Chester Clifton was a Major General in the U.S. Army and Military Aide to President Kennedy from 1961-1963. In the interview he primarily describes President Kennedy and the White House atmosphere before and during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. He begins by explaining his role as military aide, including carrying the nuclear "football" and preparing the president's morning military intelligence briefings. He relates Kennedy's interest in intelligence generally and with communications. In particular, the president was fascinated with the instant communications systems designed for contacting military commanders, and during the missile crisis used the system to bypass the chain of command relay system and speak directly to commanders. Gen. Clifton also describes Kennedy's evolving views on the military, including his belief that America could not rely just on nuclear superiority, but needed to reestablish conventional forces. Guerrilla warfare, Gen. Clifton notes, was a particular concern of Kennedy's.
