"Three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade in downtown Dallas."
That went out on UPI printers at 1:34, two minutes before the Presidential car reached the hospital. At 1:36 Don Gardiner of the ABC radio network cut into local programs with it. At 1:40 CBS-TV interrupted As the World Turns, a soap opera, viewers beheld a distraught Walter Cronkite relaying Smith's report of the three shots and adding, "The first reports say that the President was 'seriously wounded.'" At 1:45 NBC-TV scuttled another soap opera, Bachelor Father, to switch to Chet Huntley.
That put the three networks on the air with the news. They would remain there, with no interruptions for commercials, for three days and three nights, until the President had been buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
A minority first heard about the shooting from those early broadcasts and telecasts. One watcher in Fort Worth was Marguerite Oswald, the assassin's mother; she was tuned to WFAA-TV. In Irving, a Dallas suburb, her daughter-in-law Marina was another viewer.
Elizabeth Pozen, the wife of a government official, was listening to WGMS over her car radio in Washington. One of her passengers was Caroline Kennedy, who was going to spend the night with a Pozen child, and when Mrs. Pozen heard the announcer say ". . .shot in the head and his wife Jackie. . ." she instantly switched it off.
But most people did not learn what had happened that directly. The news reached them third or fourth hand, from a passing stranger, or a telephone call, or a public address system, or a waiter in a restaurant--often from sources which were so unlikely that a common reaction was utter disbelief. To make sure that it was untrue, they gathered around transistor radios, car radios and television sets in bars--whatever was available--and there they learned that it was true after all.
[Some of the reports were inaccurate or misleading, however. At 2:18 Washington time the Associated Press circulated an unconfirmed report that Lyndon Johnson had been "wounded slightly," and at 3:14 Washington time AP teletypes chattered that "A Secret Service agent and a Dallas policeman were shot and killed today some distance from the area where President Kennedy was assassinated." This seemed to support theories of an elaborate plot. It wasn't corrected until 4:33 p.m.]
At 2 p.m. Washington time Kennedy was pronounced dead. The announcement was delayed until Lyndon Johnson could get away from the hospital; in that first hour it was widely assumed that the gunman had been part of a larger conspiracy. The new President left for the airport at 2:26 p.m.
Six minutes later UPI quoted Father Oscar Huber, the Dallas priest who had celebrated the last rites for Kennedy, as saying, "He's dead, all right."
Confirmation by the President's acting press secretary followed, and at 2:35 Washington time UPI bells chimed on teletype machines around the world.
FLASH
PRESIDENT KENNEDY DEAD
JT135PCS
DETECTIVES WERE THERE AND THEY "ASKED HIM TO LOOK
IN THERE (THE BRIEFCASE) FOR SOMETHING."
THE CASE WAS OPENED AND AN ENVELOPE WAS FOUND
CONTAINING 44 $100 BILLS, THE WITNESS SAID. THE STATE
HAD SAID IT WOULD PRODUCE THAT PIECE OF EVIDENCE BUT
IT HAD NOT LISTED IT AS ONE "OF THE SEVEN LINKS. "THE
DEFENSE HAS IMPLIED IT WILL TAKE THE LINE THAT CAROL'S
DEATH AFTER A SAVAGE BLUDGEONING AND STABBING IN HER
HOME WAS THE RESULT OF AN ATTEMPTED
MOREDA 1234 PCS
UPI A 7N DA
PRECEDE KENNEDY
DALLAS, NOV. 22(UPI)--THREE SHOTS WERE FIRED AT
PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S MOTORCADE TODAY IN DOWNTOWN
DALLAS
JT1234PCS
...The little bells in the wire rooms tinkled again. This time
editors--not copy boys--came running. They had seen Merriman Smith's
first flash, and it could be a mistake. Editors scanned the
Associated Press machine, dreading to place credence in one wire
service against the other, but while the AP was rippling through
run-of-the-mill stories. . . .
UPI A8N DA
URGENT
1ST ADD SHOTS, DALLAS (A7N) XXX DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
NO CASUALTIES WERE REPORTED.
