JFK – 50 Years in a Heartbeat / Remembering November 22nd 1963 Although far removed from Mrs. Hindman’s grade six class at Shuniah Public School, I can still clearly remember the sombre events of Friday November 22nd 1963. It was late autumn, typically cool, with pockets of snow dotting the ground. Mates of the day included the Jansekovich brothers, Gary & Peter, Mary-Ann Tulloch, Jimmy Rankka, Ruth Mettinen, Janie McDaid, Doug Adams, Robert Rinne and my fabulous grade eight grad date Joanne Liosis to name but a few – all whom elicit ready smiles. Though only ten years old, I recall my classmates and I being visibly rattled when Mr. Bradford, the Vice-Principal, interrupted our lessons in the early afternoon with the words – “President Kennedy has been assassinated in Dallas, Texas.” Strangely, I don’t feel this old. It’s hard for me to fathom that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy occurred a half century ago. That certainly is a long time. To better put it into perspective, North America’s Beatlemania craze was still ten weeks away, the top radio tunes were Sugar Shack by the Fireballs, Dominique by the Singing Nun and Louie Louie by The Kingsmen. Walt Disney’s The Incredible Journey based on the novel by the locally settled (Port Arthur) author Sheila Burnford was packing them in at the box office while The Beverly Hillbillies and The Dick Van Dyke Show ruled the television screens. Lester B. Pearson was Canada’s recently elected Prime Minister and the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs were the reigning Stanley Cup champions for a mind-blowing 12th time. On revisiting the crime of the twentieth century, it’s pretty much become common knowledge that one lone gunman on a mission, namely Lee Harvey Oswald, was totally responsible for firing all 3 shots in slightly under 6 seconds from his army surplus, bolt-action rifle while strategically perched on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. It was the second bullet which mortally wounded President Kennedy. The Very Rev. Oscar L. Huber administered the conditional last rites. JFK was officially pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital at 2 PM EST after doctors performed an emergency tracheotomy and blood transfusion which proved unsuccessful. Over the past fifty years, there have been countless theories springing up involving other shooters and the positions they may have taken. There have also been numerous unsubstantiated reports that the CIA, organized crime, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, the Russians or even Lyndon B. Johnson, the sitting Vice-President at the time, may have masterminded the whole operation. It’s no secret that President Kennedy and his family had many enemies allowing lots of openings for his take down but up till now, history seems to point to Oswald as the one sole assassin. Headlines continue to appear like clockwork offering up new revelations on JFK’s demise in effect becoming somewhat of a parlour game. I personally feel uneasy accepting the bizarre ‘Oswald acted alone’ theory but as the years roll by, it seems to matter less. On Sunday November 24th, while being moved from the city jail to the county lockup, Lee Harvey Oswald was fatally shot by well known Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby which was captured live on the three U.S. TV networks. I’d say that was reality TV at its’ eeriest. While at home on the evening of Monday November 25th watching CBS-TV news anchor Walter Cronkite’s film footage of Kennedy’s funeral and burial, there was almost a surreal feeling permeating the living room at our McIntyre Street dwelling. I can still picture my always emotional mom getting all misty-eyed, especially when three year old John Kennedy Jr saluted his father’s coffin. My pop, truly a sharp guy, had a memorable comment that has stayed with me all these years later – “funny those Americans…they elect a good President and then they shoot him.” Ever since a free spirited 43 year old John Kennedy narrowly beat Richard Nixon with savvy political machinery on Election Day, November 8th 1960, my older brother was instantly drawn in. Roddy thought Kennedy was cool because he proudly displayed the famous Kennedy ‘vigah’ with his participation in exuberant football games on the lawns of the Kennedy Compound at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. Rod and I both also admired Kennedy’s steadfast belief in his administration’s ‘New Frontier’ which included the creation of the Peace Corps in 1962, establishing the elite Navy SEALs and successfully landing man safely on the moon before the end of the 1960’s. Also of great importance, President Kennedy was a huge proponent of desegregation as evidenced by his captivating televised speech, June 1963. His proposals became the basis of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, enacted after his death. A cold, snowy morning in Washington, D.C. on January 20 1961 gave way to a day of jubilance and backdrop to a spectacular inauguration for John F. Kennedy – his official time in office as President would sadly number only 1036 days. 1983’s One Brief Shining Moment by famed American historian William Manchester may have provided the best tribute of all to John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Within its’ pages Manchester remembers Kennedy as “a life that shone with elegance, intelligence and compassion.” As a long-time performer and tunesmith, I’m in absolute belief that music is the optimum healer. It’ll take you to a good place and provide swift comfort amid rough waters. In the aftermath of the assassination numerous creative works were inspired. Brian Wilson and Mike Love of The Beach Boys promptly penned the very moving, The Warmth of the Sun, a top 10 hit, early 1964. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel released Paul’s masterpiece, The Sound of Silence which peaked on the U.S. charts, January 1966. My favourite is Dick Holler’s stirring composition, Abraham, Martin and John, so eloquently performed by Dion (& The Belmonts) DiMucci which hit #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and topped Canada’s RPM 100, November 1968 becoming a million seller along the way. Hearing it, I still get goosebumps. The esteemed Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963) said – “Life is short, time is fleeting, realize the self.” As I commemorate the happenings of November 22nd 1963, I’ll don my spiffy Kennedy necktie which my chum, Peter Scarfo, so kindly gifted me as he visited the JFK turf in Boston. With the stellar 1960 cast recording of Camelot wafting through the air, I’ll sit back and toast the man with a generous jigger of Irish whiskey on ice and contemplate what might have been. Kevin Audi Waara Thunder Bay, ONTARIO, CANADA
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 20:32:05 +0000
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