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 passed on the top soviet figures according to

russian sources noflt reaction directly from the kremlin was expected until tomorrow. the soviet news agency reported from new york here that, quote, an attempt was made on his life by persons believed to be among extreme right wing lmgts. later they were informed that the president was dead. a heart clutching thought to think of the two children in the white house, the son and the young daughter. we can only assume they have been informed of their father's death. regardless of what one may have thought of the kennedies as a political institution, they were vivacious and people who were quite alive tchl situation at the moment is that the president john f. kennedy is dead. his body is believed to be en route or shortly to be en route back to washington expected to arrive from dallas at 5:30

eastern standard time today an hour and a half from now. the new president of the united states, lyndon b. johnson is sworn in in dallas and remaining for the moment in dallas. the president's brother and senator, ted kennedy, the sister, the wife of sergeant shriver are on their way to massachusetts. the family is from boston. it's assumed they're going to be with the parents of the president. the last worder with had on mrs. kennedy is she was at the hospital when the president died. she probably is not at the hospital. her privacy is being respected as well it should be under these circumstances. millions johnson is no doubt with the new president johnson. >> some members of the family paid their respects on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. among them is gene kennedy smith, a sister. she was joined by her son, william kennedy smith, and other

family members.

>> today is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of president john f. kennedy. next, ceremony from boston at the j.f.k. presidential library museum. it starts with governor duval patrick reading a portion of the new frontier speech. this is about 45 minutes. ♪

>> a man may die. nationings may rise and fall. but an idea lives on. [ trumpet playing ] 123450 ♪

>> the new frontier of which i speak is not a set of promises, it is a set of challenges. it sums up not what i intend to offer the american people, but

what i intend to ask of them. it appeals to their pride, not to their pocketbook. it holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security. but i tell you the new frontier is here, whether we seek it or not. beyond that frontier are the unchartered areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus. i believe the times demand new invention, innovation, imagination, decision. i am asking each of you to be pioneers on that new frontier.

♪ o beautiful for spacious skies ♪ ♪ for amber waves of grain ♪ for purple mountains majesty ♪ ♪ above the fruited plain ♪ america america god shed his grace on thee ♪ ♪ and crown thy good with brotherhood ♪ ♪ from sea to shining sea

♪ o beautiful for hero's crown ♪ ♪ america america ♪ ♪ live on thy glory ♪ and every nation

what kind of peace do i mean? not a pax americana enforced on the world by american weapons of war, not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. i'm talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children. not merely peace for americans, but peace for all men and women. not merely peace in our time, but peace for all time. so let us not be blind to our

differences. but let us also direct attention to our common interests and the means by which those differences can be resolved. and if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. for in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. we all breathe the same air. we all cherish our children's future, and we are all mortal. >> children are the world's most valuable resource and expect hope for the future.

♪ ♪ never give up never slow down ♪ never grow old never die young ♪ ♪ sink or rise with the rising moon ♪ ♪ even with the evening stars ♪ they were true love written in stone ♪ ♪ they were never alone they were never that far apart ♪

♪ we got to close our eyes ♪ ♪ they were fused together body and soul ♪ ♪ had much more with their backs against the wall ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ sunday soon there wasn't nothing to hold them down ♪ ♪ they will rise from among us like a big balloon ♪ ♪ take the sky and the ground ♪ ♪ oh yes

other hearts were broke ♪ ♪ and i know other dreams ♪ ♪ but our golden sail on and on ♪ ♪ to another land beneath another time ♪ ♪ let other hearts be broken let other dreams run dry ♪ ♪ let our golden one sailed on and on to another land beneath another time ♪ ♪ hold them up hold them up hold them up ♪ ♪ could you hold them up

hold them up ♪ ♪ hold them up ♪ never let them fall >> our peace corps is not designed as an instrument of diplomacy. or propaganda or ideological conflict. it is designed to permit our people to exercise mull fully their responsibilities in the great common cause of world development. life in the peace corps will not be easy. men and women will be expected

to work and live alongside the nationals of the country at which they are stationed, doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language. it will not be easy, lit be rich and satisfying. for every american who works in the peace corps, who works in the foreign land, will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to mend that decent way of life that is the foundation for freedom and a condition of peace.

