DARK DAY IN DALLAS

JFK ASSASSINATED 53 YEARS AGO TODAY

Dallas, Texas (JFK ASSASSINATIOND) Fifty-three years ago today at 12:30 p.m. CST, November 22, 1963, the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated here in Dallas. 

The President was shot while riding through the streets of the city in an open automobile.  Most witnesses reported hearing three shots as JFK was traveling down Elm Street in Dealey Plaza.

JFK was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital where doctors attempted to save his life.  The President was wounded just below the Adam's Apple and had sustained a major injury of the right side of the head.  It was discovered later during autopsy that JFK had also been shot in the back.

The President was officially declared dead at 1:00 p.m. CST.  Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff made the announcement in a classroom at the hospital.

Vice-President Lyndon Johnson, who was riding in another car in the motorcade and was not hurt, was spirited from the hospital to Air Force One at Love Field where he took the presidential oath of office.


THE SADDEST DAY OF MY LIFE

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK ASSASSINATION) My Dad came home from work  53 years ago tonight with a copy of the Final Edition of the Knoxville News-Sentinel dated November 22, 1963.  The big bold headline read, "KENNEDY KILLED, CONNALLY WOUNDED!"

We already knew, but there was something about seeing it in print that made it even more difficult to accept.   We had been in an afternoon class at Young High School here in Knoxville when our principal announced that President Kennedy had been shot.  

In a state of shock, we listened to the "on the air" radio reports from Dallas and when the announcement came that the President had died, we were asked us to stand at attention as the school bugle corps
played "Taps"  and the American Flag was lowered to half-staff.

This horrible moment in our Nation's history, is one that I surely will never forget.  Other than the loss of family members and close friends, it remains the saddest day of my life.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

November 22, 1963
Final Edition

JFK SAW NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT BEING SHOT

Fort Worth, Texas (JFK ASSASSINATION) President John F. Kennedy began his last day on earth, November 22, 1963, addressing a crowd of 5000 outside the Texas Hotel here in Fort Worth.  Before going down to speak, the President said...

"If somebody wanted to shoot me from a window with a rifle, nobody can stop it, so why worry?"

The last POTUS to be assassinated had been William McKinley in 1901 although an attempt was made on Harry Truman in 1950.  Presidents from Theodore Roosevelt through Dwight D. Eisenhower had ridden in open cars with Secret Service protection.

Mr. Kennedy had ridden in an open car throughout his presidency and did so all over the world.  

"MR. PRESIDENT, YOU CAN'T SAY DALLAS DOESN'T LOVE YOU


Dallas, Texas (JFK ASSASSINATION) After landing at Love Field here in Dallas at 11:37 a.m. CST, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy joined Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie in the Presidential limo for a motorcade through the city.

Despite rumblings of disagreement with JFK's policies in the city, the people packed the sidewalks and waved and cheered as the President and First Lady rode by.

Mrs. Connally was so pleased with the reception, she turned to JFK, just after they made the turn from Main to Houston Street, and said...

"Mr. President, you can't say that Dallas doesn't love you."