Former President Eisenhower Reflects on Cuba, President Kennedy, and the National Security Council (No Date)

Date: No Date

Created By: Captain A. Ross Wollen

Original or Replica: Original

Era: The Cold War, The Presidency

Collection: Eisenhower Presidential Library

Citations: DDE’s Post-Presidential Papers, 1965 Signature File, Box 7, PR-3 Public Relations-3 Interview 11-27-64; NAID #12023937

This document is an excerpt from an interview with former President Dwight D. Eisenhower in which he discusses American policy toward Cuba, his meeting with President John F. Kennedy following the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the expanding role of the National Security Council in Cold War decision-making. The interview provides Eisenhower’s personal recollections years after leaving office, offering insight into his views on presidential leadership and U.S. foreign policy.

Eisenhower explains that his administration supported and trained Cuban exiles opposed to Fidel Castro but believed they should first establish a recognized political leadership before receiving direct American backing. He also recounts Kennedy’s request to meet after the Cuban Missile Crisis, describing their discussion about Soviet reactions and the challenges facing the new administration. In the latter portion of the interview, Eisenhower argues that modern foreign policy required coordination across numerous government agencies, making the National Security Council an essential body for presidential decision-making.