♪

>> if art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him. we must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda. it is a form of truth. of highest duty of the writer, the composer, the artist is to remain true to himself and to let the chips fall where they may. in serving his vision of the

truth, the artist best serves his nation. i look forward to a great future for america, a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint. its wealth with the wisdom, the power with our purpose. i look forward to an america which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or state craft. and i look forward to an america which commands respect throughout the world, not only for its strength, but for its civilization as well. ♪

♪ ♪

>> we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they're easy, but because they're hard, pause that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win. many years ago, the great british explorer, george mallory, who was to die on mt. everest was asked, why did he want to climb it? he said because it is there.

well, space is there. and we're going to climb it. and the moon and the planets are there. and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. and therefore, as we set sail, we ask god's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.

♪ ♪

♪ er. >> please join me in a moment of silence in memory of john fitzgerald kennedy, 35th president of the united states.

♪ is moon is still rising so this ole world must still be spinning round ♪ ♪ and i still love you ♪ so close your eyes you can close your eyes ♪ ♪ it's all right ♪ i don't know no love songs ♪ i can't seem to do

anymore ♪ ♪ but i can sing this song ♪ and you can sing this song when i'm gone ♪ ♪ it won't be long before another day ♪ ♪ yeah we're going to have good time ♪ ♪ and no one is going to take that time away ♪ ♪ you can stay as long as you like ♪ ♪ only close your eyes you can close your eyes ♪ ♪ it's all right

♪ darling i don't know no love songs ♪ ♪ and i can't seem to look anymore ♪ ♪ but i can sing this song and you can sing this song ♪ ♪ when i'm gone >> we are confronted with a

moral issue. it's as old as the scriptures and it's as clear as the american constitution. the heart of the question is whether all americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities. whether we are going to treat our fellow americans as we want to be treated. if an american because his skin is dark cannot eat lunch in a restaurant open to the public, if he cannot send his children to the best public school available, if he cannot vote for the public officials who would represent him, if in short he cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of his skin change and stand in his place. who among us would then be

content with the counsel of patience and delay. 100 years of delay have passed since president lincoln freed the slaves. yet, their heir, their grandsons, are not fully free. they're not yet free from the bonds of injustice. they're not yet free from social and economic oppression. and this nation for all its hopes, and all its boasts, will not be fully pleased until all its citizens are free.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

>> now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need. not as a call to battle, though embattled we are, but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle year in and year out, rejoicing in hope, patience, and tribulation. a struggle against the common enemies of man, tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. all this will not be finished in the first 100 days.

nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. but let us begin. the energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. and so, my fellow americans, ask not what your country can do for your country, 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. ♪ ♪ you can play

act out the part ♪ ♪ though you know it wasn't written for you ♪ ♪ how can you stand there with your broken heart ♪ ♪ unashamed of playing the fool ♪ ♪ but one thing can lead to another ♪ ♪ as they can satisfy ♪ o father and mother sister and brother ♪ ♪ don't think twice ♪ shower the people you love with love ♪ ♪ show them the way that you feel ♪ ♪ things are going to turn out right if we all do well ♪ ♪ shower the people you love with love ♪ ♪ show them the way that you

feel ♪ ♪ things are going to be if we only will ♪ ♪ you can run but you cannot hide ♪ ♪ this winding road ♪ what do you plan to do with your foolish pride ♪ ♪ you're all by yourself alone ♪ ♪ what do you tell somebody beginning to ♪ ♪ i think it's true about the squeaky wheel how he's always getting the grease ♪ ♪ better to shower the people you love with love ♪ ♪ show them the way you feel

♪ things are going to turn out fine if we only will ♪ ♪ only will shower the people you love with love ♪ ♪ show them the way that you feel ♪ ♪ things are going to be better if we only will ♪ ♪ hower the people you love with love ♪ ♪ show them the way that you feel ♪ ♪ shower the people you love

with love ♪ ♪ show them the way that you feel ♪ ♪ ♪ raise them up ♪ shower the people you love with love ♪ ♪ make it rain >>. ♪ shower the people you love with love ♪ ♪ show them the way that you feel ♪ ♪ and things are going to be

better if we only will ♪ ♪ >> several officials paid their respects at the grave site of john f. kennedy at arlington national cemetery. among them was attorney general eric holder.

>> a ceremony was held today in dallas to mark 50 years since the assassination of former president john f. kennedy. the first official ceremony by the city held in dealey plaza where j.f.k. was shot with remarks by dallas mayor mike rawlings and historian david mccullough. this is 45 minutes. ♪

>> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage the united states naval academy men's glee club under the direction of dr. aaron smith.

