span, some live- tv coverage from the day of john of case assassination in 1963. and then two ceremonies honoring the president of the united states. today marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of john f. kennedy. next is some of the nbc live news broadcast. it began with anchors receiving word that the president and

texas the governor had been shot. this is two hours. >> we have a mobile unit on the way to the white house now. the white house does not seem to have anymore information than the reporters on the scene. we are also establishing contact with robert mcneil in dallas. we expect to be getting reports from him very shortly. as you can imagine, extensive efforts are being made to get our men dispensed to the right place of the right timing get as much information as we can. >> thank you, frank. >> we are relaying information as it comes in. obviously, it will be sketchy for some time, because you can imagine what is happening to every circuit of radio and telephone between the east coast and dallas, texas at this moment. obviously, at the moment,

circuits are jammed. here is something else. it was impossible to tell at once where kennedy was hit. but bullet wounds in governor connally's chest were plainly visible, indicating the gunfire might possibly have come from an automatic weapon. >> representative albert thomas, a member of the house of representatives, said he was informed that president kennedy and governor connally are both still alive after having been shot in an assassination attempt. this is from dallas. it is the first word we have that they are, in fact, still alive. it is the first thing definitive that we have. we can only give you as much as we have. it is that both men were wounded by an assailant, or assailants. it is not known who did it, or why. and it was reported from dallas that it was not determined whether the secret service and dallas police returned the gunfire that hit the president and the texas governor. there is no word that the assailant or assailants have been captured.

the focus is understandably on the president and not so much on those who committed this act. >> i have some additional information that would indicate that the secret service men guarding the president had no chance to return fire. this item says reporters about five cars length behind the chief executive heard what sounded like three births of -- bursts of gunfire. the damage was done. the president was slumped over in the backseat of the car face down. and governor connally, after slumping to the left for the moment, lay on the rear of the front seat. >> congressman thomas is outside the corridor in the emergency room in which the president and governor connally are under treatment.

he said he had been told the president was still alive, but "in very critical condition." that from congressman albert thomas, in the hospital in dallas, texas, where the president and governor connally has been taken after an apparent assassination attempt. >> we are expecting momentarily a telephone call. that is why i'm seated with this telephone here from nbc posture -- from nbc's robert mcneil, who was with the president party. we may get more information about what is happening at the moment. perhaps more of these questions will be answered for us at that time. where itms of locating happened, a reporter, jack rao, says the president and governor connally were shot under an underpass leading dallas. says a man and woman were scrambling on the upper level of a walkway, which overlooked the underpass. there is nothing yet to indicate

this man and woman were in any way connected with the attack. they have sent out from parkland hospital a call for top surgical specialists, and also a call for a roman catholic priest. the best information that we have now is that the president is still alive. but a member of congress who was outside the emergency room where the president was treated at parkland hospital in dallas, texas, says he has been told the president is in very critical condition. >> here is an ap reporter asking kenny o'donnell, the presidential assistant, if kennedy were dead. o'donnell gave no answer. kennedy was taken to parkland hospital, near the dallas trademark where he gave a speech. he was transported by ambulance.

he lay on the seat of the car, blood streaming. three shots were fired as the motorcade entered the triple underpass, which leads to the stemmons freeway route to parkland hospital. the motorcade was a top speed to the hospital. it took nearly five minutes to get to the entrance of the hospital. reporters saw the president lying flat on his face in the car. the ap reporter said a man and a woman were scrambling on the upper level of the walkway of the underpass. the presidential aide says he has no information on whether the president is still alive. mrs. kennedy was weeping and trying to hold up her husband had when reporters reached the car. >> it might be pointed out in that last report from dallas, the calling in of surgical specialists, and a priest, that this is routine in a situation like this. if a catholic is in critical condition, the summoning of a

priest does not necessarily mean the own lives or affliction will be terminal, that that this necessarily near. it is merely a precaution. the best indication we have is that both president kennedy and texas governor john connally are still alive. they are receiving treatment in a hospital emergency room in dallas, texas at parkland hospital where the two men were taken after being wounded in an assassination attempt today. the report is that the president is in very critical condition. we have no more than that. you can appreciate that we would not have, because the prime concern of everyone now is to treat the president and the governor for their words and to save their lives if possible. >> you have been so busy bringing the bulletin information to the audience. of course, a great many people are not aware of the earlier details of the story host of radio and television stats have

-- television sets have been going on across the country. tell us what you know come in so far you have those details. >> basically, frank, the president was on this two-day trip making a series of speeches. it was said that one of his missions in texas was to try to coalesce the divergent wings of the democratic party. he had made a speech in fort worth, texas, which is about 25 or 30 miles from dallas. he then moved to dallas and was about to make a speech and was on his way to another site to make a stitch -- a speech in another part of the city. it was a motorcade and was moving with the bubble top of the presidential car down. this may have been a tragic mistake. all we know is that roughly at 12:45 p.m. or so, the shots were fired. >> central standard time?

>> i think it would have been dallas time, yes. it would have been dallas time. within the last 20 minutes or so. the president was headed for another speech and the motorcade was moving along on this freeway, going under a ramp of another freeway when the attack took place. >> here is the information on a speech that he adjusts made before being shot. -- that he had just made before being shot. president kennedy said emma few can confuse rhetoric with reality. -- said very few can confuse rhetoric with reality. affecting barry goldwater's chances for the nomination coming kennedy said ignorance in this information has allowed to prevail handicaps -- >> put mr. mcneil on, please. >> this is robert mcneil, our correspondent that was traveling with the president. >> bob, are you there? >> we are on the air. you take it from the top, bob,

and tell us everything in chronological order. starting with the president condition if you know it. >> frank, you'll have to repeat. we are not hearing. >> bob, we are having difficulties with our communication. the early part of your broadcast did not get on the air. would you go again? yes, please go again, bob. >> they are not getting the other end of the conversation. >> let's do it this way. you speak slowly and i will repeat what you say. this is robert mcneil reporting from dallas. please go ahead, bob. bob is at the hospital in dallas. where the president has been rushed. the president is seriously wounded. this information comes from texas senator rob yarborough, who was with the president.

the shots which wounded the president occurred as the motorcade was running through a huge cross in downtown dallas. the governor of texas, john connally, was also hit. the texas governor was sitting on the far side of the car across from the president. mrs. kennedy, who was seated between them, was not wounded. the shots apparently came from a window in a building overlooking the parade route. about one street back from it, shielded by some trees.

