Today marks the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination in Dallas. Do you remember what you were doing that day?
I was only 5 years old so my memory is pretty fleeting. What I do remember is how the event changed TV viewing those days - lots of cut-ins and news reports. Everything was happening so fast - the assassination, arresting Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby shooting Oswald, LBJ being sworn into office, the funeral..... so much in such a short time.
I didn't really understand what it all meant, only that it was interrupting whatever show I was watching. I also remember my Mom being very shaken up by the whole ordeal. She was upset and seemed to spend a large amount of time fixated by all the news accounts. The funeral a few days later seemed especially troubling to her. Years later she showed me all the newspaper clippings she had kept from the local papers - almost this mini-shrine to the event.
This did seem to spark the start of some very turbulent times as we rolled along into the mid and late 60's. A true flashpoint in America's history.
Finally, one more item I find interesting. In reading recently about JFK and his time and policies while in office it appears he was almost Reagan-esque, before there was a Ronald Reagan. Despite being a Democrat, JFK was all about smaller government, lower taxes, and trickle down economics. Traits today's Democrats probably don't want to acknowledge.
What were you doing November 22, 1963?
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