The JFK Assassination This interview was conducted with my friends father on the assassination of JFK, and the impact it had on life in America. Q: How old were you when JFK was assassinated? A: I was only 15 at the time, but I can vividly recall it Q: What was your very first reaction? A: Well, I was shocked I really couldnt believe it. I mean, you hear about the Lincolns assassination but it never seemed real. Now JFK was assassinated and it seemed like it could never happen, it was just like a dream. Q: How did your parents react? A: They seemed more upset than sad.
They couldnt believe that this could happen, they were upset that such a man as JFK could be dead, just like that. He did so much to change the way people think, act, and feel in this country and hed never be back. Q: What was the general mood? A: At the time we lived in a very tight neighborhood in Pittsburgh. Around that neighborhood you could see things change. Morale was lower than I could ever remember, everybody was sad.
Q: Did they play the video back on TV? A: I dont ever really remember seeing it replayed over and over on TV, they really didnt start showing it until the 70s it was pretty much just word of mouth. Q: Was there any violent reaction to his death? A: I remember reports of minor rioting, but not in Pittsburgh, people really became sad. People wept openly in public, it was a very dark time. Q: At the time why did you think he was assassinated? A: I really didnt know, I thought some angry guy just decided to grab this rifle and kill and important person, and that person happened to be the president.
Q: Did you ever think that the assassination was part of an elaborate government scheme to conceal the existence of UFOs? A: No Q: What did you think about Jack Ruby who shot and killed the alleged assasinator (Harvey Oswald)? A: I thought he just killed him in revenge. Q: You didnt think he killed him to silence Oswald? A: I believe those two had nothing to do with one another. I heard stories of Oswald being part of the KGB and had played a part with the Mafia, but I didnt pay much attention to it. All I needed to know was that he had killed a very important person.
Q: What do you feel about the magic bullet ? A: I dont know about that, I heard so many theories and that is just one of the most eerie. I just cant believe that a bullet can go through 2 people and still remain intact. Q: How did you feel about the Vice President coming to power? A: I really didnt know anything about him, I knew that he would stand for the same things as JFK, but I had no idea how he would perform. Q: What did JFK mean to you? A: He represented a new time for America, the constitution would finally be fairly upheld, and when he was killed I thought that age may end. Q: Did it? A: Not exactly, not as much as civil rights legislation was pushed, but there wasnt really much need for it after JFK, he did so much for all citizens of the US.
