Saturday Open Thread [11.16.13]
This year is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and there’s no shortage of writing and reporting this year attempting to re-examine those days. So here are a few long reads for your consideration:
Amazing to consider that 50 years after one of the most intensely examined and argued incidents in American History that there are still files that are still under seal — 5 decades later, some JFK assassination files still sealed; researchers demand ‘transparency’
The Flight From Dallas — From Esquire, a detailed timeline of the flight of Air Force One bringing back to Washington the body of President Kennedy, his widow and the new President of the United States.
Angel is Airborne — This one from the Washingtonian, a very long piece also detailing the ground activity and the activity on the flight bringing Kennedy back to Washington.
Both of these are especially riveting. Garb a cup of coffee or adult beverage of your choice and get wrapped up in not just the tragedy, but a look at how a government changes hands.
NPR this morning did a piece examining how the Kennedy Presidential campaign changed campaigns forever.
And I know this has been posted here before, but here is a bit of video from DelDOT showing images of President Kennedy at a dedication ceremony for I-95 here in Delaware on November 14, 1963. It was his last statement on public works:
Tags: John F Kennedy
Somethings just never change — or, how wingnuts keep falling for the same bullshit claims over and over again: The “Wanted For Treason” Flyer Distributed in Dallas Before JFK’s Visit
As a gen Xer who was born well after the JFK years, I never had much interest in the details of his assassination, until I read the 11/23/64 by Stephen King. Actually, I had also kind of written off SK as crap that was well below my reading level after 9th grade. But wow, what a great book, with no gore and the bonus of filling in some blanks in my knowledge of history. One of the best stories I’ve read, ever. If you can’t stay awake for non-fiction this time of year but want to commemorate the event, do yourself a favor and read this one.