police immediately fanned out around the area and interviewed several witnesses. who said they saw a man with a gun in the window. bob informs me that he was in the motorcade. he says he was able to hear the shots, and as the shots rang out, people lining the streets screened and lay down on the sidewalk and the street. the motorcade immediately speeded up. and took the president straight to the parkland memorial hospital, from which you are speaking now, bob.

and the president was carried in. do you have any information about where and how many times the president was struck? bob does not know how many times, nor where the president was struck. all he knows is that the president was seriously wounded. that is the latest information that they have. another reporter at the scene says he heard four shots. turning to the texas governor, bob, can you tell us how many times or where he may have been hit? i see, bob. and you tell us anything about the man in the window? has he been placed under arrest? the police say he was a white man. there were a lot of negro people around, but the man seen in the window was a white man. what kind of gun was it? was it a rifle? the policeman -- bob heard that

it was a high-powered rifle, but there is no confirmation of that. but put the receiver up and it will function as a speaker. and let bob talk. bob, i'm told that this little thing that i have just attached to the telephone -- bob, could you say a few words for us? are you still there? >> [indiscernible] >> is this being broadcast, what he is saying right now? i realize you are in a terrible position and cannot get information while you're on the phone. do you think it would be better to remain on the phone? >> [indiscernible]

>> yes, bob. this is being broadcast. >> [indiscernible] i have a medical student here and i will chat with him. i will be back in about five minutes. >> that is just fine, bob. >> to interrupt for a moment, we've just gotten this from dallas. president kennedy has been given blood transfusions at parkland hospital in an effort to save his life after he and governor john connally were shot in an assassination attempt. the word is still that the president is in very serious condition.

other reports say he is in critical condition. governor john connally, i think he has been moved, has he not? >> this information, which adds up to something rather inconclusive, it says that the secret service remained in the emergency room and the governor has been moved to the general operating room. one secret service man was overheard telling another that there was no need to move the president because emergency facilities were entirely adequate in the emergency room. that would indicate in a snap judgment evaluation that governor connally was worse wounded than the president. but as i said, that is only a snap judgment evaluation. >> or it could mean that they are separating the two cases so that each could be given full attention. >> the medical student is on the line and says he can't see outside the window. a sizable crowd has gathered outside the hospital. this telephone line is connected to the hospital. what is the name of the hospital?

>> parkland memorial. >> parkland memorial in dallas, texas, where the president has been taken. >> again, to repeat, the president and governor john connally have been wounded. they were both shot as they rode in a motorcade through dallas. each is in serious condition, to the best of our knowledge. but there is no more definitive word than that. we may get some now. we are going to switch to wvaptv in dallas. >> just moments ago, authorities in dallas took a young man into custody. [no audio] >> as you can appreciate, communications facilities, as you just saw, went in and out.

this is a time as what is described as controlled panic. the arrangements for that switch to fort worth were made entirely hastily under conditions of extreme pressure, which is why the picture came and the audio didn't, and when the picture dropped, the audio came in. again, to recap to the best of our knowledge at the moment, both kennedy and texas governor john connally have been wounded by an assassination attempt in dallas, texas. they were moving in a motorcade through the downtown section of the city. nbc's robert mcneil was riding in the motorcade. mrs. kennedy was not injured at all. she was riding in between the two men. a white man was seen with a gun in a building about a block from the car. other reports that he had a high-powered rifle. no indication yet that he is who fired shots -- that the person

who fired shots at the president and governor connally has been found. the president has been given blood transfusions and is in critical condition, but alive. no word yet on how serious his wounds are. once again, we are going to try to return to the local station in dallas and news man, charles murphy. >> no word yet on that the person who fired shots at the president kennedy and governor connally has been apprehended. but moments ago, authorities took a young man into custody. he was near the shooting occurred. the man was neatly dressed. he was only in his 20's. he is protesting vehemently his innocence and says he has innocence -- witnesses to prove his innocence. two catholic priests have been summoned to the emergency room where the president is. a white house spokesman said someone had asked for the

priests, but did not say whom. blood transfusions have been administered to president kennedy and governor connally has been moved to the general operating room. just as the go, authorities took a young man into custody in dallas, but there is no definite word that this is the person who fired the shots at governor connally. and president kennedy. charles murphy in dallas. >> the president has been given transfusions of be positive blood. they are coming for more blood if additional transfusions are needed. the president's wife was escorted by secret service agents into the emergency room where the president is being treated. now for reaction to this tragic story. we go to washington and david brinkley.

>> there is not a great deal as yet, because obviously the news has just got here. it was taken to congress, which of course, recessed immediately to see what has happened. the white house has told us they don't know anymore than we know, and in fact, has been listening to us to see what he could find out. the president's brother, ted kennedy, was on the floor of the senate and was informed by senator mike mansfield. the only word beyond that we have is that senator kennedy did not know at the moma whether he would go to texas or not. beyond that -- did not know at the moment whether he would go to texas or not. beyond that, because most of washington has just found out about it, they are shocked and stunned along with everyone else.

the white house has no more information at the moment than we have. we will stay here, of course, ready to bring you any, at the moment it arrives. in the meantime, we will switch back to you. >> thank you, david. this scene was tangential and hardly important, but it is reported. the stock exchange after the report of the attempt on kennedy's life has closed. we now return to wbap-tv in dallas and news man tom whalen. again, experiencing difficulties. we will make the switch whenever we can. here again is what we know so far. president kennedy has been wounded in an assassination attempt. he is reportedly in serious, critical condition and has been given a blood transfusion and is being treated at parkland memorial hospital in dallas, texas. there are reports in dallas that a young man has been taken into custody, but there are no

indications that he has been charged with anything. he is insisting he had nothing to do with the attempt on the president's life. for late details, we go to news man tom whalen at wbap-tv fort worth. >> this is tom whalen in fort worth. james darnell away in dallas on the scene of the presidential shooting. he has an eyewitness interview with a mrs. gene hill. here is the interview. >> what is your name, ma'am? >> jane hill. >> did you see the shooting? >> yes, sir. pre-k's you describe that now e >> -- >> can you describe that now? >> we were on the street and they were directly across the street from us. just as the president car became dry kleven with us, we took one

look at him and he looked like a doll in the middle of the seat. at that time, two shots rang out. he grabbed his chest and looked like he was in pain and fell over in the seat. jackie fell over on him and said, "my god, he's been shot." after that, more shots rang out. >> what kind of car was that? >> what kind of car wasn't? it was the president car. >> where did the shots come from? >> from the hill, just over the underpass. it was on the south side. >> did you look at where the shot came from? >> yes, sir. >> did you see anyone? >> i thought i saw a man running. i looked at the president for a while and i looked up there and i thought i saw a man running. i just did not have any sense. i started running up there, too. >> what is your name? >> jane hill.

