11-22-63.......what were you doing when you heard the news

[firepoint525]

I was swimming in amniotic fluid.

Me too. I wouldn't be born for another 3 months.

I was only one week away from being born, myself.

It is getting so that those who remember "where they were" are showing their age and "dating" themselves. I hope that my generation is the one that can finally find out the truth about what really happened on that November day in Dallas.

 

[landtuna]

It is getting so that those who remember "where they were" are showing their age and "dating" themselves. I hope that my generation is the one that can finally find out the truth about what really happened on that November day in Dallas.

I see no harm in "dating" one's self. After all, it was just random chance that each of us was born when we were.

That said however, I hope I live long enough to "learn the truth" as JFK's death greatly influenced the direction my military career, and life, were headed. I have always wondered how my life, and that of men my age, would have been affected had JFK remained president for his first and second terms and LBJ been relegated to the dustbin of politics where he belonged.

 

[LKellerIII]

It is getting so that those who remember "where they were" are showing their age and "dating" themselves. I hope that my generation is the one that can finally find out the truth about what really happened on that November day in Dallas.

I see no harm in "dating" one's self. After all, it was just random chance that each of us was born when we were.

That said however, I hope I live long enough to "learn the truth" as JFK's death greatly influenced the direction my military career, and life, were headed. I have always wondered how my life, and that of men my age, would have been affected had JFK remained president for his first and second terms and LBJ been relegated to the dustbin of politics where he belonged.

I'd speculate that there's a good chance Kennedy would not have gotten us bogged down in Vietnam. On the other hand, many historians believe that Johnson was crucial in ramming both Civil Rights and Voting Rights bills through Congress. He had been an iron-fisted Majority Leader before he was VP, so he knew how to manipulate Congress. He was also willing to use the nation's emotional reaction to JFK's tragic assasination to his benefit when lobbying for his agenda. So it's possible that real civil rights reform in America might have been delayed for some years if JFK had lived.

 

[bpatrick]

To get back on-topic, I was in third grade; we weren't long
back from lunch when our teacher was called to the principal's
office on some business; when she came back, her first words
were, "Our President has been shot." This was around 1:40 or
1:45 in North Carolina, the school day had about 30 minutes or
so to go, so I didn't hear Walter Cronkite announce JFK's death
until I had gotten home.

We made the rounds of all three networks over that weekend
(with no NBC affiliate, WUNC, what was then called an educational
channel, picked up NBC's coverage; WRAL had ABC and WTVD, CBS).
Actually I thought the teaming of Howard K. Smith and Edward P. Morgan
on ABC wasn't all that bad, and thirteen years later, when I moved to
Dallas, one of the first things I did was check out WFAA because I remembered
so much of ABC's coverage originating from there.

Ironically, only my mom saw Ruby shoot Oswald live; she had eaten a quick
lunch and gone back into the den, turned on WUNC, and saw the whole thing
while my dad and I were still eating. I did see Dan Rather narrate the slow-
motion replays later, and they pack almost as great a wallop (emphasis on
"almost") as the live pictures.

 

[mbayus]

I was visiting my Eye Doctor in Pittsburgh at the time. I think that it was Thanksgiving at that time, and I had the time of from school in Flint Michigan, and we used that weekend to go visit him then. I was 11, and I am totally blind. I remember that we were just finishing up and paying the bill when the receptionist had the radio on. I don't remember what station it was, maybe it was KDKA, but I remember my doctor saying "why couldn't they have just voted him out if they didn't like him. When we got back to grandma's, she had KDKA-TV on, and she came out on the porch and cried. I think, when we got back to Flint, we watched WJBK, or WJIM most of the time, but I do remember Edwin Newman, so we must have had it on NBC some of the time.

 

[RadioDaze]

I came along nearly 15 years after the Kennedy assasination, but I remember froma very early age my parents, especially my dad (a ninth grader at the time), telling me about it to the point I was familiar with the principal players (Kennedy, Conally, Oswald, Ruby, Johnson) before I ever started school. My mother talked about it later in my life, emphasizing how everything--businesses, events, etc.-- were literally shut down for the four days or so following the assasination and how all the TV at the time..which for them, in Durham, NC, would have been WFMY, WUNC, WRAL and WTVD, was wall-to-wall with coverage. She still has a program from a canceled recital at Durham High School that was to take place that night. My grandparents also shared their memories with me about where they were that day as well--three of them are in heaven now, but my grandmother on my mother's side, who celebrates her 95th birthday three weeks from today, turned 48 two days after the assasination. The lasting impact on my parents and grandparents was definitely evident. I always thought of the January 28, 1986 Challenger explosion, which I still remember vividly, as my generation's November 22nd, 1963, but my memories of September 11, 2001, and its lasting effects are hands-down a much more similar parallel.

 

[mleach]

Since I was born in the late 60's of course I don't remember 11/22/63 but I do remember my parents talking about what they were doing when they had heard that Kennedy was dead...they were shopping at Safeway. Actually Safeway..the manager and the other employees went to each customer in the store telling them they will be closing in 30 minutes and for them to make their final purchases.