>> please welcome our distinguished guests to the stage, led by the chairman of the 50th commemorative committee for the city of dallas. the most reverend bishop, kevin j. farrell of the catholic diocese of dallas. the mayor of dallas, the honorable mike rawlings, david mccullough, and pastor emeritus of the st. luke's community

united methodist church, sam w. holmes jr. thank you. and now, we ask you to please rise for the presentation of the colors by the dallas police department honor guard.

>> please remain standing for the national anthem, performed by monica saldevar. >>. ♪ o say can you see by the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ what's so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last

gleaming ♪ ♪ whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ through the perilous fight ♪ oo'er the ramparts we won were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ and the rockets' red glare and the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ o say does that star spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ o'er the land of the free

♪ and the home of the brave ♪ ♪ >> please be seated. the national invocation is presented by reverent bishop kevin james farrell of the catholic diocese of dallas. >> all mighty and ever faithful god, today we lift up our minds and hearts to you, because you, lord, have lifted us up from the horrible tragedy enacted in this place from the cruel suffering that was born on this hill, from the shock and horror that gripped our nation, and from the years when we as citizens of

this city suffered and were implicated by the guns shot by one man that killed the president and who many of us had set our hopes and dreams for a better america. it was your abiding inspiration and act of presence among us, lord, that moves us ever forward despite the temptation only to lament and be paralyzed by our grief. you turned our sorrow into a firm commitment to move forward. you turned our grief into a resolve to refashion our city to a place where life flourishes and true love abounds. you turned our devastation to a commitment to rebuild here the city of god, a city where all of our welcome, nurtured, and cared

for. we rejoice with gratitude in all that you have caused to happen here in a place where was scorned, and ruthlessly judged by ourselves and others. may you, heavenly father, continue to sustain us as we celebrate that the phoenix has risen from the ashes of violence. that patriots can be turned to harmony. that humans can see to understanding, that prejudices can lead to openness. make us instruments of your peace and bearers of divine justice that always tempers instinct with mercy, that changes what appears to be defeat to the reality fed by providence that all will be well. lord, may you walk always with

us. may you inspire us as you once inspired president john fitzgerald kennedy to dream of the world that never was and to say, why not? may god bless the united states of america. and now, please welcome the mayor of dallas, the honorable mike rawlings. [ applause ] >> a new era dawns, and another wanes a half a century ago. when hope and hatred collided right here in dallas. we watched the nightmarish reality that in our front yard,

our president had been taken from us. taken from his family, taken from the world. john fitzgerald kennedy's presidency, his life, and yes, his death, seemed to mythologically usher in the next 50 years. what ensued was five decades filled with other tragedy, turmoil, and great triumph. we were all very young. our lives, dreams, in front of us. dallas was very young as well. barely a century old. and given the nature of youth, we all felt invincible. well it seems that we all grew up that day, city and citizen, and suddenly, we had to step up to trying to live up to the challenges of the words, the

vision of a beloved president. our collective hearts were broken. but so many of us were too young to fully comprehend, i remember being called into the school's gymnasium during the terrible news and told to go home. stunned civic leaders at the trademark luncheon awaited a president who would never arise. crowds prayed outside parkland hospital, traffic stopped in cities across the country as news spread from car to car. and the world grieved with us. newspapers reported that flags were lowered to half staff around the globe. germans on both sides of the berlin wall placed lit candles in their windows. an 8-year-old nigerian girl recited the entire inaugural

address from memory as her father wept just like the skies today. while the past is never in the past, this was the lifetime ago. now today we, the people of dallas honor the life, legacy, and leadership of the man who called us not of our own interest but of our countries. we give thanks for his life and his service. we offer condolences to his family, especially his daughter, caroline on this difficult day. we pay tribute to an idealist without illusions, who helped build a more just and equal world. we salute a commander in chief who stared down a nuclear threat for this country. we praise the writer who

profiled true courage and modelled it himself. we applaud a visionary who create add core of young americans to promote peace around the globe. we stand in awe of a dreamer who challenged us to literally reach for the moon. though he, himself, would not live to see us achieve that goal. other goals were even tougher. taken longer to reach and we, the united states, still struggle toward some even as we speak. as do we here in dallas. but we're fortified by the knowledge that we have always had big goals and big aspirations in this city. set by a founding fathers like john bryant and george dealey, the name sake of this plaza. reenergized by eric johnson, the mayor who led the dallas in the

