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Some of you may be familiar with this TL over on the Leip Forum. I'll be doing dual submissions going forward. Enjoy!
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1963
On November 22, 1963, fate struck President John F. Kennedy. Several days earlier he had arrived in Texas to sure up his support in a growingly conservative state. Texas had proved crucial in Kennedy’s electoral victory three years earlier, and it was a safe bet that it would prove to be equally important in 1964. Arriving at Dallas’s Love Field that morning, Kennedy would proceed in a motorcade with his wife, Vice-President Johnson, and Governor John Connally to a luncheon with the Dallas Citizens Council. It was supposed to be an easy day. The President would wave to an adoring crowd before speaking to a receptive audience at the luncheon. All and all, it was supposed to be an easy day.

But fate had a different idea. Lee Harvey Oswald, a deranged leftist and supporter of Fidel Castro, believed that killing Kennedy would not only further his political goals, but also grant him the attention he so desperately craved. Oswald had purchased a cheaply made Italian Carcano Rifle through the mail, and planned on shooting Kennedy from his perch in the Dallas Book Depository. Oswald had previously served in the Marine Corps, but without significant distinction. He hoped that his shooting skills would prove good enough to kill the President. Luckily, he was mistaken.

As the Presidential Motorcade rounded the corner towards Dealey Plaza, Oswald took aim. Bearing down the sight of his rifle, he aimed for the Presidents head. His first shot found the President’s body, but only struck his extended right arm. Within moments, Secret Service Agent Clint Hill leapt from the car following the President’s and dove atop of the President. Oswald pulled back the bolt on his rifle and fired again. This time he struck Hill, with the bullet piercing his skull. The motorcade sped off down Elm Street and towards Parkland Memorial Hospital. There was chaos in the limousine. First Lady Jacky Kennedy saw the blood, bone, and brains of Agent Hill and thought it was her husband’s. Governor Connally joined in the panic, shouting “their trying to kill us all!” It was the President himself who calmed the situation, jokingly saying “It’s all right. A politician doesn’t need his right arm anyway.”

When the motorcade arrived at Parkland Hospital, the President was rushed into emergency surgery to stop any serious bleeding. Agent Hill was pronounced Dead on Arrival. His death would haunt the President for years, often wondering “what is the value of my life compared to his? Would he not do the same as I if given the chance?” Kennedy’s injuries proved to be minimal. Despite damage to some of the nerves in his right shoulder, there was no permanent harm done. He would joke with the doctors around him, claiming “Would you all have helped me if the Vice-President had been shot?” It was not until later that he learned about the death of Hill.

As the President recovered at Parkland Hospital, the nation held its breath. For the first time since 1901, a President had been shot by a would-be assassin. Older Americans were reminded of the close call for Franklin Roosevelt in Chicago, while others remembered the heart attack of Dwight Eisenhower. But Kennedy’s charm, youth, and popularity made this a unique case. All of the three networks were covering the event life, with Cronkite, Huntley, and Brinkley all making plans to race to Dallas. In the end, that wasn’t needed. In the early morning hours of November 23rd, a surprisingly upbeat President, First Lady, and their staff boarded Air Force One and returned to Washington D.C. Vice-President Johnson remained in Dallas to avoid the possibility of a coordinated attack against all members of the Executive Branch.

Upon returning to Washington, President Kennedy was greeted at Andrews Air Force Base by his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy. At the same time both furious and fearful, Bobby was eager to aggressively pursue an investigation of a potential conspiracy into the killing of the President. The President was able to calm down his emotionally charged brother, emphasizing that “we’ve got to reassure the American people that I’m all right before we start burning down Dallas looking for anarchists.” Speaking of Dallas, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested shortly after leaving the Book Depository. As he raced back home, Oswald was stopped by a suspicious Dallas Police Officer, J.D. Tippet. As Oswald ran near him, Tippet asked why he was “in such a damn rush.” At that time, Oswald reached for his pants. Tippet drew his firearm and shot Oswald in the arm, disabling him and allowing Tippet to arrest him for “Resisting Arrest”. While he was in the Dallas Police Station, Oswald was later identified as a suspect in the attempted assassination of President Kennedy. He was charged with this crime, and on November 24th was transferred to Dallas City Jail.

Back at the White House, President Kennedy received additional treatment from his personal doctor, George Burkley. He prescribed an additional round of pain killers to the already heavily medicated President. Despite his lengthy medical record, Kennedy emphasized that “If I’m going to do my job, I need to be free of any more pain.” Burkley also began a regimen of physical therapy for the President so that he could be in tip-top shape for the upcoming Presidential Election. Kennedy also met with his speechwriters, including Ted Sorensen, Arthur Schlesinger, and Dick Goodwin. Eager to address the country as soon as possible, Kennedy and his team worked long hours to write a speech that was both comforting and strong, so as to avoid any sense of added weakness incurred from the assassination attempt.

