Dallas 1963

Skyline, 1963. Dallas was America's 14th largest city in the 1960 census. Fort Worth was 34th.

The Death of President Kennedy (The New York Times Interactive)

From the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum

"On

November 21, the president and first lady departed on Air Force One for the two-day, five-city tour of Texas. President Kennedy was aware that a feud among party leaders in Texas could jeopardize his chances of carrying the state in 1964, and one of his aims for the trip was to bring Democrats together. He also knew that a relatively small but vocal group of extremists was contributing to the political tensions in Texas and would likely make its presence felt—particularly in Dallas, where U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson had been physically attacked a month earlier after making a speech there. Nonetheless, JFK seemed to relish the prospect of leaving Washington, getting out among the people and into the political fray.

The first stop was San Antonio. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Governor John B. Connally, and Senator Ralph W. Yarborough led the welcoming party. They accompanied the president to Brooks Air Force Base for the dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center. Continuing on to Houston, he addressed a Latin American citizens' organization and spoke at a testimonial dinner for Congressman Albert Thomas before ending the day in Fort Worth.

Morning in Fort Worth

A light rain was falling on Friday morning, November 22, but a crowd of several thousand stood in the parking lot outside the Texas Hotel where the Kennedys had spent the night. A platform was set up and the president, wearing no protection against the weather, came out to make some brief remarks. "There are no faint hearts in Fort Worth," he began, "and I appreciate your being here this morning. Mrs. Kennedy is organizing herself. It takes longer, but, of course, she looks better than we do when she does it." He went on to talk about the nation's need for being "second to none" in defense and in space, for continued growth in the economy and "the willingness of citizens of the United States to assume the burdens of leadership."

The warmth of the audience response was palpable as the president reached out to shake hands amidst a sea of smiling faces.

Back inside the hotel the president spoke at a breakfast of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, focusing on military preparedness. "We are still the keystone in the arch of freedom," he said. "We will continue to do…our duty, and the people of Texas will be in the lead."

On to Dallas

The presidential party left the hotel

and went by motorcade to Carswell Air Force Base for the thirteen-minute flight to Dallas. Arriving at Love Field, President and Mrs. Kennedy disembarked and immediately walked toward a fence where a crowd of well-wishers had gathered, and they spent several minutes shaking hands.

The first lady received a bouquet of red roses, which she brought with her to the waiting limousine. Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie, were already seated in the open convertible as the Kennedys entered and sat behind them. Since it was no longer raining, the plastic bubble top had been left off. Vice President and Mrs. Johnson occupied another car in the motorcade.

The procession left the airport and traveled along a ten-mile route that wound through downtown Dallas on the way to the Trade Mart where the President was scheduled to speak at a luncheon."

Lady Bird Johnson's memoir: "It all began so beautifully..." (Slate/Vault)

"After a drizzle in the morning the sun came out bright and beautiful..."

Tragedy and Transition - Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library

Fort Worth 1963

President Kennedy's Last Art Exhibit

via WUNC - Chapel Hill, NC (audio) via the Guardian (text/visual)

Suite 850 at the Hotel Texas in Fort Worth, Texas the night of November 21, 1963

President Kennedy meeting crowds in downtown Fort Worth on the morning of November 22, 1963

1963 Dallas Cowboys... expansion NFL team (1960) and underachievers ...

Dallas had no Major League baseball team in 1963, the Houston Colt '45s were Texas' first major league team, beginning play in 1962, no NBA team, no NHL team. The Cowboys played in the Cotton Bowl. The American Football League Dallas Texans had just left the city after the 1962 season to become the Kansas City Chiefs.

The "Wanted for Treason" flyer distributed in Dallas before Kennedy's visit (Slate/Vault)

Mrs. Paine's Garage by Thomas Mallon