"OH, NO!"

PRESIDENT KENNEDY SHOT TO DEATH BY HIDDEN ASSASSIN WITH HIGH POWERED RIFLE

Dallas, Texas (JFK+50) On November 22, 1963, Associated Press reports that "the 36th President of the United States was shot to death today by a hidden assassin with a high powered rifle."

John F. Kennedy, 46 years old, lived "almost 30 minutes after a sniper cut him down in his limousine left downtown Dallas."

The President was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. Central time at Parkland Memorial Hospital.  Texas Governor John B. Connally, who was riding in the Presidential car, was critically wounded.

Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy, riding beside her husband, cried out...

"Oh, no!"

Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was riding in another car was not injured.  He left Parkland Hospital with his wife, Lady Bird, a half-hour after President Kennedy was pronounced dead.

JFK+50 NOTE

President Kennedy was the 34th man to occupy the office of the Presidency but because Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms, he is classified as both the 22nd & 24th POTUS.  Thus, JFK was the 35th POTUS.  

The Key West Citizens' report in this regard is in error.  LBJ became the 36th POTUS upon JFK's death & was sworn-in about 2 hours later.

SOURCE

"President Dead," The Key West Citizen, Key West, Florida, November 22, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Kennedy Dead"

The Detroit News

November 22 1963

www.flickr.com/

"YOUTH DRESSED AS LABORER FIRES SMALL PISTOL"

HIROHITO ESCAPES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN TOKYO

Tokyo, Japan (JFK+50) On December 27, 1923, an assassination attempt was made on Prince Regent Hirohito* of Japan here in Tokyo.  A twenty year old man, dressed as a laborer, fired at the Prince Regent who was riding in his automobile.

A crowd captured the assailant who was arrested later by police.    The assassination attempt took place at the Toranomon intersection in downtown Tokyo.  

There had been rumors circulating before the incident that Koreans were conspiring to kill Hirohito.

*Hirohito (1901-989) reigned as emperor of Japan 1926-1989, the longest serving emperor in Japanese history.  Hirohito had become Regent on Nov 25, 1921.

JFK+50 NOTE

The bullet fired shattered a window & injured another person in the vehicle.  The suspect was Daisuke Namba who claimed to be a communist.  He was executed in 1924.

SOURCE

"Assassin's Shot Misses Japanese Prince Regent," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 27, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Hirohito in Dress Uniform

1935

Library of Congress Photo

MR. GARFIELD'S BEEN SHOT DOWN LOW

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1998

PRESIDENT GARFIELD SHOT 135 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 135 years ago this morning, July 2, 1881, President James A. Garfield was shot as he walked through the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station here in the nation's capital.

The would-be assassin, Charles J. Guiteau, fired two shots from a British Bulldog revolver.  The President, accompanied by his two sons and Secretary of State James G. Blaine, was hit once in the shoulder and once in the back.

Guiteau, who had a cab waiting outside, was captured by police officer Patrick Kearney.

As he was taken into custody, Guiteau reportedly said...

"I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts! Arthur is president now!"*

Garfield was taken to the White House where his condition worsened over the rest of the summer. His weight dropped from 200 to 135.  On September 6, 1881, the President was taken to the seashore at Elberon, New Jersey where he died on September 19.  He was 49 years old.

Chester A. Arthur became President. The assassin, Guiteau, was found guilty and hanged in June 1882.

If the Stalwarts hoped that one of their own as president would oppose civil service reform, they were to be bitterly disappointed.  President Arthur signed into law the Civil Service reform bill.

*Garfield had political ties to the conservative wing of the Republican Party.  One of the motives for the assassination was that Garfield had refused to give Guiteau a government position.

President Garfield Is Shot

by A. Berghaus and C. Upham

Frank Leslie's Illustrated

July 16, 1881