I have to point out this and remind myself of it. All facets of the era (Vietnam, Cuba, the Soviets and matters with them) will be interwoven like a finely knit tapestry, and what happens in each will rely on the others. When this is finished and if I do this correctly, you will see what I mean.
Camelot Revisited: A Timeline
- Thread starter Emperor Norton I
- Start date
Kennedy at Parkland
"If I don't make it, tell Jackie and the children I love them."-Purportedly Said by President Kennedy Before Surgery
The following are excerpts from the book "JFK Must Die: November 22nd and the Attempt to Kill a President" by John Prescott.
"If I don't make it, tell Jackie and the children I love them."-Purportedly Said by President Kennedy Before Surgery
The following are excerpts from the book "JFK Must Die: November 22nd and the Attempt to Kill a President" by John Prescott.
***
As Kennedy was raced into emergency surgery at Parkland, he teetered on the verge of death. Blood loss since the initial shots was severe, and his breathing was stunted and stifled. Doctors raced quickly in order to save the President, preforming an emergency blood transfusion and a tracheotomy to aid Mr. Kennedy's breathing...
...For the larger part of the assassination up to the arrival at Parkland, Vice-President Johnson was yet unaware of the events which had transpired...
...Upon the arrival of the motorcade in Parkland, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson would be rushed away quickly by Secret Service agents, still as of yet unaware that President Kennedy and the Governor had been shot in the Plaza...
...Agent Emory Roberts would inform Vice President Johnson that the President had been shot and was currently in emergency surgery, and that the Secret Service wished to escort Vice President Johnson back to Washington in case this was part of a larger conspiracy. Johnson would ask whether or not he was still alive or would remain so, a question which Roberts himself was not totally sure of given the President's injuries. Roberts -albeit unsure- would tell Johnson that Kennedy was, indeed, still alive. Given this, Johnson refused to leave...
...In Washington, Robert Kennedy would be informed of the occurrence in Dallas by J. Edgar Hoover, a man whom he hated (as much as Hoover equally despised him), and with whom he rarely spoke. Hoover would state, without airs, "The President has been shot." before hanging up the phone. Robert Kennedy would later report Hoover sounded happy in telling him this...
...For the larger part of the assassination up to the arrival at Parkland, Vice-President Johnson was yet unaware of the events which had transpired...
...Upon the arrival of the motorcade in Parkland, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson would be rushed away quickly by Secret Service agents, still as of yet unaware that President Kennedy and the Governor had been shot in the Plaza...
...Agent Emory Roberts would inform Vice President Johnson that the President had been shot and was currently in emergency surgery, and that the Secret Service wished to escort Vice President Johnson back to Washington in case this was part of a larger conspiracy. Johnson would ask whether or not he was still alive or would remain so, a question which Roberts himself was not totally sure of given the President's injuries. Roberts -albeit unsure- would tell Johnson that Kennedy was, indeed, still alive. Given this, Johnson refused to leave...
...In Washington, Robert Kennedy would be informed of the occurrence in Dallas by J. Edgar Hoover, a man whom he hated (as much as Hoover equally despised him), and with whom he rarely spoke. Hoover would state, without airs, "The President has been shot." before hanging up the phone. Robert Kennedy would later report Hoover sounded happy in telling him this...
***
Excerpt From "Conspiracy Theories of the 20th Century" by Josh Dini:
In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, even government officials weren't sure who was behind the shooting or if it was part of a larger conspiracy. The Secret Service suspected it may have been some form of Communist plot to cripple the government before, perhaps, launching a Third World War. There was also fear that there were multiple assassins whose locations and goals in Dallas were unknown, and who could strike from anywhere at any time. For this reason, the Secret Service carefully monitored both President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson, and tried to get LBJ to fly away to Washington for his safety and the governments stability, and to deal with a possible crisis waiting in the wings.