postassassination years. these five decades have seen us turn civic heart break into hard work. they've seen us go from youthful invincibility to existential vulnerability, to greater maturity as a city and community. on the one-year anniversary of the assassination of the late rabbi eli -- levy olin of temple emmanuel, one of the greatest spiritual leaders gave voice to dallas' communal pain unleashed on that day. rabbi olin said then, quote, contrary to the impassioned judgment of that horrible moment, the city is not guilty of the crime. but, in those days following the assassination, the most powerful searchlight man possesses is

focused on this city. every flaw, every raw spot, every wrinkle, and every uncleanness was put under a microscope and shown to the world. he continued the city of rich palaces and tall towers of commerce were set amid slums and humbled as the powerful light shined upon the city, it was learned had been inhospitable to honorable debate, end quote. rabbi olin captured the heart break and hurt the city felt. he stated plainly the defects and failings that were lay bare before the entire world. but most important, he called for dallas to use this tragedy to seek a true transformation. look around today. i believe we have heeded that call. the people of this city have

been filled with a sense of industry born of tragedy, driven to improve the substance of dallas, not just the image of it. today because of the hard work of many people, dallas is a different city. i believe the new frontier did not end that day on our texas frontier. and i hope that president kennedy would be pleased with our humble efforts towards fulfilling our country's finest calling, that of providing the opportunity for all citizens to exercise the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. the city of dallas will continue on that course. the man we remembered today gave us a gift that will not be squandered. he in our city will forever be linked. in tragedy, yes, but out of that

tragedy, an opportunity was granted to us. the chance to learn how to face the future when it's -- it's the darkest and the most uncertain hide the torch, even when the flame flickers and threatens to go out. as the people of dallas did then, each of us will meet our on coming challenges head on with courage, honoring, but not living in the past. and never, never flinching from the truth. we will meet the future with the same vigor, optimism, and unfailing sense of duty that our young president embodied. president kennedy brought us that message. in his pocket down that street on november 22nd, 1963.

that message was to be delivered a few miles away in a speech to dallas leaders following his parade. it was a speech he never got to make. but those unspoken words resonate far beyond the life of the man to commemorate that day in those words. we are unveiling a memorial right here in this historic plaza. it is described with the last lines of the undelivered speech and will serve as the reminder and a permanent monument to president kennedy's memory. i leave you with those resonant words. we in this country in this generation are by destiny rather

than choice the watchmen on the wall of world's freedom. we ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and our responsibility that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint. and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of peace on earth, goodwill toward men. that must always be our goal. and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. for ours was written long ago except the lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. ladies and gentlemen, would you join me in a moment of silence

in honor of the lives of john fitzgerald kennedy? ♪ america america ♪ ♪ god shed his grace on thee

♪ o beautiful for spacious skies ♪ ♪ for amber waves of grain ♪ for purple mountains majesty ♪ ♪ above the fruited plain ♪ america america ♪ ♪ god shed his grace on thee ♪ and crown thy good with brotherhood ♪ ♪ from sea to shining sea ♪ o beautiful for hero's ♪

♪ deliberating stride ♪ who country ♪ and birth thee more than life ♪ ♪ america america ♪ ♪ may god glory refined ♪ it will all but be noble ♪ ♪ and every nation rise >> ladies and gentlemen, mr. david mccullough.

[ applause ] ♪ he spoke to us in that now distant time past with the vitality and sense of purpose such as we never heard before. he was young to be president, but it didn't seem so if you were younger still. he was ambitious to make it a better world, and so were we. let the world go forth, he said, that the torch is passed to a new generation of americans. it was an exciting time. he talked of all that needed to be done, of so much that mattered.

equal opportunity, unity of purpose, education. the life of spirit, poetry, service to one's country and the courage to move forward to the future. the cause of peace on earth. the inspiring summons to serve, the hardwork and worthy accomplishment a summons we long for. he's an optimist and he said so. but there was nothing -- no side stepping reality in what he said, no resorting to fail. he spoke to the point and with confidence. he knew words mattered. his words changed lives.

