"THE SOUNDS OF MUFFLED DRUMS"

JFK LAID TO REST AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 25, 1963, "hundreds of thousands (gathered) here (in the Nation's Capital) joined with statesmen (from 53 countries)...in final tribute to the slain 35th President who led the country for nearly three years through the perils of the atomic age."

Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy and world dignitaries, including French president Charles de Gaulle*, followed the caisson carrying JFK's remains on foot from the White House to St. Matthews Cathedral.

After the service, three year old John F. Kennedy, Jr. saluted his father's flag-draped casket as it was carried back to the caisson by the honor guard.

During the march, the sounds of muffled drums could be heard.  Crowds along the streets were estimated at 800,000.

John F. Kennedy was laid to rest on this National Day of Mourning at Arlington National Cemetery on the hill overlooking Washington just below the Custis-Lee Mansion.

JFK+50 NOTE

Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy made the decision that her husband should be buried at Arlington.  While some thought Boston, Massachusetts would be chosen, Mrs. Kennedy felt that more people would have better access at Arlington.  

Also, just a couple of weeks earlier, the President was at Arlington looking at the view of the Capital city when he remarked, "I could stay up here forever."

*Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970) was born in Lille, France & served as president of France 1959-1969.  He welcomed President & Mrs. Kennedy to Paris on their state visit in 1961.

SOURCE

"Grieved Nation Says Farewell to John Fitzgerald Kennedy," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 25, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Aerial View of Arlington National Cemetery

& Gravesite of President Kennedy

Photo by John White (2024)

"THE ONLY SOUNDS WERE THE CLIP-CLOP OF HORSES' HOOVES & THE MUFFLED DRUMS"

CAISSON CARRIES JFK'S FLAG-DRAPED CASKET TO CAPITOL
 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 24, 1963, the body of the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was transported from the White House to the Capitol.  The flag-draped casket, carried by a military honor guard, emerged from the door of the North Portico followed by Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline and John Jr.

The casket was placed on the same caisson that had carried the remains of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945.  The caisson was pulled by four gray horses, one without a rider to symbolize the fallen commander-in-chief.  The casket was followed by a sailor carrying the Presidential flag and a restless riderless horse accompanied by his military handler.

The procession from the Executive mansion to the Capitol building was flanked by 20 servicemen representing the five military services.  As the procession moved slowly down Pennsylvania Avenue, Secret Service Agent Clint Hill, who had been with the President in Dallas, said...

"The only sounds you could hear...were the clip-clop of the horses' hooves and the...muffled drums."

SOURCES

"A nation says goodbye to President Kennedy," by Stephen Smith, November 22, 2013, CBS News.

"Jackie Kennedy's Secret Service Agent Remembers President Kennedy's Funeral," by Clint Hill, Town and Country Magazine, November 22, 2016, www.townandcountrymag.com

President Kennedy's Funeral Procession

November24 1963

Photo by Abbie Rowe

JFK Library Image

THE MILITARY PROCESSION MARCHED SLOWLY TO THE BEAT OF MUFFLED DRUMS

PRESIDENT KENNEDY LAID TO REST

Arlington, Virginia (JFK+50) November 25, 1963, fifty-four years ago, the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was laid to rest at the National Cemetery here in Arlington.

The National Day of Mourning proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, began just after 10 a.m. when JFK's casket was removed from the Capitol Rotunda by a military honor guard and placed on a horse drawn caisson.

The caisson was followed by a sailor bearing the Flag of the President of the United States and by a riderless horse* with boots turned backward in the stirrups.  The military procession marched slowly to the beat of muffled drums.

From the White House, the procession made its way to nearby Saint Matthew's Cathedral on Rhode Island Avenue where a Low Mass was conducted by the Archbishop of Boston and Kennedy family friend, Richard Cardinal Cushing.

As the President's flag-draped casket was moved out of the cathedral and placed back on the caisson, John F. Kennedy, Jr., dressed in blue, raised his right hand in a soldier's salute in honor of his dad.

The procession continued past the Lincoln Memorial and across the bridge to Arlington National Cemetery.  There, on the hill just below the Custis-Lee Mansion, the body of the 35th President of the United States reached it's final resting place.

*Black Jack (1947-1976) the riderless horse used in the state funerals of JFK, Herbert Hoover, LBJ & General Douglas MacArthur, was named named after General John J. Pershing.  He was buried on the parade grounds at Ft. Myer with full military honors.

Black Jack at the US Capitol

November 25, 1963

Photo by David S. Schuartz, US Army

JFK Library Image

MUFFLED DRUMS & A RIDERLESS HORSE

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2140

MUFFLED DRUMS AND A RIDERLESS HORSE FOR A FALLEN PRESIDENT

Arlington, Virginia (JFK+50) November 25, 1963, fifty-three years ago today, the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was laid to rest at the National Cemetery here in Arlington.

The National Day of Mourning proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, began just after 10 a.m. when JFK's casket was removed from the Capitol Rotunda by a military honor guard and placed on a horse drawn caisson.