In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, even government officials weren't sure who was behind the shooting or if it was part of a larger conspiracy. The Secret Service suspected it may have been some form of Communist plot to cripple the government before, perhaps, launching a Third World War. There was also fear that there were multiple assassins whose locations and goals in Dallas were unknown, and who could strike from anywhere at any time. For this reason, the Secret Service carefully monitored both President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson, and tried to get LBJ to fly away to Washington for his safety and the governments stability, and to deal with a possible crisis waiting in the wings.
***
Excerpt from "JFK Must Die" cont.:
As Oswald nestled himself in the seat of a Dallas theater, police cars surrounded the entrance. Soon, dozens of officers, sheriffs, patrolmen and detectives swarmed the theater, confronting Oswald.
As the police attempted to apprehend him, Oswald raised from his seat and shouted something to the affect of "This is it!" before attempting to shoot one of the officer and punch another. Police wrestled him for the weapon in a violent struggle.
At approximately 1:50 PM, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested under suspicion of the murder of officer Tippet. Only later would the breadth of his crimes truly become known.
As Oswald nestled himself in the seat of a Dallas theater, police cars surrounded the entrance. Soon, dozens of officers, sheriffs, patrolmen and detectives swarmed the theater, confronting Oswald.
As the police attempted to apprehend him, Oswald raised from his seat and shouted something to the affect of "This is it!" before attempting to shoot one of the officer and punch another. Police wrestled him for the weapon in a violent struggle.
At approximately 1:50 PM, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested under suspicion of the murder of officer Tippet. Only later would the breadth of his crimes truly become known.
Now, onto the 1964 campaign. This will be run by Steve Smith. A prediction based on OTL sources below...
Kennedy II Cabinet (changes only)
Secretary of State: Robert McNamara
Secretary of Defense: Robert Kennedy
UN Ambassador: Dean Rusk
Attorney General: Nicholas Katzenbach
Kennedy II Cabinet (changes only)
Secretary of State: Robert McNamara
Secretary of Defense: Robert Kennedy
UN Ambassador: Dean Rusk
Attorney General: Nicholas Katzenbach
Nice update Norton. You really are good with the photoshop. 
Nice to see that conspiracy theorists are still doing their job!
Nice to see that conspiracy theorists are still doing their job!
Thank you. Yes, I'm glorious.Nice update Norton. You really are good with the photoshop.
Oh, they will run aplenty. Crazy people will exist no matter what.
I agree with theReturner. The rest of us Kexperts (Mav, DA947 & myself) defer to His Majesty.
I agree with theReturner. The rest of us Kexperts (Mav, DA947 & myself) defer to His Majesty.
Love this TL...I only wish I was that good with Photoshop...
Your Majesty, I believe you have some RFK photos on stock. Can you age them to 50, 60, 70, and 85 (triple maple syrup for the last)? That might be helpful for your fellow Kexperts.
Cobbling stuff together is easy. Manipulating it in depth and acutely is hard, and aging is really a tight rope. Possible to do...maybe. Not a definite, though.
What is the stuff, though?Can we ask you for stuff if you're not too busy then?
Cuz I need one for the John Wayne TL and two or three for my Kennedy TL, which should be up when the John Wayne TL is done...
Awesome update Nort, All though were still just trying to figure out what's happening in Dallas amongst all the chaos. So is Connally going to make it out of this alive ITTL because it seems to me that a death for a death scenario could be very doable ITTL, and have enough butterflies of its own to kinda spice things up a bit. Can't wait till the next Installment...Keep it comming
Another thing that should be coming up is the Bobby Baker business, where LBJ's former chief of staff went on a white-collar crime spree that defrauded private citizens and the feds. He and RFK had reached tacit agreement (despite having a long and antagonistic relationship) that the Baker investigation would be slowed down in exchange for sitting on info about the East German Ellen Romestch servicing Jack Kennedy. By late 1963 she had been extradited to the FRG, but there's still potential for damage to Lyndon Johnson and the Administration.
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The part were you said J. Edgar Hoover sounded happy when he told RFK the news, is that from OTL?
"He didn't sound quite as excited as if he'd found a Communist on the faculties of Harvard or Howard."- RFK, 11/22. Hoover never called Bobby at home on the private line, and I think this was the only time.
