WARREN COMMISSION

On November 29, 1963, LBJ established the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.


The chairman of the commission was Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 


LBJ was concerned about the possibility that several different investigations would be conducted and believed a federal commission would solve this problem. 

Earl Warren, who had sworn in President Kennedy in 1961 and had been appointed by President Eisenhower in 1953, did not want the position.


It has been written that LBJ basically laid a "guilt trip" on Warren by telling him that his country needed him in this position.  

It would take the "Warren Commission" 10 months & 26 volumes to conclude that JFK was the victim of a "lone assassin", Lee Harvey Oswald, & that there was "no credible evidence" to suggest a conspiracy either "foreign or domestic". 

The Commission presented their report to LBJ in the White House.  


Most Americans accepted the conclusions at the time but over the years the report has been discredited due to release of many documents through the Freedom of Information Act & by research of so called "conspiracy buffs". 

JFK PRESS CONFERENCE 1961

On November 29, 1961, President John F. Kennedy held a press conference in the State Department Auditorium in Washington, D.C.  JFK was the first President to hold "live" televised press conferences.  Presidents before had held the conferences with the press in the privacy of their office & anything said that was "off the record" was not permitted to be published.  JFK's conferences were not "staged".  That is, he did not know what specific questions would be asked.  This allowed him to "think on his feet" and often his wit came into play with his answers.  The press conferences were always televised.

Also, on November 29, 1961, the President attended the swearing in ceremony of the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John McCone.

ALLEN DULLES

On November 28, 1961, JFK pinned the National Security Medal on outgoing CIA director Allen W. Dulles at the CIA Headquarters.  Dulles served as CIA Director during the failed invasion of the Bay of Pigs in Cuba on April 17, 1961.  JFK had signed on to the Eisenhower directed plan to use Cuban refugees trained by the CIA to overthrow Communist dictator Fidel Castro.  Although JFK accepted personal responsibility for the failure, privately he blamed the CIA*.  

After JFK's death in November 1963, the new President,  Lyndon Johnson, appointed Dulles to serve on the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination.  Dulles died of natural causes in 1969.

*On the Nixon "Watergate" tapes there is a conversation among Nixon and his aides in which he says: "If this thing about the Bay of Pigs comes out, it will blow the lid off everything."  As far as I have been able to learn, no one knows what he meant by this statement.  I personally asked Howard Baker, who was Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Watergate, if he knew what Nixon meant.  His answer: "I don't know and I think that it may be good that I don't."

*********UPDATE:

Former Secret Service Agents Recount JFK Assassination

CSPAN: 11/28/2010 11-12pm

Two former Secret Service agents, Gerald Blaine and Clint Hill, join Q&A this week. Both men were present on the day that President Kennedy was assassinated and Clint Hill was the agent who jumped onto the trunk of the motorcade seconds after Kennedy was shot. During the interview, they recall the day’s horrific events, conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination and the day-to-day aspects of their lives after the Secret Service. Read More »

Mr. Blaine recently authored a new book, “The Kennedy Detail: JFK’s Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence,” with Clint Hill adding the prologue, as well as giving interviews for the book’s content.

PALM BEACH

November 25, 1961


 JFK enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday at Hyannis Port with his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.. This would be the last Thanksgiving Joe Kennedy was healthy. 


In December, Joe Sr. suffered a stroke which left him partially paralyzed & unable to walk, talk or care for himself.


Joe Kennedy, Sr. was in intensive care at St. Mary's Hospital in Palm Beach, Florida. 


Some years ago, I had an intern who lived in Morristown, TN. A neighbor of hers was visiting St. Mary's when JFK's father was there. 


When JFK emerged from the hospital, she asked if she could make a photograph. The President consented and she made his picture. 


That evening she realized she had forgotten to put film in the camera. So the next day she was back at the hospital once again as was the President. Once again, she asked if she could take his photograph explaining that she did not have film in the camera the day before. JFK graciously took the time to let her try it again.


