60 years ago today......

[slowmotion]

The headmaster at my school assembled all the boys and told us. His wife, a Catholic, was in tears. Rumours spread that it would mean a major confrontation with the USSR.

Then we went back to our football game.

 

[rualexander]

I was 9 and watching TV alone, my parents were upstairs with my sister who was unwell. The news flash made a huge impression on me because just two years earlier during the Cuban missile crisis my dad put me to bed with the words "if you never say your prayers ever again, say them tonight". From then on I looked on JFK as some sort of hero. I have read and watched hundreds of accounts of the day and been fascinated by American politics ever since.

Fast forward to 2016 and my visit to the sixth floor museum in Dallas, walking down Elm St made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I got very emotional standing on the Grassy Knoll. Standing at the window next to the sealed off window on the sixth floor I was struck with the thought why would any assassin choose to let the target get so far away before pulling the trigger. The limo was so long it slowed to almost a stop to turn the sharp corner right below the window then it accelerated down the hill as the crowd had thinned so much, then he fired three times? Makes no sense to me.

Cuban missile crisis was in October 1962 when I was one month old so only a year before assassination of JFK not two years.

 

[a.twiddler]

A British newspaper wad told about it first, 25 minutes before it happened.

Seems a bit thin. Why a random provincial journalist rather than a national paper? On the one hand, a conspiracy theory looking for some basis? On the other hand sometimes the decisions people make in real life really are that random, so it could have the ring of truth. At this distance I suppose we'll never truly know, and can only surmise, as the participants are all gone by now.

 

[Accy cyclist]

JFK Junior was born on the 25th of November 1960, 10 days after I was born. I doubt he knew what'd happened to his dad and was told to salute his hearse as it passed by. I'd say this shot is one of the most poignant of the whole event. I can't remember the event, but I do remember his brother Bobby's assassination 5 years later.

 

[matiz]

I remember Bobby being shot ,I was reading all the headlines on my paper round in 68.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

No, but I remember when J.R. was shot! 😆

 

[Accy cyclist]

Look at the young girl on what looks like her i phone, while others stand to attention. How disrespectful of her!! 🧐

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

View attachment 716508

Look at the young girl on what looks like her i phone, while others stand to attention. How disrespectful of her!! 🧐

'Tis what looks like a book.

 

[Accy cyclist]

'Tis what looks like a book.

Yes I know. It was er my attempt at humour.

Perhaps she was writing 'Tick....One down, four more to go', in reference to the Kennedy's ability to get themselves assassinated, die in accidents, or be involved in 'accidental' deaths!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yes I know. It was er my attempt at humour.

Ah! But what I meant was that reading a book during the funeral was just as disrespectful as being on her phone! 😆

 

[Chris S]

My mother tells me I saw the moon landings but didn’t express any interest in it.

You're lucky - I had to go to bed and missed it.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

You're lucky - I had to go to bed and missed it.

My Dad was feeling unwell and went to bed.

He is a bit of an idiot at times to be fair.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Ah! But what I meant was that reading a book during the funeral was just as disrespectful as being on her phone! 😆

Yes, a damn' terrible thing to do!! 🧐

 

[Accy cyclist]

You're lucky - I had to go to bed and missed it.

I saw it. You didn't miss much!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yes, a damn' terrible thing to do!! 🧐

I know! And at your Dad's too!