By the fall of 1963, President John F. Kennedy was actively laying the groundwork for his upcoming presidential campaign. While an official announcement was still pending, the political atmosphere strongly suggested his candidacy, and Kennedy himself projected confidence in his prospects for re-election. This period saw him embark on strategic travels, notably a tour across nine Western states in late September, ostensibly focused on natural resources and conservation. However, these public appearances also served as a platform to test campaign themes for 1964, touching upon critical issues like education, national security, and the pursuit of world peace.
Campaigning in Texas: Setting the Stage for Tragedy
The subsequent month saw President Kennedy addressing Democratic gatherings in Boston and Philadelphia, further solidifying his campaign preparations. A pivotal political planning session on November 12 underscored the strategic importance of Florida and Texas in the upcoming election. Plans were set in motion for visits to both states within the next two weeks. Adding a personal dimension to the Texas trip, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was scheduled to accompany the President, marking her return to public life after the recent loss of their infant son, Patrick, in August. On November 21, Air Force One departed for a two-day, five-city tour across Texas, a journey that would tragically alter American history.
President Kennedy was acutely aware of internal Democratic party divisions in Texas, a factor that could potentially compromise his chances of winning the state in 1964. A key objective of his trip was to foster unity among Texas Democrats. Furthermore, the presence of vocal extremist groups, particularly in Dallas, was a known concern. Just a month prior, US Ambassador to the UN, Adlai Stevenson, had been physically attacked in Dallas after delivering a speech. Despite these undercurrents of tension, President Kennedy seemed to embrace the opportunity to engage directly with the public and navigate the complexities of the political landscape outside of Washington.
The Texas tour commenced in San Antonio, where Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Governor John B. Connally, and Senator Ralph W. Yarborough formed the welcoming committee. The presidential entourage proceeded to Brooks Air Force Base for the dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center. Continuing to Houston, President Kennedy addressed the League of United Latin American Citizens and attended a testimonial dinner for Congressman Albert Thomas, concluding the first day in Fort Worth.
Morning in Fort Worth: The Calm Before the Storm
Friday, November 22nd, dawned with a light rain in Fort Worth. Despite the weather, a substantial crowd gathered in the parking lot of the Texas Hotel, where the Kennedys had stayed overnight. A makeshift platform was erected, and President Kennedy, forgoing any protection from the rain, emerged to deliver brief remarks. “There are no faint hearts in Fort Worth,” he began, acknowledging the crowd’s dedication. He then lightened the mood, adding, “and I appreciate your being here this morning. Mrs. Kennedy is organizing herself. It takes longer, but, of course, she looks better than we do when she does it.” His speech then shifted to matters of national importance, emphasizing the necessity for the United States to maintain a position of global leadership in defense and space exploration, alongside sustained economic growth and the commitment of American citizens to shoulder the responsibilities of leadership. The crowd’s enthusiastic response was palpable as President Kennedy interacted with them, shaking hands amidst a sea of smiles.
Back inside the hotel, President Kennedy addressed a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce breakfast, focusing his remarks on military preparedness. “We are still the keystone in the arch of freedom,” he declared, underscoring America’s pivotal role in global security. “We will continue to do…our duty, and the people of Texas will be in the lead.”
On to Dallas: Destination Dealey Plaza
The presidential party departed the hotel and traveled by motorcade to Carswell Air Force Base for the short thirteen-minute flight to Dallas. Upon arrival at Love Field, President and Mrs. Kennedy immediately approached a fence where a crowd of supporters had assembled, spending several minutes greeting and shaking hands with them.
The First Lady received a bouquet of red roses, which she carried with her into the waiting limousine. Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie, were already seated in the open convertible as the Kennedys joined them, taking their places in the back. With the rain having stopped, the decision was made to leave the plastic bubble top off the vehicle. Vice President and Mrs. Johnson followed in another car as the motorcade prepared to depart.
The procession left the airport and embarked on a ten-mile route through downtown Dallas, en route to the Trade Mart, where the President was scheduled to deliver a luncheon address. Excited crowds thronged the streets, waving and cheering as the presidential motorcade passed.
The Assassination: A Nation in Shock
Around 12:30 p.m., as the motorcade turned off Main Street into Dealey Plaza, the unimaginable occurred. As the presidential limousine passed the Texas School Book Depository, gunfire erupted, shattering the cheerful atmosphere.