My intern was able to get a copy of the photograph for me. JFK is standing alone in front of his white Lincoln convertible with its top down. He is dressed casually and the photograph is in color. JFK is smiling, of course, and what is notable to me about the photo is it looks just like any color photo that you would have made of a family member back in 1961. It does not have that "professional" look and that's what makes it unique.


How many Presidents, or for that matter, "important" people, would take their time to let a total stranger make his photograph, not just once, but twice? I think it shows how caring a person JFK was.


I am reading now in "The Kennedy Detail" how secret service agents experienced the same concern from the man they were guarding. 


In Palm Beach, he would go out to the agents standing in the sun on the beach & give some of his short sleeve shirts to them because he thought they looked uncomfortable.


 As he was heading out of his Georgetown home on his way to the 1961 Inaugural, he asked a secret service agent to step inside for a few minutes to warm up.

JFK'S BODY RETURNS TO WHITE HOUSE

On November 23, 1963, President John F. Kennedy's body was returned to the White House.  The body had been under autopsy at the Bethesda Naval Hospital.  The body was carried in a white ambulance and the casket was covered with an American flag. 

Inside the White House, the casket was placed in the center of the East Room which had been decorated in black per Ms. Kennedy's wishes.

All day, Saturday, government employees,  friends and relatives paid their respects as the body lie in state. 


Meanwhile in Dallas, suspect Lee Harvey Oswald was being held in Dallas City Jail.  He was charged with the murders of President Kennedy and Dallas Police office J.D. Tippit.

NOVEMBER 22

http://jrwhite21.webs.com/november221963.htm 

Above is the link to the page on my freewebsite dealing with the events of November 22, 1963.



The text follows here:

On Nov 22, 1963, JFK & Jackie visited Texas.  JFK gave a speech outside the Hotel Texas in Ft Worth, then he & his wife attended a breakfast given by the Ft. Worth Chamber of Commerce.  They made the short flight to Dallas Love Field where they landed at 11:37 a.m.
 
       The Kennedys shook hands with people who had come out to see them at the airport.  They then boarded the Presidential car along with Texas Governor John Connally & his wife Nellie.  The motorcade stopped in route to the Trade Mart, where the President was to give a luncheon address, so JFK could shake hands with people.

       At 12:30 p.m., the motorcade entered Dealey Plaza as it made a right turn from Main to Houston Street & then left to Elm Street.  As the they headed down Elm passing the Texas School Book Depository, shots rang out. Both JFK & Governor Connally were hit by the gunfire. The Governor screamed out 'They are going to kill us all!'

       JFK & John Connally were taken to Parkland Hospital.  At 1:00 p.m. JFK was pronounced dead as a result of a 'gunshot wound to the brain.'  Governor Connally went into surgery & later recovered from his wounds.

       The body was placed on Air Force One where Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President.  The plane returned to Washington.  JFK's autopsy was performed at Bethesda Naval Hospital & the body returned to the White House early on the morning of November 23.

       JFK's casket was placed in the East Room & on Nov 24 moved to the Capitol Rotunda to lie in state.  It was carried on a caisson pulled by six white horses. More than 250,000 people filed past the closed casket.  On Monday, JFK's funeral service was conducted at St. Matthew's Cathedral by Cardinal Cushing of Boston.  JFK was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.  Jackie, Bobby & Teddy lit the 'Eternal Flame' to mark the grave.

DEPART FOR DALLAS

On November 21, 1963, JFK & Mrs. Kennedy departed Andrews AFB for Texas.


The 1st stop was San Antonio where JFK gave the dedication speech of the Aerospace Medical Health Center at Brooks AFB.

The next stop was Houston where JFK gave a speech to honor Texas Congressman Albert Thomas.


JFK said:




"Next month, when the United States of America fires the largest booster in the history of the world for the first time, (it will give) us the lead. Our leadership in space could not have been achieved without Congressman Albert Thomas."

JFK ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ON HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

November 20, 1962


JFK ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ON HOUSING DISCRIMINATION


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order #11063 today requiring an end to discrimination in federally funded housing.


The order prohibits agencies from denying housing or funding for housing based on race, color, creed or national origin.


JFK's action comes at a time when minorities are often denied home loans & are forced to live in poor conditions in the inner-city.


