The thing about the JKF assassination is that no matter how many decades pass, those of us who experienced the shock and dismay on November 22, 1963 that President Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas, still have vivid memories of what we were doing that day.
We remember the wall to wall television coverage; shops closing their doors; people buying newspapers as fast as they were printed to get the latest on the Jackie, Caroline and “John John“, the President’s wife and children and to find out how and why this tragic event happened.
Never had there been such a bludgeoning shock to the nation. We watched the coverage of the President’s body being loaded onto Air Force One. We saw Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged “lone” gunman get arrested. Shocking live television coverage of Oswald being shot by night club owner Jack Ruby. The continuing drama, innuendos, speculation and unscripted telecasts culminated after four days of non-stop coverage with the funeral.
Today, the tragic event has been largely ignored.
Those of us who were witnesses to a sad and tragic moment in our country’s history remember President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America. Gunned down on November 22, 1963. He was 46 years old.
CNN has a comprehensive and interactive section on JFK and his assassination here.
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I have few childhood memories, but I remember that day. They made an announcement and dismissed us from school. I remember practically running home and asking the crossing guard if it was true that the President was shot. I don’t remember when I actually knew he was killed, but I remember throwing my body onto the couch and crying. I was 7 years old.
Wow, that’s a rather vivid memory for a 7 year old, Demo. I was 17 and sitting in the doctor’s office when the news came over the TV set in the waiting room.