[The name of President Kennedy's assassin is now known to the world: Lee Harvey Oswald, once a Marine, a defector to the Soviet Union. We also know the name of the Dallas police officer that he killed: J.D. Tippit. Oswald was just formally charged for the policeman's murder, and we understand more charges will be forthcoming,
In other news, Texas Governor John Connally, injured in the same attack that claimed the President, is in serious but stable condition.
We now bring you the first of the reports from the Journey's correspondents…]
by Victoria Lucas
I do not think I shall ever forget these 4 words: "Texas School Book Depository."
I hardly know what they mean. It's a building. The building in which the shooter hid to kill. I can't say it, can't write the name of the man he killed.
My mother called me at work to tell me that he had been taken to the hospital, but we have no radio and of course no TV at work. No news except what is brought to us from outside. People with car radios, with a portable radio brought to work somewhere else.
My mother called back. He is dead. Our president is dead. Johnson has been sworn in. I can't really take it in. I'm crying. People who come into my office have wet faces.
What can I say? I feel as if my own life has been taken away from me, and I don't know why. Why am I writing you today? I know no one else to write. I guess I just want to let you know how it is here in Tucson, Arizona, hearing the news.
My mother says that when I get home tonight I will see nothing else on the television. There will be nothing else on except repeated footage from the assassination. Yes, assassination. And how the government is in transition. Just as now there is nothing else to talk about.
He is dead.
He Is Dead.
In this moment of overwhelming emotional turmoil, let us not forget our dedication to justice. I have never supported the death penalty, but if the alleged assassin is found guilty, after a fair trial, let him never spend the rest of his life in prison.
My fear is that some will react irrationally and form a lynch mob. Kudos to the police officers who are acting in a professional manner during this shocking crisis.
There is a terrible error in my comment above.
That should say "let him spend the rest of his life in prison."
I meant to say, at first, "let him never spend a second outside prison" and I mixed up the two phrases by accident.
I guess that proves how upset I am.
Lorelei and I have been in tears on and off this whole night.
The world has lost its foremost serial adulterer.