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Post by bunkerfan on Nov 22, 2013 21:13:30 GMT
As the world remembers the dreadful event fifty years ago today, I'm amazed by how clear my memory of that night remains. I was at my friends house when the news of President Kennedy's assassination was broadcast and it's still very fresh in my mind. I remember my brother coming home from the Cinema saying that a message came on the screen half way through the movie with the news that President Kennedy had been shot. Where were you when President Kennedy was assassinated?
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Post by steelmonkey on Nov 22, 2013 23:58:51 GMT
I was in first grade at Palmer Elementary School in Denver...coming back from recess ( one hour earlier than Dallas Time) we found our teacher, Mrs Stewart, crying, who told us the president was shot and sent us home. At home I found my parents distressed,sad for the loss of the popular young president they voted for ( he was 'good for the Jews'...Nixon, an obvious schmuck). The funeral on TV was poignant because his kids were the exact age as me and my little sister...me Caroline, her John-John. The rest of the fall, my little sister and I played a game in the backyard, solemnly transporting dried sunflower stalks from garden to incinerator....'burying President Kennedy'.
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tullist
Master Craftsman
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Post by tullist on Nov 23, 2013 2:11:07 GMT
I was at an ALL NUDE REVIEW in the south Chicago loop on State St. Actually I was in the second grade, grey rainy November day in Chicago, got sent home after lunch. I do recall during the funeral was one of only two times I have seen my Father cry, right when the Naval hymn was playing and they were carrying the casket up the Capitol steps. This was a man worth crying over. I know there are a million and one books on various aspects of the Kennedy's, but trust me, I am doing you a favor by recommending this one. So well researched and particularly as regards the Cuban Missile Crisis. Basically thank 3 men for sparing the lives of about 120 million people, JFK, RFK and Nikita Kruschev. Meanwhile both the Soviet Military and our own military Cheifs of Staff were discussing the plausibility of losing this or that city. Incredible pressure from both those mighty powers that saw a very potential military coup here in the USA, and whatever they did to leaders in the Soviet Union that they were not happy with. So much extraordinary stuff in there, deathbed admissions from former adversaries, the most galling stuff imaginable about J Edgar Hoover. Such a travesty that the FBI building bears that man's name. I would not bother everybody, but this is a GREAT book, about 2 very great brothers, absolutely revealing their flaws too. For one I full well know JFK's election was no more righteous than Bush jr's, without the intercession of the Chicago mob it likely would not have occured. As to his killerS I suspect our most skilled operators from some elite branch of our military, where Kennedy had MANY enemies. The coverage of his intent for Vietnam withdrawl is absolutely gripping. And he way dug clean jazz music, and of course way fine women, though he intensely loved his wife. Even coverage of his main concubine who turned him on to LSD, and this is documented folks, they joked while tripping that it would be funny if Kruschev called then. Yes I know it was years before the world knowing about acid, but that doesn't mean it didn't exist. This was a highly educated and beautiful blonde woman who was executed under still uncovered means in Central Park in early 1964, almost undoubtedly for what she knew. A morbid but somehow beautiful picture of her in there in black and white with the blood stained snow beside her. And always beware of people with their revisionist history, believe if JFK were around now, the right wing would truly have cause for their usual talks of impeachment, nothing has changed in that regard in 50 years. We always gotta drag this sack of stupid around with us, usually found in the former States of the Confederacy. And I mean dangerous and violent stupid. www.amazon.com/Brothers-Hidden-History-Kennedy-Years/dp/0743269195
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Post by nonrabbit on Nov 23, 2013 7:40:04 GMT
I remember snatches of that day - sitting on the carpet watching the black and white pictures and my Mum and Gran saying constantly "That's terrible" "That's awful"
The headlines on the newspaper and as I look back it seemed such a short time till the picture on the newspaper of Bobby hiding next to a fridge as he was shot as well. Two pictures that I'll never forget JFK in the car with Jackie and his brother's subsequent assassination.
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Post by maddogfagin on Nov 23, 2013 9:50:35 GMT
I was with some friends at one of their houses. I remember Radio Luxembourg playing solemn music and walking back home at some stage with everything being quiet as if everyone was in a state of shock and not daring to venture out.
