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1. Conversation 6311.7.6 with Lucia Johnson Alexander, President Johnson's sister
Saturday, November 30, 1963, 3:16 PM
Johnson speaks with Lucia, one of his three younger sisters, for the first time as president, one week and one day into his presidency. The two talk about their childhood home in Johnson City, Texas, which was being renovated. They refer to their old friend A.W. Moursund, who was visiting Johnson in the White House as Johnson speaks to his sister. Johnson asks if she wants to rent or sell her house, and she asks him how she should handle the press. Johnson mentions that their brother Sam Houston and sister Rebekah had given good interviews to the press. At the end of the conversation, Johnson tells his sister, "I guess you're one of the last ones to talk to him" - meaning President Kennedy. Johnson had introduced Lucia to Kennedy in Fort Worth, Texas only two hours before he was assassinated. Lucia's response in this conversation is to relay her worries for her brother Lyndon and Texas Governor John Connally, an old family friend, who also was shot in Dallas.
Duration: 4 minutes 46 seconds

2. Conversation 6311.7.5 with John McCone, CIA Director
Saturday, November 30, 1963, 3:14 PM
McCone calls with an update about Gilberto Alvarado, a witness who had claimed he had seen Lee Harvey Oswald accept money and talk about assassination at the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City. Alvarado, a Nicaraguan, was mentioned in a conversation between the President and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover which is part of Collection #7.
Duration: 51 seconds

3. Conversation 6311.6.19 with Don Cook, President, American Electric Power Company
Saturday, November 30, 1963, 1:16 PM
Cook had served as a counsel to Johnson during his Senate service. The two discuss their sixteen-year-old children and Johnson asks Cook for his advice. Johnson complains about Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., the ambassador to Vietnam and the two talk about foreign affairs and business affairs generally. From the sounds made by the president, he is apparently eating lunch during this conversation.
Duration: 10 minutes 12 seconds

4. Conversation 6311.6.17 with William Martin, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board
Saturday, November 30, 1963, 10:45 AM
Johnson calls Martin to speak with him about financial and market matters in the wake of the new presidential transition.
Duration: 1 minute 16 seconds

5. Conversation 6311.6.14 with Sen. Richard Russell (D-GA), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee
Friday, November 29, 1963, 8:55 PM
President Johnson calls Senator Russell to read him the statement he released about the naming of the Warren Commission. Senator Russell again tells the president his feelings about serving on the commission. He tells Johnson he can't serve with Chief Justice Earl Warren and to name Senator John Stennis of Mississippi in his place. President Johnson tells him at length and in a variety of ways that Russell has no choice about serving. Johnson briefly puts his old Texas friend A.W. Moursund on the phone with Russell. Johnson mentions that he knows there will be an upcoming pitched battle with Russell over the 1964 Civil Rights bill. And as he has done with others, Johnson relates increasing conspiracy theories that Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev or Cuban leader Fidel Castro were behind the assassination. Johnson tells Russell how he claims he convinced Chief Justice Warren to serve.
Duration: 14 minutes 42 seconds

6. Conversation 6311.6.13 with Sen. Thomas Kuchel (R-CA)
Friday, November 29, 1963, 8:30 PM
President Johnson, finding Senator Kuchel while out of town during a Congressional break, tells him he is naming the Warren Commission. Kuchel makes reference to the fact that the presidential commission would preclude Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman James Eastland of Mississippi from calling for hearings himself. President Johnson refers to growing conspiracy theories about who was behind the assassination.
Duration: 5 minutes 36 seconds

7. Conversation 6311.6.8 with Sen. Bourke Hickenlooper (R-IA), Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Friday, November 29, 1963, 7:20 PM
Reaching Senator Hickenlooper at his home in Iowa, President Johnson tells him that Senator Richard Russell of Georgia, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will invite him to join in his regular meetings with the CIA. Hickenlooper warns President Johnson his phone line is a party line and not private.
Duration: 1 minute 20 seconds

