Assassination in Dallas, Texas 1963

Assassination in Dallas, Texas 1963
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The 1960s is one of the most memorable decades in the American history. In fact, it is labeled as the “America’s Decade of Violence” (June 1999). At the time, though assassinations of great political men had either happened or attempted, it was not a topic of interest to many Americans. Texas was not left behind in the making of a violent history when President JohnFitzgerald Kennedywas assassinated in Dallas, one of the largest cities of Texas. For four days every television set and radio in America was tuned to the “live” coverage and broadcast of the events in Dallas and Washington D.C. as a nation (and the world) mourned the death of a president. That singular moment and subsequent events were of such historical and unprecedented magnitude that every topic of conversation centered on assassination and related incidents including speculation concerning conspiracies, international plots and intrigues. The shooting of President Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas ended America’s post-World War II and Korean War decade of peace and innocence and rolled the nation in its most violent chapter in nearly half a century. (June 1999).
President Kennedy had for over a year been considering a visit to Texas. He had only visited a few times since the presidential campaign in 1960 and in 1962. This convinced him more of an official visit to Texas in in November 1963. Being a political leader, he saw it a good chance to resolve his political controversies with the Democratic Party before the elections in 1964. He also planned besides resolving to also raise funds towards his campaign at a dinner party which was to be held in Austin.He also looked forward to his public appearance and the reception in Texas as it was the center of anti-Kennedy campaigns.(National Archives and Records Administration).
The decision concerning his visit wasdeliberated among three people; President J. F. Kennedy, Johnson his vice and the governor of the state, Governor Connally on 5th June 1963. The earlier planned one day visit to the state was then extended to run for two more days – November 21 to 23. The governor of the state was responsible for the security of the president at the time of his visit. Advanced preparations were however left to two officers; Winston G. Lawson, Special Agent and Forrest V. Sorrels the special agent Dallas office. They w...