Fifty Years Ago Today

[dgs49]

I was a Freshman at Central Catholic High School. The news came over the loudspeaker that President Kennedy had been shot; I seem to recall that confirmation of his death came fairly soon. All classes were dismissed early in the afternoon, and we went home.

The rest of the day was spent watching the television news, which became quite repetitive in short order.

Since Kennedy was "Catholic," it seemed doubly tragic for us. But mainly, he was young (in the eyes of my parents), attractive, dynamic and well-liked, so a hell of a thing, all in all.

Since it was a Friday, the entire weekend was nothing but a blur of scanning the papers and watching the never-ending coverage on television.

Was it Sunday morning that Jack Ruby shot Oswald? Seems like it. What a wierd development that was.

I have not spent any great amount of time going over the conclusions of the Warren Commission, or read reports from the hundreds of people who have publicly claimed that it was all bunk. I honestly can't decide whether it is more unbelievable that (1) Harvey acted alone, or that (2) he was part of a conspiracy and the Warren Commission covered it up. Neither one is believable.

Nor is it believable that the Pirates beat the Yankees in the 1960 World Series. But it happened, didn't it?


And since this is posted in the Politics forum, isn't it odd how Democrats have tried to keep his image in high esteem, while ignoring or denying his political positions? Were he alive today with the same views, he would be right in the mainstream of the Republican Party.

[Big RR]

[quote]Were he alive today with the same views, he would be right in the mainstream of the Republican Party.[quote]

Perhaps, but people and circumstances change, as did the views of the republicans and democrats over the past 50 years. Who knows where Kennedy would stand today? Somehow I doubt he'd be a mainstream republican, anymore than Nioxon (with his views on universal healthcare, e.g.) would be a democrat.

[Econoline]

Physics class, senior year, Friday afternoon at Brother Rice, a Catholic boys high school.

They played the radio feed over the PA system until after his death was certain, then told us to go home and pray. I remember staying glued to the TV at home for the rest of the weekend and seeing Jack Ruby murder Lee Harvey Oswald on Sunday morning after Mass.

[Crackpot]

I wasn't alive back then

[dales]

Sixth grade at Ralston Intermediate School in Belmont, CA.

The announcement was made by my teacher who exclaimed that it was some "redneck" who did it.

[Sue U]

Funny, I don't remember a thing about the day JFK was shot, but I do remember the funeral vividly. I'm a little bit younger than Caroline Kennedy, and a couple years older than was John-John, and like most young kids at the time I was fascinated by them. Of course, the image of John-John saluting his father's casket is indelible in my memory.

[Guinevere]

I wasn't alive back then

Me either. Wasn't that the olden days??

[Sue U]

That's right, Missy. And in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. "Gimme five bees for a quarter," you'd say. Now where was I?

[Gob]

Fifty Years Ago Today Sargent Pepper taught the band to play...

[Guinevere]

That's right, Missy. And in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. "Gimme five bees for a quarter," you'd say. Now where was I?

I dunno oldster, but do you need your reading glasses to see those nickels properly?

[MajGenl.Meade]

It's an odd thing that I remember clearly what I was doing when the news came to the UK that John Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. I was watching "children's TV" - that is, the programmes on between 5 and 6 on the BBC and it was the first episode of Dr Who. "Kennedy's been shot" I rushed into the shop to tell mum and dad.

Except that's rubbish isn't it?

The news that Kennedy was shot reached the TV watching public at 6:42 on the Friday - Dr Who didn't start until 5:17pm on the Saturday although its start was delayed by some minutes because of the assassination coverage.

So I wonder what TV programme was I watching at 6:42 on Friday 22nd November 1963?

Ah well... two historic events to remember this weekend

Meade

And Friday evening made three because a good friend of 30 years died in the USA at 4 a.m.

[rubato]

A lot of hope went out of the world that day.


yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

He became a lot greater once he was dead....

[oldr_n_wsr]

I was 5yo and don't remember much, if any of it. I was in kindergarten. I remember a funeral, but that could have been Bobby's.