8. Conversation 6311.6.4 with Senator William Fulbright (D-AR) and Betty Fulbright
Friday, November 29, 1963, 7:11 PM
Johnson calls Fulbright with the news that Senator Richard Russell will invite Fulbright to attend his CIA meetings. On the night he appoints the Warren Commission to investigate the Kennedy assassination, Johnson takes time to flirt with Mrs. Fulbright.
Duration: 3 minutes

9. Conversation 6311.6.3 with Sen. James Eastland (D-MS), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Friday, November 29, 1963, 7:03 PM
Johnson provides information on the Warren Commission to Eastland. Eastland suggests that Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan would be a better choice than Chief Justice Earl Warren, who Eastland sees as "political."
Duration: 1 minute

10. Conversation 6311.6.2 with Joseph Alsop, columnist, Washington Post
Friday, November 29, 1963, 7:00 PM
Johnson tells Alsop about the Warren Commission, reading him the statement he is releasing that evening.
Duration: 2 minutes

11. Conversation 6311.6.1 with Rep. Gerald Ford (R-MI)
Friday, November 29, 1963, 6:52 PM
Johnson speaks to Ford about appointing him to serve on the Warren Commission. Eleven years later, Ford became the 38th President of the United States, following the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974.
Duration: 1.5 minutes

12. Conversation 6311.5.25 with Rep. Carl Albert (D-OK), House Majority Leader
Friday, November 29, 1963, 6:37 PM
Johnson discusses the Warren Commission with Albert, while at the same time worrying about television coverage of rumors that the Soviet Union was involved in the Kennedy assassination. Johnson seeks Albert's opinion of his Warren Commission appointees. Albert refers to Lee Harvey Oswald when he says "that man is dead." Albert praises Johnson for his speech to the joint session of Congress two days before, and Johnson relates the negative reaction he received, mostly in reaction to his statement in the speech in support of civil rights.
Duration: 5 minutes

13. Conversation 6311.5.23 with Dean Rusk, Secretary of State
Friday, November 29, 1963, 6:30 PM
Johnson tells Rusk about the Warren Commission.
Duration: 1.5 minutes

14. Conversation 6311.5.22 with Rep. Charlie Halleck (R-IN), House Minority Leader
Friday, November 29, 1963, 6:30 PM
Johnson reaches Halleck back in Indiana where he is turkey hunting. When Johnson tells Halleck who he wants to appoint to the Warren Commission, Halleck tells Johnson he thinks the choice of Chief Justice Earl Warren is "a mistake."
Duration: 4 minutes

15. Conversation 6311.5.19 with Rep. Les Arends (R-IL), House Minority Whip
Friday, November 29, 1963, 6:15 PM
Johnson speaks with Minority Whip Les Arends about the Warren Commission, which Johnson is announcing that evening. The two men talk about the difficulty of reaching members of Congress (then in recess) - particularly the leadership, to inform them about the commission. Arends makes reference to Rep. Charlie Halleck (R-Indiana), who was the House Minority Leader.
Duration: 3 minutes

16. Conversation 6311.5.18 with Sen. John Sherman Cooper (R-KY)
Friday, November 29, 1963, 5:45 PM
President Johnson reads his statement to Senator Cooper and tells him he's appointing him to serve on the Warren Commission.
Duration: 42 seconds

17. Conversation 6311.5.14 with Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-IL), Senate Minority Leader
Friday, November 29, 1963, 5:10 PM
Johnson speaks with Dirksen about naming the commission to investigate the report of Kennedy's death. Dirksen suggests that CIA Director John McCone ought to be a member, but Johnson deflects the suggestion.
Duration: 2 minutes

