A Warm Day in Dallas: November 22, 1963
© Mary M. Alward
President Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, went to Texas in November, 1963. The president was preparing for the upcoming election. He wanted to play peacemaker to liberal Senator Ralph Yarborough and Governor John Conolly. The two were not getting along. President Kennedy felt he could bring the feud to an end.
Because cool weather was predicted for Dallas, Jackie wore a pink Chanel wool suit. It turned out to be a very warm day. Jackie was still in the suit in the early morning hours of November 24th.
President Kennedy and the First Lady made a stop in Fort Worth before continuing on to Love Field in Dallas, Texas. Their motorcade was to follow a winding route for eleven miles through downtown Dallas. President Kennedy was scheduled to speak to civic leaders at the Trade Mart. The motorcade left Love Field at 11:50 am.
The president's midnight blue 1961 Lincoln convertible limousine had been flown in from Washington, D.C. for the occasion. Because the day was so warm, the plastic bubble top was taken off. The side windows, which were bullet-proof, were rolled down. (Today, the car has been redesigned and is owned by the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.)
Closely following the presidential limousine was a 1955 Cadillac convertible owned by the Secret Service. It carried four agents inside and four others rode on the running board for easy access to the president should there be problems.
President Kennedy and Jackie rode in the backseat of the Lincoln. Governor Conolly and his wife rode in the jumpseats in front of the Kennedys.
When the motorcade entered Dealey Plaza, it turned off Main Street onto Houston Street. Then, it quickly turned onto Elm Street where it would pass the School Book Depository. What happened next is now history...
The story will be continued...
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