>> what is your address? >> 9402 bluff creek. >> that was an interview i had with mrs. jane hill of dallas a few moments ago. a short time later, authorities took a young man into custody. it is believed that they took a rifle at the same time, described as a 3030 rifle, also supposedly found at the scene. this has not been confirmed. governor connally and president kennedy are in their emergency room. -- in the emergency room. governor connally has been taken to another room in the hospital. a catholic priest was called to the hospital a short time ago and the president's condition is described as very critical. revisited thomas of houston said both men are alive however. this is tom whalen reporting from fort worth, texas, reporting the shooting of president kennedy and governor

connally of texas. stay tuned for further details. >> frank mcgee has reestablished communications with robert mcneil, who was traveling with the president. >> bob, stand by for just a moment as i attach this year bees. then go ahead. please, go ahead, bob. >> drop the box, frank. they have a direct link. >> he's gone. >> and we are not getting it. perhaps we had better go back to the black box. we are not getting it on a direct feed. we may have to return to the black box. >> bob, i'm sorry to interrupt. would you start at the top again?

the last rites of the roman catholic church have been administered to president kennedy. he is said to be seriously wounded at the dallas hospital. after being shot at during a motorcade through the city. last rites were administered a few moments ago by father hubert. they do not necessarily mean that the president's condition is fatal. white house officials say the

president's condition is still uncertain. he was carried into the hospital unconscious. from the car in which he and governor john connally of texas were both shot at. mrs. jacqueline kennedy, who was in the rear seat of the open car beside the president, was not

beside the president, was not hurt. vice president lyndon johnson, who was with the president, walked into the hospital. was he in the same car? these, go ahead. he walked into the hospital holding his own arm. just a moment, bob. i'm going to interrupt with a bulletin from the associated press in dallas. mrs. lyndon johnson said -- yes, go ahead. mrs. lyndon johnson, who just emerge from the area where the president has been taking, said that the vice president, her husband, is fine. she would not say anything about the condition of president

kennedy, however. she appeared to be in a state of shock and was herded away by white house personnel. kennedy, however. she appeared to be in a state of shock and was herded away by white house personnel. the hospital staff appear to be preparing a blood transfusion. for both the president and governor connally. bob is telling me that the latest he knows at the moment is that the president's condition is serious and uncertain. we do not know exactly where he was struck, nor how many times. was struck, nor how many times. >> but he was carried into the hospital. >> but he was carried into the hospital unconscious and bleeding. and last rites of the church had been administered. that is all for the moment, frank.

they did not specifically mentions senator goldwater by name.

in a world of complex and continuing problems in a world full of frustrations, america's leadership must be guided by the likes of learning and reason or else those who might confuse rhetoric with reality will gain ascendancy with her seemingly swift and simple solutions to every world problems.

reports 15 minutes ago a reporter in dallas. after givingerged the president his last rites. just the fourth the announcement

of the president that was made vice president lyndon johnson emerged grim faced and was driven off with the police asked thescort to assume constitutional response ability is -- responsibilities of the presidency. a casket has just been brought into the emergency ward of this hospital for president kennedy. as theack took place president was just completing what amounted to a triumphal drive through downtown dallas encountering the largest and in some ways the most friendly today -- two-

day texas tour. dallas police has put into effect the most stringent security processes in its history because they have anticipated there might be some demonstrations against president that marked those the visit of u.s. -- un ambassador rice at l.a. stevenson -- adelaide stevenson. mrs. kennedy, who was sitting beside the president in the open car, was not hurt. however, the governor of texas, john conolly, who was also in the car was wounded reportedly

in the chest. further supplies of blood for transfusions for the governor have just been brought into the hospital. shooting came, according to witnesses, from the second floor the texasing called school book depository which is about 100 yards from the tree- lined parkway on which the president was driving when the shooting occurred. three shots were heard. bob, thank you very much. that was a report from robert ofeil confirming up by way

word from the white house press secretary to president kennedy is dead. >> of the death -- the death came roughly 39 minutes ago at roughly 1:00 dallas time. vice is further word that president lyndon johnson was taking from the hospital and he was not wounded. he has been taken to a secluded place. he will assume the duties of the the former. kennedy, president of the united states. time necessary even at a -- we will look forward as we head to washington. words. relaying your

>> the whole situation is that the vice president lyndon johnson will be given the oath of office as the president of the united states as soon as it can be done. time to check this but i believe the oath can be administered by anyone who can administer an oath. in lessappened unfortunate circumstances, he normally would be sworn in by the chief justice of the supreme court but in this case he will be sworn in by anyone who has the power to do it. that means that lyndon johnson will be president of the united states and will finish out mr. kennedy's term running until january of 1964. what happens then, we do not know. the next in line for the presidency after mr. johnson becomes john mccormick of massachusetts who is the speaker of the house.

he is next in line. we were told a few minutes ago that the or -- air force had jet planes on the ramp i nearby andrews air force base ready to take off her texas and maybe they have by this point. they will bring mr. johnson and other members of the parties back here -- i assume mr. johnson will return to washington immediately and will take over the late president kennedy's duties. that is about all of the tail we have at the moment. the president's brother was presiding over the senate in lyndon johnson's absence. when the vice president leaves his job in the senate he can turn his gavel over to anyone. senator edward kennedy was presiding when the word came of the shooting.

it was not known whether the president was dead or alive at the time. a reporter in the press gallery gave the word to a senate page went down and told senators on the floor. the senate was adjourned immediately and was called back into session for a prayer. meantime, the members left floor and gathered around the news tickers and waited to see what was happening and now they know. the few sketchy details that we have at the moment -- the white house was not getting information very rapidly because of the can -- confusion and haste of the scene. but we have learned we learned from texas and not from here. -- cabinetate report members, members of mr. entities -- kennedy's cabinet.

i am relying on memory. .hey were on their way to japan -- frome one hour of the y in a turned back to the red states. we don't know if they were coming back to dallas or washington. the kennedy children are still there in the white house and it is a normal school day for them. we are now told that the president was shot once in the head. wasgovernor, he -- connolly shot in the head and -- in the arm and wrist. we don't know what make of the rifle was or who had it. a young man was picked up at the

scene and is being questioned. we don't know who he is. that is all we have at the moment. vice president lyndon johnson will now be sworn in as president of the united states and will serve out the remainder term. kennedy's which runs until january 20, 1964. beyond that, we do not know. frank? bill? you there? do you have any more from texas or elsewhere? resident kennedy was assassinated today in a burst of gunfire in downtown dallas. john conolly was shut down with him. to thesident was rushed hospital and taken into an emergency room. in urging call went out for nurses and for blood. the president was 44 years old.

