Kennedy Assassination And The American Public example essay topic

The assassination of a president is something that the United States has had to face only four times in its history. Two of these senseless killings are the ones most embedded in American's memories and history. The first one, the assassination of Lincoln, occurred in a time when the United States was embroiled in a tumultuous disagreement on the issue of slavery. The other assassination and the one Americans have vivid memories of, occurred on November 22, 1963.

The day that lives in infamy, the day a youthful, healthy, and vibrant President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was shot and killed during a trip to Dallas. His death left the public in great turmoil, wondering how this tragedy could happen in our country to a man who seemingly had everything going his way. As the news broke on that long day, Americans reacted differently. Most were shocked and confused, they did not know how and or if they should go about their business as they watched and read about the unfolding events. People felt so deeply for the President, everyone, even those who did not vote for him, were inwardly shattered, people felt for his children and his wife.

Disbelieving that this could happen, wondering about a possible motive and questioning what this would mean for the country had the public reeling. Despite the sheer magnitude of the tragic event, the country united. The United States Public relied on each other, religion, the press, and even Jacqueline herself, the country was able to withstand this great hardship. Kennedy was in Texas to raise money for his upcoming campaign, a routine trip as far as presidential trips go.

Kennedy had already been to Fort Worth, and was planning on spending the day in Dallas. He was appearing in a parade with the governor and because it was a nice day, the two politicians had chosen to leave the bulletproof top down so the public could get a better view of the President. He was a man that still had much to accomplish, both politically and personally. As soon as the news broke that the President was dead, memorials began popping up all over the country.

People wanted to be able to share their grief with one another. Many brought flowers, balloons, even letters to the family, to numerous sites across the nation. This form of grieving gave people an outlet, a chance to talk to each other, to be there, and support one another. Every citizen was going through the same thing, the leader of their country had been in explicitly taken, and there was nothing they could do to change this tragedy. The public felt helpless and unprepared. When surveyed 62% of people replied that they could not remember a time when they had the same sort of feelings as when they heard of the assassination.

"This calamity is not unprecedented in the country's life, but no precedent can prepare the public mind for this sort of disaster". Those who later wrote about observing the public's reaction said people walked around in a total daze, unsure which direction to turn and what to say to make the hurt go away. "People are standing around in the halls as if they were mutes". The question on most people's minds was how could this happen in our country? Certainly this was a valid question. At that time people didn't go around shooting presidents, at least not in the United States.

For their era, these people were faced with something that hadn't happened in their lifetime. Presidential security wasn't near as stringent, tight and indefatigable as it is now. Since people were so confused, they would stop and talk to complete strangers just so they would have someone to share their feelings with, to reassure themselves that they were all going through this national mourning and bereavement. During a time of grief people turn to each other for support and reassurance. The country turned to each other, to help themselves through this difficult time.

Other people came together because they wanted to pray. People didn't know where else to turn, they felt that God may have the answer; perhaps he could provide the compass that seemed to be out of line as November 22nd unfolded. Upon hearing that the President had been shot and just before the senate took a recess, Sen. Wayne Morse said, "If ever there was an hour when all Americans should pray, this was the hour". This comment is also directed at pulling the country together. Not everyone has the same religion or beliefs, but is this time of tragedy people were praying for the same thing. President Kennedy had always been a religious man, a devout Catholic.

In a time when Kennedy was the first Catholic elected President, he had never tried to hide his religion or beliefs and very often allowed them to help guide him in the decisions he made. It would seem that the country turned to religion because the leader that many had loved so much, had also turned to religion during tough times. The younger generation turned on the television for visual confirmation of the news they were hearing. People have a tendency to trust what they see with their own eyes, and watching the constant replaying of news clips of the motorcade confirmed the incomprehensible event. This was the only way they could feel comfortable in believing the President was mortally wounded.