On November 25th, Kennedy addressed the nation. He opened by reassuring the country that “While I have been wounded, I remain in good physical shape. My injury was minor, and I will not require any time off before resuming the duties required of me as President. In fact, I have already spoken to the members of my Administration, and have assured them that I will not be taking a vacation.” After making it clear that he was both physically and mentally prepared to return to work, the President changed to a far more serious tone: “Those that wish to overthrow this government; this democratically elected government, will not succeed. The strength of our Republic is in its people, and in your resolve to keep this nation free. I can promise you that whoever is behind this attack will be identified, and they will be punished accordingly.” Finally, Kennedy wrapped his speech with a powerful commemoration to Agent Hill: “I want to take a moment to thank the man responsible for saving my life. Agent Clint Hill served this nation proudly for five years. He was entrusted to protect my wife, and he was never expected to take a bullet for the President. Yet when the time came, Mr. Hill remained calm and did his duty. He saved my life, while sacrificing his. I have talked to his family; have expressed the deepest thanks a man can. Clint Hill is an American hero, and I will never forget him. He will be given the highest honor possible, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, thus ensuring the nation will remember and honor his deeds in the field of duty.”

With the nation beginning to move on from the shock of Dallas, President Kennedy shifted his focus to the issues pressing the country. The most pressing was Vietnam. For years, America had been entangled in an increasingly messy situation in Southeast Asia. The conflict between Communist North Vietnam, including their allies the Viet Cong, and the pro-US South showed no signs of coming to an end any time soon. In early November, a major change occurred in the war. Southern President Ngo Dinh Diem was assassinated by members of the South Vietnamese military. The coup was surprisingly successful, and had been supported by the White House. In Diem’s place, the military took control. Kennedy was hopeful that stronger leadership out of Saigon would turn the tide in the war. Yet in the first several weeks of the new regime little changed. Corruption continued to plague all levels of the Southern regime, including the armed forces. Meanwhile American advisers continued to take casualties in what was supposedly a civil war. Prior to his trip to Dallas, Kennedy had told his National Security Advisor MacGeorge Bundy to prepare for an extensive review of American policy towards South Vietnam. In the meantime, the President continued to support NSAM 263, an order calling for the withdrawal of 1,000 troops by the end of 1963. No public announcement was made until the end of December. Even then, it was done through a series of leaks out of the State Department. In discussing the public reaction with Secretary of State Bob McNamara, Kennedy quipped “Back when I got elected, I remember saying that I would tell the press I chose Bobby by opening my door at 2 in the morning and whispering “It’s Bobby.” That’s not such a bad idea in this case.”

The Bundy Report further reinforced Kennedy’s belief in de-escalation. Despite his support for a continued American commitment in Southeast Asia, Bundy stated that “ARVN will remain hand-cuffed by a continued U.S. troop presence. The impetus to take the fight to the enemy will not occur until the responsibility is firmly on the shoulders of Saigon.” Further meetings with General “Ramrod” Harkins confirmed the implementation of NSAM 263, which would withdraw I, II, and III Corps from Vietnam by the end of 1964. The IV Corps would remain in the Delta until the end of 1965. In the meantime, American troops went on the offensive, taking the fight to the Viet Cong while focusing on building up the Strategic Hamlet program. Once again, no public announcement of Kennedy’s shift in strategy, and only through press leaks was the media kept informed.

The second major issue for the President was the War on Poverty. The day before the shooting in Dallas, Kennedy had asked his staff to begin research on the issues effecting poor Americans and what programs could be of use. By mid-December, the research was completed. Dick Goodwin presented his report to the President, advising that “the single greatest obstacle to poor Americans is a lack of gainful employment. While our economy is creating jobs, these are primarily in office buildings and skyscrapers. In the shadow of these towers of capitalism live the poor. In ghettos, hollers, and small towns all across this nation, American citizens do not have the opportunity to make a good living. It is my belief that the focus of any anti-poverty effort must be a jobs program aimed at the entire nation.” Goodwin’s beliefs were reinforced by other members of the President’s Administration, including Under Secretary of Labor Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Acting on the views of his Administration, President Kennedy announced plans for a “War on Poverty” on December 18th in Wheelwright, Kentucky. Kennedy stated that “while this nation grows economically and more Americans are finding good work, not everyone is benefiting. Thousands of towns and communities have no meaningful sources of employment. There are no factories, mines, or boardrooms for those people to work. In fighting poverty, we must look first and foremost to provide jobs for every American capable of work. Gainful employment is not only good for the poorest of Americans, but it is good for every American.” The President’s trip to Appalachia was paired with Vice-President Johnson returning to his hometown on the Pedernales River in Texas, and Attorney General Robert Kennedy traveling to the Mississippi Delta. In every case, members of the media were openly moved at the level of poverty in those communities. Kennedy paired his support for a public works project with the tax cut that he had already presented to Congress. It was quite obvious that his efforts were aimed at persuading Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who was holding up the tax cut bill in the Finance Committee. The President’s support for the tax cut was also due to his emphasis that “we’ve got to tie anti-poverty programs to something tangible for the Middle Class.” Kennedy planned on submitting his anti-poverty program, known as VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), to the Congress following the 1964 elections. In the mean time, he would attempt to use poverty as a wedge issue and drive the Republicans into an ideological corner.

By the end of 1963, John F. Kennedy’s Presidency was finally beginning to take shape. After two years of political and policy stumbles, the Kennedy White House had found their sea wings and had effectively silenced many of their loudest critics. On both the foreign and domestic fronts, Kennedy and his Administration had effectively taken action for the greater good of the nation. The Cuban Missile Crisis, NSAM 263, and the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty had all proved to be difficult and crucial moments for the President. On the home front, civil rights and poverty began to draw the attention of the American people. On each of these fronts, John Kennedy had successfully maneuvered the political maze, and the nation had come out the better for it.
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