1.

From this program we learn that President Kennedy ...

        came from a famous political family.
        was the youngest president of the USA.
        had a son and a daughter.

2.

We also learn that the President was in Dallas because ...

        was on his way to meet his wife.
        lived there.
        was making an official visit.

3.

What do we learn about the President's death?

        He died instantly.
        No one knows who killed him.
        He was shot twice by one person.

4.

What do we learn about Lee Harvey Oswald?

       He denied killing the President.
       He was shot when he was arrested.
       He was found guilty of killing the President.

5.

Why was this news item included in the radio programme?

      To show the style of earlier news reporting.
      To explain the importance of the assassination.
      To look back on an important event in modern history.

Presenter:

Anyone who was listening to the news on 22 November 1963 finds it hard to forget what they heard. On that day the American President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated. The shooting happened while the youngest man ever to hold the highest office in America was touring the Texas city of Dallas. At 12.30 on November 22, 1963 two shots hit the President as he was travelling in a motorcade in downtown Dallas. Let's hear how the event was recorded by news reporters present at the scene.

Archive:

'It appears as though something has happened in the motorcade route. Something I repeat has happened in the motorcade route'.

'We're here at the Trademark. The motorcade is coming by here. I can see many many motorcycles coming by now, police motorcycles. Just heard a call on the radio for all units and all industrials to pick up the motorcade. Something has happened here. We understand there has been a shooting. The presidential car coming up now. We know it's the presidential car. I can see Mrs Kennedy's pink suit'.

Presenter:

Shortly afterwards this solemn message was heard throughout America:

Archive:

'From Dallas, Texas, the flash apparently official, President Kennedy died at 1 pm Central Standard time'.

Presenter:

America was stunned by the news. Twenty-four-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald was picked up in connection with the shooting. But he denies any involvement:

Archive:

'Did you kill the President?'

'No, I've not been charged with that. In fact nobody has said that to me yet. The first thing I heard about it was when the newspaper reporters in the hall er – asked me that question'.

Presenter:

And just before going to trial, Oswald is shot by Jack Ruby:

Archive:

'Oswald has been shot'.
'Holy mackerel!'
A shot rang out as he was led into his car. To me he appears dead. There's this gunshot wound in his lower abdomen'.

Presenter:

Because of this, mystery still shrouds the death of the President. There have been claims of Mafia, anti-civil rights, foreign agents and even a crime of passion, but to date the memory of the death of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy is still as haunting as the day it happened.

'From Dallas, Texas, the flash apparently official, President Kennedy died at 1 pm Central Standard time'.

1.

From this program we learn that President Kennedy ...

        was the youngest president of the USA.

2.

We also learn that the President was in Dallas because ...

        was making an official visit.

3.

What do we learn about the President's death?

        No one knows who killed him.

4.

What do we learn about Lee Harvey Oswald?

       He denied killing the President.

5.

Why was this news item included in the radio programme?

       To look back on an important event in modern history.