10 Things You Should Know About The JFK Assassination

On November 22nd of 1963, a massive historic event took place- one that would change politics forever. It was exactly 12:30 pm on that day when President John. F. Kennedy was fatally shot in the head. This event decidedly changed the course of politics and American culture and had a significant impact on Americans. By now, most people know the basics about what took place that day during the routine Dallas campaign visit. John. F. Kennedy was in a motorcade driving by Dealey Plaza when the shots were fired. Just as the motorcade drove by the Texas School Book Depository

, the assassination took place and shocked everyone in sight. The street was chock full of people and President Kennedy’s wife; Jackie Kennedy was seated right next to her husband as he was shot. These are the facts that stick with people. These are the facts that schoolchildren learn and that everyone seems to know off the top of their head about the JFK assassination.

The generation of Americans who were alive when this historic assassination took place tends to remember exactly where they were when it happened. It was one of those big world events that shock people to their core and shakes the nation. It’s something that Americans and people of other nationalities remember alike. However, there are many things about the Kennedy assassination that aren’t common knowledge. There are a handful of facts that have been easily forgotten or rarely releases about this significant moment in American history. Let’s take a look at some of these intriguing facts that everyone should know about JFK’s assassination.

 

10Who Committed the Assassination?

Lee Harvey Oswald was responsible for John F. Kennedy’s Assassination and it was proved

9What Became of Lee Harvey Oswald?

Lee Harvey Oswald was declared dead in the very same hospital that his victim, John F. Kennedy, had been declared dead in

8JFK Wasn’t the Only One Shot That Day

John F. Kennedy reported that there were more than one shooter and more than one bullet when he got attacked.

7Who Became President After the Assassination?

Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th President of the United States after JFK’s death

6What Happened at JFK’s Funeral?

After all of the funeral ceremonies, JFK was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

November 25th was declared a national day of mourning for the death of John F. Kennedy. However, the official funeral began on the 22nd and lasted a full three days. Immediately following the assassination, JFK’s body was flown back to Washington and kept in the White House for three days. Afterward, the coffin was brought to the Capitol where hundreds of thousands of people lined up to catch a glimpse. The crowds were so massive that many ended up being turned away, even after waiting for days in the cold.

Jackie Kennedy is said to have modeled her husband’s funeral after the funeral of another great American president- Abraham Lincoln. The funeral, at the time, was the largest gathering of its kind- over 250,000 people were able to pay their respects with thousands of others turned away. Jackie Kennedy insisted on keeping the casket closed due to the head injury that JFK had suffered. The nation watched as Jackie and her two children led the mourning procession courageously. Many foreign dignitaries even flew in to pay their respects to the assassinated president. The Soviet First Deputy Premier, French President, Canadian Prime Minister, Irish President, and British President were just a few of the notable arrivals. Many members of royal families around the world attended as well, and security officials expressed their concerns about the number of world leaders to protect in the same place at the same time. After all of the funeral ceremonies, JFK was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. After her death, Jackie Kennedy was buried right next to her husband in the same cemetery.

 

5Did Lee Harvey Oswald Really Act Alone?

Lee Harvey Oswald wasn’t the only shooter, but there has never been another suspect or any concrete evidence

Several investigations into the assassination of JFK took place after the event. The official investigations included one by the Dallas Police, an FBI investigation, the Warren Commission, the Ramsey Clark Panel, the Rockefeller Commission, the Church Commission, the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations, and the JFK Act and Assassination Records Review, Board. Although all official stories state that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination, there has been significant doubt about that conclusion. People initially believed in the story, but the percentages of Americans who thought Oswald acted alone dropped every year after the event. Most of the concerns about the Warren Commission were based upon a large number of conflicting witness testimonies. Not to mention, the film of the assassination didn’t fully support the Commission’s conclusions.

‘The criticisms were the reason that so many investigations took place. People wanted to be sure that another shooter was not still at large and that the shooting was not part of a larger conspiracy or attack. The second committee, the US House Select Committee, concluded that there had in fact been a second shooter who had missed altogether. Even with the back and forth between investigations, the public was still concerned that there was a conspiracy at play to cover up what had really happened. Some people still believe today that Lee Harvey Oswald wasn’t the only shooter, but there has never been another suspect or any concrete evidence to point to that conclusion. Most experts and investigators agree that there was a single shooter.

 

4Jackie Kennedy Wasn’t Supposed to Be There

Jackie was clutching her husband’s body, draping over him even after the shots had been fired

The fact that Jackie Kennedy was alongside her husband on the day of his assassination was an unlikely event. The First Lady rarely traveled with her husband, and her decision to join him in Texas was a last-minute choice. Years later, her packing list for the trip was revealed, showing a solemn reminder of her tragic and unexpected loss. Jackie Kennedy wasn’t really one for politics, and the decision to go to Texas came right on the heels of the tragic loss of her infant son. One of the most tragic and personal aspects of the assassination was the absolute despair and sadness that the First Lady had to go through. Photos and witnesses from November 22nd recall Jackie clutching her husband’s body, draped over him even after the shots had been fired.

It was a traumatic event for everyone in the area, but Jackie Kennedy surely had the worst part to play. The wife of Lyndon B. Johnson later described the ride to the hospital, saying that she remembered a “bundle of pink, just like a drift of blossoms, lying over the back seat.” This was Jackie, lying over her husband’s body in her last moments with him. Although the doctors did what they could, nobody could deny the fact that the President had died almost immediately. Jackie kneeled in the pools of blood to pray, but it wasn’t long before the doctors ceased their movements and declared the President dead. As long as she possibly could, Jackie stayed at JFK’s side, lucky that she had chosen to come to Texas at all and had at least gotten to spend his last moments there with him.

 

3JFK’s Assassination Was the First Since the Advent of the Secret Service

JFK’s Assassination was caused when the Secret Service agent exemplified his job description perfectly when he jumped into action

2Jackie Kennedy’s Suit Was Never Cleaned

Jackie’s suit was carefully put away after the assassination and still remains in a secret location

1The Assassination Was Caught On Tape

People began documenting more and more events related to Assassination and these events are still saved
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Melvin is a freelance writer with over 10 years of experience. He crafts pithy, entertaining, fact filled posts with gusto. And when he's not writing he enjoys surfing, scuba-diving, and sailing. List Land gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post. List Land also generates revenue through sponsored or paid posts. Thanks for reading, please support our sponsors.