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American History

The Aftermath of the JFK Assassination

John F. Kennedy - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
John and Jackie Kennedy and the Connallys in the presidential limousine moments before the assassination. Victor Hugo King / US Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
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CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite announcing the assassination in 1963. CBS via Landov/ NPR.

14. The World Was In A State Of Shock And News Reporters Became Emotional

While most of the United States knew of the shooting before the announcement of his death came, rumors were running wild. Around 2 PM, most television stations switched to watch Walter Cronkite, who gave everyone updated reports on JFK’s assassination. It was around 2:38 PM when Cronkite received the message the JFK had passed away. As Cronkite delivered the news, he started to break down. He had become a friend to the president and highly respected him. This sadness was the same type of emotion which most of America felt as they heard the news.

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