By the fall of 1963, President John F. Kennedy was already gearing up for his re-election campaign in 1964. While he hadn’t officially announced his candidacy, it was widely understood that he would run again, and he appeared optimistic about his prospects. In September, he embarked on a tour across nine states in the West, ostensibly to highlight natural resources and conservation. However, these speeches also served as a platform to test campaign themes for the upcoming election, touching upon topics like education, national security, and global peace.
A month later, President Kennedy engaged with Democratic supporters in Boston and Philadelphia. November saw him holding a crucial political strategy session, where he underscored the importance of securing victories in Florida and Texas, planning visits to both states within the next couple of weeks. The Texas trip was particularly significant as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy would accompany him, marking her return to public engagements after the heartbreaking loss of their infant son, Patrick, in August. On November 21st, President and Mrs. Kennedy boarded Air Force One, commencing a two-day, five-city tour of Texas.
President Kennedy was acutely aware of the fractured Democratic party in Texas and how internal conflicts could jeopardize his chances of winning the state in 1964. A key objective of his visit was to unify these factions. He also knew about the presence of extremist groups in Texas, particularly in Dallas, where just a month prior, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson had been assaulted after a speech. Despite these potential challenges, President Kennedy seemed eager to engage directly with the public and enter the political arena.
Their first stop was San Antonio, where they were greeted by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Governor John B. Connally, and Senator Ralph W. Yarborough. The presidential party proceeded to Brooks Air Force Base for the dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center. Continuing to Houston, President Kennedy addressed the League of United Latin American Citizens and attended a testimonial dinner for Congressman Albert Thomas, concluding the day in Fort Worth.
The Morning in Fort Worth
Friday, November 22nd, began with light rain in Fort Worth. Despite the weather, a crowd of thousands gathered in the parking lot of the Texas Hotel, where the Kennedys had stayed overnight. President Kennedy, without any rain protection, addressed the enthusiastic crowd from a makeshift platform. He began with a warm acknowledgment: “There are no faint hearts in Fort Worth, and I appreciate your being here this morning. Mrs. Kennedy is organizing herself. It takes longer, but, of course, she looks better than we do when she does it.” He then spoke about national priorities: maintaining a strong defense, excelling in space exploration, fostering economic growth, and the responsibility of American citizens in global leadership. The crowd’s warm response was palpable as President Kennedy shook hands with the smiling faces before him.
Inside the hotel, President Kennedy addressed the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce breakfast, focusing on military readiness. He emphasized America’s crucial role in global freedom: “We are still the keystone in the arch of freedom,” he declared. “We will continue to do…our duty, and the people of Texas will be in the lead.”
Arrival in Dallas
The presidential entourage departed the hotel for Carswell Air Force Base, taking a brief thirteen-minute flight to Dallas. Upon arrival at Love Field, President and Mrs. Kennedy immediately approached a fence where a crowd had assembled, spending several minutes greeting and shaking hands with well-wishers.
The First Lady was presented with a bouquet of red roses, which she carried to the waiting limousine. Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie, were already seated in the open convertible as the Kennedys joined them, taking the seats behind. With the rain having stopped, the protective bubble top of the limousine was removed. Vice President and Mrs. Johnson followed in another car as the motorcade prepared to depart.
The procession commenced its ten-mile route from the airport, heading towards the Trade Mart in downtown Dallas, where President Kennedy was scheduled to deliver a luncheon address. Excited crowds lined the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of the President and First Lady.
The Events at Dealey Plaza
As the motorcade proceeded through downtown Dallas, throngs of people waved and cheered. Turning off Main Street into Dealey Plaza around 12:30 p.m., as the limousine passed the Texas School Book Depository, the atmosphere of excitement shattered. Gunfire erupted in the plaza.
Bullets struck President Kennedy, hitting his neck and head. He slumped towards Mrs. Kennedy. Governor Connally, seated in front of him, was also struck, wounded in his back.
The limousine sped towards Parkland Memorial Hospital, just minutes away. Despite immediate medical attention, there was little that could be done for the President. A Catholic priest was called to administer last rites, and at 1:00 p.m., John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead. Governor Connally, though seriously injured, would survive.
President Kennedy’s body was taken to Love Field and placed aboard Air Force One. Before taking off, in the cramped cabin, Lyndon B. Johnson, his face grim, was sworn in as President by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Hughes at 2:38 p.m.
