It was 50 years ago today — And how I followed four days of history in the news
I was in Miss Perkins’ 7th period music class at Hugh Morson Junior High School on November 22, 1963, longing for the school day to end and the weekend to begin, when our principal, Mr. Proctor, announced over the PA system that President Kennedy had been shot. A few girls began to cry; a couple boys made derisive comments about the president; but I, as did most of my classmates that day, just sat there in stunned silence.
Friday
We were dismissed earlier than usual that Friday, and I hurried home to deliver the evening paper. I pulled one from the bundle sitting on the curb, and read the headline: “President Kennedy Is Shot to Death by Sniper in Dallas.” Whoa! ‘President. ‘Shot.’ ‘Death.’ ‘Sniper.’ That was a bit too much reality for a 12-year old Raleigh Boy to take in. I knew then that this was one of ‘those’ moments in history that would impress an indelible memory on me forever.
This is the full front page “Extra” for the Raleigh Times, Nov. 22, 1963.Â
Budding historian that I was in those days, I thought to reserve a single newspaper describing the latest events of each day as the tragedy unfolded over the weekend. These are the papers I collected then, and still have in my possession to this day.
Saturday
The headline of Saturday’s Raleigh Times still bore the black bars signifying mourning.
Next day, the front page of Saturday’s Raleigh Times detailed the status of Texas Gov. Connally (who had also been shot in the presidential limousine), how Vice President Lyndon Johnson was coping with the unexpected responsibilities as the nation’s leader, and preparations for Kennedy’s funeral on Monday.
At the bottom of the page was an article mentioning Lee Harvey Oswald for the first time.
Oddly nestled within the article on Oswald, Kennedy’s accused assassin, was a short mention that Raleigh’s Christmas parade would be held on Tuesday evening at 6.30. Â Â
Monday
On the day of President Kennedy’s funeral the headline of the N&O announced the killing of Oswald on Sunday by “strip joint owner” Jack Ruby.
This photo on the front page captures the moment Lee Harvey Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby.Â
Tuesday
The day after Kennedy’s funeral the N&O featured extensive coverage of the event on the front page. The photos show the funeral cortege as it made its way across the Potomac River bridge to Arlington Cemetery, and the now-familiar image of 3-year old John Kennedy Jr. saluting his father’s casket as it passed by.
An article inside the paper featured the memorial Mass for the president held at Raleigh’s Sacred Heart Cathedral.
During all this time, of course, there was extensive coverage of the assassination, Oswald’s slaying and Kennedy’s funeral on television. My Dad remained glued in front of the TV all weekend. Â In fact, we Morson students watched the funeral on Monday on a black and white TV set atop a table on the auditorium stage.
After all these years, the remaining pages of yellowing and crumbling newsprint which I can still hold in my hands, and read, will always be my direct connection with that momentous time so long ago — an indelible memory for me forever.
11/22/2013
I was 11, in 5th grade at Sherwood-Bates on Oberlin Rd. After being told about Kennedy’s assassination over the intercom by our principal Mrs Sanders, we were sent to recess. Mostly we speculated on who did it. Lyndon Johnson was the most popular suspect that day.
After school I went to the YMCA in Hillsborough St, where after racketball we watched TV coverage in the lobby until our parents picked us up. More speculation on “who done it”, us being 11 year old kids who had not long ago graduated from playing Army, “Swamp Fox” (remember that on the Wonderful World of Disney?) and Cowboys & Indians. I have to say afterwards, I took everything I read in MAD Magazine to heart – god bless you Bill Gaines.
11/22/2013
As a kid, I always used to ask my mom about that day. I don’t know how many times she told me that story of “her” day that day. She was at school too, between classes I think she said, and told me a lot of the girls were crying. They were sent home early too (I imagine most were). I’ve read books about it but am always fascinated by people’s stories from that day. This was very interesting to read today, thank you.
11/22/2013
Nicely done Raleigh Boy. The newspapers are a special touch. While I have a vivid recollection of Len Bauer’s reaction, in ninth grade Civics class, to the news about the shooting and, later, the death of President Kennedy, I have no real recollection of being in the auditorium, watching the television coverage of the funeral.
11/24/2013
How nice that you still have those papers. They will be worth something someday, and meanwhile, they are very interesting reading. I was working in a Catholic hospital when it happened, and they announced it over a loudspeaker. You could have heard a pin drop in the usually noisy lower floors. I was watching TV when Ruby shot Oswald.
11/25/2013
I was 2 and don’t remember it. What I do remember is looking at a large burgundy book, published by the _News and Observer_ and _Raleigh Times_ called _The Torch is Passed_. I was fascinated by it, especially the image of Oswald being shot. My parents talked about it a lot. It really bothered my dad, who is not easily bothered by things like that. But he talked about it often, and how senseless it was.
I do remember RFK’s and MLK’s deaths, especially the latter.
11/26/2013
That the coverage of that weekend, and the funeral Monday, were in black and white, added to the surreal flavor of the events. I also watched Oswald get shot. Looked like it really hurt.
Until then, I wondered what it was like to be alive when something awful happened, such as Lincoln’s assassination. Then, suddenly, I wondered no more.
But still, it all was a bad dream.
11/27/2013
And then there’s the mystery of “The Raleigh Call,” from the evening before Oswald was killed. We’ll never know why Oswald might have wanted to talk to a Raleigh “insurance claims adjuster [who] had served in Army counterintelligence during World War II.”
The Independent ran a short piece about it ten years ago: http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/oswald-calling/Content?oid=1190780
Journalist Grover Proctor’s more detailed version is also interesting:
http://www.groverproctor.us/jfk/jfk80.html
11/29/2013
I was a seventh grader at Enloe Junior High when I learned about the assasination. I was sitting in Miss McGranahan’s sixth period social studies class when our principal, Mr. George Khady interrupted class on the intercom and announced that President Kennedy was shot while riding in a downtown Dallas motorcade. My memory is that moments afterwards a live CBS feed with Walter Chronkite was played over the intercom reporting that the President was dead. I remember going to the gym after school for basketball try outs, but we all just sat on the bleachers in silence.
I watched a lot of television news that weekend. I watched live as Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald in the basement of the Dallas County jail. I watched all the live coverage of the funeral at home on Monday. I assumed classes were canceled that day. I could have just stayed home anyway.
08/21/2014
i was 9 yrs. old, was at j.y. joyner elementary school
and remember being let to go home early.
sort of remember all the kids asking questions and
the rumours about jfk being shot.
also was tearful as i walked home.
still have the raleigh newspaper today.