Typed draft of a news report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, one page, 8.5 x 11.25, no date but circa November 22, 1963. The piece is headed, "The President of the United States is Dead," the article is heavily annotated in pencil, with several phrases struck through and edited-reflecting breaking news and the constantly changing nature of the situation at hand. Notably, a statement that Governor Connally was "still in critical condition" was stuck through and changed to "listed as satisfactory."
The report reads, in part: "President John F. Kennedy - his wife at his side - was riding in the motorcade that was carrying the presidential party to downtown Dallas for an appearance at a luncheon. As the motorcade entered a triple underpass leading to Stemmons Expressway, three shots rang out in rapid succession. The president was shot at once in the head and fell to floor, face down. Mrs. Kennedy dropped to the floor beside her husband, weeping, holding the President's head in her arms as the car sped away…The car immediately sped to Parkland Hospital. There the president died at one o'clock, CST., after receiving the last rites of the Church." Among the pencil notations in the margins are a deleted note, "Now, question is when & where Vice Pres. Johnson will be sworn in as President," replaced with: "V.P. Johnson now Pres Johnson sworn in on the plane." In very good to fine condition, with short tears and chips to the bottom edge. An insightful and poignant Kennedy piece, reflecting the uncertainty in the aftermath of his death.