he was shot once in the head. governor connally was shot in the wrist. police have found the rifle. the president was conscious as he arrived to the hospital. a priest was called and administered his last rites. the car. johnson was in behind the kennedys and the connelly's. he is to be sworn into office as soon as possible. he was rushed to the hospital and wisped away again by the secret service. kennedy lived about an hour after a sniper shot him down as his limousine went through downtown dallas. the mantle of the presidency now falls to lyndon b. johnson, a native texan, the wooden writing to cars behind the chief executive. the priest came out of the ward at approximately 1:37 p.m.

the announcement brought audible sobs from citizens crowded around the emergency ward. few hourstalking a before collapsed in sobs. he said he was in the third car behind the president. it seemed to him that at least two of the shots came from the right rear. you cannot say anything about the third shot -- he could not say anything about the third shot. the president of the united states is dead. the new president is president lyndon johnson. arememories of all of us flashing back to that warm, april spring day of 1945 moment lost franklin d. roosevelt. this is the second time around that we've been through one of these crises. the last shooting incident, not favorabl -- fatal,

occurred in 1950. the white house was being renovated at that time. you may recall that two puerto rican nationalist try to run their way into the house and assassinate president truman who was taking a nap at the time. that is the story. the president of united states is dead. the new president of the united states is lyndon johnson. mrs. kennedy is still at the hospital. she was not hurt. the white house spokesman refused to comment on her condition. heavyent johnson is under guard and was taken away from the hospital by white house officials. president kennedy was shot in the right temple. it was a simple matter of a bullet right to the head, said a doctor -- the white house dr.. doctor. information,onal we go to station wbat-tv and

news man charles murphy. >> the car wanted in connection with the assassination has been stopped in fort worth. the suspect is in custody. further word will come later. fort worth is 30 miles west of dallas. we heard from one of our news man in dallas who said that a dallas policeman was shot to death by an unknown man in a car minutes after the president and governor connally were shot. the officer was shot about two miles from the scene of the presidential assassination. the car wanted in connection with the assassination of president kennedy has been stopped in for worth -- fort worth. they have a suspect in the shooting on the ground. we hope further confirmation will come momentarily. this is charles murphy.

we have an eyewitness account of the assassination. this was recorded in the voice you hear is that of an nbc soundman traveling with one of art television camera crews -- one of our television camera crews. >> i am traveling with the president at -- in dallas, texas. we have driven through the downtown section where we have received -- the president had received a very tumultuous welcome. freeman --g on a freeway will be go -- where we will go to a luncheon. as we turn down this moderate curve here, there was a loud shot. we thought it was a cherry bomb by from -- by some tom -- by

some teenager. everybody ducked and there were people falling to the ground. we do not know who was shot. people were screaming. the cameramen in the car i was writing immediately jumped out and took pictures. when the president's car took off with a police escort -- it turned out to be towards the hospital. we picked up one of the remaining secret service men and he went with us. we were cleared through the police line and finally got to the hospital. drive,ame down the final we were told that we cannot go any further and we stayed by the and were informed associate new secretary on the president staff of what was happening. as i left the hospital to come over here which was a proxy --

which was a block away, he said that we understand the president is inside. since waiting here on the phone, he has died. voice ofas a recorded an nbc soundman who was traveling with a television film unit in the motorcade and who witnessed the assassination of president kennedy. frank mcgee who has been opening as keeping an open telephone line where president kennedy died is in touch with the nbc correspondent who is traveling with the president, robert mcneil. >> i do stand there clearing room -- clearing the room so can you give us a report? body --dent kennedy's

>> president kennedy's body is in the emergency section of this hospital at the end of a long corridor. it has been filled with people but looking white house officials, reporters. police are clearing out the entire corridor and we believe the president's body will be brought out. the coffin was taken in about 15 minutes ago. that was shortly after white house press secretary had officially announced that the president died at 1:00 dallas time. that is 2:00 new york time. >> does that mean you have to leave this telephone? >> i can hold on for a second. >> as long as you can. >> we have some additional detail. the flag at the white house has

just been lowered to half mast. we have two eyewitness reports on the wire service. reporter television who said he saw a gun emerging from the window of a warehouse. it was located just beyond a triple underpass through which the presidential motorcade had to go on its way to downtown dallas. just as the car emerged from this underpass, three shots rang out. three not two. the right was hit in temple and the governor was shot in the head and risk. that is all we know at the moment on governor calmly. -- connally. the president died just about an hour ago from his wounds. this is the first assassination of a president since william mckinley. governor connally is being

reported as being in satisfactory condition. we have no report on the condition of mrs. kennedy. she is still in the hospital. traveling behind a police escort, lady bird johnson, she is now the first lady of the land since mr. johnson has become president of the united states. lady bird johnson has been under heavy guard and is in seclusion somewhere in downtown dallas. >> excuse me. i was going to say that the president kennedy is the third american president to be assassinated since lincoln. the others were james garfield and william mckinley. one of thees grimmest statistics. no president who is taken office has completed his term of office in a 0- year.

>> the capitalist is starting to react on what happened in dallas. we will go to nbc news in washington. the flag at half mast outsider studios here at nbc in washington. we assume that the flag at the white house is at half mast. wherever the american flag flies, it has been lowered to -- as a sign of respect to the president of the united states. news on the little reaction in washington. this happens so suddenly. there has been no opportunity for real reaction. senator mansfield has made no statement. who is now inick

the position relation to president lyndon johnson. he has made no statement. nor has mr. nor has the senate minority leader, nor as far as we know has the senator humphrey. he was informed by his aide of what happened. his aide reported that his voice cracked several times and that he seemed numb and was unable to make a response. i am told by an aide of senator ted kennedy, who is presumably en route to dallas with his brother robert, that when senator kennedy was informed of this, he laid down the gavel and quietly stepped down from the roster and receded to leave the chamber.

