realtime1960s

Dec. 1, 1963 - Here is a highlight from today's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. The Rams won the NFL contest, 21-17. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

In Indianapolis, a massive explosion kills at least 62 people; in Philadelphia, President Kennedy is met by protestors; in South Vietnam, three Americans are captured; demonstrators assault Chief Justice Warren; Madame Nhu is snubbed in Los Angeles; Sandy Koufax wins another big award. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - On this segment of NBC's "Today" show, Hugh Downs and Martin Agronsky cover the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald and President Kennedy's funeral ceremonies. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 22, 1963 - Dallas resident Ted Callaway recounts the shotgun murder of Officer J.D. Tippit, which he witnessed. He later picked Lee Harvey Oswald out of a lineup as the shooter. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

The South Vietnamese crisis deepens; police go on the attack at a voter registration drive in Alabama; President Kennedy talks 1964; the nuclear test ban treaty is signed; the Valachi Hearings are criticized; the Dodgers are set for a big payday. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Support this project at https://www.patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 29, 1963 - Attorney Tom Howard, attorney for Jack Ruby, said he may seek a change of venue for Ruby's upcoming trial. Ruby has been charged with murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, accused assassin of President Kennedy. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 28, 1963 - President Johnson tonight renamed Cape Canaveral Cape Kennedy in honor of his slain predecessor. He also gave the name John F. Kennedy to the Florida missile-space center. The President made the announcement during a Thanksgiving Day television address to the nation in which he asked Americans for “your help, your strength, your prayers that God may guard this Republic and guide my every labor.” It was Johnson’s first address delivered directly to the American people since becoming President. He asked that America’s determination be “that from this midnight of tragedy” of Kennedy’s assassination “we shall move toward a new American greatness.” Speaking from the Oval Office of the White House, Johnson said that he had ordered that “Station No. 1, the Atlantic Missile Range, will hereafter be known as the John F. Kennedy Space Center.” He also said that Cape Canaveral “shall hereafter be known as Cape Kennedy.” One of President Kennedy’s main goals had been to make the U.S. preeminent in space. One of his last trips took him to the space center. President Johnson paid tribute to Mrs. Kennedy and to the Kennedy children, Caroline and John Jr., and to all of the Kennedy family. “All of us have lived through seven days we will never forget,” he said. “The great leader is dead. The great nation must move on. Yesterday is not ours to recover. I am resolved we shall win the tomorrows before us…We live in peace. The good will of the world pours out upon us. Our citizenry is strong. The deed that was meant to tear us apart has bound us together.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 27, 1963 - Dr. Malcolm Perry, who operated on both President Kennedy and his accused assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, said today there had never been a chance to save the President but that Oswald nearly survived. Dr. Perry, 34 years old, vacationing in the Rio Grande Valley, said Oswald’s bleeding had been controlled and blood pressure restored to normal when his heart suddenly stopped beating. “We were very close to saving him,” he said. He said the bullet fired by Jack Ruby had entered Oswald’s body on the left side and punctured his spleen, pancreas, stomach, aorta, vena cava (a large vein), liver, and right kidney. He said that after Oswald’s heart had stopped beating, “various drugs and an electric defibrillator were used, as well as the heart massage, in an attempt to restore the beat.” Dr. Perry said he had been eating lunch in the hospital Friday when he was called to the emergency room to treat the President. He said his first thought when Mr. Kennedy was wheeled in was that the President was a larger man than he had imagined. Dr. Perry performed a tracheotomy — he opened the throat and inserted a tube to prevent fluid from keeping air from the lungs. Another surgeon inserted a tube into the President’s chest to keep the lung from collapsing. “My initial impression was that he had a mortal wound,” Dr. Perry said. He said he believed the President had two wounds — a massive one in the head and a small circular wound in the neck. Dr. Perry said his role was “just a small part of an awful tragedy.” “It could have been any one of 50 doctors doing it. It just happened to be me,” he said. “It is something we do every day. It is always a team effort. The enormity of it did not hit me until I was out of the operating room and sitting down resting. I realized then what had happened and must have sat there quietly for 15 minutes.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

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 Beatles took a break from their autumn tour of the U.K. today and spent the afternoon at the Granada TV studios, Manchester, where they were joined by Liverpudlian comedian Ken Dodd. 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 - Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry announced today that Lee Harvey Oswald died at 1:07 p.m. He also announced that Jack Ruby, the man who shot Oswald in the basement of the Dallas municipal building, had been arrested and would be charged with murder. 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