My dad had told me many of times over the years something very interesting about 11/22/63, at least there in Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, it was pretty much the chain stores and restaurants who they had back then such as Burger Chef, Montgomery Ward, A&P, Howard Johnson, Acme, Western Auto, Kenney Shoes, Sears and so forth who had actually closed out of repsect for Kennedy while many of the mom & pop places, they had stayed open as if nothing happened.

Flash forward to 9/11...it was the reverse when it was the chains such as Target, JC Penney, Red Lobster, Burger King, Kohls and so forth..they were the ones who had stayed open ( I think only McDonalds was closed in our area )..while the few mom & pop stores/food places we had..they were the ones to close for 9/11.

 

[LKellerIII]

In class - 7th grade Junior High. I recall what the teacher looked like (she was a pretty, young blonde), but not what the class was. My school had a PA system, and the Principal announced the assassination, doing a reasonably sensitive job. I also recall that it was a beautiful day - warm and sunny.

I seem to remember that school was let out early. What struck me at the time was how many students - girls particularly - were truly upset, and crying. I grew up in a very conservative Republican area of Los Angeles - JFK's policies were not particularly popular there, so I was moved by the outpouring of emotion.

 

[firepoint525]

Okay, question for those of you who are old enough to remember the Kennedy administration:  was the whole imagery of "Camelot" in effect during JFK's time in office, or did that not come along until later?  Of course, I know about Jackie's White House tour in 1962, and the Vaughn Meador albums, but when specifically did the Kennedy years start to be known as "Camelot"?  I have a sneaking feeling that some revisionist history is at work here.

My mother recalls some TV show at the time that did "man on the street" interviews, and nobody could correctly identify Lyndon Johnson as vice president at that time!    Some things never change!

 

[LKellerIII]

Okay, question for those of you who are old enough to remember the Kennedy administration: was the whole imagery of "Camelot" in effect during JFK's time in office, or did that not come along until later? Of course, I know about Jackie's White House tour in 1962, and the Vaughn Meador albums, but when specifically did the Kennedy years start to be known as "Camelot"? I have a sneaking feeling that some revisionist history is at work here.

My mother recalls some TV show at the time that did "man on the street" interviews, and nobody could correctly identify Lyndon Johnson as vice president at that time! Some things never change!

That's a very interesting question. I hadn't remembered any refence to "Camelot" during his presidency, but I was barely 12 when he was assassinated, and my interest in politics was only beginning.

According to a couple of online sources, the "Camelot" reference was first used by historian and author Theodore White in a Life magazine essay in the December 6, 1963 issue - a couple of weeks after the assassination. Jacqueline Kennedy had invited White to Hyannis Port to interview her, hoping he would write an article summing up the "1000 days" of the JFK Presidency. White was the author of the "Making of the President (Year)" series of books, that began with 1960 (Kennedy's election) and ending with 1972 - Nixon's re-election.


http://www.suite101.com/content/the-camelot-presidency-of-john-f-kennedy-a132106

 

[W2JUV_AL]

I was at school (senior year), living in Upstate NY, and in the last class of the day. When the bell rang, the principal came in, somewhat out of breath, and informed us. Walking to the buses, some kids were crying. Spent the weekend watching the coverage in living black & white. On Sunday (Nov. 24) I was hoping to watch my beloved New York Giants play football, but the Oswald shooting prevented that.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

On Sunday (Nov. 24) I was hoping to watch my beloved New York Giants play football, but the Oswald shooting prevented that.

I don't think any of the NFL games that Sunday were going to be televised regardless of the shooting of Oswald. The NFL was the only pro league to go ahead with their games that weekend and did so at the order of Commissioner Pete Rozelle who sought direction before doing so. Some colleges had played football games on Saturday, but many postponed those contests until later in the season.

 

[FRR]

I was in college, Morehead State University..Nov 22, 1963 was 40 yr celebration of Founders Day at MSU. Setting in a large convocation with about 3200 others and the guys behind me with a little portable radio started crying. I turned around and asked him what was wrong. He said the President had been shot. I told him that was no laughing matter. About that time, a Ky State Policeman walked in, whispered in the ear of the speaker, Sen. John Sherman Cooper, and he made the announcement to the audience. Adron Doran, the Pres of MSU was roundly criticized because he continued with the program and didn't dismiss us right away. When the program ended, we all went back to the dorm, and just sat for a while because we couldn't believe that such an event had really happened. Our nation truly did loose its innocence that day. We were never the same. I think 9/11 affected the nation the same way. When 9/11 happened, I rode my harley down to MSU, sat in the same building I had been in on Nov 22, 1963 and cried.

 

[FRR]

Okay, question for those of you who are old enough to remember the Kennedy administration: was the whole imagery of "Camelot" in effect during JFK's time in office, or did that not come along until later? Of course, I know about Jackie's White House tour in 1962, and the Vaughn Meador albums, but when specifically did the Kennedy years start to be known as "Camelot"? I have a sneaking feeling that some revisionist history is at work here.

My mother recalls some TV show at the time that did "man on the street" interviews, and nobody could correctly identify Lyndon Johnson as vice president at that time! Some things never change!

