Hamas War

Monday, November 22, 2010

What Does November 22 Mean To You?

It's no secret that I'm old, older than a lot of the readers of this blog.  The November 22 I'm referring to was in  1963.  That was the day United States President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated.

Yes, I remember that day.


I wasn't a young child.  I was a teenager in high school, though the 9th grade was part of the junior high according to the 6 + 3 + 3 system.  It was just my second year in Great Neck North after moving there from Bayside, NY.  The announcement was over the loudspeaker.  The teacher took it calmly, so we did, too.

Always the political observer, even as a kid, I was very impressed by the quick, business-like transfer of power to LBJ, Lyndon Baines Johnson, a man so different from Kennedy in personal style and political experience.

Johnson was a very experienced and wily politician.  He got straight to business as President.  If he had been the president and Kennedy the VP, suddenly thrust into the role, I highly doubt that Kennedy would have done as well.  Don't forget that they had been opponents at the Democratic Convention.  This was long before the big primary system got started.  Presidents were chosen over deals and there was real suspense during the convention voting.

It was all so long ago...

10 comments:

Keli Ata said...

I was born only a couple of years old when this happened but my mother always talked about how much she cried watching the funeral, thinking of JFK's small children John and Caroline.

As a teen and now adult I have trouble thinking about the grisly aspects of the assassination.

Batya said...

We saw this on black and white tv screens.
His son never really knew him and suffered his own sad end.

Anonymous said...

I remember the news.

I remember watching the funeral on TV.

I especially remember the riderless horse.

I remember the bulletin on TV when Oswald was gunned down by Ruby.

I remember flags at half mast.

I remember school being closed for a day. :)

rickismom said...

I was in sixth grade. And it was a grey and rainy day to boot.
My older brother recently said to his colledge students, "Just like you'll always remember where you were when JFK died..." and suddenly realized from their blank stares, that they hadn't been born.....

Keli Ata said...

Now that I've read this post and the comments I couldn't help but remember that song "Abraham, Martin, and John."

I do remember this song from the late 60s as a kid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfWNnw_0Isg

Batya said...

I remember the black mantilla (lace veil) Jackie wore to the funeral and her shocked stricken face.

Thanks for sharing your memories.

Anonymous said...

And her blood-stained pink suit, when LBJ was sworn in on Air Force One, as it was parked on the runway.

Here's some history overkill.

Batya said...

yellow suit, I'm pretty sure

Anonymous said...

Nope. Follow the link I gave you above.

This is the yellow suit, worn to France.

You most probably suffered from too much B&W TV and not enough Life Magazine exposure. :)

Batya said...

no doubt
I stand corrected. Thanks