I know. I'm glorious.
The assassination material was (and will be) mostly fluff to buy time for me to brainstorm and learn new things I can use. I wanted to push this TL off past when it actually started, but I felt pressured by the date to do it. This summer may not necessarily be clear sailing, but I'm gonna try.
The assassination material was (and will be) mostly fluff to buy time for me to brainstorm and learn new things I can use. I wanted to push this TL off past when it actually started, but I felt pressured by the date to do it. This summer may not necessarily be clear sailing, but I'm gonna try.
Portion of the Transcript from Walter Cronkite's Interview with Former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, on November 3rd, 1982
Walter Cronkite Narration:
As the day wore on, we approached a topic of conversation I dreaded bringing up; the assassination attempt in Dallas. Everyone remembers where they were that day as they heard the news that the leader of the free world had been struck down by an assassin's bullet as he traveled the streets of that southern city. The severity of his condition remained unknown for hours, and the fate of this nation's history would hang in the balance. I myself was there, reporting from the CBS news room, trying to hold the temperance of my reporter's duty as we raced to get word of the President's condition out to the American people, and to receive it ourselves.
It is difficult now for even those who lived at that time to speak much of it, and I needed to ask the man who had been subject to such a heinous act his view. There was no better perspective than Mr. Kennedy on this event, yet there was none I dreaded more trying to interview.
Walter Cronkite:
Now at some point, we will need to touch on the assassination attempt in Dallas...
Former President John Kennedy:
Yes.
Cronkite:
Now, this was a difficult time for your family....
Kennedy:
I dare say so, yes.
Cronkite:
Now...
Kennedy:
I dare say it would be difficult on anyone's family. For the first few hours you don't know what's going on, if the wounds are fatal, who would do such a thing, why they'd do it; it's a rather difficult thing.
Cronkite:
Mr. Pres....
Kennedy:
I myself was afraid. I didn't know if I would live, if I passed what would happen to Jackie and the children, how you could tell the children
that their father was gone and they'd never see him again.
Cronkite:
Mr. President....
Kennedy:
And Johnson becoming President scarred the hell outta me as well. (Mr. Kennedy and Cronkite laugh)
I wasn't sure how well this nation would survive that.
Kronkite:
Mr. President, what do you remember of those events?
Kennedy:
I recall driving through Dallas, waving at the onlookers as we made our little tour to the luncheon. Many people forget that the reason I was there in Dallas was to try to achieve some party unity in Texas; the Texas Democratic party seemed to be falling all to hell and I was to give a...speech when we arrived at a steak luncheon.
I can remember smiling at the crowd, seeing some of the home cameras they had back in those days, looking at Jackie and saying something, looking back at the crowd, and then...
Cronkite:
And then the assassin's bullet struck?
Kennedy:
Yes. Everything seemed to change in that instant. I felt a tremendous surge of pain through my back and my neck and I raised my arms to the wound. Terrible, terrible pain.
I can remember Jackie grabbing my arm and trying to comfort me, and I believe Governor Connally may have looked back at me as well.
Cronkite:
And did this.....
Kennedy:
I also remember what sounded like firecrackers exploding before and after the shot struck. The noise reverberated throughout the plaza but I remember one, then another which was when, as you well know, I did get hit; both I and the Governor were hit. And then there was another and I heard a kind of..."plunking" noise coming from somewhere, which we later discovered was the trunk. The bullet had missed me and hit the trunk.
Cronkite:
What was your emotional state at the time? What seemed to go through your mind at that time?
Kennedy:
There was a bit of a basic instinctual reaction which overcame me. I could feel adrenaline start pumping, there was a great deal of pain which seemed to take over my upper body, and there was a bit of panic because at the time we had no idea what was occurring. I knew I had been shot shortly after the fact, but there was no knowing by who or from where. And you have to remember that all of this happened in a matter of mere seconds.
