Kennedy Controversy :: essays research papers

The Kennedy Controversy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  November 22, 1963, is a day that will forever live in the minds of those who lived that day, and fascinate younger generations to follow. On this date in history one of America’s most prestigious, well-known and respected presidents was shot and killed by an assassin’s bullet. This single act sent shock waves that paralyzed the country and other nations. Eyes were turned to the United States as everyone held his or her collective breath wondering what was going to happen next. Ike Pappas, a reporter for WNEW in New York, remembers being sent on assignment to Dallas, Texas, to cover the assassination events as they unfolded. Pappas describes his trip: I ran downstairs, hailed a cab, gave the guy twenty dollars, and took then the most fantastic ride, one of the most fantastic taxi rides ever because if you will recall New York City was in a state of shock with the rest of the world, and the bridges were jammed. The telephones—you could not make a call—you could not get out of the city, and I just kept giving this guy twenty dollar bills saying, â€Å"Get there, man, anyway you can.† We went over backyards, through laundry, piles of laundries, rushing out to the airport (119). The government even shutdown all transportation and even closed the Mexican Border (Pappas 120). John Fitzgerald Kennedy, to many, seemed invincible because of his youth and aura of self-confidence (Ward 15). However, even the president knew how vulnerable he was. The night before that infamous day Kennedy was quoted as saying, â€Å"If anyone wants to shoot a president it is not a very difficult job. All one has to do is get on a high building and a telescope rifle and there is nothing anyone can do† (Restin 40). America’s fascination with John F. Kennedy’s sudden death has led to many theories as to who really killed John Kennedy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Soon after the chaos from the assassination settled, the nation began to demand answers. On November 29, 1963, President Lyndon Johnson, who was sworn in an hour and a half after Kennedy was pronounced dead, formed a special committee led by Chief Justice Earl Warren to make a thorough investigation into the assassination and report its’ findings. This report became known as the Warren Commission (â€Å"The Assassination—As the Plot Unfolds† 71). The Commission defined the indisputable facts of the case.