November 22, 1963, a tragic event would unfold that would shake the nation. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy may be the most well-known assassination in history, and it was a well-covered event. Still today, there are photos circulating that remind us of the haunting day over sixty years ago.
The Day Began
At 10:40 AM, the Kennedys arrived at Carswell Air Force Base from Hotel Texas, where they boarded Air Force One for their flight to Dallas. During the flight, the President reviewed intelligence reports and prepared for the day ahead, where he was supposed to head through the streets of Dallas, waving to bystanders.
Arriving In Dallas
By 11:40 AM, they were in Dallas at Love Field, where a crowd was gathering to greet them. The Kennedys smiled and shook hands with people before preparing to move on with their day. First Lady Jackie Kennedy could be seen holding a bouquet of red flowers.
The Motorcade
A secure government escort was scheduled to meet President Kennedy and the First Lady at Love Field, Dallas. They got into the presidential car, which was part of a motorcade that included important figures and Secret Service personnel. The sun was shining, and the top of the car was taking off in a public stunt so onlookers could see Kennedy clearly.
Moments Before Tragedy
The motorcade was set to travel to Dealey Plaza. The event was so that as many people as possible could see their President on the streets of Dallas. The motorcade turned onto Elm Street, and a single shot rang out amidst the cheering of the crowd. The first shot was missed but went unnoticed by the chaos of the event.
The Assassination
The second and third shots at President Kennedy hit their mark, striking his neck and the right side of his head. Secret Service members tried protecting Kennedy, but it was too late, and he had already been fatally wounded. The motorcade sped off to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead at 1:00 PM.
Aftermath
The events following the shooting were chaotic. Lee Harvey Oswald was seen coming out of the Texas School Book Depository, where it is believed he shot the President from one of the windows. He quickly became a prime suspect as Kennedy’s body was being taken to Air Force One. Lyndon B. Johnson was quickly sworn in as the new President by 2:38 PM.
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was a former marine and a defector of the Soviet Union. He returned to the United States in 1962, where he found a job at the Texas School Book Depository. This is where he allegedly shot the President, although, to this day, his motives for the assassination are still hotly debated.
Oswald’s Demise
Oswald was arrested on suspicion of murdering a police officer shortly after the assassination of Kennedy. While he was being transferred to a county jail, he was fatally wounded by a nightclub owner named Jack Ruby. The circumstances surrounding his death had led to countless conspiracy theories.
The Gun And Conspiracies
Oswald purchased a 6.5x52mm Carcano rifle, which is the gun believed to be used in the assassination. The rifle was found at the Texas School Book Depository, where Oswald worked, and investigators lifted his palm print from the barrel, along with partial prints too incomplete to identify. It’s officially stated that Oswald worked alone, but over the years, many theories and conspiracies have circulated surrounding who was truly responsible for the assassination.
2026 Update: The Last Secret JFK Files Are Public, and What Tied Oswald to the Rifle
For decades, the assassination records still held back by the government fueled suspicion. That changed in 2025. Under Executive Order 14176, the National Archives began releasing every record in the JFK Assassination Records Collection that had been withheld for classification. The first two batches went online on March 18, 2025, with no redactions. More followed through April, for a total of roughly 83,000 pages in 2025. Another 11,022 pages were added on January 30, 2026. Researchers are still going through the material. So far, the released files have added detail about CIA operations and surveillance in the 1960s but have not overturned the core finding that Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots.
According to the Warren Commission report, Dallas police Lt. J. C. Day lifted a single palm print from the underside of the barrel, a spot hidden by the wooden stock when the rifle is assembled. FBI and other examiners identified it as Oswald’s right palm. Two partial prints near the trigger were too incomplete to identify. The stronger link was the paper trail: Oswald had mail-ordered rifle C2766 from Klein’s Sporting Goods in Chicago in March 1963 under the alias “A. Hidell.”
Sources
- National Archives: JFK Assassination Records, 2025 Documents Release
- National Archives: Warren Commission Report, Chapter 4