his words changed history. rarely as a commander in chief addressed the nation with such command of language. much that he said applies now no less than half a century ago and will continue to be taken to heart far into the future. gone but not forgotten is the old expression for departed heroes. but if not forgotten, they are not gone. on this day especially, and in this place, let us listen again to some of what john f. kennedy said. the new frontier of which i

speak is not set of problems, it's set of challenges. it comes up from what i intend to offer the american people, but what i intend to ask them. this nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. it was founded on the principle that all men are created equal and the rights of every man are diminished where the rights of one man are threatened. the heart of the question is, whether we have going to treat our fellow americans as we want to be treated. we must educate our children as our most valuable resource. we must have trained people, many trained people, the finest talents brought to the keenest edge. we must have not only scientists, mathematicians, technicians, we must have people skill in the humanities.

i look forward to an american which will reward achievement in the arts that we reward treatments in business and in state craft. i look forward to an america which commands respect throughout the world, not only for its strength, but for its civilization. this country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor. art is the great unifying and humanizing experience. the life of the art is far from being an interpretation, a distraction in the life of a nation. it's very close to the center of a nation's purpose. and it is the test of the quality of the nation's civilization. i am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our

cities, we, too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battle or in politics. but for our contributions to the human spirit. if more politicians knew poetry and more poets knew politics, i'm convinced the world would be a little better place to live. if power leads men towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. when power narrows the areas of concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. when power corrupts, poetry cleanses for art establishes the basic human truth which must serve as the touch stone of our judgment.

together, back wash of the coming age of space. we need to be part of it. we set sail on this new sea because there is to be a new knowledge gained and new right to be won, they must be won and used for the progress of all people.

but why, some say, the moon. why choose this as our goal? we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills. because that challenge is what we are willing to accept, what we are unwilling to postpone. and one which we intend to win. the goal of a peaceful world is our guide for the presence and our vision to the future. the quest is the greatest adventure of our century. we sometimes chafe at the burden of our obligations, the complexity of our decisions, the

agony of our choices. but there is no comfort or security innovation. no solution in applications. no relief in irresponsibility. the problems of the world cannot be possibly solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. we need men who could dream of things that never were and ask why not. those things that we talked about today may seem unreal. where so many people doubt they could be done. the fact of the matter is that it has been true all through our history, they will be done. again and again, john kennedy's words are part of his love of

life, his love of his country and his history. he read history, he wrote history. and he understood that history was not just about times past. but also about those who populate the present. each new generation, as he liked to say, that we, too -- and that we too will be judged by history. and that we owe it to those who went before, those who will follow to venture up. and, yes, even surpass the achievements of the past with what we accomplish and with the values we hold dear. he also knew from his reading and from experience the very little of consequence is ever accomplished alone.

but by joint effort. america has been a joint effort all down the years. and we must continue in that spirit. as he himself said, for i can assure you that we love our country, not for what it was, though it has always been great, not for what it is, though this we are -- of this we are deeply proud. but what it some day can and through the efforts of us all some day will be. as the campaign song said, he had high hopes. and so do we and on we go.

♪ ♪ going to see the glory of the coming of the lord ♪ ♪ he's championing out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored ♪ ♪ he has loosed the fateful

lightning of his terrible bold swift sword ♪ ♪ his truth is marching on ♪ marching on ♪ glory glory hallelujah ♪ ♪ marching on ♪ glory glory hallelujah ♪ ♪ glory glory hallelujah ♪ ♪ his truth is marching on

♪ his truth is marching on ♪ glory glory hallelujah ♪ ♪ glory glory hallelujah ♪ his truth is marching on ♪ in the beauty of the memory ♪ ♪ christ was born

♪ with the glory in his -- ♪ while god is marching on ♪ glory glory hallelujah ♪ glory glory hallelujah ♪ glory, glory hallelujah ♪ his truth is marching on

♪ amen amen ♪ ♪ ♪ our prayer will be delivered by pastor emeritus of st. luke's community united methodist church, sam w. holds jr. >> let us pray. oh, god i hope in ages past and i hope for years to come, send us forth to claim the brand new future that you continue to offer us beyond our tragedies and our triumphs. but as we go forth, we may not be centered on where we have been, or on what we have done,

but on where we're going and what is possible by your grace for us to become a beloved community. which celebrates and defers our unity in the midst of our god-given diversity. and in the challenging words of a fransican benediction, may god bless us with this that easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so we may live deep within our hearts. may god bless us with anger that injustice, oppression, and exportation of people so we may work with justice, freedom and peace for all. and may god bless us with tears to shed to those who suffer from

pain, rejection so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. and may god bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world so we can do together what others claim cannot be done. and so in this season of thanksgiving, we humfully bli ask these blessings in the name of the one god who created us all for the strength of a beloved community and in thanksgiving to god for the inspiring and courageous life and legacy of president john fitzgerald kennedy, amen, and amen.

