What Was I Doing When I Heard That President John F. Kennedy Was Assassinated?

 Originally Written Between 2013-2015

Friday, November 22, 1963.  Fifty years’ ago.  I was 19 and working at my first “real” job at 3M.  Time?  A little after 12:30 in the afternoon.  I was taking dictation from my boss, Jim Schedin, and my back was to the door.  Jim sat behind his desk and had full view of his office door – which had a little window.

I noticed that Jim was paying more attention to the door than his notes and I looked around to see Carolyn, a colleague of mine, jumping up and down trying to see through the little window to see if anyone was in the office.  Anyway, Jim waved her in and she shouted, “The President of the United States and the Governor of Texas have just been shot!”

Jim and I quickly left his office and went into the main area and found Marvin who always had a radio at his desk.  The news of the shooting was just coming over the airwaves and a few minutes after 1:00, we heard Walter Chronkite announce that the President had died.

We were all in shock.  Phones were ringing and we tried to all do our jobs; but, it was impossible.  I’m not quite sure of the time, but I think around 2:30 or so, we got word from upper management that all 3M employees could go home.  At that time, I was living at home with my parents in Forest Lake and was in a car pool with three others.  By the time we all got our act together, it was probably 3:00.  Something weird happened while driving home on old Highway 61, however.  Every car had its lights on and it wasn’t even dark out yet.  It was almost like a funeral procession because all of us were driving very slowly trying to listen to the radio.

When I arrived home, my mom, dad, and my 16-year old sister, Joanne, were already sitting in their chairs watching the TV.  I joined them and I can honestly say that I don’t remember getting up out of that couch for the next four days.  I don’t remember eating or going to church or anything.  I guess we ate our meals on TV trays placed in front of us.

On Sunday, November 24^th, I, along with the rest of the world witnessed a “first.”  Seeing Jack Ruby murder Lee Harvey Oswald – in real time – on TV.  I remember just staring at the screen with my hands over my mouth – so surprised that I actually saw someone die right in front of my eyes.  Unbelieveable!

I couldn’t get over the strength and composure that Jackie Kennedy showed during those four or five days.  She did not shed a tear.  (Although I’m sure she cried in private.)  The salute that little three-year old, John-John, gave his father as the casket passed by is one of those lasting images that many will always remember.  I also recall the parade of world leaders such as President Charles de Gaulle of France, former President Dwight Eisenhower, Chancellor Ludwig Erhard of West Germany, and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, among others.  However, even at age 19, I found it strange that those heads of state were walking along the street without any security (at least that I could see).  It was such an innocent time – something we certainly don’t have now – 50 years’ later.

One thing I have to share with all of you is a picture that was published a week later in the Forest Lake newspaper.  On Monday, November 25^th, the day and the exact time of President Kennedy’s funeral, the paper sent a photographer to Main Street.  There is not one car or person in all of Forest Lake.  We were all in our homes watching history in the making.