Real Time 1960s

Nov. 27, 1963 - From his hospital bed in Dallas, over television, Governor John B. Connally Jr. tonight gave the first public account by a member of President Kennedy’s immediate party of the tragic events last Friday. He told of the tremendously positive crowds. “Dallas was real warm, real understanding, and real appreciative,” Mr. Connally said. “The ovation for Kennedy was tremendous. The President and his wife both remarked about how warm it was. Not 30 seconds before the President was shot, Nellie [Mrs. Connally] had said to the President that no one could say that Dallas did not love and appreciate him. Kennedy answered her, ‘You sure can’t.’” Then Mr. Connally described the actual shooting. “We heard a shot. I turned to my left, and the President had slumped. He said nothing. As I turned, I was hit, and I knew I was hit badly. I knew the President had been hit, and I said: ‘My God, they’re going to kill us all.’ Then there was a third shot, and the President was hit again.” Then, Mr. Connally said, Mrs. Kennedy had cried out: “Oh, my God! They’ve killed my husband! Jack! Jack!” The Governor said he was not told the President was dead until the following day. “But it was not news,” Connally said. “I was almost sure he would be after those two shots.” Connally denied that the political climate in Dallas contributed to the assassination. “It could have happened anywhere,” he said. “It was a manifestation of extremism on both sides. The genesis of our self-destruction — if we are going to be destroyed — comes from this extremism.” Connally, a close political ally of President Johnson, was asked to size up the new Chief Executive. He said: “No man ever assumed office better equipped to carry out the duties of the office of President. In some ways, he is unlettered. But in some ways, he is as literate a person as you will ever know, wise in the ways of human understanding. He understands the heartbeat of this nation as no other man in his position has.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 27, 1963 - The first Southerner to become President since Woodrow Wilson called today for the “earliest possible passage” of a civil rights program that would remove “every trace of discrimination and oppression” in the nation. President Johnson, appearing before a joint session of Congress, made this the high point of an address that surprised even his admirers with its force, eloquence, and mood of quiet confidence. He opened with a tribute to President Kennedy. “All I have,” he said in a voice almost inaudible at the rear of the chamber, “I would have given gladly not to be standing here today.” With somewhat more volume, he continued: “The greatest leader of our time has been struck down by the foulest deed of our time. Today, John Fitzgerald Kennedy lives on in the immortal words and works that he left behind. He lives on in the mind and memories of mankind. He lives on in the hearts of his countrymen. No words are sad enough to express our sense of loss. No words are strong enough to express our determination to continue the forward thrust of America that he began.” Here, Mr. Johnson was interrupted for the first of many times by applause. Later, many of those in the chamber of the House of Representatives were moved to tears as Mr. Johnson, in a slow, deep voice, paid tribute to President Kennedy and called for the translation of his “ideas and ideals” into “effective action.” He called for quick action on tax reduction and virtually every other point of the Kennedy legislative program. He left no doubt that he wanted Congress to move ahead now rather than in January. “Our most immediate tasks are here on this hill,” he said. “This is no time for delay; it is a time for action.” Mr. Johnson will speak again on national television at 6:15 p.m. tomorrow. The White House said the speech, to be delivered from the President’s office, would not be a repeat of today’s performance but a “personal message from the President to the American people” on Thanksgiving Day. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 26, 1963 - Dallas police gave the FBI three large packages of evidence against Lee Harvey Oswald in the assassination of President Kennedy today after the Dallas County grand jury indicted Jack Ruby in the murder of Oswald. The packages were a large blue suitcase and two large cardboard boxes. Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry had announced earlier that the evidence would be given to the FBI. Inspector J.H. Sawyer said today the police had no intention of releasing the evidence to the news media. The indictment against Ruby, 52-year-old Dallas nightclub operator, specified murder with malice, punishable by death. District Attorney Henry Wade set Dec. 9 as a trial date. Ruby, who shot Communist sympathizer Oswald before a horde of news reporters and police officers as Oswald was being transferred to county authorities Sunday morning, is expected to plead temporary insanity. Tom Howard, Ruby’s attorney, visited him at the county jail after the indictment and told reporters: “He was much more calm than he was yesterday. He talked in more normal tones, but he is still an excitable person when he talks normally.” Speaking of Ruby’s concern over the Kennedy assassination, Howard went on: “On one occasion, he mentioned seeing the picture of Jackie with blood on her dress. Tears came into his eyes. Ruby showed tremendous concern for the Kennedys.” Howard said the nightclub owner stopped off at the scene of the President’s assassination while on his way to the Dallas Municipal building Sunday on his self-appointed mission of execution. The lawyer quoted Ruby as saying: “I had driven to the place three or four times before and, at one time, had gotten out. I had not put flowers on the spot, but I intended to.” In response to questions by reporters, Howard declared: “I can state unqualifiedly, as far as I know, there is no connection between Ruby and Oswald. Ruby says the first time he saw Oswald was when Oswald was brought into the press conference the night of the killing of President Kennedy.” Ruby, with a wide acquaintance among Dallas police officer, had no difficulty gaining entry to the building with newsmen, and it was from their ranks that he stepped forward Sunday to shoot Oswald. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 26, 1963 - Adlai Stevenson assured the United Nations General Assembly today that President Johnson’s Administration would continue to support the U.N. and work for a reduction in tension between East and West. “President Johnson is determined,” he said, “that the better feeling of these past few months shall not be lost, rather that it must increase. In that spirit, we shall not falter on the stony path to peace.” Mr. Stevenson, the chief U.S. representative, spoke at a U.N. memorial service for President Kennedy. Mr. Stevenson, who was the closing speaker today, gave his assurances about the policy of the new Administration after thanking the members for their expressions of sympathy. One of the most eloquent eulogies was delivered by Paul-Henri Spaak, Foreign Minister of Belgium, who was elected President of the Assembly when its first session convened in London in January 1946. Mr. Spaak declared that Mr. Kennedy had already given the world much but would have given more if death had not struck him in his youth. Mr. Kennedy will be remembered, he said, as the President who fostered legislation on civil rights, who faced a great worldwide danger — an allusion to last year’s crisis over Soviet missiles in Cuba — and who signed the treaty on nuclear tests. The delegates stood for a minute of prayer or meditation at the start of the memorial meeting. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy went bravely through her final hours of public grief today. She walked the eight long blocks from the White House to St. Matthew’s Roman Catholic Cathedral behind the caisson carrying the body of her husband to the funeral. She stood erect at his graveside, watching the powers of church and state bid him farewell. She carried out a final duty as the President’s wife, greeting at the White House leaders of the nations who had come to pay tribute to Mr. Kennedy. Through the long day of ceremony, she maintained the stoic dignity that she had displayed since an assassin’s bullet killed her husband three days ago. Only twice during the day did her tears appear. Once was in the cathedral, the second time after the burial service. As the ceremony at Arlington ended, she turned suddenly to General Maxwell D. Taylor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was a step or two away. She embraced him and pressed her veiled cheek against his. Her dark eyes filled, and for an instant her face looked like that of a 34-year-old girl burdened with sorrow, instead of a President’s wife. Then Mrs. Kennedy turned away. She reached out and took the hand of her brother-in-law, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy — a hand she held often during the day — and went back to the White House for the diplomatic reception. Today happened to be the third birthday of her son, John Jr., called “John-John” by his father. John and his sister, Caroline, who will be 6 years old on Wednesday, were at the cathedral for the funeral service but were spared the ceremony at the cemetery. As the children left the cathedral after the service, John saw the honor guard of nine servicemen carry the flag-covered coffin of his father to the caisson that would bear it to Arlington. He looked up at his mother. She whispered to him. Then he handed her a prayer book he was carrying, and his small right hand suddenly shot up in a salute. Across the street, reporters and cameramen who were with the President when John was born and who have seen him scampering about his father’s office and in and out of the helicopters he loved to ride in, wept openly. The children were taken back to the White House by their nurse, Miss Maud Shaw, and some Secret Service men. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - In Dallas today, attorney Tom Howard said his client, Jack Ruby, was "in a state of emotional collapse" and "probably out of his mind" when he shot Lee Harvey Oswald yesterday in the basement of the Dallas Municipal building. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - At the conclusion of this evening's news coverage, CBS-TV anchor Walter Cronkite offered these views on the events of the past few days. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - This color motion pictures covers funeral services for President John F. Kennedy, including footage of Kennedy family members and processions to the Capitol Rotunda, the White House, Saint Matthews Roman Catholic Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - Weeks after the coup that deposed President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, political prisoners are released and returned to Saigon. Buddhists held a remembrance ceremony for those killed in the uprising. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - The FBI warned Dallas police three times during the last weekend that it had information an attempt would be made on Lee Harvey Oswald’s life. This was reported in Washington today. It presumably will be one of the many matters to be examined by a state court of inquiry announced in Washington today by Texas Attorney General Waggoner Carr. Carr read a statement at a press conference but declined to submit to formal questioning. He said he was leaving for Texas immediately to finalize plans for the inquiry. In Dallas, Carr’s announcement apparently cuased law officers to change their attitude about an investigation, which District Attorney Henry Wade had called expensive and pointless. Police Chief Jesse Curry issued a statement which said the entire file would be made public unless Federal authorities asked that some part of it be withheld. Dallas Mayor Earle Cabell had called for the evidence to be made public record even before nightclub owner Jack Ruby killed Oswald. The inquiry, Carr disclosed, will cover the assassination in Dallas Friday of President Kennedy as well as the attempted assassination of Governor John Connally at the same time. Also to be studied is the slaying Sunday in the Dallas City Hall of Oswald, accused shooter of Kennedy and Connally. Carr said he was calling the inquiry because these “shocking”events occurred in Texas. “All facts surrounding these matters should be made public,” he stated. The Attorney General pledged “a thorough, complete and impartial investigation,” with the results publicized and a full report furnished to the Justice Department. Carr said he and his “top staff” would work in cooperation with “one or more outstanding and eminent jurists” in conducting the inquiry. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - This newsreel covers the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of President Kennedy, by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub operator, in the basement of the Dallas Police Building. It also covers the funeral ceremonies for President Kennedy. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 10, 1963 - Enjoy this highlight from today's game between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions at Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota. The Vikings won the NFL contest, 34-31. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - In Dallas, Texas, a Parkland Hospital spokesman said that Lee Harvey Oswald, 24-year-old alleged assassin of President Kennedy, is currently undergoing surgery after having been shot by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub operator, in the basement of the municipal building. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - President Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was fatally shot by a Dallas night-club operator today as the police started to move him from the Dallas city jail to the county jail. The shooting, which was observed by millions of television viewers across the country, occurred in the basement of the municipal building at 11:20 a.m. local time. The assailant, Jack Rubenstein, known as Jack Ruby, lunged from a cluster of newsmen observing the transfer of Oswald from the jail to an armored truck. As the shot rang out, Billy Combest, a Dallas police detective, suddenly recognized Ruby and exclaimed: “Jack, you son of a bitch, don’t!” Four plainclothes men pounced on Ruby as he fired the shot and overpowered him. As Ruby was being held down, he said, “I hope I killed the son of a bitch.” One officer said that Ruby, who came to Dallas from Chicago 15 years ago, was well known around police headquarters and possibly had been passed through security lines because of this. A murder charge was filed against Ruby by Assistant District Attorney William F. Alexander. Justice of the Peace Pierce McBride ordered him held without bail. The 52-year-old night-club operator, an ardent admirer of President Kennedy and his family, was described as having been distraught and sleepless since the President’s assassination Friday. Oswald was arrested that day and charged with murdering the President and a policeman, J.D. Tippit. Today, as the 24-year-old prisoner, flanked by two detectives, stepped onto a basement garage ramp, Ruby thrust a .38-caliber snub-nose revolver into Oswald’s left side and fired a single shot. Oswald slumped to the concrete paving, wordlessly clutching his side, writhing in pain. Oswald apparently lost consciousness very quickly after the shooting. He was taken in a police ambulance to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where President Kennedy died Friday. Oswald died in surgery at 1:07 p.m., less than two hours after the shooting. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - In Washington D.C. today, former Vice President Richard M. Nixon recalled memories of President Kennedy and commented on the murder earlier today of the President's presumed assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - President Kennedy’s alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was fatally shot by a Dallas nightclub operator today as the police started to move him from the Dallas city jail to the county jail. The shooting, which was observed by millions of television viewers across the country, occurred in the basement of the municipal building at 11:20 a.m. local time. The assailant, Jack Rubenstein, known as Jack Ruby, lunged from a cluster of newsmen observing the transfer of Oswald from the jail to an armored truck. As the shot rang out, Billy Combest, a Dallas police detective, suddenly recognized Ruby and exclaimed: “Jack, you son of a bitch, don’t!” Four plainclothes men pounced on Ruby as he fired the shot and overpowered him. As Ruby was being held down, he said, “I hope I killed the son of a bitch.” One officer said that Ruby, who came to Dallas from Chicago 15 years ago, was well known around police headquarters and possibly had been passed through security lines because of this. A murder charge was filed against Ruby by Assistant District Attorney William F. Alexander. Justice of the Peace Pierce McBride ordered him held without bail. The 52-year-old night-club operator, an ardent admirer of President Kennedy and his family, was described as having been distraught and sleepless since the President’s assassination Friday. Oswald was arrested that day and charged with murdering the President and a policeman, J.D. Tippit. Today, as the 24-year-old prisoner, flanked by two detectives, stepped onto a basement garage ramp, Ruby thrust a .38-caliber snub-nose revolver into Oswald’s left side and fired a single shot. Oswald slumped to the concrete paving, wordlessly clutching his side, writhing in pain. Oswald apparently lost consciousness very quickly after the shooting. He was taken in a police ambulance to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where President Kennedy died Friday. Oswald died in surgery at 1:07 p.m., less than two hours after the shooting. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - Jim Leavelle, a Dallas Police Department homicide detective, was escorting Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of President Kennedy, through the basement of Dallas Police headquarters today when Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub operator. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - Nellie Connally, wife of Texas Governor John Connally, and others close to the scene of President Kennedy's assassination recalled today their memory of the tragic event. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - Henry Cabot Lodge, U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, arrived in Washington today to deliver a firsthand report to President Johnson on the situation in South Vietnam. In a brief interview, Mr. Lodge recalled memories of the late President Kennedy. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - The New York Giants, who had been averaging five touchdowns a game over the last eight weeks, were held to two today by the St. Louis Cardinals, and that was not enough as the Cardinals won, 24-17, before a capacity crowd of 62,992 at Yankee Stadium. That result, coupled with the Cleveland Browns’ victory over the Dallas Cowboys, means that first place in the Eastern Conference of the NFL is now shared by three teams — the Cardinals, Giants, and Browns. Each team is 8-3. Each has three games to play, the key one being Cleveland at St. Louis next Sunday. Today, the Giants could have won or at least gained a tie by gaining 72 inches more. New York was two yards short of a tying touchdown in the fourth quarter and had eight unsuccessful shots at the St. Louis goal line from inside the Cardinal 10 in that period. The Cardinal defenders found a way to stop Y.A. Tittle, the Giant quarterback who had been bedeviling the league this fall. Near the end, they kept knocking Tittle down. Y.A. has few limitations, but he cannot throw passes from a prone position. The two goal-line stands by the Cardinals were the dramatic highlights of a game that belonged exclusively to the crowd in the Stadium. For the first time in many years, there was no account of the game transmitted from the Stadium, radio and television coverage having been canceled. Aside from the national mourning for the late President, which seemed uppermost in everyone’s mind, the Giants carried an additional burden into the second half — the knowledge that their line coach, Ed Kolman, was in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital after suffering a heart attack in the second period. However, Giant coach Allie Sherman made no excuses. “We just couldn’t go in for a touchdown when we had big chances,” Sherman said. “All season long, when Tittle was there, we hardly missed a chance. When we were inside the 20, we scored. Today we missed. That’s the whole story, as I see it. We had an off day. And you must give them credit, they had a big day.” Cardinal coach Wally Lemm said he thought both teams were jittery at the outset of the game and for the entire first half. “Not because of the