>> ladies and gentlemen, please stand as we retire the colors. ♪

>> ambassador's to the united

states was one of the officials who laid a wreath at the grave site of president kennedy. today was the 50th anniversary of president kennedy's assassination in dallas.

>> this weekend, american history tv looks back at the assassination of jfk and the aftermath, with eyewitness accounts, scenes from the president's trip to texas, and

events from dealey plaza. also, your chance to talk to authors and historians, saturday, 5:00 eastern with dallas 1963 co-author bill menitaglio, and november 22, 1965 author. coverage continues sunday with lyndon johnson's november 27 address to congress. and presidential historian timothy nap that li followed at 6:00 p.m. with the state funeral, remembering jfk on american history tv, this weekend on c-span 3. >> tonight on c-span, some of nbc live television coverage from john f. kennedy's assassination in 1963. two ceremonies honoring the president of the united states. first from boston, followed by

dallas' first commemoration in dealey plaza. on the next washington journal, "washington post" financial reportere lan muy as ben bernanke prepares to end its term. then immigration policy and what should be done to illegal immigrants. and former ambassador to the holy see looks to the church. plus your e-mail, phone calls, and tweets. washington journal, live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> washington journal, a look at changes proposed by congress for nsa surveillance and former surveillance gathering. george sensen brunner was one of

the lead authors of the patriot act. you can watch the discussion here on c-span. >> lady bird johnson was the first wife of a president to become a millionaire by investing in and running radio and tv stations in texas. watch our program, saturday, 7:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. live monday night, our series continues. >> during the president's historic trip to china, noticed how mrs. nixon was looking at a package of cigarettes. they had a canvass and she was admiring that. he said i understand you also admire the -- she said, yes, aren't they darling. she said we will make sure that we have pandas to go home with. it was important for her to go and support her husband, just her being there would bring so much goodwill and everybody at the end of the trips where the

news reports would come out. they would talk about the president in way. but they would always say what a wonderful job pat nixon did. >> first lady pat nixon, monday night live on c-span. including hanna rosen. >> i think women's identities are tied to their work in the way which we do not like, in a way we find disturbing and unnatural. it's, in fact, true. when i look at marissa mary who was chose on the be the ceo of yahoo! when she was visibly pregnant and asked how much maternity leave do you want to take, she said basically none, the fact that such women exists, it's not the way i would do that -- i took plenty of maternity leave but i -- i feel like that is the growing number -- that's the kind of woman that they're -- there can be space for.

and the fact there are some stay at home dads who are happy stay at home dads and don't just live in portland, oregon, that's okay too. >> and throughout the fall, mark ing 15 years of book tv on c-span 2. >> today marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the 30th president of the united states, john f. kennedy. next, the broadcast from the day of the assassination in 1963. it began with anchors receiving word that the president and texas governor john connolly had been shot. this is two hours. >> we have a mobile unit on the way to the white house now. you just reported, the white house doesn't seem to have more information than the reporters on the scene. we're establishing contact with our robert neil who's with the president's party.

and we expect to be getting a report from him very shortly. so as you can imagine, extensive efforts are being made to get our man dispatched to the right place at the right time and get as much information on it as we can. >> thank you, frank. >> all stand by him and relay the information as it comes in. obviously it's going to be sketchy for some time. you can imagine what's happening to every circuit of radio and telephone between the east coast and dallas, texas at this moment. obviously, the circuits are jammed. the information that we have which is no time obviously for speculation, facts are all warranted. here is something else. it's impossible to tell at once that kennedy was hit with bullet wounds in governor connolly's chest was plainly visible including gun fire that came from an automatic weapon. >> chet, representative albert thomas, member of the house of

