“Dec. 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy.” Those were the opening words of President Franklin Roosevelt’s address to Congress the day after the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. There have been many such traumatic events in our country’s history, such as 9/11, another date which will never be forgotten. It seems that each generation has a specific day never to be forgotten, a day that often leads to the question, “Where were you when you heard of such-and-such happening?” For me, the date that will forever haunt my memory is 11/22/63, the day President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated.
Just a three days ago was the 52nd anniversary of that traumatic day and, yet, for the first time I can remember over all these years, not once did I hear anyone mention the day in remembrance, not even a passing mention on the local or national news. That truly is a first. It’s as if since the 5oth anniversary has went by, it’s no longer in anybody’s mind. Not me, though…I’ll never forget!
My comic book, released to go hand-in-hand with the movie starring Cliff Robertson as Kennedy. The movie debuted just five months prior to the assassination.
As a young boy, I idolized JFK. What first drew my attention to him was my love of military history. Once I’d heard the story of his WWII exploits as a PT boat commander in the Pacific, I ran across a paperback book, John F. Kennedy: War Hero, by Richard Tregaskis. Tregaskis first came to fame with his book Guadalcanal Diary, writing of his experiences covering the First Marine Division’s assault on Guadalcanal (the first US offensive of the war) as a correspondent for the International News Service. And from that moment on, Kennedy was my hero.
For sure, at that age I was politically naïve, so politics had nothing to do with my admiration for Kennedy, but I will have to admit that that was the beginning of my political education. Even at that age, I watched all the debates between Kennedy and Nixon, and after Kennedy became president, I watched all the press conferences I could or the news coverage afterwards. And he was a master at playing the press and had such a sense of humor, becoming the first television president, using it to his advantage.
Like any president, he had his ups and downs, the Bay of Pigs being a true downer, occurring just three months after his inauguration. Though he gave the final approval of it, it was initially started in the Eisenhower administration. But after it failed, embarrassing the new administration, he had the courage to take the responsibility, saying, “There’s an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan … Further statements, detailed discussions, are not to conceal responsibility because I’m the responsible officer of the Government…” But then, there was the Cuban Missile Crisis where his cool head prevailed over all the hawks, undoubtedly saving mankind from a nuclear apocalypse.
He was in Texas on that fateful day due to a rift in the Democratic Party, knowing that it had to be healed if he was to be reelected the following year, needing to win Texas for victory. But Dallas was a hotbed of the extreme right and there were some fears about the trip. Ironically, while in Fort Worth the night before the presidential party was to leave for Dallas, the president jokingly mentioned to Jackie that this day would have been a good day to assassinate a president.
And just where was I when I learned about the assassination? I was in school when it happened and didn’t learn of it till I got home. I was devastated and totally heartbroken. One of the most vivid memories I have of that day actually occurred right about the time that the fatal shot was fired. I had a way of imitating the Kennedy accent that had caught the attention of my schoolmates, and one in particular, a girl named Marjorie Ferguson who I had a puppy-love crush on, came up to me during PE, right at 1:30 EST, asked me to do the “Ask not what your country can do for you” lines. I obliged her with great pleasure, not knowing the irony of my timing.
William Manchester’s magnificent opus, a thoroughly researched work.
The best book ever written about the assassination was William Manchester’s The Death Of A President, an almost minute-by-minute account of the days leading up to the trip all the way through his burial. On the fictional side is a what-if-one-could change-history book by Stephen King, 11/22/63 (there’s that date again!), a time-travel saga of a man who tried to prevent an act in the past, showing the consequences and paradoxes of traveling in time.
Over the years I’ve come to admire President Kennedy even more, and I can only wonder myself what if…what if Oswald had missed or been prevented from committing his infamous act. And yes, I do believe Oswald acted alone; no conspiracy. Though I did see an interesting documentary, The Smoking Gun, that did present a credible alternative possibility, though it’s been totally panned as rubbish. I still can’t help but think what might have been if Kennedy had lived and served another term. In my mind’s eye, he could have possibly have become one of our greatest leaders the like of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and the Roosevelts, Theodore and Franklin. Wishful thinking, I know, but…I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if only he’d had the chance.
These all sound like great reads for my husband. He’s a big fan of historical and historically based books.
