Harry Reasoner anchors this live evening special program of the same day coverage of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. There is a special retrospective on JFK, the Kennedy family, the 1960 Election with interviews and remembered speeches. There are live late breaking bulletins from George Herman at the White House. There is a live editorial from Eric Sevareid on the late President. Dan Rather reports live from Dallas on the latest developments concerning Lee Harvey Oswald, who at this time was accused of only killing a policeman and who was currently being questioned. Live from Dallas police headquarters, KRLD-TV newsman Bill Mercer interviews policeman Jerry Hill, who has been questioning the accused Oswald. We hear Oswald denying that he shot the President. We hear CBS news correspondent Charles Von Fremd's 1960 interview with Kennedy who reflected on his views on the possibility of his own assassination. Harry Reasoner summarizes the days events and what is to follow. Lyndon B. Johnson addresses the American people in a brief recorded transcription - his first formal statement as President. Harry Reasoner continues with a profile on Johnson... past speeches, political statements and commentary from LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson. A past interview between Walter Cronkite and Lyndon Johnson is heard. White House correspondent George Herman comments on LBJ and there is a live statement concerning the JFK assassination from Adlai Stevenson.
J.F.K.: A MAN OF THIS CENTURY (TV)
Summary
A special news report from the night of President John F. Kennedy's murder, this program is a review of John F. Kennedy's life, opening with scenes from his childhood, and continuing with his wedding and the Democratic National Convention of 1960. Includes excerpts from his first debate with Richard Nixon and his victory celebration in Hyannisport, followed by the inauguration. The 1961 Ottawa State visit, the Vienna Summit meeting with Khrushchev, and a Paris meeting with De Gaulle are recorded, followed by more family background, including an interview with Rose Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, and a tribute to John F. Kennedy as a father. The Cuban crisis and the Berlin crisis are also reviewed.
The program continues with President Kennedy addressing the nation on the Cuban missile crisis, followed by Kennedy's interview with three networks discussing the presidency. George Herman at the White House reports on the current news. A shot of Kennedy's Berlin reception in 1963, and his reaction to the murder of Medgar Evers are included, with clips of Kennedy on South Vietnam on the significance of the White House. Harry Reasoner discusses Kennedy's presidential image, and a clip of the inaugural address is seen. Dan Rather reports from Dallas, and Bill Mercer interviews a Dallas policeman. Herman at the White House and Reasoner report on current developments. Reasoner discusses Lyndon Johnson.
The third hour of the program continues with a clip of Lady Bird Johnson and a flashback to the 1960 Democratic National Convention, followed by background on the election, concentrating on President Lyndon B. Johnson. Included are Johnson's around the world tour, and Cronkite's campaign interview with Johnson. The program continues with George Herman commenting on Johnson, and Johnson's return to Washington. Charles Kuralt reports on a high requiem mass in honor of John F. Kennedy in Los Angeles. The program closes with Harry Reasoner summarizing the day's events.
