Kennedy flew to Texas on November 21, 1963, to smooth over differences between the liberal and Conservative wings of the Democratic Party and drum up support for his policies, as he was set to run for reelection the following year and needed the Lone Star State to win. (1) The president's plane landed at an airport outside Fort Worth at approximately 11:07 p.m. After greeting well-wishers, the chief executive and first lady retired to their room at the Hotel Texan.
The following morning, Air Force One departed for Love Field in Dallas. Kennedy and his wife enjoyed a breakfast with Texas dignitaries before engaging in other official business. Later that day, as the presidential motorcade made its way through downtown Dallas, with Mrs. Kennedy and Governor Connally of Texas, seated with the president in a car with a roof open, he, the president, was shot twice, once in the neck and once in the back of the head, with the latter striking the fatal blow. The governor received a gunshot wound to the arm, with the first lady unharmed but badly shaken. The route was lined with cheering fans, shocked at what had happened.
Lee Harvey Oswald, an employee in The Texas School Book Depository, where the shots were fired, was apprehended by the FBI approximately two hours later while trying to sneak into a movie theater. (2) Later that evening, he was charged with the murder of Dallas policeman J.D. Tippit, whom he came into contact with while on the run. (3) The following day, Oswald was booked for the murder of the president when the ownership of a Mannlicher-Carcano rifle perched on a stack of books on the library's sixth floor was linked to the accused. Oswald proclaimed his innocence and insisted he was being used as a pawn and that the actual killer was still out there. He was shot and killed the next day on live television by business owner Jack Ruby, increasing speculation of a conspiracy to kill the president.
Kennedy's death shocked every American, regardless of race or party affiliation. He pledged to put a man on the moon, fight for human rights at home and abroad, and end the nuclear arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States. The Kennedy presidency also ushered in a New Frontier that inspired young people to be of service to mankind and challenged all Americans to shoot for the stars during turbulent times. The late president lives on in the memory of those who knew and loved him and will never be forgotten.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment