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Wednesday, November 22, 2017

KENNEDY KILLED, CONNALLY WOUNDED

PRESIDENT SHOT IN DALLAS PARADE, LBJ IS NEW CHIEF


Dallas, Texas (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago, November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy arrived here in Dallas aboard Air Force One where they joined Texas Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie on a parade through the city.

Despite rumblings of disagreement with JFK's policies, people lined the sidewalks and waved and cheered as the President and First Lady rode by.

Mrs. Connally was so pleased with the reception, she turned to JFK, just after they made the turn from Main to Houston Street, and said...

"Mr. President, you can't say that Dallas doesn't love you."

Shots rang out as the presidential car moved slowly along Elm Street in Dealey Plaza.  Secret Service agent Clint Hill, riding on the follow-up vehicle, made a valiant attempt reach the First Couple but a bullet hit President Kennedy in the head.

JFK was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital where the medical staff did everything humanly possible to save him.

Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff*, with tears in his eyes, announced that the President died at 1:00 p.m. (CST).  Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was riding in the motorcade, was spirited from the hospital to Air Force One at Love Field where he took the presidential oath of office.

With President Kennedy's remains on board, Air Force One returned to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington where the body was transferred to a Navy ambulance and taken to Bethesda for autopsy.

The headline of the final edition of the Knoxville News-Sentinel dated November 22, 1963 read...

KENNEDY KILLED, CONNALLY WOUNDED

*Malcolm MacGregor Kilduff, Jr. (1927-2003) served as assistant press secretary in the Kennedy & Johnson administrations, 1961-1965.  Afterwards, he was editor of the Beattyville, Kentucky Enterprise.


The Knoxville News-Sentinel
November 22, 1963
Final Edition