Those who remember November 22, 1963: what do you remember? Where were you?

[DFW]

I was 11 years old, and at my day school. It was in Washington DC, and on Fridays, I used to take the bus down to my father's office in the National Press Building after school and ride home with him.

We used to have Friday afternoon assembly at school, and no one thought to question why Joe Kennedy and Bobby, Jr. were quietly sought out and taken away. They were the president's nephews and the Attorney general's sons, so who knows? Stuff like that happened.

When assembly was over, I went right out to the bus stop and caught the bus downtown.

When I got off, I walked the short distance to the National Press Building at 14th and F. I saw the newspaper vendors outside with huge bundles on newspapers with huge headlines screaming "JFK SLAIN!"

I was used to seeing the "National Enquirer" and similar tabloids, but thought that even for them, this was going too far. I took the elevator up to my dad's floor and waled into his office. He had two phones in his hand and he was agitated as hell, definitely NOT his nature. I started to wonder if the headlines I saw on the street had anything to them.

During a few seconds' pause, I asked him if it was true. He confirmed that it was. In semi-shock, I pestered him with a thousand question that an 11 year old might come up with, but exasperated him trying to do him job. His answer to every one of my questions was, of course, "I don't know."

Half a year earlier, for my 11th birthday, my dad had imposed on Pierre Salinger, JFK's press secretary, to get Kennedy to autograph a picture for me saying "To (my name) with best wishes, John Kennedy." When we got home to Virginia that night, I went and stared at the framed picture and thought "now what?"

I still have that photo. I still stare at it sometimes, and think, "if only....."

[Raine]

1. I was in school. The principal came in and told us Kennedy had been shot and killed, he then

went out and lowered the flag. My parents were Republicans, we had supported Nixon. I was so touched though by what had happened that I wrote a letter to Jackie Kennedy, she sent me a reply thanking me. I have her letter, it's a prized possession I will keep always.

[KansDem]

2. I was in the orthodontist's chair

I was having my braces worked on.

There were three chairs. When we checked in for our appointments, we would be taken to an available chair so there were always three kids in the chairs. The orthodontist would work on one why the other two waited. He would move about the chairs, and when he finished with one, that kid would leave and another one would take the chair.

I was waiting for my turn and daydreaming when I hear the office phone ring. I heard the receptionist answer the phone, then a brief silence, then "Oh, really?!" uttered in disbelief.

Then I heard her hang up the phone and walk back to the work area. She said to the orthodontist in a subdued tone, "The President's been shot!"

I know it's sounds cliche, but I remember this like it happened yesterday.

[DFW]

4. Not a cliché at all

The whole thing is still clear in my mind as well

[newfie11]

3. I was in Morgan Hill CA in the 10th grade

The teacher told us Pres Kennedy had been assassinated and we should all go home.
My Mom was watching it on tv when I got home.
At that time Kennedy was not popular in my household as they were republicans ( left over from Ike).
Even so we were all Horrified that this would happen to the president AND in his own country. It was a very sad sad time Watching the aftermath on tv.

Even today I think of the things Kennedy might have accomplished in this country, what a great loss!

[CTyankee]

5. I was a young mother of an infant son and my husband called me from work saying "Turn on the

TV, the president has been shot!" I put the baby down for a nap and remained in front of the TV all afternoon. We had plans to go to a friend's apt. for dinner that night, which we debated briefly, deciding to go because it was good to be with company at such an awful time...

My very first vote had been cast for JFK.