This past weekend, my husband and I visited Dealey Plaza in Dallas. I have included a few of the pictures we took. I had always wanted to visit this site, so I was very excited to see it in person. After watching the Zapruder film, along with many different documentaries, I had an idea of what to expect. However, I was so surprised by how small everything appeared. The distance between the Texas School Book Depository building and the spot that JFK was assassinated was surprisingly short. Also, the grassy knoll fence area was a lot closer to the road than I expected.
After watching the haunting Zapruder film so many times, I think I was desensitized to the horror of the event. Chris actually stood in the same spot as Zapruder and took some video of cars going by. Standing there, we could just feel the shock and grief that the nation must have experienced.
This week I'm listing thirteen facts relating to John F. Kennedy and/or his assassination in 1963.
1. The 1961 Lincoln Continental, open-top, modified limousine in which JFK was riding is currently at the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn Michigan.
2. The motorcade route appeared in the newspaper on November 21st, the day before the shooting.
3. The Warren Commission released their report on September 24, 1964.
4. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) sells microfilm copies of the Warren Commission Report. It can also be viewed at US Government depository libraries throughout the US.
5. The Zapruder family created an enhanced version of the film that is much clearer than the original film in NARA's custody. The copyright of the Zapruder film is owned by the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas Texas.
6. Almost thirty years after the assassination, Congress enacted the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. The Act mandated that all assassination-related material be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
7. It was planned that Kennedy would travel from the airport in a motorcade through downtown Dallas (which included Dealey Plaza) to give a speech at the Dallas Trade Mart.
8. Even though I have bought into the conspiracy theories in the past, there really is overwhelming evidence to prove that Oswald did it.
9. Vice President Johnson took the oath of office at 2:38 p.m. while on board Air Force One, just before it departed Love Field.
10. JFK's funeral was held on November 25, 1963, which was his son's third birthday.
11. The Kennedy family had just experienced the tragic loss of a son in August of 1963. Their son, named Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, was born prematurely and died of what is now called Pulmonary Distress Syndrome.
12. In 2002, it was released that President Kennedy suffered from Addison's Disease, which is adrenal insufficiency. Apparently, he was in quite a bit of pain throughout his life.
13. My favorite quote from his Jan. 20, 1961 Inaugural Address: "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
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Very informative TT. I didn't know many of these facts. I esp. found #s 10, 11, and 12 interesting. It's funny how places/sites are so much smaller when you see them in person.
Posted by: Malcolm | January 02, 2008 at 02:10 PM
You might not believe this, but I visited the exact Museum last Sunday. I live in the area and I had a visitor for the holidays. This was the last place we visited. Boy was it moving! I will post about it on a later date. Happy TT.
Posted by: pjazzypar | January 02, 2008 at 02:11 PM
You might not believe this, but I visited the exact Museum last Sunday. I live in the area and I had a visitor for the holidays. This was the last place we visited. Boy was it moving! I will post about it on a later date. Happy TT.
Posted by: pjazzypar | January 02, 2008 at 02:12 PM
You might not believe this, but I visited the exact Museum last Sunday. I live in the area and I had a visitor for the holidays. This was the last place we visited. Boy was it moving! I will post about it on a later date. Happy TT.
Posted by: pjazzypar | January 02, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Excellent list.
SJ Reidhead
The Pink Flamingo
Posted by: SJ Reidhead | January 02, 2008 at 02:14 PM
What an interesting list.
Posted by: Natalie | January 02, 2008 at 02:20 PM
I visited the book depository etc. for the first time a couple years ago. What an eerie and emotional experience it was for me. I can still remember exactly where I was when I heard the President was assasinated. 8th grade science class! Interesting TT!
Posted by: ellen b | January 02, 2008 at 02:30 PM
I can read this stuff for hours. It is so fascinating. All of that tragedy in just one family?! And all the coincidences -- just amazing.
Posted by: susiej | January 02, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Thanks for this important reminder about that time in history. It's a blessing to be so unimportant! Happy New Year.
Posted by: SandyCarlson | January 02, 2008 at 02:38 PM
I also have visited this site. It IS much smaller than you imagine. I remeber the day that JFK was shot. We were all sent home from school and everything closed. I also remember watching the funeral procession on tv...it was very moving. Thanks for the info and pictures they were great!
Posted by: greatfullivin | January 02, 2008 at 02:47 PM
That was very interesting. It seems that those were much more innocent times, that the route of the motorcade would be publicized the day before, and that the president would ride in an open car.
Posted by: Nicholas | January 02, 2008 at 02:54 PM
I just can't buy the idea that Oswald acted alone and there was only one bullet. I've been working with a police department for 8 years now and in the recorded history of crime, never has a single bullet taken such a haphazard journey as that one supposedly did.
Posted by: JC Wilder | January 02, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Wow, pretty early on your TT this week! Happy New Year!! :-)
Posted by: Frigga | January 02, 2008 at 03:31 PM
I read a bio on JFK, and it talked about the disease he had. It (in the book) that he was told that he probably wouldn't live very long, and he knew that if he didn't become President the year he did, that he never would have the chance. After he became president, he was told he might not make it to the end of his 1st term.
Very good facts. Very good. :) :)
Posted by: Morgan | January 02, 2008 at 04:50 PM
What an informative TT!!!! Happy New Year!!!!
blessings
Posted by: No nonsense girl | January 02, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Great list there are somethings I never knew about JFK or the day he died kind of makes you wonder how the world would have been differnt had he not been killed
Posted by: Rae | January 02, 2008 at 05:09 PM
I can't look at that film...I was old enough to remember when this happened.
Posted by: Janet | January 02, 2008 at 05:47 PM
so, who do you think did it?