As we drove off to the hospital at heaven knows what speed, my senses came back a little more and I started to think about what would happen to Jackie, what would happen to the children, if we were safe or if there were more people out to get us and things of that nature. I recall Jackie trying to comfort me as the car sped off to Parkland and she herself was panicking. Things seem to get blurry from there on.
Walter Cronkite Narration:
As the day wore on, we approached a topic of conversation I dreaded bringing up; the assassination attempt in Dallas. Everyone remembers where they were that day as they heard the news that the leader of the free world had been struck down by an assassin's bullet as he traveled the streets of that southern city. The severity of his condition remained unknown for hours, and the fate of this nation's history would hang in the balance. I myself was there, reporting from the CBS news room, trying to hold the temperance of my reporter's duty as we raced to get word of the President's condition out to the American people, and to receive it ourselves.
It is difficult now for even those who lived at that time to speak much of it, and I needed to ask the man who had been subject to such a heinous act his view. There was no better perspective than Mr. Kennedy on this event, yet there was none I dreaded more trying to interview.
Walter Cronkite:
Now at some point, we will need to touch on the assassination attempt in Dallas...
Former President John Kennedy:
Yes.
Cronkite:
Now, this was a difficult time for your family....
Kennedy:
I dare say so, yes.
Cronkite:
Now...
Kennedy:
I dare say it would be difficult on anyone's family. For the first few hours you don't know what's going on, if the wounds are fatal, who would do such a thing, why they'd do it; it's a rather difficult thing.
Cronkite:
Mr. Pres....
Kennedy:
I myself was afraid. I didn't know if I would live, if I passed what would happen to Jackie and the children, how you could tell the children
that their father was gone and they'd never see him again.
Cronkite:
Mr. President....
Kennedy:
And Johnson becoming President scarred the hell outta me as well. (Mr. Kennedy and Cronkite laugh)
I wasn't sure how well this nation would survive that.
Kronkite:
Mr. President, what do you remember of those events?
Kennedy:
I recall driving through Dallas, waving at the onlookers as we made our little tour to the luncheon. Many people forget that the reason I was there in Dallas was to try to achieve some party unity in Texas; the Texas Democratic party seemed to be falling all to hell and I was to give a...speech when we arrived at a steak luncheon.
I can remember smiling at the crowd, seeing some of the home cameras they had back in those days, looking at Jackie and saying something, looking back at the crowd, and then...
Cronkite:
And then the assassin's bullet struck?
Kennedy:
Yes. Everything seemed to change in that instant. I felt a tremendous surge of pain through my back and my neck and I raised my arms to the wound. Terrible, terrible pain.
I can remember Jackie grabbing my arm and trying to comfort me, and I believe Governor Connally may have looked back at me as well.
Cronkite:
And did this.....
Kennedy:
I also remember what sounded like firecrackers exploding before and after the shot struck. The noise reverberated throughout the plaza but I remember one, then another which was when, as you well know, I did get hit; both I and the Governor were hit. And then there was another and I heard a kind of..."plunking" noise coming from somewhere, which we later discovered was the trunk. The bullet had missed me and hit the trunk.
Cronkite:
What was your emotional state at the time? What seemed to go through your mind at that time?
Kennedy:
There was a bit of a basic instinctual reaction which overcame me. I could feel adrenaline start pumping, there was a great deal of pain which seemed to take over my upper body, and there was a bit of panic because at the time we had no idea what was occurring. I knew I had been shot shortly after the fact, but there was no knowing by who or from where. And you have to remember that all of this happened in a matter of mere seconds.
As we drove off to the hospital at heaven knows what speed, my senses came back a little more and I started to think about what would happen to Jackie, what would happen to the children, if we were safe or if there were more people out to get us and things of that nature. I recall Jackie trying to comfort me as the car sped off to Parkland and she herself was panicking. Things seem to get blurry from there on.
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Jack is back. I await the goings-on back at the White House. Namely, how the Vice President and Attorney General are going to handle the next few weeks.
I await the goings-on back at the White House. Namely, how the Vice President and Attorney General are going to handle the next few weeks.