JFK truly was an amazing man and president, and that day is absolutely iconic. I can’t imagine what it must have been like hearing the news and grieving together as a nation.
My parents got married a week after this but they almost didn’t have the wedding. My dad was in the Navy and they thought they would be called to the sea. Thankfully they didn’t, this book I bet will be a really good book.
It really was a shocking and tragic day from America. Both the Stephen King book and “The Death of a President” sound like really interesting reads.
9/11 was one of those days of horror that I will never forget. I wasn’t around for JFK and didn’t realize the impact he had until I read your post! Thansk!
9/11 was the event of your lifetime, just as this one was mine, and Pearl Harbor was my mom and dad’s. But then again, I’ve had two because 9/11 is one I’ll never forget. Me and my buddy was scheduled to leave for NYC on the 12th but had to cancel, and we didn’t make it until two years later.
I have always been drawn to the whole Kennedy family and their legacy. I am not really sure why. But I will read or watch anything that has to do with any one of them. I remember being devastated with JFK Jr died… again, not knowing why. I was super young then!
I have a friend who read 11/22/63 and she said it was one of the best books she has ever read.
Without a doubt, that book was Stephen King at his best. Loved it!
Historical events such as this one are very interesting. You mentioned never forgetting and I think that we all develop our own way of how we remember such historical happenings and every year at their anniversary.
I showed this article to my husband and he was so excited and started telling me stories about JFK. He is so much into things like this. He loves history!
Hi Harry, that was a very thoughtful piece of writing about the death of JFK. I am from Australia and still remember what I was doing when we heard the sad news.
He seemed to represent some hope to the World, some generational change.
Thanks!
You’re welcome, George. Thanks for your kind words. He truly did offer hope and a great change. But after we lost him, look what the 60’s turned into: total generational chaos, especially here in the US. Though I was so young, a pre-teen, his vision stuck with me and has guided me throughout my life.
I am not an American, but I admire JFK. I also think that if Oswald missed, he would have been a really great leader.
I wasn’t born yet when this happened but I’m still fascinated by it all. I would love to read all about him and the assassination.
To know all needed to know about the assassination, William Manchester’s “The Death of a President” is the master opus and tells it all. Kennedy’s wartime exploits are explored in two great books, John F. Kennedy: War Hero”, by Richard Tregaskis, and PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII, by Robert J. Donovan, on which the 1963 movie was based on. Other than that, there’s probably been hundreds, if not thousands of books chronicling his life.
Love Stephen King and this is one of my favorites. Only The Stand is better.
Without a doubt, “The Stand” is his best stand-alone novel. But “The Dark Tower” series is his magnum opus.
This looks like a great read!! I am so into historical books and I would love to check this out!!
I don’t read very much history. It’s just not something that I enjoy.
I agree all of the tragic events like 9/11, war on iraq, presidential assassinations, ect should never be forgotten. I remember 9/11 like it was yesterday and it’s a day I’ll never forget either.
Wow, it’s nice to know historical facts like this. My father is a fan of historical facts too, I must tell this to him.
I can’t help but think what might have been, too… I think he really was a great president!
I didn’t hear it mentioned either. I remember always hearing about it when I was a kid. 🙁
Thank you for sharing your story about how JFK was important to you. I did not know that Stephen King wrote a book about the JFK assassination. I may have to check that one out.
Happy to share, Risa. The Stephen King book is awesome; I hope you look into it.
I like to think if Oswald had missed we would be living in a different world. But, then again, I’m kind of a conspiracy nut.
These would be great for my hubby. He is definitely into things like this more than I am. I sense gifts for the upcoming holiday. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome, Digna. It pleases me to know that someone else will share in my pleasure of reading these books.
That was before my time, but my mom remembers it, she was in elementary school and remembered the teachers crying and dismissing the students from school without telling them all why, and on the walk home she stopped to watch it on TV where tons of others were already standing and watching.
I so admire JFK! My mother in law loves JFK so much and she was pretty sad about the whole tragedy
It’s always nice to encounter something that was a big part of history. A lot of people I know would be so interested in this.
Don’t normally read books like this but think this holidays I’m going to read this.
We bought that Stephen King novel. My husband really liked it. Gotta love all the history books!
My dad would love this book – so much history, it’s all so interesting! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know much about JFK but I’d love to sit down and read more about him.
Thanks for sharing 🙂