After NBC interview, JFK asked for do-over

On September 9, 1963—fifty years ago today—President John F. Kennedy sat down for an interview with NBC’s evening news program, the Huntley-Brinkley Report. Kennedy was grappling with the United States’ involvement in South Vietnam, and though he did several interviews on America’s deepening involvement around this time, the President was unsatisfied with his answers.

“There's one or two places—were a little ragged,” Kennedy said after finishing responding to a question. “I thought we might do—almost think about doing them over.”

Up With Steve Kornacki played a selection of the footage on the show Sunday morning. Here is the full clip of Kennedy’s off-air discussion with the journalists.