18. Conversation 6311.5.12 with Rep. John McCormack (D-MA), Speaker of the House of Representatives and Rep. Otto Passman (D- LA)
Friday, November 29, 1963, 4:55 PM
President Johnson, having just learned that Chief Justice Earl Warren will serve on a commission to investigate the assassination of President Kennedy, discusses with Speaker McCormack others who could potentially serve. After speaking with Johnson at length about the commission, McCormack places Rep. Otto Passman (D-Louisiana) on the phone to speak with Johnson about foreign aid.
Duration: 11 minutes

19. Conversation 6311.5.7 with Sen. Richard Russell (D-GA), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee
Friday, November 29, 1963, 4:05 PM
Johnson speaks to Russell about the commission he wants to put together to investigate President Kennedy's assassination. Johnson tells Senator Russell he wants him to serve on the commission, and Russell has an immediate and frank response. Russell, as Chairman of Senate Armed Services, regularly meets with CIA officials. Johnson suggests he ought to include Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman William Fulbright of Arkansas and Ranking Minority Member Bourke Hickenlooper of Iowa in on these meetings in the wake of the Kennedy assassination. Johnson expresses doubts he can convince a Justice of the Supreme Court to serve on an assassination commission, and Russell provides the names of other judges he thinks would be good choices.
Duration: 9 minutes

20. Conversation 6311.4.15 with J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI
Friday, November 29, 1963, 1:40 PM
President Johnson has a long discussion with Hoover about the FBI investigation into the death of President Kennedy. Johnson expresses happiness that Hoover has detailed FBI agent Deke DeLoach to the Johnson Administration. Hoover discusses the FBI investigation into Lee Harvey Oswald's visit to the Cuban Embassy in Mexico, as well as information on Jack Ruby, referred to here as "Rubenstein," who killed Oswald on November 24th. Hoover goes into great detail in describing the events in Dallas from the week before and the FBI's investigation of Oswald. Johnson and Hoover also discuss presidential security, especially bullet-proof vehicles. Hoover tells President Johnson he was opposed to the open "parade" of President Kennedy's funeral, held four days earlier.
Duration: 19 minutes

21. Conversation 6311.4.12 with Abe Fortas, Johnson adviser and partner at the law firm of Arnold, Fortas & Porter
Friday, November 29, 1963, 1:15 PM
Johnson speaks with his old confidante Fortas about Fortas' progress in approaching the Supreme Court to participate in a commission to investigate the Kennedy assassination. Johnson advocates naming Chief Justice Earl Warren; Ford Foundation Chairman John McCloy, a disarmament adviser; former CIA director Allen Dulles; Senators Richard Russell, Democrat of Georgia and John Sherman Cooper, Republican of Kentucky; and Republican House members William McCulloch of Ohio, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, and Gerald Ford of Michigan. Johnson, while complaining about the actions Rep. Hale Boggs took on the House floor earlier, also considers Boggs for the proposed commission.
Duration: 5 minutes

22. Conversation 6311.4.11 with Rep. Hale Boggs (D-LA), House Majority Whip
Friday, November 29, 1963, 1:11 PM
Boggs calls to report that that day on the House floor, Rep. Goodell of New York had called for a Congressional investigation into the assassination of President Kennedy. Boggs provides his response, which was to leave the Speaker's rostrum and announce on the House floor that a high-level commission would be formed. Johnson reminds Boggs that his plan to convene a commission with representatives from the Congress and the Supreme Court has yet to be fully explored. Johnson makes reference to Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, and Speaker of the House John McCormack.
Duration: 1.5 minutes

23. Conversation 6311.4.9 with Rep. John McCormack (D-MA), Speaker of the House of Representatives
Friday, November 29, 1963, 12:04 PM
The greater part of this conversation is inaudible, so what you hear here is just over a minute of that part which is understandable. However, according to transcripts made by President Johnson's secretaries, the two are discussing the introduction of a bill to help Jacqueline Kennedy financially by providing franking privileges to help her answer her mail. Speaker McCormack talks about a suspension resolution in the House providing funds for the burial of President Kennedy and $50,000 for clerical help for Mrs. Kennedy. Johnson advocates a Secret Service detail for Mrs. Kennedy. Speaker McCormack discusses House members Les Arends, Republican of Illinois and Minority Whip, and Howard Smith, a Democrat of Virginia who was Chairman of the House Rules Committee.
Duration: 1 minute

