Reactions to the assassination of John F. Kennedy
Around the world, there were shocked reactions to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the President of the United States, on Friday, November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.
Taking place during the Cold War, it was at first unclear whether the shooting might be part of a larger attack upon the U.S., and whether Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had been riding two cars behind in the motorcade, was safe.
A journalist reported rejoicing in the streets of Amarillo, with a woman crying out, "Hey, great, JFK's croaked!
[12] Barry Goldwater, the eventual Republican nominee in the 1964 presidential election, considered abandoning his planned campaign after the assassination because of his admiration for Kennedy.
[15] CBS Washington correspondent Roger Mudd summed it up: "It was a death that touched everyone instantly and directly; rare was the person who did not cry that long weekend.
Forty minutes later, as news of Kennedy's death was breaking, it had already plunged 21.16 points (-2.8%), on very heavy trading volume.
[23][24] After Kennedy's assassination, many world leaders expressed shock and sorrow, some going on television and radio to address their nations.
[25][26][27] In countries around the world, state premiers and governors and mayors also issued messages expressing shock over the assassination.
[41][42] In Europe, the assassination tempered Cold War sentiment, as people on both sides expressed shock and sorrow.
[45] News of Kennedy's assassination reached Asia during the early morning hours of November 23, 1963, because of the time difference.
He was a tyrant", causing half of the room, some of whom were Peabody College professors, to leave after they unsuccessfully demanded Ely to provide evidence for his claims.
[57][58] In Biloxi, Mississippi, student Thomas Hansen was thrown across a front glass door, after protesting against banners of celebration of the local section of the John Birch Society, before being hit with ultimately abandoned charges of vandalism.
[59] As written by William Manchester in Death of a President: An Oklahoma City physician beamed at a grief-stricken visitor and said, "Good, I hope they got Jackie."
In a small Connecticut city a doctor called ecstatically across Main Street – to an internist who worshiped Kennedy – "The joy ride's over.
A woman visiting Amarillo, the second most radical city in Texas, was lunching in the restaurant adjacent to her motel when a score of rejoicing students burst in from a high school directly across the street.
It quoted an unnamed audience member, who told a reporter he applauded Malcolm X's remarks "more for the fact that he had the nerve to say it than that I really approved of it".
When Texas A&M heard that the President Kennedy was shot and killed, as a mark of respect, for the first time ever, they called off that year's Bonfire and dismantled the stack that was due to burn.
[66] In many states, governors declared the day of national mourning a legal holiday, allowing banks to close.
The assassination of President Kennedy was the longest uninterrupted news event in the history of American television until the September 11 attacks.
On Sunday night, NBC broadcast continuous live coverage of mourners passing the flag-draped bier in the Capitol rotunda as an estimated 250,000 people filed by.
ET, November 26, the network broadcast a live special post-midnight concert by the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the director, Dr. Howard Mitchell, at Constitution Hall.
[84] The program featured dramatic readings from such actors as Christopher Plummer, Sidney Blackmer, Florence Eldridge, Albert Finney, and Charlton Heston, as well as musical selections performed by such artists as Marian Anderson.
Perhaps the most successful Kennedy tribute song released in the months after his assassination (although later hit songs such as "Abraham, Martin and John" and "We Didn't Start the Fire" also referenced the tragedy) was the controversial "In the Summer of His Years", introduced by British singer Millicent Martin on a special edition of the BBC-TV comedy series That Was the Week That Was, conceived as a somber and respectful tribute to Kennedy.
[88] Other versions of the song were recorded by Toni Arden, Kate Smith, Bobby Rydell, and gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.
[citation needed] The highly successful 1962 comedy album The First Family that parodied the Kennedys was quickly pulled from circulation which remained that way for many years.
[citation needed] Also in Britain, where the publishers of "In the Summer of His Years" refused to allow the song a single release by any British artist, Joe Meek, composer of The Tornado(e)s' hit "Telstar", released an instrumental titled "The Kennedy March" on Decca Records, with royalties marked to be sent to Jacqueline Kennedy for her to donate to charity.
[citation needed] In 1964, songwriter William Spivery penned "Mr. John," which became popular in the midwestern United States.