Posted by: armywife | January 02, 2008 at 05:56 PM
My husband and I visited the museum a couple years ago when we lived in the area. It is a must see if anyone is in the area.
Posted by: Courtney | January 02, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Wow, great stuff. Thanks for sharing and I loved the pics. Happy TT.
Posted by: Lori | January 02, 2008 at 06:51 PM
Always interesting to learn about history on TT13. I would expect it the site to be larger also.
Posted by: Jenny McB | January 02, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Wow! I had no idea that it was so close to the road... how eerie! Happy TT!
Posted by: Yuriko | January 02, 2008 at 08:33 PM
I remember when it happened (I was very young, but more or less sentient).
I had seen a documentary where some hired hit man in Marseille apparently confessed....and I always thought that was a perfectly credible theory, all things considered (?) I never believed in the guilt of poor little Oswald----even at the age of 5 his appeals for help seemed credible to me.
Posted by: Damozel | January 02, 2008 at 08:34 PM
That's one of my favorite quotes too. WE've driven around there multiple times while in Dallas, but never visited. Maybe when the kids are older.
Great TT!
Posted by: rachel | January 02, 2008 at 09:55 PM
Still sad to think about. I Linked to you from 13 Political Reasons the Chicken Crossed the Road - http://plancksconstant.org/blog1/2008/01/13_political_reasons_the_chicken_crossed_the_road.html
Posted by: planck's constant | January 02, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I've been to the 6th Floor Museum which is very nice and walked by the spot where JFK was killed. It is a very strange feeling to be there. I was just about to turn 8 when he was killed and was at my friend's birthday party when we heard the news. You took some great photos -- it really is a very beautiful area in Dallas.
Great TT and happy 2008
Posted by: Lara | January 02, 2008 at 11:30 PM
I like your TT! And I love that quote too:)
My Thursday 13 is up as well! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Yen | January 03, 2008 at 01:23 AM
great list!
happy tt!
and...happy new year!
Posted by: melissa | January 03, 2008 at 05:26 AM
Excellent post, mamapj! Can't ever get tired of JFK... :)
Posted by: maryt/theteach | January 03, 2008 at 06:30 AM
Very interesting stuff. I wonder if we will ever know the truth?
Posted by: HG | January 03, 2008 at 07:39 AM
I've never been there, but amazing how it pulls... Does it feel sacred? Or normal?
Posted by: Gracie (From Blushing Ladies) | January 03, 2008 at 07:41 AM
Great list, I too really enjoyed my visit to Dealy Plaza. I felt such a sense of awe and weirdness there. Wish the truth would come out one of these days, but I won't hold my breath.
Posted by: Chris | January 03, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Thanks for all the information. I learned many new things about JFK today!
Posted by: Katie | January 03, 2008 at 09:29 AM
That sounds like an interesting place to visit! Maybe we'll plan a trip to Texas one day!!!
Happy New Year and thanks for the info - I didn't know a lot about JFK or the assasination
Posted by: Danielle | January 03, 2008 at 11:26 AM
i've always been fascinated by this.
Happy T13!
Blessings,
Karla
Posted by: Karla ~ Looking Towards Heaven | January 03, 2008 at 01:27 PM
This is definitely a place a would like to visit.
http://www.ageorgiaangel.com/blog/?p=191
Posted by: Karen ~Georgia Angel | January 03, 2008 at 02:50 PM
A very interesting and informed list. There is so much conflicting information and "facts", I suppose know one can possibly know exactly what happened. Our country has been riveted by those few minutes ever since though.
Cindi
Posted by: Cindi | January 03, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Interesting place to visit!
Happy 2008!
Posted by: Darla | January 03, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Very nice... and forgive my Mr. Linky. It's a leftover from Works for Me Wednesday at www.rocksinmydryer.typepad.com. EEK!
Posted by: Rebecca | January 03, 2008 at 04:25 PM
How interesting! I had no idea it was a national historic landmark, too.
My TT is about goals this week, but if you're into history, you might enjoy my other website, www.markeroni.com too :)
Happy TT!
Posted by: Linda R. Moore | January 03, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Hi! I love the quote at #13 also.
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Gellianne | January 03, 2008 at 07:46 PM
Incredible TT! I'm so glad you took the energy to share all of that information. I love T13's that make me smarter!
Thanks for keeping an eye on my even though I disappeared for awhile. Happy New Year! Blessings to your family this year.
~Katy
Posted by: Katy | January 03, 2008 at 09:13 PM
This is so intriguing. I'll never forget where I was the day JFK was assassinated -- my Mom was babysitting for our neighbor, who was busy giving birth to her only son. I was 8 years old and remember the newscast as vividly as if it had been last week. It would be very interesting to actually visit the site where it all took place. Great TT.
Posted by: Nancy Bond | January 04, 2008 at 07:45 AM
Dealey Plaza Professionally Surveyed Map Detailing 11-22-63 Precise Victims Locations, Witnesses & Photographers, Suspected Bullet Trajectories, Evidence, and References & Vital Information Collected in One Convenient Location for Your Considerations.....
http://members.aol.com/droberdeau/JFK/DP.jpg
Discovery: The Rosemary Willis Zapruder film Documented 2nd Headsnap: West, Ultrafast, & Directly Towards the Grassy Knoll .....
http://members.aol.com/droberdeau/JFK/ROSEwillisANNOUNCEMENT.html
President Kennedy "Men of Courage: Four Principles" speech, JFK assassination research links, and my witnesses interviews, contributions, and my discoveries for your considerations.....
http://hometown.aol.com/droberdeau/
Posted by: droberdeau | January 05, 2008 at 08:29 AM