LBJ and JFK
Adding daily updates to TEKJournalism UK's On This Day feature often proves interesting. It also sometimes acts as a personal reminder to the past, even the distant past. In 1963 this last week was a hugely significant one for the US and the World.
John F Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States of America. A Democrat he was viewed by many as almost a "saviour". People had high hopes for JFK. In reality he was just a man who had flaws like the rest of us.
However his political potential was never realised and he was snatched from the World at the hand of an assassin.
John F Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States of America. A Democrat he was viewed by many as almost a "saviour". People had high hopes for JFK. In reality he was just a man who had flaws like the rest of us.
However his political potential was never realised and he was snatched from the World at the hand of an assassin.
At 12.30 pm on Friday, November 22, 1963, JFK was assasinated. Those of us around at the time were shocked in different ways. As an 11-year-old UK child this writer was too young to realise the full impact of the loss of JFK. Arriving home from school to find a mother in floods of tears was a glimpse at the power and appeal of JFK.
However like all people he had some enemies. In common with influential people he had his fair share of powerful and influential enemies. Lee Harvey Oswald was soon arrested and accused of the murder of JFK. Oswald maintained he was "just the patsy" and the truth was never really known. Oswald was quickly assasinated himself whilst in the hands of the authorities. Many believed it was to silence him and hide the identity of the true killer or killers.
As the week moved on media coverage showed the hasty inauguration of Lyndon B Johnson as temporary US President. We watched the funeral on TV in solemn respect knowing that a great man had been killed.
Without the constant re-runs and video footage of today the impact was more intense. Who can forget the President's wife and children on the funeral day, November 25, 1963.
Kennedy was not the first US President to be assasinated. That did not make his murder less shocking. The Kennedy family seemed at one time to be destined for grand things but also to be a "doomed" family, as they experienced one tragedy after another. Theirs I guess was a dynasty that was not meant to be. RIP
JFK Timeline
January 20, 1961, JFK is inaugurated as 35th President of USA.
November 22, 1963, US President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
November 23, 1963, Lyndon B Johnson takes over as US President after the assassination of JFK.
November 24, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of killing JFK, is himself killed.
November 25,1963 the funeral of John F Kennedy takes place.
1979 the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA), concludes that JFK was probably killed as a result of a conspiracy.
However like all people he had some enemies. In common with influential people he had his fair share of powerful and influential enemies. Lee Harvey Oswald was soon arrested and accused of the murder of JFK. Oswald maintained he was "just the patsy" and the truth was never really known. Oswald was quickly assasinated himself whilst in the hands of the authorities. Many believed it was to silence him and hide the identity of the true killer or killers.
As the week moved on media coverage showed the hasty inauguration of Lyndon B Johnson as temporary US President. We watched the funeral on TV in solemn respect knowing that a great man had been killed.
Without the constant re-runs and video footage of today the impact was more intense. Who can forget the President's wife and children on the funeral day, November 25, 1963.
Kennedy was not the first US President to be assasinated. That did not make his murder less shocking. The Kennedy family seemed at one time to be destined for grand things but also to be a "doomed" family, as they experienced one tragedy after another. Theirs I guess was a dynasty that was not meant to be. RIP
JFK Timeline
January 20, 1961, JFK is inaugurated as 35th President of USA.
November 22, 1963, US President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
November 23, 1963, Lyndon B Johnson takes over as US President after the assassination of JFK.
November 24, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of killing JFK, is himself killed.
November 25,1963 the funeral of John F Kennedy takes place.
1979 the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA), concludes that JFK was probably killed as a result of a conspiracy.
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