representatives said he was informed that president kennedy and governor connolly are both still alive after having been shot in an assassination attempt. this is from dallas. it's the first word we have that they are, in fact, still alive. it is the first thing definitive that we have as we say we can give you only as much as we have. it is that both men were wounded by an assailant or assailants, it's not known who did it or why. it was reported from dallas it was not determined whether the secret service and dallas police returned the gun fire that hit the president and the texas governor. there's no word that the assailants have been captured or cited, probably because the focus of the tension, now, understandably is on the president and not so much on those who commitmented this act. >> i have some additional information in here, bill, that would indicate that the secret service guarding the presidents had no chance to return fire. this item says reporters, about

five car lengths behind the chief executive heard what sounded like bursts of gun fire. secret service agents quickly unmembered their automatic rifles. they drew their pistols, but the damage was done. the president was slumped over in the back seat of the car, face down. governor connolly after slumping to the left for a moment lay on the floor of the rear seat. >> more from congressman thomas. he's outside of the corridor of the emergency room in which the president and governor connolly are under treatment. he said he had been told that the president was sterilized and, quote, in very critical condition. that from congressman albert thomas, the texas democrat who was in the hospital, parkland hospital in dallas, texas where president kennedy and governor connolly of texas had been taken after being wounded in an apparent assassination attempt. >> we're expecting momentarily a telephone call, that's why i'm seated near this telephone here

from nbc's robert mckneel who's from the president's party. i understand that robert is trying to get to a telephone and get to us. perhaps at that time we'll get more details on what the situation is and perhaps the questions about what happened earlier. >> and terrence, frank, in terms of locating where it happened, the reporter, an a.p. man said president and governor mcconnelly were shot as they were going through a triple underpass. a man and woman were scrambling on an upper level of a walkway that overlooked the overpass. the bubble-top car, the bubble was down at the time it happened. there's nothing 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 in dallas and a call

for a roman catholic priest. but the information we have now is the president is alive. but the member of congress that's outside of the emergency room where the president is being treated in parkland hospital in dallas, texas said he's been killed but the president is in critical condition. >> you reported most of this substantially earlier. this is an a.p. reporter, the presidential assistant if kennedy were dead. he got no answers. kennedy was taken to parkland hospital where he made am speech. the a.p. reporter said kennedy was transported to an ambulance, he lay on the seat of the car, blood streaming. three shots were fired as the motorcade entered the triple underpass that leads to the stemmons freeway route to parkland hospital. the secret service waved them on at top speed to the hospital. even at high speed, it took five

minutes to get the car to the ambulance entrance of the hospital. the reporters saw the president lying flat on his face in the car. a man and a woman were scrambling on the upper level of the walkway overlooking the underpass. the presidential aide said he has no information on whether the president is still alive. mrs. kennedy was weeping and trying to hold up her husband's head when reporters reached the car. >> i think it might be pointed out in that last report from dallas calling in a surgical specialist and a priest that this is routine in a situation like this if a catholic is in critical condition. the summoning of the priest does not necessarily mean that the illness or the affliction will be terminal, that death is necessarily near. it's merely a precaution. again, the best we have is that both president kennedy and texas

governor john connolly are still alive receiving treatment at a dallas emergency room in dallas, texas in the parkland hospital where the two men were taken after being wounded. the report is that the president is in 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 wounds and to save their lives if possible. >> as i may suggest, you and chet have been so busy bringing the bulletin information to the audience. a great many people are not aware hoff the details of the story, radio and television sets have been going on all around the country. i wonder for their benefit and mine, what we know from the top end insofar that you have those details? >> frank, of course, the president was on a two-day trip to texas making a series of speeches.

one of his missions in texas was to try to co-less the democratic party. he made a speech in ft. worth, texas, which is, i think, 25 or 30 miles from dallas. he then moved to dallas and was about to make a speech, was on the way to another site of the speech in dallas or on the fringes of the city. >> it was a motorcade? >> it was moving with the bubble top of the presidential car down. this may have been the tragic mistake. all we know is that roughly 12:45 or so, the shots were fired. >> central standard time? >> i think it would have been dallas time. yes, it would have been dallas time. it's happened in the -- >> in the past 20 minutes. >> past 20 minutes or so. the president was headed to another speech. the motorcade was moving along on this freeway, going under the ramp of another freeway when the attack took place. >> here's information on a

speech he had just made before being shot. president kennedy arrived and said those were confusing rhetoric with reality, speaking in an area where supporters are booming, senator goldwater's chances for the 1964 nomination, and to -- the security -- >> this is robin mcneil, or correspondent who's been travelling -- >> bob, are you there? >> this is frank mcgee. i'm inside. we're on the air. you take it from the top, bob, tell us everything you know if you would in chronological order. starting at the top unless you have late information on the president's condition. >> frank, i'm informed we'll have to repeat. we can't hear it. >> bob, having some problem with

the communication, the broadcast, the early part of it did not go on the air. would you begin again, please, yes, go ahead please, bob. >> they're not getting the other end of the conversation, frank. >> i'm sorry, we're going to have to -- you speak slowly and i'll repeat what you say. this is robert mckneel 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 ralph yar brow who was with the president. the shot which wounded the president occurred as the motorcade was running through a huge crowd in downtown dallas.

