Secret White House Tapes

Meetings: Tape 103/A39. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 31 July 1963

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Meetings: Tape 103/A39. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 31 July 1963
Sound recording of a meeting held on July 31, 1963, between President John F. Kennedy, Director of Livermore Laboratories Dr. John Foster, Director of the Los Alamos Laboratory Dr. Norris Bradbury, Dr. Glenn Seaborg, and Commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) John Palfrey. President Kennedy and the four scientists discuss the functions of the treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) or the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). President Kennedy attempts to gauge their support or lack of support for the Treaty since the scientists will likely be asked to testify before the U.S. Senate as scientific nuclear experts. During the early part of the meeting, President Kennedy comments on the possibility of the Treaty bringing about a détente with the Soviet Union. Nine segments of the recording totaling 24 minutes and 38 seconds have been removed for reasons of national security. This sound recording has been excerpted from Tape 103, which contains additional sound recording(s) following this one. See Related Records to access Tape 103 in its entirety.
Secret White House Tapes |

Meetings: Tape 103/A39. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 31 July 1963