John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

* photo courtesy of http://capcake.fc2web.com/dc/dc4.htm

Interview with Mary Ellen Gray (relation:mother)

1. Q: How old were you when President Kennedy was shot and do you remember where you were?
A: Yes, I was sixteen and I was in my english class.
2. Q: How were you told ?
A: The principal knocked on the door of the classroom and was talking to the teacher and then the teacher told the class that the president had been shot and was in critical condition.
3. Q: What were the reactions of everyone?
A: All my classmates and teachers were in shock and began getting upset and the school was dismissed early.
4. Q: What did you do once you were released from school?
A: I went home and turned on the TV right away. All the channels were news and they were replaying the shooting and were interviewing witnesses. I was glued to the TV for the rest of the day and was watching when they announced the president was in fact dead.
5: Q: What were the reactions of everyone when they found out he was dead?
A: It was very, very sad. People began going to church and had many memorial services. People were very sad because he was such a popular president.
6: Q:What was it like the days following his death?
A: Everyone pretty much stayed glued their TV. So much happened in the days that followed. I remember Johnson was immediately sworn in and then a couple days later I remember seeing Jack Ruby kill Lee harvey Oswald. Everyone was so shocked, no one could believe this was happening.
7. Q: Do you remember watching the funeral for the President?
A: Yes, I remember seeing a rider-less horse with the riding boots and stir-ups backwards, which stood for a fallen hero. I also, remember seeing Jackie with her widows veil walking with her two little children in the funeral procession. It was such a long ordeal and I felt so bad for Jackie, but she stood there so strong and brave.
8: Q: Can you compare the nation's morale from before and then after the assassination?
A: President Kennedy was one of the most energetic and youngest presidents and he always gave the country a sense of security and that we were on top of things. After he died there was so much confusion. People were saying the assassination was a Russian conspiracy and everyone felt nervous. I would say that the assassination started a period of uncertainty.

Where were you when ....?

I have always heard the question asked, "Where were you when when Kennedy was shot?" At first I really did not understand why people were always asked this, but then tragedy striked on September 11th. I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I found out and now I can understand the question. It seems that every generation faces at least one tragedy. My grandmother's generation faced the attacks on Pearl Harbor, my mother's generation lived through the Kennedy Assassination, and now I have lived through September 11th. Such horrific events just stay imbedded into your mind for the rest of your life and will never be forgotten.

Annotated Bibliography - Thesis Statement

At the beginning of the Kennedy Presidency, Americans had hopes for a bright future. After November 22, 1963, the assassination of the President, a nation went into a state of shock and confusion.

Annotated Bibliography - Newspaper Article

Pollock, Ellen. Film of JFK's Assassination Gets Price Tag of $16 Million." Wall Street Journal [New York]04 Aug. 1999: B1(E).

This newspaper is a great way to fully understand the legacy of President Kennedy. Even though he has been dead for decades now, his still remains in the heart of the nation. The article tells of how much a film of his death is worth millions of dollars to people even though he has been dead for so long. The article shows that JFK will always remain a part of our history and that he will never be forgotten by the American people. It does not matter whether or not someone was alive to witness his assassination, the John F. Kennedy will always be remembered.

Annotated Bibliography - The History Channel

The History Channel - Video & Speeches. 15 Apr. 2006 <http://www.historychannel.com/broadband/searchbrowse/index.jsp>.

This webpage contains various video and audio clips of President Kennedy. Anywhere from him announcing his candidacy for president to the day of his assassination can be found on this webpage. This site will allow you to take a journey through his brief time as president and allows people to see what everyone was watching on their televisions back in the early 1960s. This page is a great first hand account of President Kennedy and helps to better understand how people saw him as a beloved president and mourned his loss.

Annotated Bibliography - Dallas Police Tapes

The JFK Assassination Dallas Police Tapes. 29 Mar. 2006 <http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/dpdtapes/>.

This webpage contains recordings of the actual radio channels that the Dallas, Texas police used the day of the assassination. It includes radio conversation from a few minutes before the president was shot until they have found Lee Harvey Oswald, the shooter. Although some of the audio is hard to decipher, the page also contains dialog of exactly what they are saying. The webpage gives a real life account of how people were reacting to the assassination. It is a great way to understand the frenzy that ensued after the shots were fired and helps to better understand what went down on that day.

Annotated Bibliography - John F. Kennedy Library

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. 03 Apr. 2006 <http://www.jfklibrary.org/>.

This website contains a vast amount of information on John F. Kennedy. The website holds many historical resources and gives many unique facts about President Kennedy. It contains an exclusive diary of President Kennedy’s days in office. The White House Diary takes you through day by day and tells exactly what President Kennedy did on that specific day. The site also contains a timeline of American history throughout Kennedy’s term as President. There is also a section that gives detailed descriptions of all the events that took place while Kennedy was in office. This website is full of factual information dealing with President Kennedy and is a great place to access information on the former president.