the governor of texas, john connolly, was also hit. the texas governor was on the far side of the car across from the president. mrs. kennedy, who was seated between them, was not wounded. the shot apparently came from a window in a building overlooking the parade route. but about one street back from it yielded by some trees. police fanned out around the area, interviewed several witnesses. who said they saw a man with a gun in the window.

bob informs me he was in the motorcade. he said he was able to hear the shots, they stopped, as the shots rang out, people lining the streets screamed and lied down on the sidewalk and on the street. the motorcade immediately speeded up. and took the president straight from the parkland memorial hoffs from which you're speaking now, bob, and the president was carried in bleeding. have you any information on how many times and where the president was struck? bob does not know how many times nor where the president was struck, all he knows is the president was seriously wounded and that's the latest

information they have. >> think about what you're going to say -- >> three shots, another reporter at the scene says he heard four. turning to the texas governor, can you tell us how many times -- one further question, can you tell us anything about the man seen with the gun in the window? the -- they say he was a white man. >> put the phone -- >> there were a lot of negro people around. but the man in the window was white. was it a rifle? the policeman told bob -- he heard -- it was a high-powered rifle. but no confirmation of that. hold on. >> i think we have it here. >> put the receiver on there and apparently we'll punch it to the speaker and let bob talk. >> i'm told this little thing -- we have to attach it to the telephone.

-- bob, could you say a few words for us. are you still there? >> about the president's condition. >> now is this being broadcast what he's saying there now. i realize you're in a terrible position. you cannot get information if you' on the phone. you think you should remain on the phone or break the connection and get back with us? >> up -- >> i think i would be better -- >> yes, this is -- microphone here. >> what's your job? >> yes, bob? i have a medical -- [ indiscernible ]

five minutes. >> that's fine, bob, we'll be expecting you. i'll keep the phone. thank you, bob, very much. >> to interrupt for a moment, there is this from dallas. while robert mcneil is on the phone, he's unable to gather information. president kennedy has been given blood transfusions at parkland in an effort to save his life after he and governor john connolly of texas were shot. the word still is that the president is still in serious condition. other reports say he's in critical condition. governor john connolly, i think, chet, has been moved. >> yep, we have this information that adds up to something rather inconclusive. secret service said the president remained in the emergency room and the governor was moved to the general operating room of parkland hospital. one secret serviceman was overheard telling the other that there was no need to move the

president because emergency facilities were adequate in the emergency room. that would indicate after a snap judgment evaluation that governor connolly was worse wounded than the president. that's a snap judgment evaluation. >> it could mean they're separating the two cases so each could be given full attention. >> the medical student said he could see that a sizable crowd has gathered outside of the hospital. this telephone line is connected to the hospital. what is the name of the hospital? >> parkland memorial. >> parkland memorial hospital where the governor and the president has been taken. and mckneel will be giving us information shortly. >> the president panned governor john connolly 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're going to switch to station wbap-tv, ft. worth, dallas and to the news man there. >> moments ago, authorities in dallas took a young man into custody. which was really never held. as you can appreciate, communication facilities as you saw went in and out. this is a time of what would probably be best described as controlled panic. the arrangements for the switch to ft. worth were made hastily and that's why the picture came and the audio didn't. when the picture dropped, the audio came in. to recap to the best of our knowledge, both texas governor john connolly and president kennedy have been wounded in an

assassination attempt in dallas, texas. they were moving in a motorcade in a downtown section of the city. robert mcneil was reporting from the scene and he was riding in the motorcade. mrs. kennedy was not injured, she was sitting between the president and governor connolly. a white man was seen in the window of a building about a block way from the cars. there are other reports that a man was seen with a high-powered rifle. there's no indication yet that whoever fired the shots a it the president and the texas governor has been found.