game itself,” Lemm said. “But the assassination of President Kennedy left all of us shocked to the point that hardly anybody was thinking about football.” Sam Huff, the Giants’ middle linebacker, expressed the general feeling of the Giant players about playing today’s game. “I feel depressed,” he said. “I feel as bad about it as anybody. But staying home and moping around wouldn’t do any good. Last year, Jimmy Patton’s father died the day before the Dallas game. Nobody can say he didn’t grieve, but he played the game. That is our life. The people who don’t like it — that is their right. Maybe that’s what the President died for.” Said Pete Rozelle, NFL Commissioner, whose decision it was that the league would play its scheduled games: “I did and still do believe the decision proper. I went to church this morning, and I’m certain that most of the people in the stands did too.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - At Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Dr. Tom Shires announced that Lee Harvey Oswald, 24-year-old alleged assassin of President Kennedy, had died at 1:07 p.m. local time. Mr. Oswald, who was shot earlier today by Dallas nightclub operator Jack Ruby, suffered cardiac arrest from massive blood loss, and Dr. Shires' efforts to save his life were not successful. Dr. Shires, 38 years old, successfully operated on Texas Governor John Connally two days ago. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 24, 1963 - Roger Leclerc’s 18-yard field goal with 4½ minutes remaining enabled the Chicago Bears to tie the Steelers, 17-17, today and maintain their hold on first place in the Western Division. Coach Buddy Parker’s Steelers moved to within a game of the three teams tied for the Eastern lead: the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns, and the St. Louis Cardinals. The result was a happy one for most of the 36,465 fans at Forbes Field, who came to watch their Steelers face a favored Chicago team. When Lou Michaels booted an 11-yard field goal early in the fourth period, the Steelers moved to a 17-14 advantage after battling most of the afternoon to catch the Bears. This seemed, for a time, enough for the Steelers to turn in a major upset and force the Bears into a first-place tie with the Packers in the Western Conference. But a pass play with Billy Wade throwing and Mike Ditka receiving put the ball within range for Leclerc to tie the game. There’s no question but that the Bears would have gone down to an upset loss but for Ditka. The husky ex-Panther played a tremendous game at his right end position, where he hauled down seven passes for a total of 146 yards. In the wake of one of their most grueling battles of this or any recent season, the Bears had mixed emotions. On the one hand, they felt they should have won. On the other, they considered themselves fortunate in being able to return home still on top of the NFL’s Western Division. “We’ll settle for the tie,” said coach George Halas. “Needless to say, we would have rather won. But we’re still ahead of Green Bay. Our future is still in our hands. We know what we have to do now — win our next three games, all of them. I’m glad we’re going home to finish out the season in Wrigley Field.” Most of the players were talking about Ditka’s spectacular 63-yard romp through almost the entire Steeler defensive platoon to set up the Bears’ tying field goal. Ditka was talking about it too. “I lost my legs,” said the burly Bear, by way of apologizing for his failure to go all the way. “They were completely dead. I had just run pass patterns on the three previous plays, and suddenly I found myself in the clear with the ball. But my legs felt paralyzed. I never had a feeling like that before. I kept looking for someone to lateral to, but nobody showed up.” Halas called Ditka’s caper “one of the greatest individual efforts I have seen in 40 years of football. They had him stopped a half dozen times, but his feet never stopped churning.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 21, 1963 - Here is a clip from President Kennedy’s remarks today at the dedication ceremony for the Aerospace Medical Health Center located at the Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. In his speech, the President explained the symbolic meaning of the term “New Frontier” and discussed the possible terrestrial applications of space research, such as medicine and technology. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 23, 1963 - At 7:15 p.m. CST, Lee Harvey Oswald was returned to his cell at Dallas Police headquarters after being interrogated by Captain Will Fritz, chief of the Dallas Police Homicide Bureau. Oswald has been charged with murdering President Kennedy and Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit. "I don't know what dispatches you people have been given," Oswald told newsmen, "but I emphatically deny these charges." Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 23, 1963 - Alabama Governor George Wallace spoke with reporters today upon arriving in Washington D.C. He and other governors will meet with President Johnson today. Governor Wallace called the assassination of President Kennedy "truly an attack on the American system and the American people." Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s