"I don't know how you could beat watching it and drawing your own conclusions. You couldn't possibly in print describe more thoroughly to me what I saw... I don't think anyone could give me the same mental picture as having seen it". The television also gave comfort to many viewers because they could watch the shift of power from Kennedy to Johnson as the new president was sworn in, with Jacqueline, the young widow, standing stoically by and witnessing the event. The nation could see that despite this great tragedy, the government would continue to function as outlined by its forefathers.

While some focused on television, many others went straight to the newspaper offices. In this day and age, people had traditionally relied on newspapers. Television was still fairly new and some people didn't believe things until they read them in black and white with their own eyes. While volumes of people had initially watched on television or perhaps heard second hand through a friend or coworker that President Kennedy had been killed, they needed to read it for themselves. A reporter said that the line outside the newspaper office was huge, numerous people would get to the front of the line; buy the Extra, only then to return immediately to the back of the line to wait for the next edition, with updated facts.

Newspapers ran Extras to include all the news and details on the Kennedy assassination and the following days of the new administration. These Extras included facts on the day in Dallas, and also articles looking back on everything that Kennedy had accomplished in his life. The articles helped illustrate to the American public and the world what a great leader we had lost. An article four pages long, chronologically highlighting Kennedy's accomplishments, was a lot to read, but it allowed people to remember and understand why they were grieving.

The man they had lost was a great asset to the country; he had accomplished so much, yet he was only just getting started in achieving his goals. Pictures were also big features in the Extras. Just like people watching television, the public wanted to be able to see with their own eyes. There were frequent pictures of Kennedy looking strong and in control, they way he had presided over the country.

There were also pictures of Kennedy with his family and children, revealing that he had a softer side, he could run a country yet still care deeply for his wife and two children. Pictures of Johnson being sworn in as President were also published to give the country the calming feeling that someone was in control and that despite the untimely death of President Kennedy, the country and its citizens would carry on. Some papers included pictures of distraught citizens, allowing everyone to relate to their fellow citizens and seeing for themselves that others were sharing and experiencing some of the same emotions and feelings emanated in the pictures. The young widow of the President, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, was also looked to for support and foundation for the nation. She was in the motorcade with the President and cradled him in her arms as he was raced to the hospital following the shooting. Following his death, she then went straight to Air Force One and still wearing her blood stained suit, looked on as Johnson was sworn in as the new President.

Jacqueline had the welfare and reaction of her two young children to think about, and as the official days of mourning ensued and President Kennedy was laid to rest, no one will forget the image of a very small boy saluting as his father's casket passed by. Throughout the days and months to follow, Jacqueline held her head high, performing her duties and providing a model of decorum and dignity for all to emulate. Women looked up to her; as a young widow she had lost the most, yet she was able to be strong for her children, her family, the country and even for herself. Throughout the days following the Kennedy assassination, people looked in different directions and various modems for the support needed to get through this difficult time in our nation's history. Similar to when one experiences a personal tragedy, people react in a multitude of ways.

In a country with such a varied multi-generational populace, people were bound to react in numerous ways in an attempt to understand and deal with the events. The public turned to each other, religion, the press, be it television or newspapers and last, but not least, the actions of a young widow. The methods of coping varied as everyone experienced the loss of a President, a great man and leader of our country. Greenberg, Bradly, The Kennedy Assassination and the American Public (California, Stanford University Press, 1965), 156 Greenberg, Bradley, The Kennedy Assassination and the American Public (California, Stanford University Press, 1965), 183 "Our President is Dead", The Washington Post, 22 November 1963 "City Erupts in Grief At President's Death", New York Times, 22 November 1963 Greenberg, Bradley, The Kennedy Assassination and the American Public (California, Stanford University Press, 1965), 184 Greenberg, Bradley, The Kennedy Assassination and the American Public (California, Stanford University Press, 1965), 183 "President's Brother Presiding as News Suns Senate Chamber", New York Times, 22 November 1963 Bradley S. Greenberg, The Kennedy Assassination and the American Public (California, Stanford University Press, 1965), 135. "Highlights in life and Presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy", Los Angeles Times, 23 November 1963 Bradley S. Greenberg et al., The Kennedy Assassination and the American Public (California, Stanford University Press, 1965), 31.