In issuing this order JFK said that such discrimination is:


"unfair, unjust & inconsistent with the right to life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness."*


*Unfortunately, this order was not enforced because it allowed agencies involved in federal housing to police themselves.


 A "Fair Housing" law would be passed & signed by JFK's successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1968.

PETER LAWFORD

On November 19, 1961, President Kennedy attended Mass at Good Shepard Church with David Powers.  Afterward, they went to the home of Peter Lawford in Santa Monica, California for lunch.


Lawford was JFK's brother-in-law who had married JFK's sister, Patricia, in 1954.  Frank Sinatra often called Peter the "brother-in-Lawford". 


Actress Angie Dickinson also attended this luncheon.

SAM RAYBURN

On November 18, 1961 both JFK & VP Lyndon Johnson attended the funeral of Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn who was sometimes called "Mr. Sam". 


The funeral service was held in Bonham, Texas.

Ironically, it was Mr. Sam who had recognized Tennessee Senator Albert Gore, Sr. at the 1956 Democratic Convention when JFK was making a bid to be the Vice-Presidential running mate of Adlai Stevenson.  

In recognizing Gore, JFK's near victory turned to defeat when Gore announced he was switching his support from Kennedy to fellow Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver.  


The Stevenson-Kefauver ticket was soundly defeated by Eisenhower-Nixon & JFK became the front runner for the 1960 Democratic Presidential nomination.

When I visited Washington, D.C. for the first time in my life in 1962, my Dad & Uncle took me along to meet Senator Kefauver.  I remember him being a very tall man.  I, of course, really wanted to meet the President & when I got a chance to speak, said so.  I still remember the look on Kefauver's face.


I learned years later why the Senator might have been somewhat irritated by my interest in JFK.  I guess I had just assumed all Democrats loved one another.  I also met Senator Gore in 1966 on my second visit to Washington.


I was taking my Uncle Jim, newly arrived from Australia, to the Senator's office to get passes for the US Senate when in the hall way a side door popped open & out stepped Senator Gore wearing a tie with kangaroos on it. 


I went up to him & told him I was from Tennessee & that my uncle was from Australia.  He told us he had just returned from a trip there & that's why he was wearing the kangaroo tie.  

After the funeral service, JFK flew to LA where he attended a dinner given in his honor by Southern California Democrats.  Also attending the dinner were singers Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole.

DULLES INTERNATIONAL

On November 17, 1962, President Kennedy attended the dedication of Dulles International Airport named in honor of President Eisenhower's Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles.

The airport is located in Reston, Virginia.

A photograph of Dulles International Airport follows below along with Presidents Eisenhower & Kennedy viewing a large bust of Dulles at the airport during the dedication ceremonies.

After the ceremonies,  JFK went to the Presidential retreat called "Glen Ora" in Middleburg, Virginia.

On November 17, 1863, the siege of the city of Knoxville, Tennessee began led by Confederate General James Longstreet.  


The city had 1st been occupied by rebel troops in 1861, but in early 1863, the city was occupied by US troops under Ambrose E. Burnside.  The siege would climax with the Battle of Knoxville. 


Longstreet attempted to take Fort Sanders but was unsuccessful.  Knoxville remained in Union hands for the duration of the Civil War. 

JFK VISITS SEATTLE

On November 16, 1961, President Kennedy visited Seattle, Washington.  He spoke at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the University of Washington.   He said:

        "Diplomacy and defense are not substitutes for one another."

That evening at 9:15 p.m. he gave another speech at the Olympic Hotel honoring Senator Warren G. Magnuson.

This is a photograph taken at the speech at Washington University on November 16, 1961.

KONRAD ADENAUER

On November 15, 1962, JFK met with West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in the oval office from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.  


Adenauer was the 1st chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, aka West Germany.  


This was the section of Germany originally occupied by the US, France & Great Britain at the end of WWII.  


It be came the free Federal Republic of Germany while the eastern section, occupied by the USSR, became communist East Germany.


At the time, Berlin was located within East Germany but was also divided into an Eastern & Western section.  


In 1961, the Berlin Wall had been built by the communists & divided the city.