all through the city, as we try to call government offices, it is almost impossible to reach prominent officials. i tried to call the attorney general's office and discover the attorney general had been out at his home in virginia having lunch. the girl who answered the telephone was crying so heavily that she could not make herself understood to me. i can only make out that she knew the attorney general was at lunch and that he had been informed of what had happened. it is a state of shock -- that is the only way i can describe the feeling we have here in washington. it goes for me, for david, for all of the correspondence as well. it is so impossible for us to contemplate and understand that this young, vital man can be

dead in this fashion. there is nothing else to report from here in the capital. back to new york. >> i think we must remember that it was only last week when the president was making a similar motor drive from new york's airport into new york when he decided not to follow behind the usual motorcycle escort with all of the flashing lights and the sirens because of his disruptive of traffic. at the time he was coming into new york, it was a particularly busy time. it created some snarls, the limousine was delayed at several points and was blocked by a bus and a truck, but they did make it into new york. he like to be treated without

those considerations. do you have word? >> frank is speaking to nbc correspondent, robert macneil. robert has been working at the hospital. there are times he will be off gathering information. other times he will be coming back to the phones to report to us. he will confer as to whether or not he has new information that he can add to what we already know. >> bill unless you have some late information -- >> i have not. >> bob was talking to me about the attitudes of the president's arrival. bob, if you will go ahead. >> how extraordinary the crowd was when the president and mrs.

kennedy arrived at the airport there was a crowd of many hundreds. mrs. kennedy took the initiative of going to the fence and shaking hands with both hands. the crowd was delirious with them. this kind of reaction was something like the reaction of the crowds all the way through the town. they were very friendly. the motorcade when about 10 miles and then in the middle of this bright sunshine and friendly crowd, these three muffled shots were heard. it could not have been more startling to the very pleasant, sunny atmosphere he had received. >> this had been the thing that made the police worry.

dallas got such a bad name around the world. the authorities were determined that there would be no repetition of this. the ambassador, someone spat on him, and somebody hit him over the head. they mobilize a third of their police force and put on a propaganda campaign on the newspapers and the radios and the tv stations to make sure that dallas would not be dragged in the mud again. that is why it is such a contrast. >> what is the situation in the room where you're at? >> i am in a small waiting room where emergency patients wait to be taken into the operating room where they're treated. there are a few policemen. they are the only ones left

leading to the room behind which we assume the president's body is being placed in the bronze coffin which was taken in about half an hour ago. we expected to come out shortly. >> we have a still photo that shows a man and a woman and two small children lying on the ground. i understand you saw these people. >> they were the first people i went to. they were screaming and lying down on the ground to escape from the shooting. the minute the shooting sound started, the air was filled with the screams of women and children. everyone laid down on the sidewalk. i assumed that the picture you are talking about is that. nobody else i know, besides

kennedy -- >> we lost a part of that. >> as far as i know, no one else was hit except for president kennedy and governor connally. could you describe the building and how far away from the car was? >> as you come out of the main street of downtown dallas, which was packed with people, it leads into a triple underpass. behind some trees, is a service road, and a brick building of about eight stories which is called the texas school book depository. they say they saw a man with a gun in, one said the second floor, another 74th floor, that building.

from either floor, he would be able to see over the low trees to about 100 yards away where the president's car was. >> and unobstructed view? >> i was not able to go up to either of those windows. it looked as though it would be. the president must have had a profile presented to the assailant or his three quarters back. his car had actually passed the direct line from the window. the car would have approached the window head on, turned left, gone down a slight decline under the underpass. just a moment. >> that seems to fit with what he said. the word that we had was that the president was hit in the

right temple. >> the president's body has been carried out of the hospital and the bronze casket. it was accompanied by his military aide and has been placed into an ambulance. it is being taken straight to the airbase where he landed, to be flown back to washington. the crowds have been moved away from the door by police and secret service. i can hear the motorcycle escort outside starting up. the president's body is with them. they are pulling away from the hospital. it is about 1.5 hours since he was shot. the president has been dead for about an hour and seven minutes. vice president, lyndon johnson, left immediately after the president's death was confirmed.

he went off to the airport to presumably go to washington to resume constitutional responsibilities as president. >> i was about to ask -- >> there were three cars behind him with secret service. i was in the first press spot which came behind those. i heard three shots. >> was the president seated or standing? >> he was seated. it was a thin crowd at that point. most of the crowd was concentrated a hundred yards back.

when i heard shots, i saw people fall to the ground. i was not looking at the president. the car disappeared under the underpass and went straight to the hospital. i left the press box and came to the hospital where the president reportedly came. >> what sort of building is it? >> it is the texas school book depository. it is an orange, brick building of about eight floors. it is about eight windows widen the front. >> from the point where it -- would it be possible for him to have been struck by a bullet in the right temple? >> if he was using a high- powered rifle with a telescopic sight, i assume that from that distance, it could be. >> about how fast was the president's motorcade going? >> it had just come around the

quarter, probably between 15 and 20 miles per hour. >> vice president lyndon johnson was how far behind? >> i'm not sure. there was a jumble of congressmen in the car behind. i am not sure which car he was in. >> the motor car sped up -- >> and disappeared under the overpass. they thought the assailant had fled over railroad tracks. they chased him through several trains. >> did they apprehend this person? >> no. not at that time. they started talking to witnesses on the scene. just a moment. >> there is also this that could be added -- >> i am told that vice president johnson was in the car directly behind the president. >> how far is it from where the

incident occurred to the hospital? >> it is about a mile and a half. >> we are now going to the united nations where i am told delegates from the nations are expressing their condolences. we switch now to the united nations. >> i call now on the secretary- general. >> as secretary-general of the united nations, i would like to express profound sorrow at this most tragic event and to be associated in the condolences to mrs. kennedy and to the government and people of the united states. >> i request members of the general assembly to rise and

observe one minute of silence in tribute to the memory, after which i shall adjourn this meeting. [no audio]

the meeting is adjourned. >> delegates of the 111 member nations of the united nations standing in a moment of silence and sympathy to the united states government for the loss it has sustained today with the assassination of president john f. kennedy. we have word that mrs. kennedy, who was riding in the car with her husband, she did not give way to hysteria. she fell to the floor of the car

and cradled his head in his lap. she held him in in her arms all the way to the hospital. she gave she at no time gave way to hysteria. we now have more reports from the area where it happened. we return to station wbap-tv in a fort worth. >> here is an additional report on what you heard bob abernathy described a few minutes ago. the building in which the sniper had hidden is the texas school depository at the intersection of elm and houston street in dallas. lieutenant jc day went to the building a short time after the shooting took place and walked out with a british 303 rifle. it has a telescopic sight. it was found on the sixth floor near a corner window.

police searching that area found three empty 303 cases and scraps of chicken as though someone had been there for a period of time. we also have another eyewitness account, a man of dallas who was probably the last man to view the president, here is his report. >> where's your witness? >> unfortunately i was probably

15 to 20 feet away from the president when it happened. >> tell us what you saw. >> he was coming down the street and my 5-year-old boy and myself were on the grass there and i asked joe to wave to him and then i waved to him. he was waving back, shots rang out and he slumped down in his seat. his wife reached up toward him and the second shot went off and knocked him back. >> did you see the man who did this? >> no, sir. i did not see the man who did this. i looked in the man's face when he was shot. i am positive it hit him. i hope it didn't, but i am positive it did.

i did not know what was going on, so i grabbed the boy, and fell on him. hopefully there wasn't a maniac around. >> thank you very much. >> as we said before, the sniper's nest has been found. police have recovered a british 303 rifle with a telescopic sight. >> things can move this fast when you're dealing with a story of this magnitude. while we were getting reports from fort worth dallas on finding the sniper's nest and details of what was going on in that building from which the bullets were fired, we were handed another story from dallas. frank has that. >> a secret service agent and dallas policemen have been shot and killed some distance away from the area where president

kennedy was assassinated. no information was immediately available. >> there was an earlier report that a dallas policeman had been shot to death approximately two miles from the scene. also, in the earlier reports, we were told that was wanted in connection with the assassination of president kennedy had been stopped in fort worth and a suspect had been picked up. we had no further word on that. no indication on whether the police have or feel they have captured the person or persons that took part in this successful attempt on the life of president kennedy. >> his body has been taken away from the hospital where he died. it is the assumption that it is being taken to the airport where he arrived just a short time earlier for his motorcade and planned speech in dallas.

the assumption is he will be taken back to washington. mrs. kennedy, at last report, was still in the hospital. president johnson left the hospital a short time earlier. they believe he is also heading back to the airport to catch a jet to be taken back to washington to be sworn in as president of the united states. >> the speculation is that they are going to administer the presidential oath to president johnson. >> it always occurs as soon after the death of a president as possible. there is no particular protocol or formality for it as far as we know. the vice president is informed

of the passing of the president and his almost immediately sworn in. sometimes there is a private swearing in ceremony that is repeated later. it is not a joyous occasion as you can imagine. constitutionally, the vice president becomes president immediately after the death of the president of the united states. >> there are reports that the president's father and mother were informed of the attack on their son in massachusetts. there is no indication that they know they have in fact, lost their son. there was indication that when they were told that he had been wounded, his mother was going to fly to dallas. john connally of texas who was riding with the late president, and was wounded, it is reported that he is not out of the woods,

but his vital signs are good. he has been operated on for a gunshot wound in the chest. he has a good polls and his respiration is satisfactory, though he is in much pain. we're deeply stunned, shocked, and amazed by what happened in dallas today. our servicemen overseas got word of it. the pope was informed. francis cardinal who was in rome for a council, was also told of what happened to the president. he said the president's death was a great loss to the country and to the world. regular programming was suspended after the news of the president's death was received. a came into london about 7:30 in the evening.

there was a flash this afternoon from the soviet news agency tass. "president john f. kennedy has died after an attempt was made on his life." frank? >> just a note that he was at 2:05 p.m. >> it would've been central time when the president's body was removed from the hospital. the signed curtains were tightly drawn. >> there is something here from one of the persons. a white man in his mid 20's was arrested in the riverside section of fort worth in the shooting of a dallas policeman.

the man denied he was connected with the assassination of the president. he was in handcuffs when he was seen by reporters. a man has been taken into custody. there is no word if this is the man our person who today assassinated president kennedy, apparently with a single shot from a high-powered rocket fire from the fifth floor of a building which is roughly 100 yards from the president's motorcade, which was traveling at slow speed. we are starting to get conflicting reports on weapons. there was one that it was a .303 rifle. there were some remnants of chicken indicating the sniper staked himself out for quite a while before firing the fatal shot.

word that another mouser has been found, a german army rifle with one shell left in the chamber. three spent shells were found nearby. possibly the mouser is measured in millimeters and my be close to a .303. >> i would suspect we are likely to get conflicting reports. the president is dead and has been shot. i am sure all of us have wondered if it is necessary to go to the great plains that the secret service goes through to protect the life of the president of the united states. each little detail is checked out. i would assume that shriver of the automobile knew instantly where the nearest hospital in dallas was located. reports say he sped away and went directly to the hospital in

an effort to spare the president from further gunfire and get him to the hospital as quickly as possible. despite the annoyance that is connected with the secret service to protect the life of the president, it still comes as a shock to us to realize that a thing like this can happen in our country with the precautions that are made. a witness to the assassination today was texas senator and he went to the hospital where the president was taken and he was awaiting outside, some indication of what the president's condition is. we have a picture of the texas senator at the hospital as he came out and tried to talk with the news men. everyone was shocked and he appeared to be in tears.

the texas senator. >> in speaking of precautions, the attempts to protect him from any possible attack, i have written in those motorcades and i am sure you realize -- i have riden in those motorcades. >> if one stops and thinks you have a distance of maybe 15 or 20 miles. the president is in an open automobile and often he is standing and waving. the distance would be 15 miles and you could have hundreds of thousands and millions of people lining these streets. there are hundreds and hundreds of buildings on either side. an assassin could attempt to conceal himself. it is an impossible thing to get complete and total reduction for the president of the united

states. >> we have further reaction from overseas on the loss of president kennedy. the chancellor from germany said the german people are filled with great grief. cardinal ritter called together the student priests to recite prayers for the late president. "we were having dinner when we heard the astounding news of president kennedy's death. our hearts are pained." his stature as a petition is on the international scene was growing in the years of renewal. the french prime minister said it is atrocious and frightful and, "i am overwhelmed." the city of washington, d.c.

for further developments, the switch now to david brinkley in washington. >> the flag has been lowered at the white house. the white house, the acting white house press secretary is acting in the absence of peer salinger who is in a jet lane over the pacific -- pierre salinger. they were on their way to a meeting and the plane turned around and heading back to hawaii and washington. the president's body will be flown to washington this afternoon. senator edward kennedy and mrs. sargent shriver, his sister, arrived at the white house a few minutes ago. they took a helicopter to angers air force base -- andrews. air force base they will fly to dallas to join mrs. kennedy.

