Where were you 50 years ago when JFK was shot?

A few of us old folks were alive in 1963. I was 14 years old, a freshman in Pearl River High School, NY. I was in history class, Miss Gallagher. The athletic director came into our class, visually upset. He pulled the teacher into the hallway, and as we found out, told her that Kennedy had been shot. I don't remember what time it was or even if we knew he was dead. Miss Gallagher told us the news with tears in her eyes. Sometime after that we were dismissed from school. I don't remember how I felt.

You know the AARP organization? You know the old fogey group? LOL Well they asked for "where were you" stories and I submitted mine. JFK's death really really hit me for some reason. I was only 11 when he ran and 15 when he was killed but will ALWAYS remember that day. It's kind of lengthy so read if you want.



I lived in Grand Rapids, MI on 11/22/63. I was in 10th grade, 5th period, Mrs. Bergstrom’s English class. Suddenly the PA system came on saying that the President was shot. Within minutes (it seemed) the famous Walter Conkrite announcement came on letting us know the President had died. I still see my teacher’s face with her chin cupped in her hands, taking a big sigh and seemingly fighting tears as she listened. I felt so shocked, so sad and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I wanted to cry.

The school halls were eerily quiet as the school day ended and I headed to the school bus. The ride home was very quiet until one boy, who’s face is firmly in my mind (tho I’d have to check my yearbook for the name), was obviously NOT a JFK fan (I assume he learned from his parents).

He said loudly (and likely only to let everyone know he didn’t like JFK), “they should have shot him again, and again, and again.” I often wonder if this boy regrets or even remembers his remarks that day. Anyway, I was too sad, numb to say/do anything. I just wanted to go home an turn the tv on, and looking back on it now, what I wanted was to mourn the loss like everyone else. Let it soak in.

I spent the weekend glued to the tv listening to all the news and when they showed Jackie or pictures of the kids, I just cried in disbelief. It was like losing someone close in the family. I still remember my mom preparing Sunday dinner as we watched Oswald get killed on live tv. Oh my God, this was surely something unheard of. My whole family was stunned.

I felt totally numb & shocked the entire weekend, thru the funeral. I couldn’t believe this could actually happen, not in our country. I loved JFK. His wit, charm, intelligence made me a fan immediately even tho at that age, I didn’t know a lot about politics. HE got me interested. I remember watching the debates at 12 yrs old not totally understanding but I was drawn to them because of JFK.

On a side note, and a memory I am so grateful for, is, when JFK was running for President in 1960, he came to Grand Rapids, Mich. I was in Catholic School at the time and needless to say, the nuns/priest and students were pretty excited about the thought of the first Catholic President. So much so, that when they found out that JFK’s motorcade was going to pass the intersection of the school, the entire school (about 80 kids LOL) walked to the corner to wave.

He was sitting on top of the back seat of a convertible (little did we know) smiling/waving. Well, I wasn’t a big girl and I wormed my way to the front, in the street, and lo an behold I waved at him and of course it seemed he smiled and waved right back at me. A memory I’ll never forget.

I was 12 years old in 7th grade. Was in Spanish class, the period after lunch. One of the other Spanish teachers ran into our classroom and said something to my teacher in Spanish. My teacher replied, "Oh, my God". My fellow classmates asked what was wrong and our teacher told us that the president had been shot. A few minutes later the school's principal made an announcement on the PA and instructed us to go to our homerooms. We were then dismissed early. Because of the suddenness of the dismissal I couldn't find the guys I usually walked home with and I went off on my own. I passed an appliance store that had a bunch of televisions in its window. There was big crowd in front of the window watching the news being reported. It was there, thanks to Walter Cronkite's coverage that I learned Kennedy was dead. I walked home the rest of the way, crying.

It was fifty years ago today, yet I remember it like yesterday. I guess I always will.

I was four years old, so I honestly don't remember. But I'm told that I was playing with my grandfather at the time.

Tiny personal detail: JFK was killed on my Dad's 34th birthday. He turned 84 years old today, and he's always hated that his birthday became such a reminder of that day.

Happy Birthday to your Dad PB..