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED NEAR THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE ON MAIN STREET, JUST EAST OF AN UNDERPASS
LEADING TOWARD THE TRADE MART WHERE THE PRESIDENT
WAS TO MA
FLASH FLASH
KENNEDY SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
PERHAPS SERIOUSLY
PERHAPS FATALLY BY ASSASSINS BULLET
JT 1239 PCS
UPI--207
HANOVER, GERMANY. NOV. WW (UPI)--THE STATE
PROSECUTOR
BUST
BUST
QMVVV
UPI--207
BULLET NSSS
PRECEDE KENNEDY
X DALLAS. NTEXAS, NOV. 22(.708 LAS THREE SHOTS WERE
FIRED AT PRESIXENT KENNEDY'S MOTORCADE TODAY IN
DOWNTOWN DALLAS
HSQETPEST
VVU PLF208
HANOVER, GERMANY NOV WWKVUPI)--THE STATE PROSE-
CUTOR TODAY DEMANDEJ AM QIAMONTH PRISON TERM FOR WEST
GERMANYSJS ZSTZRILIZATION DOCTOR."
X.X.X.X X,XNXLKDN, VOGEL TOLD THE THREEJU THAT
HANDSOME DR. ALEL DOHRN. %% WAS N IDEALIST BUT BROKE
THE LAW IN AT LEAST IP OF THE QNEPP STERILIZATION
OPERATIONS HE HAS PERFORME ON LOCAL WOMEN
MORE
HS137PEST
RV
SSSSSSSS
FLASH
KENNEDY SERIOSTY WOUNDED PESTSSSSSSSSSS
HS 138/
SSSSSSSSSSS
MAKE THAT PERHAPS PERHAPS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
HSQEOPEST
SSSSSSSSSSSSSS
GJ OWHL W WOUNDED BY
HQ139PESTXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
KENNEDY WOUNDED PERHAPS FATALLY BY VASSASSINS BULLET
HS139PESTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
CONTROL: "YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD AT EIGHT MINUTES."
-0-
SPEED 129 FEET PER SECOND.
-0-
P GROUND TELLS THEM: "EAGLE YOURE LOOKING GREAT."
ALTITUDE RIVE-THOUSAND-200 FEET.
-0-
GROUND SAYS: "YOU'RE GO FOR LANDING."
-0-
EAGLE SAYS WE'RE GO.!!
TWO-THOUSAND FEET!!
-0-
14-HUNDRED!!...
-0-
--540.....
400--FEET..
300-FEET..
220--FEET..
COMING DOWN NICELY.....
120--...
100--...
75..--
30 FEET PICKING UP SOME DUST..
ENGINE STOPPED...
FLASH!!!
THEY'VE LANDED!!!
UPI SPACE FLIGHT
RU317P 7/29CDT
BULLETIN
(SPACE CENTER)--THE APOLLO--11 IS ON THE MOON.
ASTRONAUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG AND EDWIN ALDRIN HAVE SOFT-LANDED
THE EAGLE ON THE LUNAR SURFACE.
RU318P 7/29CDT
GROUND SAYS: "YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD."
-0-
THE TOUCHDOWN WAS 4:18 P-M
-0-
EAGLE REPORTS WE ARE VENTING.
-0-
COMMUNICATIONS GOOD WITH SOME LIGHT STATIC.
-0-
GROUND ADVISES COLUMBIA: "HE HAS LANDED AT TRANQUILITY BAY."
COLLINS SAID: "YEH. I HEARD THE WHOLE THING. FANTASTIC."
-0-
THERE SOON WILL BE A DECISION ON STAY-NO STAY.
(SUB APOLLO)
(SPACE CENTER)---THEY'VE LANDED ON THE MOON.
TWO MEN OF PLANET EARTH...IN A GANGLY-LOOKING
SPACECRAFT CALLED "EAGLE"...HAVE CONQUERED ONE OF THE TREASURES
OF SPACE.
APOLLO-11 ASTRONAUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG AND EDWIN ALDRIN
IN THEIR 17-TON LUNAR LANDER SUCCESSFULLY SOFT-LANDED ON THE
MOON'S SEA OF TRANQUILITY AT 4:18 P-M EDT.
"THE EAGLE HAS LANDED," ARMSTRONG SAID.
RU322P 7/20CDT..
(Note: any errors in the above, including the incorrect 7/29 date,
appeared as such on the wire.)
174UPR
FIFTEENTH WORLD IN BRIEF
-0-
THE FIRST MEN ON THE MOON...THE CONTINUING SAGA OF MAN'S GREATEST
ADVENTURE FROM THE WIRES OF U-P-I...
(INSERT HERE THE LATEST SUB APOLLO)
-0-
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD...THESE OTHER ITEMS IN THE NEWS...
(EDGARTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS)---WHILE SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY RESTS
UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE, POLICE PREPARE TO FILE CHARGES OF LEAVING
THE SCENE OF A FATAL ACCIDENT AGAINST HIM. AN ACCIDENT, IN WHICH
KENNEDY'S CAR WENT INTO A POND NEAR EDGARTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS AND
KILLED A WOMAN COMPANION, WAS NOT REPORTED BY KENNEDY UNTIL NINE
HOURS AFTER IT HAPPENED.
-0-
IN THE MIDEAST, THESE DEVELOPMENTS...
EGYPT CLAIMS TO HAVE SHOT DOWN 17 ISRAELI PLANES TODAY IN THE
HEAVIEST FIGHTING SINCE THE SIX-DAY 1967 MIDEAST WAR. ISRAEL ADMITTED
LOSING TWO PLANES AND SAID IT SHOT DOWN FIVE EGYPTIAN JETS IN
CLASHES ALONG THE SUEZ CANAL FRONT.
-0-
(SAIGON)---GENERAL EARLE WHEELER RULES OUT A COMPLETE U-S
WITHDRAWAL FROM VIETNAM BY THE END OF 1970. WHEELER, CHAIRMAN OF
THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF HAS BEEN TOURING VIETNAM. HE ALSO
DISCOUNTED THE MONTH-LONG LULL IN FIGHTING AS A COMMUNIST POLITICAL
GESTURE.
-0-
(PARIS)---THE PARIS PEACE TALKS ARE STALEMATED AGAIN...A FREEZE
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL PRESIDENT NIXON RETURNS TO THE WHITE HOUSE
FROM HIS ASIAN TOUR.
-0-
(HAVANA)---EIGHT SOVIET WARSHIPS ARRIVED IN HAVANA TODAY ON AN
OFFICIAL VISIT TO CELEBRATE TWO NATIONAL HOLIDAYS...JULY 26,
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION, AND THE FOLLOWING DAY,
RUSSIA'S NAVY DAY.
-0-
A CEASE-FIRE IS GENERALLY BEING OBSERVED IN CENTRAL AMERICA
WITH TEAMS FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES POLICING THE
STOP IN THE SHOOTING BETWEEN EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS.
-0-
(WASHINGTON)---FEDERAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ARE SIGNING AND
STOCKPILING RESIGNATIONS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
RECENTLY THREATENED TO DISCIPLINE THEM FOR A SICK-CALL BOYCOTT LAST
MONTH.
-0-
(JODRELL BANK, ENGLAND)---RUSSIA'S LUNA-15 SATELLITE IS PASSING
OVER THE APOLLO-11 LANDING SITE AT AN ALTITUDE OF A LITTLE LESS
THAN 10 MILES...BUT THERE IS STILL NO CLUE AS TO ITS MISSION.
-0-
(FARRAGUT STATE PARK, IDAHO)---THOUSANDS OF SCOUTS ATTENDING
THEIR NATIONAL JAMBOREE AT FARRAGUT STATE PARK IN IDAHO CHEERED
LUSTILY WHEN THEY LEARNED FELLOW SCOUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG AND EDWIN
ALDRIN HAD LANDED ON THE MOON.
-0-
(WASHINGT0N)---WATCHING TELEVISION DURING THE MOON LANDING
PRESIDENT NIXON TERMED THE ACHIEVEMENT "THE GREATEST MOMENT OF
OUR TIME."
FK920P7/20CDT
U R G E N T
(SPACE CENTER)---THEY HAVE STARTED DE-PRESSURIZING THE EAGLE.
-0-
MORE DEPRESSURIZING URGENT X X X EAGLE.
THEY NOW HAVE ON THEIR PORTABLE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS.
AS HE BEGAN DEPRESSURIZATION, ARMSTRONG SAID---"NOW
COMES THE GYMNASTICS."
FK931P7/20CDT
ALDRIN SAID "IT TAKES A LONG WAY TO GET ALL THE WAY DOWN
DOESN'T IT"---APPARENTLY REFERRING TO THE DE-PRESSURIZATION.
-0-
HATCH WILL BE OPENED WHEN PRESSURE GOES TO ZERO.
-0-
EAGLE REPORTS "NOW WE'LL SEE IF IT WILL OPEN UP."
-0-
ALDRIN REPORTED GETTING SOME STATIC.
-0-
ARMSTRONG SAID, "EVERYTHING IS GO WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE
PRESSURE TO GO LOW ENOUGH TO OPEN THE HATCH."