That's a very interesting question. I hadn't remembered any refence to "Camelot" during his presidency, but I was barely 12 when he was assassinated, and my interest in politics was only beginning.

According to a couple of online sources, the "Camelot" reference was first used by historian and author Theodore White in a Life magazine essay in the December 6, 1963 issue - a couple of weeks after the assassination. Jacqueline Kennedy had invited White to Hyannis Port to interview her, hoping he would write an article summing up the "1000 days" of the JFK Presidency. White was the author of the "Making of the President (Year)" series of books, that began with 1960 (Kennedy's election) and ending with 1972 - Nixon's re-election.


http://www.suite101.com/content/the-camelot-presidency-of-john-f-kennedy-a132106

You are correct about the White reference. Camelot was never used until after his death

 

[drt]

I was in 7th grade on that fateful day, it was a beautiful day (and weekend weather wise), but dreary after hearing the news............. which was announced over the PA system, at first saying that President Kennedy had been shot, then about 10 minutes later, our principal got back on the PA system and announced that President Kennedy had died; many of the girls in the class cried and everyone else was pretty somber, except for one of my neighbors, who while waiting for the school bus to take us home, made some pretty tasteless remarks, which didn't go over well with the others. Classes were dismissed, but the principal played the radio over the PA system for those remaining in the classrooms, waiting to be picked up or for those two stunned to move.

The number 1 radio station, WLCY 1380- St. Petersburg, which was top 40 and carried a minimum of news; suspended all TOP 40 music and commercials and played somber classical music all weekend up through and including Monday, the day of JFK's funeral.

Like someone else posted earlier, I missed seeing Oswald shot on TV live, as I was still eating lunch, my father and grandfather had finished early and were watching TV in the living room and shouted to the rest of us, that Oswald had been shot.

Living in Florida and having gone through the Cuban missile crisis; there was a lot of concern locally, if Cuba was behind this and whether we might go to war with Cuba.

drt,
st. petersburg,fl

 

[Gridlock Joe]

I was swimming in amniotic fluid.

Me too. I wouldn't be born for another 3 months.

I was conceived that weekend. As my mom explained it to me, "All the stores were closed. There was nothing else to do."

 

[Ultimajock]

I was swimming in amniotic fluid.

Me too. I wouldn't be born for another 3 months.

I was conceived that weekend. As my mom explained it to me, "All the stores were closed. There was nothing else to do."

...LOL ;D ...

 

[Corky Marlowe]

I wasn't in school yet then, so I find the accounts of hearing about the news in school kind of fascinating. There's a section in Lewis Grizzard's book "Elvis Is Dead And I Don't Feel So Good Myself" where he describes his high school principal breaking the news over the school PA system, too.

 

[paulsonj72]

I don't think any of the NFL games that Sunday were going to be televised regardless of the shooting of Oswald. The NFL was the only pro league to go ahead with their games that weekend and did so at the order of Commissioner Pete Rozelle who sought direction before doing so. Some colleges had played football games on Saturday, but many postponed those contests until later in the season.

Sorry to bump this up but the NFL wasn't the only pro sports league to play that weekend. The NBA and the NHL with two Canadian teams also played that weekend(The NBA AND NHL played the night after) but because those leagues didn't have the national following the NFL did they didn't get as much attention as the NFL did. For example the St Louis Hawks(now Atlanta) played on both Saturday and Sunday after the assassination as did the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. The NHL at the time did not play games on Friday nights but DID play all 3 games scheduled for that weekend(two Saturday night and one Sunday) Both Saturday night games were in Canada and the Sunday night game was in New York(Detroit had all three days off so they didn't play at all)

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/STL/1964_games.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1964_games.html
https://o.canada.com/sports/the-sports-world-on-the-day-jfk-was-assassinated

 

[CTListener]

Sorry to bump this up but the NFL wasn't the only pro sports league to play that weekend. The NBA and the NHL with two Canadian teams also played that weekend(The NBA AND NHL played the night after) but because those leagues didn't have the national following the NFL did they didn't get as much attention as the NFL did. For example the St Louis Hawks(now Atlanta) played on both Saturday and Sunday after the assassination as did the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. The NHL at the time did not play games on Friday nights but DID play all 3 games scheduled for that weekend(two Saturday night and one Sunday) Both Saturday night games were in Canada and the Sunday night game was in New York(Detroit had all three days off so they didn't play at all)

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/STL/1964_games.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1964_games.html
https://o.canada.com/sports/the-sports-world-on-the-day-jfk-was-assassinated

Neither league had a franchise in Dallas or Washington in 1963. It would have been interesting to see whether any weekend (or earlier) games would have been postponed if there were. According to Basketball-reference, the Boston Celtics -- Massachusetts being JFK's home state -- didn't play a game that weekend. In fact, the next game they played was on Nov. 28. Could they have been given permission to postpone at least one home game after the assassination? The Bruins (NHL) were on the road and played the Leafs in Toronto on the 23rd. Their next home game was also on the 28th, a 5-3 win against the Rangers.