*photo courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

Annotated Bibliography - Video Clip of Funeral Procession

"JFK Funeral Video Clips." 01 May 2006 <http://www.searchforvideo.com/
search.jsp?k=JFK%27s+Funeral>.

This webpage contains an actual video clip of President Kennedy’s funeral procession. This short, four minute clip shows exactly what it was like to be alive during this event. It is a first hand look at how people from were reacting to this dreadful situation. The clip states that a quarter of a million people waited outside for nearly twelve hours in a line that stretched for ten miles just to pass by the dead president coffin. The clip shows how somber of day it was as this nation mourned the loss of a beloved president. This is a very moving clip and it is great way to fully understand the depth of this tragedy on the nation.

Video clip can be seen here

* photo courtesy of http://www.glynn.k12.ga.us/BHS/academics/junior/durham/curtisl07183/home.html.

Annotated Bibliography - The John F. Kennedy Assassination Homepage

Schuster, Ralph. The John F. Kennedy Assassination Homepage. 25 Apr.2006 <http://www.jfk-assassination.de/index.php>.

This website contains an excellent media library that contains various sources from around the time that President Kennedy was shot. The website has various media clips of radio broadcasts from the day of the assassination. People can listen to the speech that President Kennedy gave that morning before he was shot or a clip of the announcement that the president was in fact dead. The site also contains photos and drawings that were used to help determine exactly how the president was killed. The site is a great way to understand the reactions of people at the time it was happening and also a great way to see how the events unfolded on that horrific day.

* photo courtesy of http://www.jfk-assassination.de/index.php

Annotated Bibliography - High Treason

Groden, Robert, and Harrison Edward Livingstone. High Treason. Baltimore, MA: The Conservatory Press, 1989.

In this book many questions are brought up about the assassination of President Kennedy. The book challenges the Warren Commission Report and brings up many unanswered questions surrounding the assassination. This book acknowledges the fact that there are many theories of what and who killed President Kennedy. The authors of this book did extensive research and bring up valid information dealing with the assassination.

The mystery of the assassination may never truly be solved, but this book gives people the information they need to come up with their own conclusion of what really happened.

*photo courtesy of amazon.com

Annotated Bibliography - The Warren Commission Report

United States. Report of the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President John F.Kennedy. The Warren Commission Report. 1964. New York, NY: St.Martin’s Press.

This book contains the official and complete report of the Warren Commission Report. This book gives the entire investigation conducted under President Johnson’s order on President Kennedy’s assassination. It gives all the information and research that was conducted after the assassination and gives the evidence that the Commission used to come up with their conclusions on the killing of the president. This is the document that, although is considered highly controversial, concludes that Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President Kennedy.

This book may not exactly be a fun read since it contains the official report by the Commission, but is extremely factual. It gives a lot of insight into what the happenings were on the day of the assassination and unfolds one of the theories of how President Kennedy was killed.

*photo courtesy of http://www.total411.info/2004/10/warren-commission-turns-40.html

The Kennedy Name

Everyone has heard something about the Kennedy's. Whether it is the picture perfect story of Camelot or the horrifying notion of the Kennedy Curse, the name Kennedy is recognized by the nation. The name Kennedy has always been a subject of interest or scandal. We have all seen the photos of the handsome president and his fashionable wife. We have all seen the horrifying images of the day the president was shot. We have all seen the somber photo of JFK Jr. saluting his father at his funeral. Forty-three years after the assassination of JFK, I find myself being drawn to the story of the Kennedy’s even though I was no where near being born. The story of so much hope and potential as the Kennedy’s entered the White House and the suddenness with which it ended, the story of the Kennedy’s will always be a significant part of our history.

* photo courtesy of http://www.jfkin61.com/biographies/jackie_biography.html

My Memories - Memory List

My playroom that always looked like a bomb had exploded, toys were everywhere.

Trips to the lake house that overlooked the wavy water of Lake Ontario.

Going to the tiny local grocery store with my mom and pointing to almost every item on the shelf asking, “Can we get this, please?”

After school when the bus would drop me off, I would scuttle up the drive way as quickly as possible so I didn’t miss the beginning of my favorite TV show, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

The times I would beg my sister to do my hair and make up so I could play dress up and walk around the house in high heels that were way too big for my feet.

Going to the Dashboard Confessional concert and being in the first row of a huge crowd of people, just a few feet from the lead singer, Chris Carrabba.

The year we decided to put popcorn around the Christmas tree and ended staying up all night stringing many bags of popcorn together.

Every night when my cat would be curled up next to me peacefully sleeping.

My first job working as a cashier and having to ask every customer, “Would you like paper or plastic?”

My old house that had a huge interior, a barn red exterior, and was so old we eventually had to tear it down.