Bullets struck President Kennedy, hitting his neck and head. He slumped towards Mrs. Kennedy. Governor Connally, seated in front of him, was also struck, wounded in the back.
The limousine accelerated rapidly towards Parkland Memorial Hospital, just minutes away. Despite the swift response, there was little that could be done for the President. A Catholic priest was summoned to administer the last rites. At 1:00 p.m., John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead. Governor Connally, though seriously injured, would ultimately survive.
President Kennedy’s body was taken to Love Field and placed aboard Air Force One. Before the presidential plane departed, a somber Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President in a cramped compartment, the oath administered by US District Court Judge Sarah Hughes at 2:38 p.m.
Earlier, within an hour of the assassination, police had apprehended Lee Harvey Oswald, a recent employee of the Texas School Book Depository. He was arrested in connection with the assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent fatal shooting of Patrolman J. D. Tippit on a Dallas street shortly after the attack on the motorcade.
Two days later, on Sunday morning, November 24, as Oswald was being transferred from police headquarters to the county jail, an event unfolded live on national television that further stunned the nation. Viewers witnessed a man step forward, aim a pistol, and fire at point-blank range at Oswald. The assailant was identified as Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner. Oswald died two hours later at Parkland Hospital, the same hospital where President Kennedy had been pronounced dead.
The President’s Funeral: Mourning a Fallen Leader
On the same day as Oswald’s death, President Kennedy’s flag-draped casket was moved from the White House to the Capitol. Drawn by six grey horses and accompanied by a riderless black horse, the caisson procession, at Mrs. Kennedy’s request, was modeled after Abraham Lincoln’s funeral cortege. Massive crowds lined Pennsylvania Avenue, many openly weeping as the caisson passed. During the 21 hours that President Kennedy lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, an estimated 250,000 people paid their respects.
On Monday, November 25, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral was attended by heads of state and dignitaries from over 100 countries, with millions more watching the solemn proceedings on television worldwide. Following the burial, at the gravesite, Mrs. Kennedy and the President’s brothers, Robert and Edward, lit an eternal flame.
Perhaps the most enduring images from that day were the poignant salute to his father given by young John F. Kennedy Jr. (on his third birthday), his daughter Caroline kneeling beside her mother at the president’s bier, and the extraordinary strength and grace exhibited by Jacqueline Kennedy throughout the ordeal.
In the aftermath of this devastating event, as the nation and the world grappled with the senselessness of the act and the profound loss of President Kennedy, many found solace in the words from his inaugural address:
All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days, nor in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration. Nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
Arlington National Cemetery: A Place of Remembrance
For those wishing to learn more about President Kennedy’s funeral and final resting place, the Arlington National Cemetery website offers further information.
Aftermath: Investigations and Lingering Questions about the John F. Kennedy Killer
The Warren Commission: Seeking Answers
In the immediate aftermath of the assassination, on November 29, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy. This body became known as the Warren Commission, named after its chairman, Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the United States. President Johnson tasked the commission with investigating all aspects of the assassination and the subsequent killing of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged John F Kennedy Killer, and to present its findings and conclusions. The Warren Commission conducted an extensive investigation and in 1964, concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President Kennedy.
The House Select Committee on Assassinations: Re-examining the Evidence
Decades later, in 1976, the US House of Representatives formed the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) to reopen the investigation into President Kennedy’s death. This renewed inquiry was prompted by persistent allegations that previous investigations had not received full cooperation from federal agencies and that key evidence may have been overlooked.
Note to the reader: It is important to note that while the 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations report initially suggested “a high probability that two gunmen fired” at President Kennedy (Point 1B in the HSCA report), this conclusion has been widely discredited. It was based on the analysis of a Dallas police radio transmission tape which was later proven to be unreliable by acoustic experts. The HSCA also investigated the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and issued its final report on March 29, 1979.
Assassination Records Collection: Transparency and Access
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 was enacted to ensure transparency and public access to materials related to the assassination. This act mandated that all assassination-related documents be centralized under the supervision of the National Archives and Records Administration. This vast collection continues to be a resource for researchers and the public seeking to understand the events surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy and the identity of the john f kennedy killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, and the complexities that still surround this tragic event in American history.
