Local Historian gives program on the JFK Assassination

Historian, Richard Powers will be speaking at the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts on November 22nd, from 6 – 8 p.m. on the JFK Assassination. This will be the 50th anniversary of the tragic event and remains, to this day, surrounded by facts and theories which continue to be debated.  Come listen to Powers who has spent time in Dallas researching the archives and step back in history to that day in 1963.  

Press Release:

….Most everyone living at that time remember where they were and what they were doing that day!

Shortly after noon on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in an open motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas.

Arriving at Love Field, President and Mrs. Kennedy disembarked and immediately walked toward a fence where a crowd of well-wishers had gathered, and they spent several minutes shaking hands.  The first lady received a bouquet of red roses, which she brought with her to the waiting limousine. Governor John Connelly and his wife, Nellie, were already seated in the open convertible as the Kennedy’s entered and sat behind them. Since it was no longer raining, the plastic bubble top had been left off. Vice President and Mrs. Johnson occupied another car in the motorcade.  The procession left the airport and traveled along a ten-mile route that wound through downtown Dallas on the way to the Trade Mart where the President was scheduled to speak at a luncheon. 

Crowds of excited people lined the streets and waved to the Kennedy’s. The car turned off Main Street at Dealey Plaza around 12:30 p.m. As it was passing the Texas School Book Depository, gunfire suddenly reverberated in the plaza.

Bullets struck the president’s back, neck and head and he slumped over toward Mrs. Kennedy. The governor was also sustained multiple injuries.

The car sped off to Parkland Memorial Hospital just a few minutes away. But little could be done for the President. A Catholic priest was summoned to administer the last rites, and at 1:00 p.m. John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead. Though seriously wounded, Governor Connelly would recover.

The president’s body was brought to Love Field and placed on Air Force One. Before the plane took off Lyndon B. Johnson stood next to his wife and Jacqueline where the oath of office was administered by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Hughes. The brief ceremony took place at 2:38 p.m.

Ever since that fateful day in Dallas and publication of the Warren Report, this murder case has been the focal point of extensive independent investigation.   The result of 50 years of analysis, review of some recently released classified information and modern crime investigation techniques have spawned several conspiracy theories.

Rick’s presentation on the anniversary of JFK’s assassination will begin with a review of  world events at that time, summary of his last 2 days, arrest and murder of Oswald by Jack Ruby, review of the Warren Report, the House Select Committee on Assassinations, case anomalies, strange stories, and a few of the conspiracy view points.  Rick has spent many years studying the assassination, has read numerous books, watch several hours of film, reviewed most of the witness testimony and oral histories, discussed the assassination with experts, visited the Dealey Plaza site, the Texas School Book Depository, and the research center.  Questions will be answered following the presentation.

Linda Gross

Writer, photographer. Passionate foodie, lover of good books and storytelling. Lives in Globe. Plays in the historic district. Travels when possible.