April 22, 2012
JACQUELINE KENNEDY, HISTORIC CONVERSATIONS: SEVENTH CONVERSATION XXIII
Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today JFK+50 continues our report on the seventh conversation from "Jacqueline Kennedy, Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy," published by Hyperion.
The seventh conversation was recorded on June 3, 1964.
Arthur Schlesinger asks:
"Did the President often talk much about the things he would like to do?"
Jacqueline Kennedy answers:
"I know (Jack) was going to get rid of J. Edgar Hoover*, the minute (he was re-elected????) & he always said that those were the two things he did first-(keeping) Hoover & Allen Dulles**, which I guess he had to do at the time.
He couldn't have not."
Mr. Schlesinger then asks:
"Did he....ever talk about....what he would do with the FBI?"
Mrs. Kennedy responds:
"No, he didn't say who he'd make, & then Bobby was going to leave the Justice Department. I think he might have made Nick Katzenbach*** the head, I'm not sure.
I know there was going to be a domestic peace corps....& I know he was going to do this (war on) poverty thing.
And I know he really cared about....Appalachia. And he was going to Russia."
*J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972) served as FBI director under 6 Presidents. His long tenure only ended with his death at the age of 77.
J. Edgar Hoover (1961)
F.B.I. Director
**Allen Dulles (1893-1969) served as CIA director under Ike & JFK. He was forced to resign after the Bay of Pigs. LBJ appointed him as a member of the Warren Commission.
***Nicholas Katzenbach (1922- ) served as RFK's deputy at the Justice Department & as Attorney General under LBJ.
JFK+50 COMMENT:
Tomorrow's entry will be the final report on Jacqueline's Kennedy's Historic Conversations. We thank Caroline Kennedy for making the decision to release them on the 50th anniversary of the beginning her father's presidency (1961-2011).
We should remember that some of the views Mrs. Kennedy expressed were from, as Caroline has said, "a moment in time" & some of these views changed as the years passed.
If you have not listened to the recordings which are available with the book, JFK+50 recommends you do so.
You can access the Hyperion website by clicking on the icon on the lower right side of this blog.
Thank you for your interest.
John White
Knoxville, Tennessee
April 22, 2012
