wher were you when president kennedy died?

Answer 1

I was a first grader. Nothing was said at school, but my parents were really upset when I got home. Never having seen death at that point, I'm afraid I really didn't get it, but I was terribly impressed by the funeral. I remember the riderless horse and wished it had been mine.

I really appreciate the serious answers that have been posted. I didn't realize people in the UK thought anything about it or how much people were stunned. As for those who condemned the Kennedys, you are off topic. This question was not about the presidency or the family, but where you were.

Answer 2

I was nine years old. I remember the TV screen went blank and an announcer said that there would soon be a news announcement.

My favourite programme 'Take your Pick' with Michael Miles was cancelled and I was very upset. It was a game where the contestants had to choose a key to a box with an unknown prize in it and Michael Miles would try and persuade them with offers of money not to open the box which could contain a worthless 'booby' prize.

Why wasn't there a similar outpouring of grief when Michael Miles died? He was the greatest quizmaster ever and would have made a great President.

Answer 3

I had just come in off my ice cream route, sitting there playing the piano in my basement apartment.

Wasn't paying much attention to the radio, but when I heard the first announcement, I thought "how much more sick, can media "humor" become"

I honestly thought that it was some kind of a sick joke, some announcer was making: a fantasy piece like the Orson Wells's "War of the Worlds" thing way back when.

But when I started listening more closely, I was literally stunned: literally could not believe it. Then, an almost paralyzing sadness set in to where I became immobile, and just sat there, mesmerized.

Wotan

Answer 4

Like Magic Bus Driver, I had just sat through Emergency Ward Ten before watching Take Your Pick and eagerly awaiting The Army Game. The newsflash came, then a woman playing the piano all night.

Answer 5

I was on the playground at school, when a car suddenly drove through the playground blowing its horn and scattering the kids! A woman who was the mother of a friend was driving, and she skidded to a stop and opened the doors screaming, "Joe, Tommy, boys, come here! Listen to the radio! They've shot the President."

This was at a Catholic school in Chicago's suburbs where half the school had names like Finlay, Flanagan, Culligan, and our priest were named O'Reilly, Quinn, and O'Sullivan,
so the attack on the first Irish-Catholic president was like an attack on our family!

We crowded into the car and litened as a shocked announcer told us in a shaky voice that the President had been taken to a Dallas hospital and was, at lasyt report, still alive! I remember cheering at that last report! (He wasn't alive, but the news was not nearly as instant as it is today)

The recall bell rang then, and the principal had us assemble in the church where she led us in prayed for the president's recovery. But then, around 1:30 Central time, we got the word he had died. I still choke up trying to talk about that day.

Answer 6

I was in Devon, in the UK, having tea at the Vicarage with the Vicar and his wife. My generation, the "babyboomers" were just becoming politically aware, and had great hopes of the Kennedy Camelot. Everybody was afraid of the Russians, and the potential nuclear threat they posed. JFK stood up to the Russians. He was one of the few American Presidents universally admired, and not ridiculed in the UK, although in those days, his dalliances were kept quiet.
I shall never forget watching the funeral on TV, and John-John (JFK jnr) saluting his Father's coffin. I think he would have been about 2. There was a similar depth of feeling shown worldwide to that for Princess Diana.

Answer 7

I was in my fifth grade class doing one of our lessons. Our teacher was called out of the room and returned a short time later. She then told us to put our things away and to quietly get our coats and to go home. We didn't know what to think we only knew we could have the rest of the day off. On the way home we laughed and played.
When I got home the television was on and my mom was crying I asked her what was wrong and then she told me the news. I was so sad I started to cry too. I didn't know this man except what I had learned in school. I new that he was a good president I was taught that. I even had to write a report on him once.

Answer 8

I was 11 years old and home from school with a bad cold. I remember I was lying on the couch watching TV when they broke in with a special report. It was awful, my whole family was in shock at the terrible event.

I was living in Tampa Florida with my parents at that time and, I believe it was the year before, President Kennedy had visited Tampa. Our school and others all lined what was Dale Mabry Blvd (spelling?) at that time, to watch the President go by. It was so very exciting! I am so thankful I had gotten to see him in person.

Answer 9

Kennedy was the worst president for the United States. Kennedy almost caused WW3 single handedly. You know that Cuban Missle Crisis. The one that he heroicly stopped Russian missles from going into Cuba. The USSR had already decided not to station missles in Cuba but Kennedy decided to blockade anyway. What did he blockade you ask. financial aid and materials.

Answer 10

I was in Charleston, South Carolina standing a pier watch at the Charleston Navy Base. When the word came that the President had been shot, the base went on full alert. We had never carried guns on watch until that day. Our instructions were to go to the end of the pier and keep watch over the water and shoot first and ask questions later.