My first hamster named Lucky that escaped after having had him for only four days; I guess he wasn’t so lucky.

Going to Florida for the first time for our Senior Trip and the excitement of being there with all my friends.

Playing card games with my grandma after school and she would never let me win.

The nasty taste of lick-and-stick paper that we would use for art projects in Kindergarten.

Prom dress shopping and trying on dress after dress to make sure I found the right one.

The back porch of my grandparent’s house that my cousins and I used to pretend was a ship and it was controlled by an exercise bike.

Waking up one morning and finding out that my favorite dog, a black lab named Maxwell, was hit by a car.

The late night phone calls that would last for hours even though we had to get up for school the next morning.

Sharing a room with my older sister and always being a pest and snooping through her things.

Moving into our new house with out any furniture and having to use lawn chairs for a couple of months.

Coloring with my mom and always wondering how she always managed to stay in between the lines.

Seeing my new baby nephew for the first time and being so excited to be an aunt.

Crying in school because I lost my lunch money, but then realized that I really didn’t lose it.

Moving into my own room for the first time and not being able to sleep that night because I was so excited.

My 5^th Birthday party when my sister dressed up as a clown and I was so mad at her because I was embarrassed.

Going to Yankee Stadium for the first time and being able to go onto the field and into the dugout after the game.

Chasing around a group of ducks that were dropped off at our house and trying to catch them with a fishing net.

The times I would get so scared because I heard a noise in the closet and I was convinced it was a witch.

My favorite toy, a pretend stove that would make cooking noises.

The days at lunch when we all sat in the cafeteria and would be laughing so hard that we cried.

My Memories - College Essay

This is an essay that I wrote for my 12th grade English class and decided to send it with my college application.

There it stood with its barn red exterior and worn appearance. It is the house where I spent my childhood. I knew every little nook and cranny of the house, especially all the best places to hide when playing hide-n-seek. It had a very cozy exterior, and the rooms seemed to be enormous. I felt so comfortable and at home there, but of course, like every older house, it needed repairs and a lot of them. It was decided that the most convenient solution would be to just demolish the house and build a new one. Six, years ago, would be the last time that I would see the image of my house standing there.
The new house was built. The house was a lot smaller and it was very unfamiliar territory. All the walls were new and plain. There were no signs of marks accidentally put on the wall or where I had scribbled all over with green crayon when I was little. It felt really strange and did not feel like it was home. I missed my old house and I wanted things to go back to how they were before. When I looked at the house, all I could see was this strange building standing in the same spot as my old house.
Six years later, I find myself to feel completely different about the new house. I absolutely love my house now. I have discovered all the little aspects of it, although this time not by playing hide-n-seek, and have added my own touches to make it feel like home. The walls are no longer plain, and now I can find myself being relaxed and comfortable there. Now when I look at my house, I no longer see some strange structure standing there, but instead I see a place I can call home.
Just like feeling at home, life can also be a series of changes. There are so many transitions that have to be made throughout life. Whether it is moving from place to place or meeting new people, changes are everywhere. A lot of times people have to tear down or leave behind places and relationships and start anew. This is not an easy thing to do, but at one point or another everyone has to experience this recreation.
Soon, I too, will be undergoing one of the biggest transitions of my life, going to college. I will have to leave behind all the people I have formed relationships with and move to unknown territory. I will be in a completely different location without knowing anyone. I will be looking at some strange place wondering what to do next, but I know that change is a part of life, and if I make the best of it, I can form new relationships and build up a better final product. I know that one day after college, I will look around and see a person very comfortable and real to me, just like my new house.

My Memories - Pronto

I dare ya to play a game called Pronto with me.
I bet you won’t win. I go to my grandma’s house after school. I hate having to ride a different bus to get there. My sister usually watches me but she has basketball after school and my mom works til 5 so that gives me 2 hours at my grandma’s and that means 2 hours of Pronto.
When I get to my grandma’s house she says hello to me at the door and then we go sit in the kitchen. She usually makes me a pb& j sandwhich. I don’t like it very much. She uses homemade strawberry jelly. The chunks of strawberry gross me out but I eat it anyways even though I can’t barely swallow it. I think it makes my grandma happy. I try to hurry up and eat it because as soon as I am done it is time for Pronto.
My grandma taught me the game. It is like playing solitaire but you use eachother’s aces. We play Pronto everyday and I am starting to get better and better. My grandma is really good and competitive. She always gets the aces first. I hardly ever win. She tells me I get too distracted but I don’t know what she expects. There is a little black and white tv that is right behind me when I play. I think she turns it on so I won’t pay attention. Just another game strategy. It seems like everytime I turn to watch it I hear my grandma yell Pronto. That means she won again.
I know I can’t beat my grandma at Pronto but I do challenge my mom or dad sometimes and I always win. My grandma may be the best at Pronto but I am not that far behind her.