JFK was to visit West Berlin in 1963 where he would make one of the best known speeches of the "Cold War".


The following quote is posted on today's JFK Library website: 


"Freedom is indivisible and when one man is enslaved, all are not free." 
                                                                 JFK

KENNEDY DETAIL

A new book has been published by Gallery Books titled "The Kennedy Detail".  It is written by Gerald Blaine with Lisa McCubbin.  The cover reads "JFK's Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence".  I have just begun reading this book.  


This Saturday, November 20, the author will give a talk at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas.  This event is to be telecast at some time within the month on CSPAN.  


Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who ran to JFK's car at the time of the shooting, has written the "Foreward" for the book and is to appear at the Sixth Floor Museum as well.  


There is also a documentary to be telecast on November 22, 2010 on the Discovery Channel ("The Kennedy Detail").


You may wish to check out the Sixth Floor Museum and Discovery Channel websites which will have more information on "The Kennedy Detail".

VETERAN'S DAY 2010

November 11, 2010


Thanks to all Veterans of the United States military services who are honored on this day.

My Dad, Roy White, is a veteran of WWII having served in the South Pacific as a medical corpsman in the US Army.  He rose to the rank of Tech Sgt.

JFK also served in WWII as a Lt. J.G. in the US Navy.  He was stationed in the South Pacific as well & commanded a patrol-torpedo boat (PT109). 


PT109 was struck by a Japanese destroyer resulting in the deaths of two of his crewmen. 


JFK won the Purple Heart and Navy & Marine Corps medals for leading the survivors to safety and eventual rescue.


When he was President a young boy asked him how he became a war hero, he said: "It was easy, they sank my boat."

On Veterans Day in November 1963, President Kennedy was participating in events at Arlington National Cemetery when he looked out upon the beautiful view of Washington, D.C. below.  


He commented:  "I could stay up here forever." 


It was a remark his wife, Jacqueline, would remember after his death two weeks later.  She chose Arlington National Cemetery as the resting place for her husband. Today, she rests there along side him.

VETERANS DAY

On this date in 1961, JFK met with General Maxwell Taylor and General Chester Clifton for 15 minutes in the Oval Office.  He was either in the West Wing or the Mansion for the entire day.


On this date in....


...1775, the United States Marine Corps was founded in Philadelphia.


...1865, Major Henry Wirz, Superintendent of Andersonville POW Camp, was hanged.


...1954, President Eisenhower dedicated the US Marine Corps Memorial.




NOVEMBER 10, 2010




I have just purchased a new book on JFK. 


It is titled The Kennedy Detail, JFK's Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence by Gerald Blaine with Lisa McCubbin, published by Gallery Books. 


It has a forward by Clint Hill who was the agent who rushed to JFK's limo as the last shot rang out.  He has been reluctant to talk about that day to anyone. 


The Sixth Floor Museum is having a lecture later this month by Gerald Blaine with an appearance by Clint Hill.  This would be very interesting to attend.


This should be a very interesting book and I will make comments on this blog as I read through it.




On my first posting I mentioned my free web page.  It includes 20 pages devoted to the story of JFK & my interest in his life and Presidency.  It was a required source for my US History students.  It includes pictures and music.  It can be reached at freewebs.com/jrwhite21/

JFK50 HOME PAGE

I grew up in the 1960s & JFK became & remains today my hero.  


I wrote many letters to the White House hoping to get an authentic signature from the President.  After many failed attempts, I wrote a long letter to JFK expressing my disappointment & desire to have him read & sign my letter personally.


In 1962, I received a letter from Ms. Evelyn Lincoln, the President's personal secretary.  She said the President had read my letter and was "delighted" to sign the White House card which was enclosed.  I still possess the letter and card to this day and it is my "prized possession".


In November 1960, 50 years ago this month, JFK was elected the 35th US President.  His Presidency ushered in an era of "hope and promise".  


Although his election was a close one, by the time of his death he had become one of the most popular Presidents, not just in the US but around the world.


Thanks for reading the 1st post in my JFK + 50 blog.  


Please return for future posts.



John White
Knoxville, Tennessee