John F. Kennedy, a former US Senator from Massachusetts, was elected the 35th President of the United States alongside Vice President Lyndon. B Johnson. In his first term as President, Kennedy saw the height of the Cold War, countered foreign policy and communism, and de-escalated the Cuban Missile Crisis. After four successful years in office, Kennedy began preparing for his second presidential campaign in the fall of 1963.
Throughout the next several weeks, JFK traveled the United States and attended political planning sessions and Democratic gatherings. During that time, tension had been building among the Democratic party in Texas. JFK made plans to speak in Texas to unite political leaders and as a result, win the majority of votes from the state. Kennedy also viewed this visit as an informal launch of his reelection campaign.
Kennedy arrived in Texas on the morning of November 22, 1963. Upon arrival, Kennedy was greeted by thousands of well-wishers and spent several minutes shaking hands. JFK and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, were then whisked away to an open convertible which they shared with Texas Governor John Connally and his wife. The convertible left the airport and traveled through downtown Dallas to where the President was scheduled to speak at a luncheon later that day. However, the President never made it to that luncheon.
As the convertible was passing by the Texas School Book Depository in the plaza, gunfire erupted. Bullets struck the President’s neck and head and he slumped over towards Mrs. Kennedy. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but unfortunately, little could be done to save him due to the extent of his injuries. Police later arrested Lee Harvey Oswald, an employee at the Texas School Book Depository, for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
On that fateful day in 1963, JFK became the fourth US president to be assassinated while in office. In the weeks following his death, controversy troubled the nation. Panic ensued throughout the country and many conspiracy theories from the public were widely spread. For instance, many believed that the shooting was a disguised mob hit as the Kennedys were no stranger to organized crime. Other conspiracies dabbled in government involvement and accomplices to Lee Harvey Oswald. JFK’s assassination continues to fascinate future generations and is the subject of many films, books, and historical documentaries.
Why do you think JFK's story continues to fascinate people nearly 60 years later?
Do you think Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone?
How would America be different had JFK not been assassinated?
Wikipedia - JFK Assassination Timeline
Town&Countrymag.com - JFK Conspiracy
Replies
Great topic choice and well done Carly! I would like to see your thoughts within your summary. Also, it's hard to do this topic justice in half a page but you did a pretty good job doing so.
I believe that this story fascinates people because of how JFK died. I feel Lee Harvey Oswald could have had some help, but I',m not fully sure. I feel like it would have made difference back then if he wasn't shot, but I'm not sure about now.
Good point, I definitely think it changed the nation at the time, but I doubt it still affects us as much today.
I personally believe that JFK's story still facinates people because there are so many different view points of the situation. I think that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone becuase that is what was proven. There is no way to say the change of events that would have happened if JFK was never assassinated but it definetly could've been changed for the better or worse.
I think the JFK's story contiues to fascinate people is because their are many theories that he was not actuly assasinated and there are many things that are unknown. I think that it is most likely that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
i dont think america would change that much, i think that Lee Harvey Oswald did act alone becuase didnt the shots came from the same area, the story of it is pretty interesting because it was just like a normal day, and later in the day you saw that the president died or got killed
I think that people are still fascinated by this story because there are still so many unanswered questions and conspiracies. I think that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone because none of the investigations showed otherwise. It's really hard to tell how American would be different if he wasn't assassinated.
JFK's story still fascinates people because he was a well-liked president of the United States. I think Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone when he killed JFK. There is no way to tell how different things would be if JFK were not assassinated.
I completely agree. We know that JFK had big plans for his second term, but it is hard to tell if those plans would've had a lasting effect that we recognize today.
I think the story is still remebered because people are drawn to certainty but there is still a lot of unasnswered questions about this. I think that Oswald acted alone becuase America's sophisticated investigations would have enventually found more evidence if there was. JFK would not be remebered as much by Americans if he had not been assassinated.
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