Taylor, MLF, White House

History of the National Security Council during the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations

by David Coleman

This history of the National Security Council under presidents Kennedy and Johnson was written by the Executive Director of the NSC under both presidents, Bromley Smith. It traces not just the mechanics of the NSC during the period but also how it was used to tackle specific topics.

Filed Under: Documents Tagged With: Bromley Smith, JFK, LBJ, NSC

Playing Telephone with the Historical Record

by David Coleman

When UN Secretary-General U Thant requested U.S. military equipment for UN operations in the Congo, his request included an item that didn’t make much sense.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Congo, JFK, military, U Thant, United Nations

JFK Discusses his Plans for his Presidential Library

by David Coleman

JFK never got to visit his presidential library. But that doesn’t mean he hadn’t already given it some thought. Here’s what he said about it in 1962.

Filed Under: Quotes Tagged With: JFK, JFK Library, Presidential History, Presidential Libraries

JFK in West Germany

by David Coleman

A short narrated film of JFK’s visit to West Germany and West Berlin on June 25 and 26, 1963.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: JFK, West Berlin, West Germany

NSC ExComm Meetings, 1962-1963

by David Coleman

A complete list of the meetings of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council, a special group created by President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Filed Under: NSC Meetings Tagged With: Cuban Missile Crisis, ExComm, JFK

NSC Meetings in the Kennedy Administration

by David Coleman

A list of the dates and topics of National Security Council meetings in the Kennedy administration from 1961 through 1963.

Filed Under: NSC Meetings Tagged With: JFK, NSC

JFK in West Berlin / Arrival at Tegal Airfield

by David Coleman

JFK arrives on Air Force One at Tegel Airfield, one of three major airfields in West Berlin.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Air Force One, JFK, West Berlin

JFK in West Berlin / Checkpoint Charlie

by David Coleman

JFK tours Checkpoint Charlie in West Berlin and climbs a viewing platform to look over the Berlin Wall into East Berlin.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Cold War, JFK, West Berlin

General Maxwell Taylor is Sworn in as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

by David Coleman

General Maxwell Taylor is sworn in as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: JFK, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lyman Lemnitzer, Maxwell Taylor, military, RFK, White House

JFK at Homestead Air Force Base / Air Force One Arrives & F-100 Flyby

by David Coleman

JFK visits Homestead Air Force Base, headquarters of the Tactical Air Command, on November 26, 1962, not long after the Cuban Missile Crisis. This reel is taken with a camera on the runway. It captures JFK arriving by Air Force One and a flyby of F-100 Jets.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Air Force One, Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK, military

JFK in West Berlin / Checkpoint Charlie, Friedrichstrasse, and Speeches

by David Coleman

Silent, color archival footage of parts of JFK’s visit to West Berlin on June 26, 1963, including his tour of Checkpoint Charlie and crowds at some of his speeches in the city.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Berlin, Cold War, JFK

JFK is Presented with the U.S. Army Flag in the Oval Office

by David Coleman

In a brief Oval Office ceremony, Chief of Staff of the Army General Earle Wheeler and Secretary of the Army Cyrus Vance present JFK with the U.S. Army Flag with battle streamers. The flag is then placed behind the President’s desk.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Army, Cyrus Vance, Earle Wheeler, JFK, military

Nehru Appeals for JFK’s Help in Fighting China

by David Coleman

As the Indian defenses crumbled in the face of the Chinese assault, Prime Minister Nehru sent two highly sensitive and remarkable letters to President Kennedy asking for help in fighting China.

Filed Under: Articles, Documents Tagged With: India, Jawaharlal Nehru, JFK, Sino-Indian War

Dedication of Dulles International Airport

by David Coleman

President Kennedy, former President Dwight Eisenhower, Allen Dulles, and Chief Justice Earl Warren attend the dedication ceremony at Dulles International Airport in the Northern Virginia suburbs just outside Washington DC.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Eisenhower, JFK

JFK in West Berlin / Speech & Crowds

by David Coleman

Footage of JFK speaking in West Berlin during his visit to the city on the Cold War’s front lines on June 26, 1963.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Berlin, Cold War, JFK

Indian Prime Minister Nehru’s Letter to JFK on the Sino-Indian War – 11/19/1962 – 1/2

by David Coleman

This was the first of two letters Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sent to President Kennedy on November 19, 1962, on the situation in the Sino-Indian War.

Filed Under: Documents Tagged With: India, Jawaharlal Nehru, JFK, Sino-Indian War

JFK in West Berlin / Brandenburg Gate & Checkpoint Charlie

by David Coleman

During JFK’s visit to West Berlin, he visited the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie, the American-manned crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Berlin, Cold War, JFK

JFK Visits Fort Stewart after the Cuban Missile Crisis

by David Coleman

Footage of JFK’s visit to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where the 1st Armored Division was based. It was one of several bases in the southeastern United States that President Kennedy visited in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: JFK, military

JFK Visits El Paso, Texas

by David Coleman

JFK visits El Paso, Texas, with Vice President Lyndon Johnson.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: JFK, LBJ, Texas

