Do you remember where you were and what you were doing, when JFK was assassinated?

Question

I would love to hear all of your stories about what you remember of that day....especially how you reacted when you heard the news, and how other people around you reacted.

Thanks everyone! I love all your stories, and I am looking forward to even more.

I don't remember that much myself. I was in third grade, and we were all sent home early that day. I remember that people were crying and saying that the president had been shot. But, I had little awareness at the time, and did not understand what the really meant until I got older!

Answer 1

YES! I had just walked home from school, and had gone a few extra blocks with a friend. (I was in high school; I graduated in 1965, if that clues one in to my age...HA HA) I turned to go back toward my house and another student-friend of mine was across the street. He yelled to me, "Did you hear the President got shot?" I thought it was a joke and was anxious to hear the punch line. When he finally made me understand that it was not a joke, I ran the rest of the way home and turned on the TV, cried my eyes out, and begged God not to take our beloved president. Shortly after that, it was announced that he had died.

I was hysterical; I could not believe it. I think I cried for the next four or five days. It was not only the death of JFK, it was the death of my innocence. Growing up in the 50s and 60s, I believed that I lived in a civilized country, and that assassination was a thing of the past. Things like that didn't happen here!

Answer 2

Absolutely defining moment in my life. I was a Junior in high school and thought it was some kind of horrible joke. The rumors were flying around the hallways. I don't remember it being announced over the PA system. Many of us were crying. We had been so uplifted by John Kennedy and felt like there was hope for a new world and a new way of thinking. The whole weekend was dedicated to non stop watching of what was happening in regard to The Kennedy family. There was nothing else on Television for three days. It was the last time I remember the USA really stopping for a situation that had impacted our country. Not a cartoon to be seen. It was amazing

Answer 3

I was in school, (third grade) in Kansas City, Missouri. One of the students always went home for lunch, and the rest of us stayed at school and ate. The kid that went home, ran over and started yelling, "they shot the President!" I remember the teacher telling him that isn't so. About five minutes later, an announcement came over the intercom that President Kennedy had been shot. School was dismissed early. I wasn't catholic, and this was the first time I'd ever seen anyone genuflect (kneel and cross themselves) as several students (and the teacher) ran up to the teacher's desk and began crossing themselves, praying (loudly), crying, and making what to me were weird motions. By the time I got home, of course it was the only discussion going on. The TV's were running non-stop with lots of rumors. No one knew anything, but that minor detail didn't stop the news anchors from speculating. Soon we learned that Johnson had been sworn in as President; later that John F. Kennedy had not only been shot--but killed.
That event, the Columbia (space shuttle) tragedy, and 9/11 all stand out as the events that had a similiar impact. We were just spectators to that history--but the feeling of gloom and the epic scale of those three events were all the same. I think we felt the same when Reagan was shot, but the mental recovery was much faster--because we knew so rapidly that he had survived.

Answer 4

Yes, I was living and working in NY city at the time - the office closed, and we all went home. Watched the news on black and white TV for the next few days - saw Ruby murder Oswald, live.

A great feeling of shock and insecurity all around us at that time - but no one believed the official line about Oswald acting alone.
This view was re-inforced when it was announced that the Warren Commission's finding could not be made public for the next 75 years - I wonder how the American public accepted all this.

I am much older now - and have lived in two other Continents since 1963. There is little that surprises me anymore - but the easy gullibility of the human race knows no bounds when complacency is such a comfortable option......

Answer 5

I was in Grade 9 and totally not up to politics at all. We were walking between classes in silence as Catholic schools demanded and somehow the whisper spread.

We all were stunned but went through classes. I went home and watched what was on tv not knowing this history would effect the rest of my life as it did, or be the first of 3 assassinations to change my generation forever..

My Mom was crying over the loss of such a fine man. We were very sad of course, even though not American. Even so I remember this whole thing and watching it on tv and telling my uncouth little brothers to shut up or go outside so I could watch the funeral. Ignorant little cretins insisted on wrestling etc rather than watch the news.

I remember at dinner, my dad, a staunch catholic spoke about the sorrow and the loss of a good man etc etc. Most Canadians were sobered up at this but I am sure they never understood the ramifications of this hideous act.

Little did I realize I had seen the death of the last truly eloquent american president. He was not perfect but he was killed because he stood up for your country . A few weeks before his assassination, JFK had a meeting with the Pope. He was asked who he put first, the Vatican or America. He was already announcing changes he wished to make in the illegal Federal Reserve Act and wanted to create a monetary system that was AMERICAN not owned by the bankers.

He told the Pope he stood for America first and in doing so, signed his death warrant.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4315024059102108031&q=alex+jones
A few answers perhaps to the mystery.

I often wonder how different the world would be had this not been done. JFK had his faults for sure, but he stood up for America. It is interesting to note that Lincoln was assassinated by the Jesuits for the same stance on money making in America. If you look around you will find many quotes from Lincoln on the topic of the Jesuits.

This makes a man like Dr. Ron Paul all the braver in my eyes because this is exactly what he wants to do. Change the illegal federal reserve act and take American finances and put them in the hands of Americans again. He is a brave man and the first worthy successor to JFK.

Answer 6

I was in 5th grade. Right around lunch time I noticed that all the teachers were looking depressed and some looked like they had been crying. Then we all got called togeather in an assembly and the principal told us what happened. We were released from school early. That night we all sat around the TV (this was before cable) keeping up with what was going on. Out of respect, the city turned out all of the street light that night and people were burning candles in their windows. Most businesses were closed.

Remember watching TV Sunday morning and seeing Oswald shot, live. The NFL did play their regular schedule that Sunday.

We were out of school for several days. I remember watching the funeral services and seeing Herbert Hoover. I thought he had died, but apparently not.

Answer 7

Yes, I do. I was in Germany, listening to the radio as they were giving an update on JFK's caravan. All of a sudden, I hear the words, "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States has just been shot!!!". The rest is history.

I remember it like it happened yesterday.

Answer 8

I was a senior in high school in Jamestown NY we were just going in seventh period when our principal cam over the PA to give the announcement that President Kennedy had been shot and later died. Silence filled the room and halls as we were dismissed for the day.

Answer 9

I was in an Auburn University dormitory (Auburn, Alabama) studying for a freshman chemistry exam. I heard someone cheering! When I went to the class, there was a notice on the door that the exam had been canceled because the President had been shot.

It is a hard thing for me to remember that President Kennedy was not admired by many Americans at that time.

Answer 10

Thanks for asking. I was only 8 years old. We were living in Japan. It happened, at midnight, over there. And we were out of school for several days. That may have been the first time I ever saw my Mother, openly cry rolling tears. As we watched the news. Horrble times. Good Lord, willin'. They'll never return!