24. Conversation 6311.4.8 with Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-IL), Senate Minority Leader
Friday, November 29, 1963, 11:40 AM
Johnson talks with Dirksen about the investigation into President Kennedy's death. Johnson first makes reference to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, to Texas Attorney General Waggoner Carr, and to Allen Dulles, who was CIA Director in the Eisenhower Administration. Johnson asks Dirksen if he would co-sponsor a bill that would provide $50,000 for Mrs. Kennedy to help her answer her mail. He also expresses frustration in the lack of legislative activity in Congress, saying he'd like Dirksen and House Republican Leader Charlie Halleck of Indiana to speak with him about it.
Duration: 6 minutes

25. Conversation 6311.4.6 with Rep. Hale Boggs (D-LA), House Majority Whip
Friday, November 29, 1963, 11:30 AM
Johnson and Boggs discuss the possibility of a joint Congressional-Supreme Court commission to investigate the Kennedy assassination. Boggs makes reference to his wife Lindy, who would succeed him in Congress nearly 10 years later when Boggs' plane disappeared in 1972 during a trip to Alaska.
Duration: 2 minutes

26. Conversation 6311.4.5 with Sen. Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Friday, November 29, 1963, 11:10 AM
Johnson discusses an investigation into the Kennedy assassination with the Senate Majority Leader. He puts Secretary of State Dean Rusk on the phone with Mansfield. The tape is interrupted until the end of the conversation between Rusk and Mansfield. Mansfield and Johnson then finish the conversation.
Duration: 4 minutes

27. Conversation 6311.5.17 with Abe Fortas, Johnson adviser and partner at Arnold, Fortas & Porter
Friday, November 29, 1963, unknown
Fortas reports on his conversation with Waggoner Carr, the Texas Attorney General, informing Carr that President Johnson will appoint the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas. Fortas then dictates a statement about the appointment of the Warren Commission to a White House secretary.
Duration: 5 minutes

28. Conversation 6311.4.2 with Sen. James Eastland (D-MS), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Thursday, November 28, 1963, 3:21 PM
Twenty minutes later President Johnson calls Eastland back, forgetting that the reason for his original call was to discuss an investigation into President Kennedy's assassination. Eastland as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to hold hearings on the assassination. The two men mention other Senators, including Wayne Morse, Democrat of Oregon; Richard Russell, Democrat of Georgia; Kenneth Keating, Republican of New York; and Everett Dirksen, Republican of Illinois who was also Senate Minority Leader.
Duration: 2 minutes

29. Conversation 6311.4.1 with Sen. James Eastland (D-MS)
Thursday, November 28, 1963, 3:00 PM
Johnson wishes Senator Eastland a happy birthday and Eastland speaks with Johnson about a patronage problem he and Senator John Stennis of Mississippi would like Johnson to help them with.
Duration: 2 minutes

30. Conversation 6311.3.36 with Arthur Goldberg, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Wednesday, November 27, 1963, 6:37 PM
The two men discuss Johnson's speech before a joint session of Congress that day and Goldberg advises Johnson to take a day of rest.
Duration: 1 minute

31. Conversation 6311.3.34 with Farris Bryant, Governor of Florida (D)
Wednesday, November 27, 1963, 5:26 PM
Johnson speaks with Bryant about renaming Cape Canaveral for President John Kennedy.
Duration: 2 minutes

32. Conversation 6311.3.32 with Sen. Spessard Holland (D-FL)
Wednesday, November 27, 1963, 5:13 PM
Johnson calls Holland to talk about renaming Cape Canaveral in Florida for President John Kennedy.
Duration: 5 minutes


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