Kennedy's Assassination
"We can help make the world safe for diversity,
for in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit
this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish
our children's future. And we are all mortal." -- Commencement Address at American
University, June 19, 1963.
Andrea Yauch -- It was inspiring for my grandmother to have Kennedy as her
president. My grandma described the devastation of his death by saying,
"The whole country came to a standstill." She described to me that
there were some people who did not go to work for days and they just cried.
My grandma remembers that she was laying on the couch in her living room
watching As the World Turns and Walter Croncite came on with the news that
president Kennedy had been shot. After this they had taken him to
the hospital in Dallas, Texas. They made news reports almost every
ten minutes after this news was announced. Finally, Walter Croncite
came on with another news report, but this time he reported that President
Kennedy was dead. My grandmother said, "When Walter Croncite reported
the death of President Kennedy, he cried. I will never forget that
day in my life."
Jennifer Drewes -- They witnessed his assassination on TV and were shocked and
saddened. My grandparents remembered that he was shot in Dallas. My grandma
said two shots killed him, but my grandpa said he used a shotgun. (I think
my grandpa was just aggravating my grandma-- he can be very obnoxious.)
Stephanie Kreimborg -- My family is Catholic so they idolized JFK when he came into office.
They were devastated by his assassination and know the recent revelations
about his private life have not changed their view about him. Julie Estes -- Grandparents were both living at their old house when they heard
of the assassination, remember seeing it on tv.
Michael Smith -- Both of my parents George and Marylyn Smith remember exactly where
they were when President Kennedy was assassinated. Their view on Kennedy
has changed over the years, they do not think so highly of him now.
Leslie Smarr -- My mother, Sharon Smarr, was pretty upset about the assassination
of JFK. She was only in the fifth grade at the time. She remembers him
as a good looking man. Everybody was really infatuated with him and his
family. Mrs. Kennedy was so glamorous, and they had such cute kids, and
they were so rich, while the rest of the country was struggling. My father's
view on JFK has not changed. He said "Everybody pretty much knew what was
going on, it just wasn't talked about".
Kristen Eaton --At the time of Kennedy's assassination my dad was sitting
in his third grade class at Berry Elementary in Berry Kentucky when the
second grade teacher came in to tell the other teacher what happened. My
dad's teacher dropped her cup of tea and started to cry. Everyone in the
whole school was sent home. My mom sat in front of the television while
the funeral was televised and she remembers my grandma ironing clothes
and crying. My mom cried because she thought of a little girl, her age,
without a father. Both of my parents remember the distinct beat of the
drum during the whole funeral and the black horse without a rider. The
horse, fully saddled, had a soldier walking beside it with black riding
boots turned backward in the stirrups. Jackie Kennedy was still wearing
the pantyhose that were covered in the blood from her husband.
James Proctor -- My dad said that my grandpa did not care that JFK got shot.
I guess he didn't really care about politics too much. My grandfather
did not care for the government very much and when JFK was shot, my father
said that my grandfather did not show any emotions toward the death of
JFK.
Jeff Manning -- Rich was a freshman in high school on October 22, 1962, when John
F, Kennedy was assassinated. Students were dismissed in mid-day and anxiously
sat on the school bus as they rode home to watch the news develop on TV.
He also remembers watching as Jack Ruby, a Houston night club owner, shot
Lee Harvey Oswald as he was being led through a crowd by police. He was
shocked at this development but, believing Oswald was the assassin, felt
it just. Rich also remembers the murders of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther
King. He vividly remembers the rioting in the Avondale section of Cincinnati.
A few years later he had to drive through that area daily on the way to
work and it was still in ruins.
Amie Prewitt -- My father learned of JFK's assassination at school when his teacher
told the class. Maryann Huhn -- My grandfather heard about the assassination on the radio at work.
My grandmother heard it in the car taking my dad to Cub scouts. My mom,
Kathy, heard it on TV, and my dad heard it at school. Mom and dad didn't
understand, they were too young to comprehend. My grandmother was very
upset as well as my grandfather.
Courtney Pflum -- My mom and dad were very young when Kennedy was elected and even
assassinated. They don't really remember the election, because it wasn't
a very big deal, but they do remember the famous assassination. My mom
was in the sixth grade when they announced it over the loud speaker, and
everyone was devastated. My dad went to a Catholic school, and was in a
server's meeting, when father was called out of the room. He then came
back in and told everyone the new. They then had a moment of silence, said
a prayer, and turned on the TV to get the details.
Melissa Riehle -- Martin
and Albertine Riehle said it was a sad day when JFK was shot. Kids
heard it over the intercom and then saw the live footage of Jack Ruby shooting
Lee Harvey Oswald.
Michael Williams -- My
parents remembered JFK's assassination. My mom remembers walking
home from school in the first grade, and remembers one of her friends telling
her that Kennedy had been shot. My dad remembers the principal coming
over the loud speaker and telling the class that Kennedy had been shot,
my dad was in the third grade at the time.