the attorney general was at home having lunch. he lives a mile or so outside the city limits. he has left for the airport also to fly to texas. the government has been closed down. congress has adjourned. four members of the cap and over the pacific have turned back -- four members of the cabinet that were over the pacific have turned back. shock and horror. mike mansfield, when the news came to him said he was a man who contributed so much and deserve so much more in return. senator of nevada said it is a great tragedy and the world has lost a great champion and the united states a great president. senator byrd said he was deeply

shocked and that he could not find words to express his distress. there are similar sentiments expressed by everyone who has said anything at all. the secret service is normally stationed -- they are charged with protecting the president as a plane close civilian arm of the united states treasury, to the left of the picture you're seeing, they are the husky young man you see in the news pictures. when the president motorcade is moving at slow speed, they usually walk along or run along beside it. they usually, they are aware it is impossible. a crowd is gathering across the street, facing the front entrance to the white house. a crowd has gathered for no particular reason. crowds usually do gather there

in moments of crisis. that is the white house flack at half staff -- the white house flag lowered at half staff. they are keeping their own bodies in line with any weapon that might be aimed at the president. they cannot cover every window or tray or manhole and they rely on the decency and good sense of the american people. that again is nbc's live television camera on the white house lawn looking through the iron picket fence, across pennsylvania avenue to lafayette park, named for the marquee the lafayette, whose statue is there. these are the grounds of the white house where the president's office is. george reidy arrived.

we assume he came to help make arrangements for the change over of administration. we do not know specifically that lyndon johnson has been sworn in, has officially taken the oath. he soon will. he is president anyway. that is how the constitution spells it out. he will of course serve out the remainder of mr. kennedy's term until january of 1964. that is about all the detailed we have at the moment, frank. we will switch back to new york for any further details might have from dallas or elsewhere. >> we are still in touch with dallas as we are with you in washington. very shortly the emphasis of one part of the story was shipped from dallas back to washington. it is being anticipated the

president's body is being flown back to the nations capital. that is where we expect president johnson to officially be sworn in. we are anxious for further information on the quest for the assassin. we do not know whether the assessment has been placed under arrest yet or not. we as stories that perhaps one or two people have been put under arrest in dallas. a dallas police man was killed in a shooting after the president had been assassinated. the assumption would be that the shootings are connected. that is not necessarily true. the story was shift to washington for the formalities there. we will remain and keep our team

standing by to bring you the developments as soon as we have them. >> there is this detail on mrs. kennedy following the assassination of her husband. mrs. kennedy and the president's body were escorted from the hospital in dallas by two. she walked out the back door at the president's body was taken out. she walked slowly and looked around in a daze manner and appeared to be in a state of shock. she had not been hysterical and in spite of the tremendous experience she had undergone, she had managed to control herself and keep her head. there is this ironic note. the main body of the reporters apparently did not know that he had lost his life until they got to the destination which the motorcade was heading for. the present had been scheduled to make a speech later this afternoon.

he was in the first press bus and that was three cars behind the president's car. the main body of the white house reporters were writing -- riding in two buses and many did not know about the shooting until they got to dallas. they found out the first hard news of what had happened. they did have some idea when they saw the motorcade start to fall apart. dallas police took off in all directions. we are told president kennedy's body will arrive at 5:30 this afternoon washington time at andrews air force base, just about two hours. reaction from overseas. our correspondent in rome, irving r levine.

>> president kennedy was in oversleep popular. an aide was sent to express sympathy. he called the death a great loss for humanity. the pope is preparing a radiogram. italian radio made the announcement of the president's death and went off the air except for solemn music. american bishops in rome expressed shock. cardinal spellman said he is saying rosary for president kennedy now. irving r levine, nbc news, rome. >> there is the first overseas point. we've have called in to bring your reaction after the assassination of president kennedy. >> let me interrupt you. >> he was traveling with the president at the time the

assassination took place. >> i wanted to tell you you are going on the air. why don't you make to report direct, bob? go right ahead. >> we can have pictures in about 15 minutes. >> i see, bob. >> the doctors who attended president kennedy have just reported his condition. dr. -- a moment. dr. -- the chief attending surgeon at the hospital, dr. malcolm parry, said the present was in critical condition -- said the president was in critical condition from wounds from the neck and head. it is possible they were caused by the same bullet. i can tell you what the doctor said.

they attempted resuscitation. dr. clark was called in and several other doctors. they arrived. the president's addition to not allow any resuscitation. he was critically ill and near death. they attempted respiration and gave him oxygen. they performed a tracheotomy to assist breathing. they gave him blood and also a tube to remove any possibility of air getting into the space. they attached an electric cardio grant to monitor his heart beat. shortly after that his heart

failed. they tried external massage to produce a hard movement again. --to produce a heart movement again. they had a faint pulse but the president finally died about 20 minutes after he was brought into the hospital. the brain wound in the president's had involved -- head involved a great loss of blood and brain tissue. the brain wound was in the back of his head, slightly to the right, which would fit with the picture i gave you earlier of the president having his back to the assailant. the assailant was in the building -- this conflicts with the fact that the wound in the neck was in the front of the neck, just below the items apple adam's apple. the car turned the corner or perhaps one bullet struck him from the front in the neck and went up to the brain. the president never regained

consciousness. >> the president was unconscious from the moment he was struck. >> and near death from that moment. >> you told us the president's body was removed from the hospital. there was speculation he was taken to the airfield. >> i believe that is true. it has gone to the airfield to be flown back to washington. lyndon johnson is remaining here in dallas. >> do you know where he is at the moment? >> i do not. >> he is not on his way back to washington. >> he is not. >> standby. >> thank you. >> the police department has arrested one man in connection with the slaying of a dallas

police man. further details now from the scene. we go to wbat tv in dallas fort worth and charles murphy. >> late film has just arrived in our newsroom from dallas. it shows the scene of the crowded scene when news was announced. and a prayer for president kennedy. [indiscernible]

>> may we'll stand for a moment. >> there is a desire each of our hearts to bow our heads. each in our own way will come to him. let us pray. oh, god, that of us can find words to express the deepest feelings of our hearts. we realize that this is the time of mourning. yet we would each come, rely

upon the faith we possess. we would each come with perhaps the most earnest prayer that we never offered on the half of our president, our governor, the members of their families. so we pray that even in this gathering, we may reveal -- which shall be pleasing to thee and that we shall await word in a spirit of praise. give thy -- in thy holy name, amen.