-0-
GROUND CONTROL SAID THEY SHOWED A RATHER STATIC PRESSURE IN THE
CABIN OF HATCH OPENING
-0-
B U L L E T I N
(SPACE CENTER)---THE HATCH IS OPEN ON THE LUNAR LANDER AND
NEIL ARMSTRONG IS READY TO CLIMB DOWN TO THE LUNAR SURFACE.
FK941PCD
GROUND CONTROL FED SOME DATA TO COLUMBIA.
-0-
THE ASTRONAUTS HAVE BEEN ON THEIR PORTABLE SUPPORT SYSTEMS NOW
FOR 17 MINUTES.
-0-
THE PORTABLES ARE GOOD FOR FOUR HOURS.
-0-
THE ASTRONAUTS ALSO HAVE A 30 MINUTE EMERGENCY OXYGEN SUPPLY.
-0-
ALDRIN REPORTS "OKAY MY WINDOW IS CLEAR."
-0-
EAGLE REPORTS ALL WINDOWS CLEAR.
-0-
ARMSTRONG GIVING READINGS.
-0-
ARMSTRONG IS NOW HOOKING UP HIS LUNAR EQUIPMENT CONVEYOR WHICH
WILL BE USED TO MOVE EQUIPMENT OFF THE LANDER.
-0-
ARMSTRONG IS NOW MOVING ONTO THE PLATFORM.
-0-
ALDRIN IS GIVING HIM DIRECTIONS TO CRAWL THROUGH THE NARROW
HATCH IN THE BULKY SPACE SUIT.
-0-
ALDRIN SAYS "YOU'RE NOT QUITE CLEARED AWAY. MOVE TO THE RIGHT A
LITTLE." ARMSTRONG SAYS "BELIEVE THAT'S OKAY"
-0-
ARMSTRONG "HOW'M I DOING."
ALDRIN "YOU'RE DOING FINE."
-0-
ALDRIN SAID "OKAY YOU WANT THOSE BAGS?"
ARMSTRONG SAID YES.
-0-
ARMSTRONG IS OUT
-0-
ARMSTRONG SAID "OKAY HOUSTON, I'M ON THE PORCH."
-0-
HE WILL NOW DESCEND THE LADDER SLOWLY AND START THE T-V CAMERA
BY PULLING A RING.
-0-
25 MINUTES OF LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS EXPENDED
-0-
ARMSTRONG SAYS "I'M GOING TO PULL THE RING."
-0-
THIS WILL OPEN STORAGE AREA WHERE CAMERA IS STORED.
-0-
RING IS TO BE PULLED ON SECOND RUNG OF THE LADDER.
-0-
THE T-V PICTURE IS ON.
-0-
VIEWERS COULD SEE WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE LUNAR LANDER LEG
WHICH AT FIRST WAS SHOWN UPSIDE DOWN. PICTURE NOW REVERSED.
-0-
ARMSTRONG COULD BE SEEN COMING DOWN.
-0-
ARMSTRONG WENT BACK TO FIRST STEP JUST TO TEST HIS MOVEMENT.
-0-
ARMSTRONG SAID "I'M AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER."
-0-
FLASH
ARMSTRONG SETS FOOT ON MOON
UPI/SPACE FLIGHT
FK957P7/20CD..
ARMSTRONG SAID "HERE'S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN."
-0-
"SURFACE IS FINE AND POWDERY"
-0-
" "IT SEEMS TO BE IN FINE LAYERS LIKE POWDERED CHARCOAL."
-0-
"I CAN CLEARLY SEE THE FOOTPRINT OF MY SHOES IN THE FINE SANDY
PARTICLE."
-0-
ARMSTRONG HAS NOW LET LOOSE OF THE LADDER.
"THERE SEEMS TO BE NO DIFFICULTY MOVING AROUND AS WE EXPECTED."
-0-
B U L L E T I N
(SPACE CENTER)---AMERICAN ASTRONAUT NEIL ARMSTRONG HAS STEPPED
ONTO THE MOON---THE FIRST MAN FROM EARTH TO SET HIS FEET ON ANOTHER
HEAVENLY BODY. THE SCHEDULE CALLS FOR ASTRONAUT EDWIN ALDRIN TO
FOLLOW HIM ONTO THE LUNAR SURFACE SHORTLY.
FK959P7/20CDT
HE SET FOOT ON THE MOON AT 10:56 :31 P-M EDT.