Assassination of John F. Kennedy

Newspaper coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Terre Haute Tribune, via Newspapers.com)

Background

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. He was shot twice while riding in a motorcade on the way to give a speech. His alleged killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, was arrested that same day but was shot to death a few days later while in police custody.   

The Assassination

Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, were in Texas on a fundraising trip. After visiting San Antonio, Houston, and Fort Worth, the couple traveled to Dallas. Riding in an open car in the presidential motorcade, the Kennedys were accompanied by Texas governor John Connally and his wife. Vice president Lyndon B. Johnson was in a separate car.

As the president’s car passed through Dealey Plaza around 12:30 p.m., he was shot first in the neck and then in the head by bullets that appeared to be fired from the Texas School Book Depository. Connally was injured by the same bullet that passed through Kennedy’s neck. The motorcade rushed to the hospital, where Kennedy was declared dead at 1 p.m. Vice President Johnson was sworn into office as president at 2:38 p.m. on board Air Force One.

Lee Harvey Oswald

A little over an hour after the shooting, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested by police as the main suspect. In between Kennedy’s assassination and the arrest, Oswald had also allegedly shot and killed Dallas policeman J.D. Tippit.

Oswald, a Marxist and former Marine, proclaimed his innocence, but two days later (November 24), he was shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby on live television as he was being transferred to the county jail.

Committee Investigations

Kennedy’s funeral was held on November 25. Almost immediately after Kennedy’s death, conspiracy theories began circulating. Johnson created the Warren Commission on November 29, 1963, to investigate the shooting. After 10 months, the commission determined that Oswald had acted alone.

In 1976, the House Select Committee on Assassinations was created to reevaluate Kennedy’s death (as well as that of Martin Luther King Jr.). In 1979, this committee reported that there was likely more than one shooter. However, afterward, the reliability of the evidence, and thus the committee’s conclusions, were questioned.

Learn more about the Assassination of John F. Kennedy through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Assassination of John F. Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie begin 2-day Texas visit prior to assassination Thu, Nov 21, 1963 – 1 · The Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) · Newspapers.comJohn F. Kennedy not immediately killed when shot in Dallas; Is taken to emergency room Fri, Nov 22, 1963 – Page 1 · Tucson Daily Citizen (Tucson, Arizona) · Newspapers.comJohn F. Kennedy is slain; Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president; Texas governor John Connally wounded Fri, Nov 22, 1963 – 1 · The Daily Times (Davenport, Iowa) · Newspapers.comJFK is dead; Lyndon Johnson to take office; Motorcade ambushed in Dallas; Texas governor hit Fri, Nov 22, 1963 – Page 1 · Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, Nevada) · Newspapers.comPresident John F. Kennedy is assassinated; Dies of gunshot wounds in Dallas, Texas Fri, Nov 22, 1963 – 1 · The Evening Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) · Newspapers.comLee Harvey Oswald is arrested for murder of patrolman J.D. Tippet; accused of of also killing JFK Sat, Nov 23, 1963 – Page 20 · The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comLyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as president following JFK assassination; Jackie Kennedy attends Sat, Nov 23, 1963 – 1 · The Austin American (Austin, Texas) · Newspapers.comJohn F. Kennedy Funeral Mass is announced; burial place not announced; no word on public viewing Sat, Nov 23, 1963 – Page 1 · Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida) · Newspapers.comJackie Kennedy says last goodbye to husband John F. Kennedy; Has faced other tragedies in her life Sat, Nov 23, 1963 – 14 · Chillicothe Gazette (Chillicothe, Ohio) · Newspapers.comEditorial after JFK assassination; says he will be mentioned as one of history's great presidents Sat, Nov 23, 1963 – 3 · The Miami News (Miami, Florida) · Newspapers.comReaction to John F. Kennedy's assassination varies at local South Carolina schools Sun, Nov 24, 1963 – Page 26 · The Greenville News (Greenville, South Carolina) · Newspapers.comNewspaper coverage of John F. Kennedy's funeral; Jackie Kennedy "bears up proudly" Mon, Nov 25, 1963 – 1 · The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida) · Newspapers.comFuneral for John F. Kennedy: "Last Rites for JFK; Nation mourns leader" Mon, Nov 25, 1963 – 1 · Fort Lauderdale News (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) · Newspapers.comKennedy children Caroline and John say goodbye to father JFK at funeral services Mon, Nov 25, 1963 – Page 1 · Beatrice Daily Sun (Beatrice, Nebraska) · Newspapers.comJacqueline Kennedy, widow of JFK, kisses his casket; Daughter Caroline kneels by her side Mon, Nov 25, 1963 – Page 1 · Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona) · Newspapers.com3-year-old John F. Kennedy Jr. salutes at passing casket of his father, JFK Mon, Nov 25, 1963 – 1 · The Billings Gazette (Billings, Montana) · Newspapers.comJackie Kennedy leaves JFK funeral with children Caroline and John Jr., and also Kennedy siblings Mon, Nov 25, 1963 – 6 · Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin) · Newspapers.comPhoto of President John F. Kennedy's casket as it lies in state at the U.S. Capitol Tue, Nov 26, 1963 – 5 · Shamokin News-Dispatch (Shamokin, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com"Security net in capital tightened" at funeral for JFK; Secret Service protects Pres. Johnson Tue, Nov 26, 1963 – 5 · Shamokin News-Dispatch (Shamokin, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comNewspapers in Europe speculate about John F. Kennedy's assassination; criticize Dallas police Tue, Nov 26, 1963 – 5 · Shamokin News-Dispatch (Shamokin, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comNightclub owner Jack Ruby kills Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of John F. Kennedy Mon, Nov 25, 1963 – 1 · Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Newspapers.comOhio residents surveyed by newspaper say Lee Harvey Oswald "should have had fair trial" Mon, Nov 25, 1963 – Page 1 · The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) · Newspapers.comWarren Commission concludes that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in JFK assassination Mon, Sep 28, 1964 – 1 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.comNewspapers comment on the findings of the Warren Commission Report on the assassination of JFK Tue, Sep 29, 1964 – Page 8 · The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comHouse of Representatives committee concludes that JFK's assassination was "probably a conspiracy" Sun, Dec 31, 1978 – Page 3 · The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) · Newspapers.comJFK assassination exhibit opens in Dallas, Texas, in 1989 Thu, Nov 23, 1989 – Page 121 · Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, New Jersey) · Newspapers.com"Who killed JFK? Conspiracy theories abound 40 years after JFK assassination" Sat, Nov 22, 2003 – Page 1 · The Index-Journal (Greenwood, South Carolina) · Newspapers.comNational Archives unseals thousands of JFK files; Major revelations into his killing are unlikely Wed, Dec 20, 2017 – A10 · The Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) · Newspapers.com