50th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's Assassination

On Friday, November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated during a motorcade. Today marks the 50th anniversary of that fateful day.

President John F. Kennedy was the 35th president. At the age of 43, he was the youngest man elected president. At the age of 46, he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald (who was later killed by Jack Ruby while in police custody). He was survived by his wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, and two children, Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr., as well as his parents, four sisters, two brothers, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Conspiracy theories still surround the assassination and events that followed even to this day.

To learn more, check out these resources...

The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection, The National Archives

Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy (The Warren Commission Report), The National Archives

Post-JFK Assassination Air Force One Flight Deck Recording, The National Archives

The JFK Assassination: Former Agent Recalls His Role in the Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation

President John F. Kennedy was Shot in Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963, America's Story from America's Library

The Power of Disinformation: The Lie that Linked CIA to the Kennedy Assassination, Central Intelligence Agency

JFK Documents Index: Records Regarding the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, National Security Agency

The Investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: Performance of the Intelligence Agencies, U.S. Senate

Dalla, 11/22/63: 50 Years Later, New York State Library

Enduring Era: The Spirit of the JFK Presidency, Massachusetts Government Site


Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents and Microforms
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Liaison Librarian:

Accounting; Economics and Finance;
Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism; Legal Research;
Management; Marketing

January 25, 1961: President Kennedy Delivers the First Live Presidential News Conference

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first live presidential news conference. At 6pm EST on January 25, 1961, President Kennedy delivered his first presidential news conference at the State Department Auditorium in Washington, D.C. before 418 people. The transcript of the news conference can be found here on the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum web site.


Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

January 20, 1961: Presidential Inauguration of John F. Kennedy

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy, our 35th President of the United States.



You can also listen to President Kennedy's inaugural address or read the transcript of his address here at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum web site.

Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

Meet the Press (1/16/2011)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

Universal Newsreels: Warren Commission

Once again, I'm including a link to our new database American History in Video.  This link is to the Universal Newsreel on September 28, 1964, which discusses the Kennedy assassination and the Warren Commission.  Remember, in order to access the database, you must either have a UNO ID or be on campus.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Urban Studies

Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy (1932-2009)

Senator Ted Kennedy passed away last night at the age of 77 from brain cancer.  He was best known as the last surviving Kennedy son.  The brother of President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Ted served as a U.S. Senator for Massachussetts for 47 years (1962-2009).  

He is also well known for a car accident on the island Chappaquiddick.  This incident on July 18, 1969 resulted in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne (a former campaign worker for Robert Kennedy).  This was a national scandal that Sen. Kennedy was never able to fully escape.

For more information on Sen. Kennedy, visit his senator site.

For more information on his accomplishments, click here.

For Senator Kennedy's New York Times Obituary, click here.

For more information on Chappaquiddick, visit the FBI site here.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Urban Studies

Walter Cronkite (1916-2009)

Walter Cronkite passed away today at the age of 92. He was best known as the anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962-1981).

The Museum of Broadcast Communications: Walter Cronkite

The New York Times: Walter Cronkite Obituary




And, undoubtedly, one of the most famous moments in the history of television and the history of America: Walter Cronkite's announcement on the death of President John F. Kennedy...





And that's the way it was...Friday, July 17th, 2009.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

John F. Kennedy, Jr.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette. On July 16, 1999, a Piper Saratoga aircraft piloted by Kennedy crashed just off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. John F. Kennedy, Jr. was the son of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. He was also the founder of George Magazine, a popular political magazine that served as an "irreverent monthly guide to the people and the process of politics and public issues." (MagazineCity) Unfortunately, the magazine did not survive long after the death of its founder.

John F. Kennedy, Jr. served as a political presence, in spite of his seeming disinterest in being a politician or official politico.

For more information on him, visit http://www.jfkjronline.com/

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

President John F. Kennedy's Birthday

Today marks the 92nd birthday of our 35th president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.  President Kennedy served from 1961 to 1963 and was known as “Jack" and by his initials "JFK.” President Kennedy was elected at the age of 43, making him the youngest president elected to office (President Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest to serve).   He was also the first Roman Catholic president.  His death at the age of 46 makes him the president with the shortest life span.  To learn more, click on these links:

White House: Biography of  John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy