DALLAS, USA: As the nation commemorates the 60th anniversary of the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, the last surviving witnesses, including Associated Press reporter Peggy Simpson and former US Secret Service Agent Clint Hill, share their vivid memories of that fateful day.
Peggy Simpson, now 84, vividly recalls her immediate response to the news of President Kennedy’s assassination in downtown Dallas. Rushing to the Texas School Book Depository, she clung to police officers, relaying crucial information to her editors via pay phones. Simpson’s account is among the last living links to the historical event.
To preserve these eyewitness recollections, National Geographic recently released “JFK: One Day in America,” a three-part series featuring firsthand accounts from Simpson, Hill, and others. The series incorporates archival footage, some of which has been colorized for the first time, providing a nuanced perspective on the events surrounding the assassination.
Stephen Fagin, curator at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, emphasizes the importance of these living testimonies, expressing concern that with time, the nation will lose a tangible link to the past. The museum, located at the Texas School Book Depository, serves as a key institution narrating the story of the assassination.
The enduring allure of Dealey Plaza draws visitors seeking to connect with this pivotal moment in American history. The assassination of President Kennedy not only shaped a generation but also sparked ongoing debates and conspiracy theories.
Over the years, questions have arisen about the official version of events presented by the Warren Commission. The Select Committee on Assassinations of the US House of Representatives in 1978 concluded that while Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots, there was a “high probability that two gunmen fired” at the president, suggesting a conspiracy. However, the committee could not identify the second gunman or the full extent of the conspiracy.
In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, witnesses like Peggy Simpson played a crucial role in documenting history. Simpson, initially assigned to cover a fundraising dinner for Kennedy in Austin, found herself in Dallas, near the Texas School Book Depository. Racing to the AP office, she reported the shocking news of the president’s shooting and later witnessed the chaos at police headquarters.
Simpson’s recollections, housed in the oral history collection at The Sixth Floor Museum, provide a firsthand account of the historic events. Fagin describes her as a “terrific example of somebody who was just where the action was” and highlights the ongoing efforts to capture oral histories, particularly from those who were children in the ’60s and heard about the assassination while at school.
As time marches on, the urgency to document these recollections becomes a race against time, ensuring that the memories of those who witnessed that tragic day are preserved for future generations.