The caisson was followed by a sailor bearing the Flag of the President of the United States and by a riderless horse* with boots turned backward in the stirrups.  The military procession marched slowly to the beat of muffled drums.**

From the White House, the procession made its way to nearby Saint Matthew's Cathedral on Rhode Island Avenue where a Low Mass was conducted by the Archbishop of Boston and Kennedy family friend, Richard Cardinal Cushing.

As the President's flag-draped casket was moved out of the cathedral and placed back on the caisson, John F. Kennedy, Jr., dressed in blue, raised his right hand in a soldier's salute in honor of his dad.

The procession continued past the Lincoln Memorial and across the bridge to Arlington National Cemetery.  There, on the hill just below the Custis-Lee Mansion, the body of the 35th President of the United States reached it's final resting place.

Mrs. Kennedy, Robert and Ted Kennedy together lit the Eternal Flame on the grave.  Its' light continues to remind us of our Nation's loss.

*Black Jack (1947-1976) the riderless horse used in the state funerals of JFK, Herbert Hoover, LBJ & General Douglas MacArthur, was named named after General John J. Pershing.  He was buried on the parade grounds at Ft. Myer with full military honors.

**Muffled Drums are dampened, or muffled, reducing the resonance or harsh overtones that drums sometimes emit.

Black Jack at the US Capitol

November 25, 1963

Photo by David S. Schuartz, US Army

JFK Library Image

Alex Drinnen

Plays the Muffled Drum

Carter High School

Knoxville, TN

Photo by John White (2014)

John F. Kennedy Gravesite
Arlington National Cemetery
Photo by John White (2016)

The Eternal Flame

 Arlington National Cemetery

 Photo by WKnight94

JFK INTERVIEWED BY IZVESTIA

JFK INTERVIEWED BY IZVESTIA 53 YEARS AGO

Hyannis Port, Massachusetts (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy was interviewed fifty-three years ago today, November 25, 1961, by Aleksei I. Adzhubei, son-in-law of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and a journalist for Izvestia.

The interview, which began at 10:20 a.m. was attended by Alex A. Kalovsky, interpreter for the President, and Georgi Bolshikov, interpreter for Mr. Adzhubei as well as Pierre Salinger, JFK's press secretary and Jack Romagna, official White House reporter.

Mr. Adzhubei asked JFK a variety of questions about subjects such as Soviet-American relations, communism, Berlin, NATO and nuclear testing.

Mr. Adzhubei began the interview by saying...

"Your election...was met with great hope by public opinion in the USSR.  What do you think about the present state of Soviet-American relations and what must be done...to improve (them)?"

President Kennedy responded...

"...not as satisfactory as I had hoped...(but) one of the first things that I did on becoming President was to commit the United States to an earnest effort to achieve a satisfactory agreement with the Soviet Union on the cessation of nuclear tests.

I felt that if we could achieve an agreement in this area, we could then move on to other areas of disarmament."

JFK continued...

"I think the Soviet Union and the United States should live together in peace (but) it is (the) effort to push outward the communist system, on to country after country, that represents the greatest threat to peace."

Mr. Adzhubei did not agree with the President's representation of his country's policy.  He responded...

"Our government believes that every people chooses such a system as they like..."

President Kennedy said the United States also supports the freedom of governmental choice and that we would be prepared to accept other nations choosing communism providing they chose that system by majority vote in free elections.

At the conclusion of the interview, President Kennedy said...

"I appreciate...your giving me....this opportunity to talk to the people of the Soviet Union and your courtesy in coming here.

I was in (your country) as a student in 1939 and I understand that there have been many changes and that the standard of living of people is rising.  

Our two peoples have the most to gain from peace."

*Aleksei I. Adzhubei resigned following the removal of Nikita Khrushchev as Premier in 1964.  He died at the age of 68 in 1993.

SOURCE

"JFK Interview by Aleksei I. Adzhubei, The American Presidency Project, 483, Transcript of Interview," www.presidency.ucsb.edu/

Izvestia

THE DAY OF MUFFLED DRUMS

Arlington, Virginia (JFK+50) Fifty-one years ago today, the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was laid to rest at the National Cemetery here in Arlington.

The National Day of Mourning proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, began just after 10 a.m. when JFK's casket was removed from the Capitol Rotunda by a military honor guard and placed on a horse drawn caisson.

The caisson was followed by a sailor bearing the flag of the President of the United States and by a riderless horse with boots turned backward in the stirrups.  The procession marched slowly to the beat of muffled drums.

From the White House, the procession made its way to nearby Saint Matthew's Cathedral on Rhode Island Avenue where a Low Mass was conducted by the Archbishop of Boston and Kennedy family friend, Richard Cardinal Cushing.

St. Matthew's Cathedral

1725 Rhode Island Avenue NW

Washington, D.C.

Photo by GreetingsEarthling (2005)

As the President's flag-draped casket was moved out of the cathedral and placed back on the caisson, John F. Kennedy, Jr., dressed in blue, raised his right hand in a soldier's salute in honor of his dad.

The procession continued past the Lincoln Memorial and across the bridge to Arlington National Cemetery.  There, on the hill just below the Custis-Lee Mansion, the body of the 35th President of the United States reached it's final resting place.