+1

Nice, DeNiro. Thanks, pal .

My parents didnt even exist yet. They're generation X, but I've always admired JFK and I hold him in high regard as a president. I still think there's more behind his death than the warren commission is willing to admit

I wasn't born yet. Happy Birthday to Daddy Pizza. Many blessing for him.

I'm even older than your parents, Joe?

Aw, for Christ's sake .

Haha yeah PB. You didn't honestly think my parents were baby boomers did you?

Don't feel bad PB...i'm only a year or two behind you. Don't let all these young guys get to you.

And we still have guys here like SC and Turnbull to make us look young by comparison, so there's that .

Don't include me in that group. Turnbull and MaryCas remember when Lincoln was shot.

Happy birthday to Popa Pizzaboy and many more.

I and a close buddy were shooting pool at the Hippodrome pool hall in downtown Buffalo NY. I got married the next week and even though there was a lot of partying, the JFK assassination was still on everyone's mind,

Don't forget TIS. Weren't you the guy who advised Arnold Rothstein on who to bribe?

That was Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Yeah don't feel bad PB, You're only 4 years older than me...LOL And better looking.

I was 5 and just home from kindergarten in Michigan. I remember them interrupting "Mighty Mouse" and my great grandmother, who was watching me, sobbing hysterically.

Growing up, I remember everybody recalling where they were and what they were doing on that terrible day. I always felt left out of the conversation as I was merely a fetus on that date. Today those not born by the assassination date outnumber those, who remember.

My mother and father were going to tell family members that they were expecting another addition to the family on 11-22-1963, but the tragic death of the president made them delay news of my arrival another week.

On the 25th anniversary of the assassination I was in law schiil in Boston and was visited by my brother, who was a history buff on all things Kennedy. We visited the Kennedy Library in Dorchester where we learned admission was free that day. We could have stayed days there. My brother worked in the same building with Jackie and would often have a polite conversation when they would ride the elevator.

Three years later my wife and I happened to be vacationing in Boston and Cape Cod and actually strolled inside the family compound in Hyannisport on the anniversary. The cape is pretty quiet in November, but I think I had posted once before that while there some women approached us and asked if my wife would take a picture of them with me. We were both dumbfounded, but obliged. They thanked us and left us confused. A landscaper was having a laugh to himself and then told us that I closely resembled one of Rose's grandsons at the time. Those ladies must have shown that picture with me to many, saying they met a Kennedy. Someone must've set them straight.

A few things about Kennedy. He is the primary reason why men largely stopped wearing hats in the 1960s. JFK mostly avoided hats, which were commonly worn by men for many decades.

Also, the assassination was probably the most important event in the history of television, which was still feeling its way in American culture. This event shaped and defined the medium. Just prior to the assassination network news moved from a 15 minute to a 30 minute format, and the ongoing coverage through the weekend, including the live broadcast of Ruby shooting Oswald, changed the way Americans regarded television.

I was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal on 11/22/63. When I came back from lunch, the entire newsroom was in an uproar, with all of our wire service tickers ringing bells and spitting out roll after roll of print. People were standing around the tickers, some weeping openly. One asshole joked that Vaughan Meader, a comic who'd made a career doing JFK imitations, would be out of work. We practically lynched him. Then the NYSE announced it was closing, and most of us went home. The subway ride home was eerily quiet, with every passenger looking solumn.

JFK was the last president to be inaugurated in formal wear--top hat and tails. But, despite the frigid weather, he removed the top hat and overcoat for his inaugural speech. Very little footage remains of JFK in a top hat (as he drove to the inauguration with Eisenhower).

I was a sophomore at Central Catholic High in History class when we got the news. I was playing softball that Sunday when we found out that Oswald had been murdered.

I almost never wear a hat of any type even in the foulest weather and I really avoid wearing coats unless I am going to walk a good distance in frigid weather. I have about 10 sweaters most of which I've never worn or worn only a couple of times.

Sounds like something that happened to me on 9/11, TB. I was in a bar in Midwood (near IJM) watching the coverage. Some asshole joked that he'd have to cancel his reservation at Windows on the World that night. I literally almost killed him .