Let Us Remember - Kennedy Assassination
TV ClubHouse: Archives: Let Us Remember - Kennedy Assassination
Whowhere | Friday, November 22, 2002 - 11:53 am     Please join me in remembering President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on this day in 1963. President Kennedy arrived at Dallas’ Love Field at 11:37 a.m., on Friday, November 22, 1963, from Fort Worth. The President and Mrs. Kennedy, accompanied by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Mrs. Johnson and Texas Governor John Connally and Mrs. Connally, had come to Dallas as part of a scheduled two-day Texas tour in preparation for the 1964 Presidential campaign. An estimated 200,000 Dallas citizens greeted the President’s motorcade as it passed through downtown on the way to a sold-out luncheon for 2,600 citizens at the Trade Mart, north of the central business district. President Kennedy was fatally shot and Governor Connally seriously wounded at 12:30 p.m. as the open limousine in which they were riding moved west on Elm Street through Dealey Plaza, on the western edge of downtown Dallas. The President was pronounced dead at l:00 p.m. at Parkland Memorial Hospital. In remembering President Kennedy, I would like to share with you a favorite passage from A Thousand Days, John F. Kennedy in the White House, by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. At last he began his inaugural address, his voice ringing out in the frosty air. “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage.” And so he continued, striking notes of strength, conciliation and hope. “Let us begin anew,” he said “--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” The prospect would not be easy. “All this will not be finished in the first hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, or even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.” The burden of the “long twilight struggle: lay on this people and this generation. “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.” (That morning reading over his text, he had scratched out “will” and replaced it with “can.”) He concluded: “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” If you would like to learn more about this fateful day, visit http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/today.html |
Zeno39 | Friday, November 22, 2002 - 12:18 pm     I always remember this day, because I was in the hospital having my first child. When the news got around the hospital, it got so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. I have been to Kennedy's grave, and seen the eternal flame. I liked him, and voted for him. |
Cablejockey | Friday, November 22, 2002 - 01:31 pm     I too remembered that this was a sad anniversary. Although much has been said in the last 40 years regarding Kennedy's personal life, I still think he was an outstanding politician of his era. |
Gail | Friday, November 22, 2002 - 01:39 pm     I remember when this happened. I was living in France at the time. We didn't get TV there and there was only one station on the radio so we didn't listen to it often. My dad had just driven us all out to the Air Force base to do the weekly grocery run, etc. The commissary was closed so we went to the quick shop. On the door was a sign that said "Closed because of assasination of President Kennedy. I was pretty young at the time but always remember how shocked my parents were." |
Meggieprice | Friday, November 22, 2002 - 01:40 pm     I am always sad on this day. I met JFK at the Air Force Academy in Colorado-a treasured memory. My family worked on his campaign as my dad was very involved in the Dem. party (still is). I just happened to form a Beatles Fan Club that day at recess.... I was 10. There was an innocence lost that day in our country that has never returned. |
Whit4you | Friday, November 22, 2002 - 03:45 pm     My fingers and toes werre beginning to form that day.... RIP JFK |
Cablejockey | Friday, November 22, 2002 - 08:39 pm     Meggie, please expand on your meeting with JFK, it sounds like a very interesting story. You are right about innocence lost. After that day who could really feel they could trust anything? |
|