>> their you have the scene at the trade center in dallas where president kennedy was going to make an address. the crowd assembled waiting to hear the president wondering what happened to him. will try to clear up this arrest that is taking place in dallas. a man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a dallas policeman. the man was arrested in a theater in the oak cliff section of dallas. he had a pistol at the time he was arrested. the policeman he allegedly killed was killed by a pistol shot. there is nothing to link this man who has been taken into custody with the assassination of president kennedy, who was killed by a bullet from a high- powered rifle from only can tell reports of robert mcneil at the hospital and from doctors who

treated the president and were able to give specific in clinical details of the wound indicating that it was a high- powered bullet and quite probably a large caliber a let, too -- a large caliber bullet, too. we're going to go to and nbc mobile unit outside the embassy building in new york for pictures and sounds of the reaction of citizens of this city to the loss of their president. we go to the nbc reporter. >> we are on the street outside the nbc studios. how did you hear of the president's assassination? >> a gentleman came in and mentioned it to us. i do not believe it. i had to hear from myself.

>> what is your feeling now? >> i am terribly shocked and saddened by it and angered by it. i think it was a horrible, senseless thing. i hope the rest of the country feels the same way. >> do you think this reflects the opinion of the country now? >> i hope it does not reflect the climate of opinion that is prevalent in the country today. it reflects an opinion that some people hold. i know that as an american and other people as americans do not hold this feeling. >> you said some people. who do you mean by that? >> i do not feel expert enough to express an opinion. the only evidence i have as to who these people are are these ultraconservative groups that have been distributing literature and spreading ahte in hate in texas.

>> no one knows if these people are indeed responsible. thank you, sir. what was your reaction? >> i was shocked and saddened by the president's death. i was riding on the bus one they told me he was dead. i find it difficult to believe now. >> the president was in part of the south, dallas. do you think is racial policies are connected with this? >> that is the first thing i thought of. probably some segregationists. they had it all planned out. i believe his blood will be on their hands. >> thank you. how about you, sir?

for >> this is the first time i am not proud to be an american. right now i am serving in the armed forces and i am home on leave. it is an understatement to say it was a shock. i at first did not believe it. i have trouble believing it now. i do not think it reflects the thinking of most people. i think it is a small minority. is unfortunate that this could happen. you never want to believe this can happen when you are living. >> do think this reflects on the security arrangements of the secret service? >> random samplings of man on the street interviews, people here in new york city and the reaction to the loss of the president of the united states, john f. kennedy, who died approximately one hour 45 minutes ago in dallas, texas, after being fatally wounded by a sniper. david brinkley in washington.

>> we have reported this before. the president's body is expected to arrive at andrews air force base a few miles outside washington about 5:30 washington time. the church bells all over town are ringing. we are told that people are standing on street corners crying openly and freely. robert abernathy reports from andrews base that the base commander says the president's body will be arriving at 5:30. he says senator edward kennedy and mrs. shriver have just taken off by jet for otis air force base in massachusetts. we assume they are going to the home state to join their mother

and father and other members of the kennedy family. military officers who have the job of arranging state funerals are at the white house now and presumably making the plans. mr. kennedy is the first president to die in office since the defense department was set up. these arrangements are made and i think there is no set a standard ritual to be followed so it will have to be made up. presumably the army will be in charge of the operations. it has ceremonial courses at fort myers, virginia, which is nearby, long with honor guards and troops that presumably will be used. that is about all we have at the moment. richard is at the white house with the live pictures so we will switch there to see what is happening. richard?

>> the american flag atop the white house in washington has been lowered to half mast. became down after word, there was confirmation of the president's death in dallas. in the white house, the president's children are still there, caroline and john junior. we do not know yet if they have been informed about their fathers death. we do not know if any of the cabinet members are here now. the picture of the flag flying at half mast as seen through the trees stripped of their leaves captures the mood of grimness at the white house. outside in front of the white house, crowds have begun to gather. they probably do not know what, perhaps looking for a visual confirmation of what they everybody else find so hard to believe, that the president is indeed dead, the victim of an

assassins bullet in dallas. police are allowing pedestrians to walk in front of the white house but not to congregate there. is normally andving there are no other changes. anhave been told that assistant to lyndon johnson has arrived. the mood inside is one of utter shock, one of disbelief.

waiting for some bits of information, any kind of word of what is going to happen next. most of the news here is being received from dallas. there is no indication what the next developments will be. gathering still outside. across pennsylvania avenue. weather in washington is warm,rather unseasonably the chill in the air. people here, as they must be all over the country, walking around with looks of stunned disbelief on their faces.

nbc news, the white house, washington. >> here in washington, senator goldwater of arizona, barry man regarded as most likely to oppose president kennedy in an effort to take the presidency away from him next statement.ssued a is most shocking and dreadful that a thing like this could happen in a free country. he has canceled the political appearance he was going to make tomorrow night in grand rapids. feelings are prevalent on both sides of the aisle in congress,

the great personal bereavement, feeling of loss and shock. i think back to the night of the convention in 1960 when lyndon johnson accepted the nomination. governor john connally was then the floor manager for lyndon johnson, and was the man always the closest assistant in all his political campaigns, that is governor connally of texas who lies wounded in a hospital in dallas. at 2:00 in the morning, when there was much talk that johnson would be offered the vice presidential nomination, john connally told me he was positive he would never accept it. i had talked to sam rayburn who said that lyndon johnson would never accept the vice presidency, would never give up the senate majority leader. i bet john connally then that johnson would accept the vice- presidential nomination. at 2:00, john connolly made that point that it was positive that he would not accept.

this is the way that history is made. had lyndon johnson not accepted, he of course would not be president of united states today. no one could ever have believed or dreamed that a president so young would not conclude his term of office and that death would interrupt. there is little else to report here in washington, just the general reactions. a bulletin has just come in from dallas. a sniper armed with a high- powered rifle murdered president kennedy today. barely two hours kennedy's death, lyndon johnson has taken the oath of office as the 37th president of the united states. it is president lyndon johnson, 55 years old, the new president of united states. now back to new york.

>> there are details on the swearing in of lyndon johnson. the oath was administered in dallas at 1:38 central standard time, roughly an hour and 20 minutes ago, by a federal district judge sarah t. hughes. president johnson took the oath aboard the presidential plane at love field in dallas as he prepared to fly to washington to take over the presidency. this is the oath that was administered to mr. johnson. "i solemnly swear that i will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the united states." that is all we know about lyndon johnson being sworn in. mr. kennedy's predecessor

general eisenhower has issued a statement. "i share the sense of shock and dismay that americans feel about the despicable act that resulted in the death of the united states. we express our personal grief and prayerful concern to mrs. kennedy and all other members of the family." that extreme right wing almosts were believed responsible for the assassination. news of the president's death by bullet in the head was immediately p