JFK Visits Strategic Air Command Headquarters after the Cuban Missile Crisis

by David Coleman

Film footage of President John F. Kennedy visiting the headquarters of the Strategic Headquarters in at Offutt Air Force Base, near Omaha, Nebraska, on December 7, 1962. Includes his arrival on Air Force One and delivering brief remarks.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Air Force One, Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK, LBJ, nuclear history, Strategic Air Command

JFK in West Berlin / Leaving on Air Force One

by David Coleman

JFK leaves West Berlin on Air Force One after his triumphant visit to the embattled city on the front lines of the Cold War.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Air Force One, Berlin, Cold War, JFK, Konrad Adenauer

JFK Addresses the Graduating Class of the FBI National Academy

by David Coleman

President Kennedy addressed the graduating class of the FBI National Academy held at the Departmental Auditorium (now known as the Andrew W.. Mellon Auditorium) on October 31, 1962 from 11:20 – 11:35 AM.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, JFK

JFK’s 60th Press Conference

by David Coleman

President Kennedy held his 60th news conference on August 20, 1963.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: JFK, press

JFK’s Presidential Approval Ratings

by David Coleman

President John F. Kennedy enjoyed very high public approval ratings compared with most modern presidents.

Filed Under: Presidential Approval Ratings Tagged With: JFK, Presidential History

JFK in West Berlin / Konrad Adenauer & Willy Brandt

by David Coleman

Silent film footage of JFK touring West Berlin with West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Berlin, Cold War, JFK, Konrad Adenauer, Willy Brandt

JFK in West Berlin / Brandenburg Gate & Checkpoint Charlie

by David Coleman

Silent film footage of JFK visiting the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Germany, as well as other parts of his tour of the city.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Berlin, Cold War, JFK

JFK in West Berlin / Checkpoint Charlie & the Berlin Wall

by David Coleman

Footage from JFK’s widely-lauded visit to West Berlin in June 1963, including JFK at Checkpoint Charlie at Berlin Wall and crowd scenes along the motorcade route.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Berlin, Cold War, JFK

JFK Presents Medal to Bob Hope at the White House 1963

by David Coleman

President Kennedy awarded a special medal to comedian Bob Hope in recognition of his services to the nation and the cause of world peace in a White House ceremony on September 11, 1963.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: Bob Hope, JFK, White House

JFK Meets with the King of Laos at the White House 1963

by David Coleman

JFK met with the King of Laos, His Majesty Sri Savang Vatthana, at the White House on 25 and 27 February 1963.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: JFK, Laos, White House

JFK’s Dictaphone Machine / White House Tapes

by David Coleman

This is President John F. Kennedy’s Dictaphone machine that he used to dictate speeches, memoranda, and notes as well as to record some of his telephone calls in his collection of secret White House tapes. It’s one of the artifacts in the holdings of the JFK Library & Museum.

Filed Under: Photos, White House Tapes Tagged With: JFK, White House Tapes

JFK’s American University Commencement Address 1963

by David Coleman

On June 10, 1963, President Kennedy delivered the commencement address at American University on the John M. Reeves Athletic Field.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: Cold War, JFK

JFK’s 51st Press Conference 1963

by David Coleman

President Kennedy held his 51st presidential press conference at 11am on March 6, 1963, in the State Department Auditorium.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: JFK, press

Thanksgiving at the White House 1963

by David Coleman

Thanksgiving 1963 came early at the White House, with President Kennedy ceremonially pardoning a Turkey at a ceremony in the Rose Garden on November 19, 1963.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: JFK, White House

JFK Hosts West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer at the White House 1962

by David Coleman

West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer arrived at the White House for a two-day state visit on November 14, 1962.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: Cold War, JFK, Konrad Adenauer, West Germany, White House

JFK Meets with the Brazilian War College 1962

by David Coleman

President Kennedy met with approximately 80 students and faculty members of the Brazilian War College at the White House on October 30, 1962.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Brazil, JFK, White House

How Many People are Employed by the U.S. Federal Government? The Numbers, Since 1962

by David Coleman

The trends of the number of U.S. Federal Government employees over the past half-century are surprising.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: economy, federal government, JFK

President Eisenhower and President-Elect Kennedy Meet at the White House

by David Coleman

JFK meets with President Eisenhower at the White House for the first time since the 1960 election as part of the presidential transition.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Dwight Eisenhower, JFK

Kennedy Selects Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense

by David Coleman

President-elect John F. Kennedy’s fifth appointment to his new Cabinet filled the Secretary of Defense spot. He chose 44-year-old Robert S. McNamara, who had recently been appointed President of the Ford Motor Company.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: Adlai Stevenson, Dean Rusk, JFK, Robert McNamara

First Glimpse of John F. Kennedy Jr.

by David Coleman

In this Universal Newsreel footage from December 12, 1960, the Kennedy family leave their Georgetown home for Palm Beach, Florida. Onlookers are on hand to try to catch a glimpse of John F. Kennedy Jr., then less than a month old.

Filed Under: Footage Tagged With: JFK, John F. Kennedy Jr, Kennedy Family

Playing Golf with JFK

by David Coleman

Ben Bradlee wrote of the “harrowing experience” of playing golf with JFK in 1963.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ben Bradlee, Eisenhower, JFK