DEATH OF A PRESIDENT

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Can it be 60 years? 

I missed one day of school during my entire 1963-1964 school year. As the day dawned clear and a bit cool, I wasn’t feeling well, and I asked my mother if she would allow me to stay home. It seemed a shame to ruin my perfect attendance, but my mom realized I wasn’t a “sluff-off,” (as we referred to a slacker) and she nodded her approval.

I happened to be watching television about the lunch hour, comfortably situated in our family’s business office, sitting in my mother’s typing chair, and with my feet propped up on her desk.

Suddenly, there was a news break; something which rarely happened in those days. In recent years, we may see two or three so-called “news breaks” a day on networks like CNN or MS-NBC, but fifty years ago the old television cameras had to be warmed up prior to a coming on the air with a live broadcast. Thus, as I recall, on this particular day a photo of Walter Cronkite was posted on the screen with live audio feed.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Walter Cronkite. I’m coming to you with what appears to have been a shooting in Dallas, Texas. We’re in the process of validating the following information, but it appears President Kennedy has been shot by an unknown assailant in the City of Dallas. There are also reports that Governor Connelly of Texas was also hit as their vehicle drove past the Texas School Book Depository. We will be joining you in a live, extended report momentarily.”

After a few minutes, live footage of the world-famous newsman flickered on the screen. The veteran anchor was obviously anxious, and he stumbled over a few of his words. And every half minute or so, he pulled his glasses off his face and spoke directly into the camera. Cronkite repeated his previous remarks a couple of times with minor variations. It was definite now. The president had been gravely wounded, and his limo had just arrived at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

The minutes ticked by and sometime after 1PM Eastern Time, old Walter confirmed what, based on the news reports, Americans expected to hear.

“It has been substantiated now,” and taking off his glasses, and looking up at the clock on the wall, “President Kennedy died,” his voice faltered, and tears appeared in his eyes, …“President Kennedy died at approximately 1PM, Central Time.”

The date was November 22, 1963, not unlike an equally traumatic day which transpired two decades earlier, “A Day that will live in Infamy.”

America mourned as Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and accused of the murder of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. We watched fascinated as our beautiful, cultured first lady stepped off Air Force One, her beloved husband’s blood obscuring the natural color of her legs, and soiling her once beautiful pink dress. We witnessed the accused assassin gunned down on live television, and the funeral of our beloved president was televised. 

While millions lingered in a state of shock, his mortal remains were interred on a hillside in Arlington National Cemetery.

by Bill McDonald, PhD