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Post by nonrabbit on Nov 23, 2013 16:08:54 GMT
John Kennedy’s first ever public speech was in Central (railway) Station, Glasgow -a fact that I found out only recently. Aged only seventeen he was addressing the survivors of an American battleship - which sunk off the coast of Ireland. His father, Joseph was the US ambassador to Britain. In September 1939 the Athenia was sunk by a U boat and Joseph Kennedy came over to meet the crew survivors. JFK was at Harvard and accompanied him on the trip. They stayed in the Central Hotel which is part of the station and for whatever reasons; John made the speech at the Station. I think Joseph wanted to promote his son to run for presidency, not his first choice though that would have been his first born, also called Joseph however unfortunately he was killed in the war. Here is a pic of John meeting Glasgow's Lord Provost on the day. Newspaper pic of the day and meeting people; Joseph Kennedy was a bit of a controversial figure over here and as we don’t really do politics on the JT Forum – I’ll leave it there however for interest and historical reasons here’s a great British Pathe film clip of him receiving the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh award at the Usher Hall in 1939. www.britishpathe.com/video/freedom-of-edinburgh-for-joseph-p-kennedy/query/Kennedy
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tullist
Master Craftsman
Posts: 478
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Post by tullist on Nov 23, 2013 16:33:38 GMT
John Kennedy’s first ever public speech was in Central (railway) Station, Glasgow -a fact that I found out only recently. Aged only seventeen he was addressing the survivors of an American battleship - which sunk off the coast of Ireland. His father, Joseph was the US ambassador to Britain. In September 1939 the Athenia was sunk by a U boat and Joseph Kennedy came over to meet the crew survivors. JFK was at Harvard and accompanied him on the trip. They stayed in the Central Hotel which is part of the station and for whatever reasons; John made the speech at the Station. I think Joseph wanted to promote his son to run for presidency, not his first choice though that would have been his first born, also called Joseph however unfortunately he was killed in the war. Here is a pic of John meeting Glasgow's Lord Provost on the day. Newspaper pic of the day and meeting people; emancipator to my estimation. While I know it was a widely held opinion at the Joseph Kennedy was a bit of a controversial figure over here and as we don’t really do politics on the JT Forum – I’ll leave it there however for interest and historical reasons here’s a great British Pathe film clip of him receiving the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh award in 1939. www.britishpathe.com/video/freedom-of-edinburgh-for-joseph-p-kennedy/query/KennedyAs you probably know more than a little controversial here, basically a more "from the manor born" version of Al Capone. While he imported than Canadian whiskey with less bloodshed than Capone, I believe I am correct in saying that is where the Kennedy fortune was built. And it was his intent that his son Joe be President, an all consuming intent. Blown out of the sky, if memory serves, that did not happen, next young man up....John. And as I think he mentioned earlier, thru his Dad's efforts shortly before the onset of dementia, in large part his connections with the Chicago mob, and Chicago vote rigging thru his Irish friend Mayor Daley's machine, the slim margin of victory was gained. I will give that. I will merely state to my estimation a man of greater vision, style, balance and courage in the face of great danger has never occupied the office. In that respect an American royalty rightfully gained. Most over rated? The great emancipator to my estimation. While I know it was a widely held opinion at the time this man still considered people of African descent to be of inferior mental capacity, even after meeting the likes of Frederick Douglas who he must have noticed was at the very least his equal both intellectually and in public speaking. The truly enlightened of that time were the abolitionists, usually in the northeast. When I say vision that is part of what I am talking about, trusting your gut and the truth to go against the status quo, even if it endangers your life. Most under rated? Ulysses S Grant a truly, by comparison, enlightened man, even setting aside his responsibility to bring the South to its knees and all the things he saw that no one should see. A very intelligent man who's Presidency is worth reading about. But JFK distilled for me is something I would all but never say of a politician and that is...I love you. btw, in the second of those pics if I don't miss my mark that is not JFK at all...its RFK. being young maybe there were facial developments but otherwise that is Bobby. Got to see Bobby in 66 in the Senate. I can sense your envy from here, lol. Or your yawn. Sure are some unusual bullet holes in the wall at his execution, re ones Sirhan could not possibly have shot. An equally horrible all too memorable day. Never has a major operative to my understanding fought a more noble fight as Attorney General, against the internal evil that was J Edgar Hoover. And his bravery on the night MLK was murdered, walking out and improvising a speech to an all black congregation in Indianapolis, saw that city to be just about the only one in America not burning that night. Still cannot watch that speech without crying for what we lost. (Though the prior night MLK made the greatest speech I have ever heard from anyone, the mountaintop speech, virtually announcing his inpending demise) Somehow I believe this is not something that would have been in the reach of Nixon, Reagan, either Bush....or anybody else for that damn matter.
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