Less than an hour prior to this, police had apprehended Lee Harvey Oswald, a recent employee of the Texas School Book Depository. He was arrested for the assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent fatal shooting of Patrolman J. D. Tippit on a Dallas street shortly after the assassination.
Two days later, on Sunday, November 24th, as Oswald was being transferred from police headquarters to the county jail, a shocking event unfolded live on national television. Viewers watched in disbelief as a man stepped forward and shot Oswald at point-blank range. The assailant was identified as Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner. Oswald died two hours later at Parkland Hospital, the same hospital where President Kennedy had passed away.
The President’s Funeral and National Mourning
That same day, President Kennedy’s casket, draped in the American flag, was moved from the White House to the Capitol. It was carried on a caisson drawn by six grey horses, accompanied by a solitary riderless black horse, echoing the funeral procession of Abraham Lincoln, as requested by Mrs. Kennedy. Crowds lined Pennsylvania Avenue, many openly weeping as the caisson passed. For 21 hours, President Kennedy lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, where approximately 250,000 people paid their respects.
On Monday, November 25, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral was attended by heads of state and representatives from over 100 countries, with millions more watching on television worldwide. Following the service at the gravesite, Mrs. Kennedy and her brothers-in-law, Robert and Edward Kennedy, lit an eternal flame, marking his final resting place.
Perhaps the most enduring images from that somber day were those of young John F. Kennedy Jr. saluting his father’s casket on his third birthday, daughter Caroline kneeling beside her mother at the bier, and the extraordinary grace and dignity displayed by Jacqueline Kennedy throughout the ordeal.
In the wake of this tragedy, as the nation and the world grappled with the senseless act and its implications for President Kennedy’s life and legacy, many recalled the poignant words from his inaugural address:
All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days, nor in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration. Nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
For further information about President Kennedy’s funeral and gravesite, please visit the Arlington National Cemetery website.
The Aftermath and Investigations into “Why?”
The immediate aftermath of President Kennedy’s assassination prompted a series of investigations aimed at understanding the events of that day and, crucially, answering the question: Why Was Jfk Killed?
The Warren Commission
On November 29, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, widely known as the Warren Commission, named after its chairman, Chief Justice Earl Warren. Its mandate was to investigate all aspects of the assassination and the subsequent killing of Lee Harvey Oswald, and to deliver a comprehensive report of its findings and conclusions.
After a ten-month investigation, the Warren Commission concluded in September 1964 that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President Kennedy and that Jack Ruby also acted alone in killing Oswald. The report became highly controversial, facing criticism and spawning numerous conspiracy theories that questioned the lone gunman theory and suggested the involvement of other parties. Despite its detailed findings, the Warren Commission report did not quell public speculation about the “why” behind JFK’s assassination, with many feeling that crucial questions remained unanswered.
The House Select Committee on Assassinations
In 1976, in response to persistent doubts and allegations of inadequate investigation by previous inquiries, the U.S. House of Representatives formed the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA). This committee was tasked with reopening the investigation into President Kennedy’s assassination, particularly focusing on whether federal agencies had fully cooperated with earlier inquiries.
The HSCA’s investigation led to a report issued on March 29, 1979. In a notable finding, the committee stated there was a “high probability that two gunmen fired” at President Kennedy, suggesting a potential conspiracy. This conclusion was largely based on acoustic evidence from a purported Dallas police radio transmission tape, which allegedly indicated more shots fired than previously believed. However, the acoustic evidence was later discredited by experts, casting doubt on this key finding of a probable second gunman. Despite the controversy surrounding the acoustic evidence, the HSCA report acknowledged shortcomings in the Warren Commission’s investigation and fueled further debate about the circumstances surrounding the assassination.
The Assassination Records Collection Act
To ensure transparency and public access to materials related to the assassination, the U.S. Congress passed the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. This act mandated the consolidation of all assassination-related documents under the supervision of the National Archives and Records Administration, aiming to create a comprehensive collection accessible to researchers and the public. The Act underscores the ongoing national interest in understanding the events of November 22, 1963, and the continuing quest to fully understand “why” President Kennedy was killed.
Note to the reader: Regarding the 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations report, specifically point 1B, it’s crucial to note the subsequent debunking of the acoustic evidence that led to the “two gunmen” conclusion. Later analysis proved the tape unreliable, negating that specific finding.
Through these investigations and the vast collection of records, the question of “why was JFK killed” remains a subject of historical inquiry and public discussion. While official reports have offered explanations, the assassination continues to be a pivotal and debated moment in American history.
