Office of the Historian

Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath

271. Notes of President Kennedy’s Remarks at the 508th Meeting of the National Security Council

Washington, January 22, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, NSC Meetings, 1963, No. 508, 1/22/63. No classification marking. A note at the top of the memorandum indicated it was drafted by a “CIA Reporter.”McGeorge Bundy prepared a briefing memorandum, January 21, for the President for this meeting. (Ibid.) The portion of Bundy’s memorandum on Cuba is in the Supplement.

Other memoranda of this meeting exist. One apparently by Bromley Smith, January 22, is ibid; another by Maxwell Taylor, January 22, is in National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Taylor’s Memos for Record; a third, apparently by a Department of State official, is in Department of State, Central Files, 711.5/1-2263.

272. Memorandum From the Coordinator of Cuban Affairs (Cottrell) to the Executive Committee of the National Security Council

Washington, January 24, 1963.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.000/1-2463. Top Secret. A note on the source text indicates that this paper was prepared for the Executive Committee meeting of January 24, which was postponed to January 25, see Document 274.

273. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Brubeck) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, January 24, 1963.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/1-2463. No classification marking.

274. Summary Record of the 38th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council

Washington, January 25, 1963, 4 p.m.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Executive Committee, Meetings, Vol. IV, 38-42. Top Secret; Sensitive. This record is part I; part II relates to European policy.

275. Memorandum for the Files

Washington, January 26, 1963.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/1-2663. Top Secret; Limited Distribution. According to a covering memorandum from Cottrell to Rusk, January 28, Cottrell sent this memorandum to Rusk informing the Secretary that McCone had similar information. When shown that information, the President stated that it “looked interesting.”

276. Summary Record of the 40th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council

Washington, February 5, 1963, 4 p.m.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Executive Committee, Meetings, Vol. IV, 38-42, 1/25/63-3/29/63. Top Secret. The meeting was in two parts, the first on Cuba, the second on Europe. Only the first part is printed here. The meeting, held at the White House, lasted until 5:30 p.m. (Ibid., President’s Appointment Book)

277. National Security Action Memorandum No. 220

Washington, February 5, 1963.

Source: Department of State, S/S Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 220. No classification marking. Copies were sent to the members of the Executive Committee.

278. Memorandum for the Record

Washington, February 6, 1963.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI/McCone Files, Job 80-B01285A, DCI Meetings with the President, 1 January-31 March 1963. Secret; Eyes Only.

279. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense McNamara to the Secretaries of the Army (Vance), Navy (Korth), and Air Force (Stahr)

Washington, February 8, 1963.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD (C) A Files:FRC 71 A 2896, Yarmolinsky Files, Cuban Volunteer Program. Confidential.

280. Memorandum of Conversation

Washington, February 9, 1963, 3 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 CUBA-US. Secret. Drafted by Gutherie and approved in S on February 18. The meeting took place in Rusk’s office and lasted approximately 45 minutes. (Johnson Library, Rusk Appointment Book)

281. Message From Director of Central Intelligence McCone to Secretary of State Rusk

Washington, February 13, 1963.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CUBA-USSR. Secret. According to an attached covering letter from Carter to Rusk, February 13, McCone (who was in Europe) sent this message to Acting Director Marshall S. Carter, asking that he give a copy to Rusk, McNamara, McGeorge Bundy, and the members of the USIB. Carter assured the addressees that the Deputy Director (Intelligence) and the Office of National Estimates were at work evaluating the matters raised by McCone.

282. Memorandum From Gordon Chase of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, February 14, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, General, 2/63. Confidential.

283. Memorandum From Gordon Chase of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, February 18, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, General, 2/63. Top Secret.

284. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk

Washington, February 19, 1963.

Source: Department of State, S/S Files: Lot 65 D 438, Hearings Before the Committee on Export Control. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Also sent to McNamara and McCone. In a covering memorandum Bundy asked for any corrections or additions. A handwritten note on the cover memorandum indicated that Rusk said it was “O.K. with him,” and Bundy’s office was informed.

286. Memorandum From the Ambassador at Large (Thompson) to Secretary of State Rusk

Washington, February 21, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, USSR, Dobrynin Talks, Vol. II (Thompson). Secret. Copies were sent to McGeorge Bundy, Tyler, and Hillenbrand.

287. Memorandum of Conversation

Washington, February 25, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, USSR, Dobrynin Talks, Vol. II (Thompson). Secret.

288. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk

Washington, February 25, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, General, 2/63. Secret. Also sent to McNamara and McCone. In an attached personal memorandum to the same three men, Bundy stated that in light of their comments, he had decided not to attempt a resume of guidelines for Congressional testimony as it would be subject to misunderstanding.

289. Memorandum for the Record

Washington, February 28, 1963.

Source: National Defense University, Taylor Papers, T-257-69. Top Secret. Drafted by Taylor on March 1.

290. Memorandum for the Record

Washington, February 28, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Clifton Series, JCS Conferences with the President, Vol. II. 2/28/63-9/9/63. Top Secret.

291. Memorandum for the Record

Washington, March 4, 1963.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI/McCone Files, Job 80-B01285A, DCI Meetings with the President, 1 January-31 March 1963. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by McCone.

292. Summary Record of the 509th National Security Council Meeting

Washington, March 13, 1963, 4:30 p.m.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSC Meetings, No. 509. Top Secret.

293. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union

Washington, March 13, 1963, 4:24 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CUBA-USSR. Secret; Priority. Drafted by U. Alexis Johnson; cleared with Ball, Martin, and McGeorge Bundy; and approved by Rusk and Johnson.

294. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Moscow, March 16, 1963, 8 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CUBA-USSR. Secret; Priority.

295. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kaysen) to President Kennedy

Washington, March 17, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, General, 3/63. Secret; Eyes Only.

296. Report of the Coordinator of Cuban Affairs, Department of State (Cottrell)

Washington, March 21, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, General, 3/63. Secret. Executive Secretary Brubeck sent this report to McGeorge Bundy on March 21.

297. Memorandum for the Record

Washington, March 22, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, Exiles, 3/63. Top Secret; Sensitive.

298. Memorandum From Gordon Chase of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, March 23, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, General, 3/63. Top Secret; Eyes Only.

299. Note by Director of Central Intelligence McCone

Washington, March 26, 1963.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI/McCone Files, Job 80-B01285A, DCI Meetings with the President, 1 January-31 March 1963. No classification marking. Drafted by McCone. This was an addendum to a conversation between McCone and the President on March 25 lasting from 12:15 to 1 p.m. The main conversation was unrelated to Cuba.

300. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Moscow, March 27, 1963, 7 p.m.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, Exile Activities. Secret; Operational Immediate.