I was in the first grade at Fenton Elementary School in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKees Rocks. It was Friday afternoon and I had walked back to school after having lunch at home. My classmates & I waited for our teacher, Mrs. Follie, to arrive but for some unknown reason we waited an unusually long time for her (this was too good to be true!). Finally, she walked in and told us the news that President Kennedy had been shot and that we could go home. Although I was aware this was an awful event I don't recall feeling any strong emotions (hey, I was just 6 years old!). However, befitting the event, it was an overcast afternoon which added to the somberness of the walk home. While waiting for my father to return from work, I remember sitting on the sofa in the living room and paging through my mother's December issue of Good Housekeeping that had arrived earlier that afternoon. On the cover was a little girl holding a large Santa lollipop. Although its festive nature was incongruous with that day's tragedy, it was a nice escape for a young child.
Just two days later the nation witnessed the shooting death of accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald on live TV. It was just after noon and my family was eating Sunday lunch. The TV was on in the background in the living room because my father, a football fanatic, insisted on watching the NFL game that was being broadcast. The telecast was interrupted by coverage of Oswald being brought into police headquarters in Dallas. As he was being walked in, surrounded by detectives, a man named Jack Ruby jumped out of the crowd and shot Oswald in the stomach. I didn’t see it because my seat at the dinner table was obstructed by a wall that blocked my view into the living room. But I heard the commotion and saw the reaction of my parents. This was very likely the most shocking event ever seen on live TV until 9/11 when millions saw the 2nd plane (United Flight 175) crash into the 2nd tower of the World Trade Center.
Because of these events, for a long time I viewed Dallas (and Texas in general) as an evil place, not unlike enemy territory such as Red China, and it took a long time for me to shake this feeling.
Because of these events, for a long time I viewed Dallas (and Texas in general) as an evil place, not unlike enemy territory such as Red China, and it took a long time for me to shake this feeling.
I was also in first grade, born the same year you were. I remember they announced it over the loudspeaker system in our classroom. I had no idea who Kennedy was. Indeed, I didn't know what a president was. All I knew was my grandmother came to get me at school, and my teacher was crying. My grandmother said that President Kennedy got people to drink milk again after there was some rumor milk wasn't good for you, and that he was like royalty. I hated milk as a kid and thought...hmmm, he didn't get me to drink milk. And what the heck does "royalty" mean? She also said that it was a mircale he got elected because he was Catholic. So, I concluded from that statement that all previous presidents (whatever they were) were Jewish. The takeaway from this anecdote is that you never know what kids will make of what you say, so consider that before talking to them. No wonder childhood memoirs are so full of that "them" (adults) and "us" (children) vibe. Ann Kaplan
ReplyDeleteRob! Love the blog!
ReplyDeleteI'll comment when you get up to Nixon's resignation on the timeline...... LOL :)
p.s. can't remember the date, but it was the day that Rob Frydlewicz left FCB, I remember I was crying in my cubicle....and then I went to lunch, but I can't really remember what I ate, i was too upset, maybe some kind of soup....the rest is kind of foggy...
ReplyDeleteRob...My story of the JFK death is remarkably similar to yours except I was in kindergarten in Manhattan (I guess its a universal Boomer thing). The more unique story was my father's. He was on a plane when Kennedy was shot, flying back to New York after a business trip to the midWest, enjoying a few rounds of cocktails en flights. Disembarks at LGA knowing nothing, its Friday, he's a little buzzed and feeling good. Immediately he senses something weird but he has no idea what is going on except he keeps smiling until he gets in a cab where the driver is crying and looks at my Dad's grin as if he were an evil visitor from another planet. Finally, he explains to my father what happened while he was flying and my father arrived home in shock to begin the four days in front of the TV vigil. Net, Air Traffic Control said nothing to the pilots and if they did the decision was made to say nothing to passengers about this critical news event.
ReplyDeleteFast forward almost forty years through the decline of western civilization and I find myself on a plane the night of the first "Survivor" finale. Not a devote of the program, I do take notice of the hype, watch for a minute or two prior to take off in an airport bar and promptly cease to give a shit. About halfway between O'Hare and LGA, the pilot comes on the PA and says "Ladies and Gentleman, I've just gotten word that Richard has won Survivor". Net we have gone from keeping the assination of the President secret from those en flight to sharing the results of reality TV. Progress....
Wow, I feel so old. I was in SECOND grade! I remember my teacher, Mrs. Dubrow was called into the hallway, and when she came back into the classroom she was in tears. It was arranged that school would be over for the day and our buses would come and take us home early. Being Los Angeles, it must have been early in the day, but I really don't remember.
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