JFK Programming Runs the Gamut, But Is It Too Much? (Analysis)

[monmouth3]

President John F. Kennedy and television have always had a close relationship. It was TV, after all, that first gave Kennedy his real chance at the presidency. After that inaugural televised debate with Richard Nixon, Kennedy became a star. That event in 1960 changed the political and television landscape forever, and three years later, everything would change further when Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.


This year marks the 50th anniversary of that tragic event, one the public has certainly never had far from their minds. Even outside of the anniversary, the Kennedys and "Camelot" are a national obsession, fueling a constant search for "truth" by conspiracy theorists, as well as something close to idol worship from many Americans. Not just Americans though -- BBC's Radio Two is even devoting several hours of its drive-time programming to "re-create one of the most famous events of the 20th century" on the anniversary date. That idea of fame is key to the Kennedy legacy, and it also shows the strange combination of politics and celebrity that leads to things like, at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards, Carrie Underwood singing the Beatles to commemorate his death.

Full article at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jfk-programming-runs-gamut-but-658081

[spiderpig]

1. Not if you were alive when it happened.

I was 12. Every second of coverage is imprinted on my brain. Life just seemed different afterward.

OK - flame away.

[monmouth3]

2. Oh, no flame from me. We all look at this differently. I was 23 or so with two small children.

They were glued to the tv and very, very quiet. I just don't want to re-live it again, too painful the first time..

[spiderpig]

5. My mom was a Republican & my dad a Roosevelt Democrat

We sat in front of our black-and-white Sylvania tv in total shock. Sunday morning I turned the set on and BLAM - Oswald was shot in front of our eyes.

Regardless of political persuasion, it was a life-changing event.

[Paladin]

3. Hours of real-time 11/22/63 NBC news coverage are available on YouTube.

They ran this material on an earlier anniversary (25th? 30th?). Extraordinary, gut-wrenching stuff.

[monmouth3]

4. Yes it was, I remember it all too well...n/t

[duffyduff]

7. CBS has it, too, and they did it better in my view.

It's painful to watch, but it IS history.

We need to remember it.

[citizenbfk]

6. RELEASE ALL THE EVIDENCE!

HERE'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES COMMON SENSE AND A STANDARD OF COMMON JUSTICE -- we can do a little bit ...On this 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John Kennedy there's still a strong grip to hide the evidence and truth behind that crime, that murder --- Right now there is now a White House petition about it. We have 30-days to get 100,000 signatures -- Please Share & Sign - http://wh.gov/lKCZT

[duffyduff]

8. It's all out there. The truth was known the minute Oswald was arrested.

Ditto for Jack Ruby, who in today's streaming coverage by CBS can clearly be seen at the jail, the day before he killed Oswald, just mulling around.

So much for his "mob hit."