Kennedy, McNamara, and Taylor in the Oval Office at the White House
10/2/1963
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This photograph shows president John F. Kennedy (in rocking chair) meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell D. Taylor (far left). Secretary McNamara and General Taylor reported to President Kennedy on their recent survey trip to South Vietnam, and gave their recommendations on pressuring South Vietnam's President Diem to respect civil rights and focus more on fighting Communists.
Kennedy had sent McNamara and Taylor on the trip after United States Marine Corps General Victor Krulak and Foreign Service Officer Joseph Mendenhall returned from Vietnam with conflicting reports. Kennedy had asked them, “You two did visit the same country, didn’t you?” The disagreement centered on whether the war was being won militarily, or if it it should instead be considered a political war – a war for men’s minds.
Kennedy had sent McNamara and Taylor on the trip after United States Marine Corps General Victor Krulak and Foreign Service Officer Joseph Mendenhall returned from Vietnam with conflicting reports. Kennedy had asked them, “You two did visit the same country, didn’t you?” The disagreement centered on whether the war was being won militarily, or if it it should instead be considered a political war – a war for men’s minds.
This primary source comes from the Collection JFK-WHP: White House Photographs.
Full Citation: Photograph AR8153-A; President John F. Kennedy with Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Maxwell D. Taylor; 10/2/1963; Meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, & Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), 11:00AM; Abbie Rowe White House Photographs, 12/6/1960 - 3/11/1964; Collection JFK-WHP: White House Photographs; John F. Kennedy Library, Boston, MA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/kennedy-mcnamara-taylor, March 16, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