Mrs. Kennedy, Robert and Ted Kennedy together lit the Eternal Flame on the grave.  Fifty-one year later its' light reminds us of our Nation's great loss.

 The Eternal Flame

 Arlington National Cemetery

 Photo by WKnight94

JFK BURIED AT ARLINGTON

November 25, 2013

JFK BURIED 50 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 50 years ago today, November 25, 1963, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

At 10 a.m., JFK's remains were removed from the Capitol Rotunda by a military honor guard, placed on a horse drawn caisson, and borne to the White House.

The caisson was followed by a sailor bearing the flag of the President of the United States and by a riderless horse* with boots turned backward in the stirrups symbolizing the loss of the Nation's leader.

  "Black Jack" at the Capitol

    November 25, 1963

  Photo by David S. Schwartz

    JFK Library Photo

*The parade horse, named 'Black Jack,' was a 16 year old Army horse who was kept at Ft. Myer, Virginia.  His handler was Pfc. Arthur Carlson of Robertsdale, Alabama.  The horse was named in honor of General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing of WWI fame.

The tradition of the riderless horse dates back to the days of Genghis Khan.

Black Jack was not the only horse in the procession.  The other horses were white and pulled the caisson on which JFK's flag-draped casket was placed.


The procession marched slowly to the beat of muffled drums.

From the White House, the procession made its way to Saint Matthew's Cathedral on Rhode Island Avenue.

Historian Robert Dallek writes...

"A procession from the White House to...St. Matthew's...eight blocks away, consisted of Jackie, Bobby, Ted, President and Mrs. Johnson, principal Kennedy associates, and representatives from ninety-two nations including (Charles) de Gaulle (France) and Anastas Mikoyan (USSR)."

At Noon, a Low Mass was celebrated for the 1st Roman Catholic president of the United States, by the Archbishop of Boston and close Kennedy family friend, Richard Cardinal Cushing.

St. Matthews Cathedral

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2011)

St. Matthews Cathedral

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2011)

           
As the President's flag-draped casket was carried by the honor guard out of the cathedral and put back on the caisson, John F. Kennedy, Jr., dressed in blue, raised his right hand in a soldier's salute in honor of his dad.

"John John," as he was called, was not only witnessing his father's funeral, he was celebrating his own 3rd birthday.

St. Matthews Cathedral

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2011)

The procession continued past the Lincoln Memorial and then crossed the bridge to Arlington.

There, on the hill just below the Custis-Lee Mansion, the body of the 35th President of the United States reached it's final resting place.

Robert Dallek writes...

"Although some members of the (Kennedy) family wished to bury the president in Brookline, Massachusetts, JFK's birthplace, Jackie insisted on Arlington."

Ten thousand mourners had gathered on the hillsides of Arlington awaiting the beginning of the graveside ceremony.

Thomas Maier writes...

"The Irish Guards and...U.S. Marines...performed a military salute, and...Air Force One flew overhead.  Bagpipes wailed...'The Mist Covered the Mountain,' and...a bugler played taps.

The stars and stripes draped over Kennedy's coffin was lifted, tightly folded into a triangle and presented to his widow."

Graveside Service

  November 25, 1963

   Photo by Abbie Rowe

   US Army, NPS Photo

At the conclusion of the solemn graveside service, Jacqueline Kennedy, Bobby and Teddy each took turns in lighting the Eternal Flame which would forever mark the grave.

                The Eternal Flame
        John F. Kennedy Gravesite
      Arlington National Cemetery
             Photo by WKnight94

Scripps-Howard staff writer, Dickson Preston, wrote...

"People lingered in the vicinity of John F. Kennedy's grave...as though they were reluctant to admit the finality of what had happened.  As though, somehow, he would not quite be alone as long as they stayed."

And as millions of people watched the coverage on television, a commentator repeated what was said upon the passing of Abraham Lincoln almost a century before...

"And now he belongs to the ages."

In the immediate aftermath of the assassination, poet laureate Archibald McLeish wrote...

"Whatever the assessment of Kennedy in the ultimate historical record, we know now what we have lost.  We have lost not only a young and gallant President, but the new, young voice of our oldest and most dearly won belief:  the belief in the American Proposition, the American Cause, the cause to which all our greatest men have been committed.

In the aching silence Kennedy has left behind him, it is for the hearts and convictions of the young to speak the meaning he made clear at so great a cost."

SOURCES

"An Unfinished Life, John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963," by Robert Dallek, Little Brown and Company, New York, 2003.

"Parade Horse Was 'Black Jack," UPI, Knoxville News-Sentinel, November 26, 1963.

"Some Linger Awhile...Sadly at Graveside," by Dickson Preston, Knoxville News-Sentinel, November 26, 1963.

"The Kennedys:  America's Emerald Kings," by Thomas Maier, Basic Books, New York, 2003.

"The Man's Measure...," by Archibald McLeish, The Daily Pennsylvanian, "Good Night, Brave Spirit, John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963," The Boston Globe, 1964.