Where were you when JFK was assasinated?

Vanity | 11-22-02 | Me

[jmc813]

Being that I was born thirteen years too late, I have no story of my own to share. However, these sort of "where were you when" stories have always fascinated me. So, where were you 39 years ago today when you found out?

[Jaidyn]

I was a sophomore sitting in study hall when the principal announced his death. Some began crying and I remember just being so sad. I didn't think of him so much in terms of politics or president at the time but as the Chamelot family Jackie portrayed to the world. It was a beautiful family I saw destroyed much like what happened with Diana. When I envision the scenario of that period, I picture Jackie, Caroline and JohnJohn more than I do President Kennedy.

[Catspaw]

I was at my sister-in-law's house & she was watching the tube when they cut in with a special report that shots were fired at the presidential motorcade in Dallas. We were glued to the set for the next few days.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Wichita Falls, Texas....about 110 miles northwest of Dallas.....I was 4 years old (almost 5) and playing in the front yard when I realized my Mother was crying....... she told us the President had been shot - I remember feeling so scared...

[Sam Cree]

In my dorm room at boarding school, 9th grade, 14 years old. A kid came running in with the news and we all took off at a run down to a little snack bar the school had for us where we could watch a TV. Mom and Dad called later, to be sure I was OK. Can't remember how they did that, since the kids didn't have phones, but they did.

It hadn't been that long since the Cuban missile crisis had ended, same year, I believe, as I also remember going thru that at the same school.

[Andyman]

I was on a passenger ship in the middle of the Pacific. I was 8. I remember looking into one of the staterooms and seeing a maid crying and wondering why.

[Common Tator]

Doing news on radio. I got picked to co anchor 24 hours of the continuous 3 day coverage with a 57 year old anchor who had been covering Washington since 1932.

He had better pipes and ten thousand times my experience. He had been with both NBC and CBS. I was put on to atract young people. During most of it I was clueless and just followed where the other anchor lead me.

He taught me all about the corruption that is Washington D.C. He put special emphasis on the Kennedys.

I did not learn until later that the 57 year old anchor was especially fond of 14 year old girls. He found them tastee.

And you wonder why the media was not upset with Monica?....

[MotleyGirl70]

Where were you when JFK was assasinated?

I was only 2 1/2 years old. I was in diapers :)

I remember when President Reagan was shot; we had it on in the t.v. in grade school. G-d bless Ronnie.

[MotleyGirl70]

shot=assasinated

[Charles Henrickson]

Where were you when JFK was assassinated?

Nowhere in the area. I have witnesses.

Seriously, I was in 6th grade, in Chicago. It was a gray and rainy day--a Friday, I think. They let us out of school early that afternoon. Very sad day.

[MotleyGirl70]

Correction...I wasn' born yet

[Cagey]

I was in my Sophomore English class. The Principal put the news from the radio over the school PA system. That was usually only done during the World Series.

[Cagey]

Correction...I wasn' born yet

LOL! Make up your mind, will you?

[NCC-1701]

I was in the third grade at St. Thomas Elementary School when the principal come on the intercom with the news. Like the rest of the country, our collective jaws hit the floor. The school was closed shortly thereafter. I got home and for the rest of the weekend watched the coverage with my family. I also was witness to Oswald's killing. What a surreal weekend!!!

BTW, this is my VERY FIRST time on Free Republic. I've been looking at it for a while and thought I'd join in the fray. Glad to be here!!!!!

[MotleyGirl70]

You foo! Shut the hell up!

[mountaineer]

Second grade at Prairie Street Elementary in Northridge, California. We heard about it at school, somehow, and I remember thinking, well, he's a Democrat, so it must have been a Republican. That made perfect sense to a 6 year old.

[jmc813]

BTW, this is my VERY FIRST time on Free Republic. I've been looking at it for a while and thought I'd join in the fray. Glad to be here!!!!!

Well then, welcome aboard. I assume by your screen name that you're a Star Trek fan. How do you think the new movie is going to be? Haven't heard much about it as of yet.

[Mainah]

Eighth grade, Washington Twshp,NJ, in the middle of a pep rally. Someone stepped up to the microphone & announced that the President had been shot & called for a moment of silence. It was weird because I almost started giggling, then crying - even as an 13 year old, I guess I couldn't believe that "assasination" could really happen in our great country. My family was heading north for the Thanksgiving Holiday & I remember the huge flag on the GW bridge - very eerie -

[Nea Wood]

I was in a Catholic grammar school in Illinois. Kennedy was the first Catholic president, and he was adored. At first they told us he was shot and that it was not known whether he would recover or not. Then they gathered us all into the church, a priest came out, and I still remember his words: "Our beloved president has died." Then everyone started crying.

[lds23]

In the third grade. The wall intercom rang in our classroom - that meant the principal was calling The teacher picked it up, listened for a few seconds, then burst out crying.

We got sent home for the day. All TV was pretty much cancelled except for coverage. I remember Channel 11 (WPIX, NY) just had one word on the screen for about three days: "SHAME".