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| US remembers Kennedy 50 years after assassination | US remembers Kennedy 50 years after assassination |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US is marking 50 years since President John F Kennedy was killed by an assassin's bullet in Dallas, Texas. | The US is marking 50 years since President John F Kennedy was killed by an assassin's bullet in Dallas, Texas. |
| The city, which has long struggled with the legacy of the assassination, is hosting a series of official events. | The city, which has long struggled with the legacy of the assassination, is hosting a series of official events. |
| Kennedy, who served less than three years, is often ranked among the nation's most revered presidents. | Kennedy, who served less than three years, is often ranked among the nation's most revered presidents. |
| Just 46 when he died, he is praised for his youthful vigour, his leadership through the Cuban missile crisis and his vision to put a man on the Moon. | Just 46 when he died, he is praised for his youthful vigour, his leadership through the Cuban missile crisis and his vision to put a man on the Moon. |
| But he is also remembered for ordering one of the most disastrous episodes of the Cold War, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of communist Cuba by a CIA-trained paramilitary force of Cuban exiles. | But he is also remembered for ordering one of the most disastrous episodes of the Cold War, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of communist Cuba by a CIA-trained paramilitary force of Cuban exiles. |
| Kennedy's family members laid a wreath on his grave at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington DC on Friday. His wife Jackie and two of their children are also buried there. | Kennedy's family members laid a wreath on his grave at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington DC on Friday. His wife Jackie and two of their children are also buried there. |
| President Barack Obama issued a proclamation for flags to be flown at half mast at the White House, US Capitol and other government buildings. | President Barack Obama issued a proclamation for flags to be flown at half mast at the White House, US Capitol and other government buildings. |
| "Today, we honour his memory and celebrate his enduring imprint on American history," he said. | "Today, we honour his memory and celebrate his enduring imprint on American history," he said. |
| Mr Obama will also meet with leaders of the Kennedy-established Peace Corps programme. | Mr Obama will also meet with leaders of the Kennedy-established Peace Corps programme. |
| Among official events in Dallas on Friday, the city's symphony orchestra performed and bells tolled at the minute of Kennedy's death. | |
| "The man we remember today gave us a gift that will not be squandered; the chance to learn how to face the future when it's the darkest and most uncertain," Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings said to a large crowd before asking for a moment of silence. | |
| Historian and author David McCullough read several of Kennedy's most famous quotes, including: "We need men who can dream of things that never were, and ask, 'Why not?'" | |
| Crowds thronged the ceremony at Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy was shot. But video feeds of the events were piped to screens set up throughout the downtown area. | |
| Elsewhere, wreaths were laid in the German capital Berlin where Kennedy gave his Cold War-era "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in June 1963. | Elsewhere, wreaths were laid in the German capital Berlin where Kennedy gave his Cold War-era "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in June 1963. |
| Those events and others conclude a week of tributes to the slain American leader. | Those events and others conclude a week of tributes to the slain American leader. |
| Kennedy, a Democrat, belonged to one of the 20th Century's most prominent American political dynasties. | |
| His father, Joseph, was a wealthy businessman who served in senior positions in the government of President Franklin Roosevelt, including as ambassador to Britain. | His father, Joseph, was a wealthy businessman who served in senior positions in the government of President Franklin Roosevelt, including as ambassador to Britain. |
| Two of his brothers later served as US senators and ran for president. One of them, Robert, was himself assassinated in 1968. | Two of his brothers later served as US senators and ran for president. One of them, Robert, was himself assassinated in 1968. |
| John Kennedy's daughter Caroline is now the US ambassador to Japan. | John Kennedy's daughter Caroline is now the US ambassador to Japan. |
| Shots rang out | Shots rang out |
| On 22 November 1963, Kennedy and his wife travelled to Dallas for early campaigning ahead of the following year's election. | On 22 November 1963, Kennedy and his wife travelled to Dallas for early campaigning ahead of the following year's election. |
| Crowds of supporters lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple. As the presidential motorcade entered Dealey Plaza at around 12:30 local time (18:30 GMT), Kennedy's convertible passed the Texas School Book Depository. | Crowds of supporters lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple. As the presidential motorcade entered Dealey Plaza at around 12:30 local time (18:30 GMT), Kennedy's convertible passed the Texas School Book Depository. |
| Gunshots rang out across the plaza. Bullets struck the president in the head and neck. Half an hour later, Kennedy was pronounced dead at a local hospital. | Gunshots rang out across the plaza. Bullets struck the president in the head and neck. Half an hour later, Kennedy was pronounced dead at a local hospital. |
| He was the fourth US president assassinated while in office, but the first to have his death captured on film. | He was the fourth US president assassinated while in office, but the first to have his death captured on film. |
| Soon after, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president aboard Air Force One. | Soon after, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president aboard Air Force One. |
| Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine Corps veteran and Soviet defector employed at the depository at the time, was arrested in connection with the shooting. | Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine Corps veteran and Soviet defector employed at the depository at the time, was arrested in connection with the shooting. |
| On 24 November 1963, he was scheduled to be transferred from police headquarters to a county jail when he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby, a local nightclub owner. | On 24 November 1963, he was scheduled to be transferred from police headquarters to a county jail when he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby, a local nightclub owner. |
| Official inquiries have determined Oswald alone was responsible for the assassination, but Kennedy's murder has provided endless fodder for conspiracy theorists. | Official inquiries have determined Oswald alone was responsible for the assassination, but Kennedy's murder has provided endless fodder for conspiracy theorists. |
| Members of one such group plan to wear T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "50 years in denial is enough" near Dealey Plaza on Friday. | Members of one such group plan to wear T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "50 years in denial is enough" near Dealey Plaza on Friday. |
| 'Look of horror' | 'Look of horror' |
| The events of that November plunged the nation into mourning, and many Americans still recall where they were when they heard the news. | The events of that November plunged the nation into mourning, and many Americans still recall where they were when they heard the news. |
| Texan Daniel Kendrick, who as a teenager witnessed the shooting, told the BBC he had been preparing to approach the motorcade in the hope of shaking the president's hand when he witnessed Kennedy's shooting. | Texan Daniel Kendrick, who as a teenager witnessed the shooting, told the BBC he had been preparing to approach the motorcade in the hope of shaking the president's hand when he witnessed Kennedy's shooting. |
| "I saw the look on Jackie Kennedy's face," he recalled. "She turned and looked straight at me with a look of horror on her face. That really freaked me out. I had to run." | "I saw the look on Jackie Kennedy's face," he recalled. "She turned and looked straight at me with a look of horror on her face. That really freaked me out. I had to run." |
| Historian Robert Dallek said Kennedy's popularity endured in part because Americans have been so disappointed in his successors. | Historian Robert Dallek said Kennedy's popularity endured in part because Americans have been so disappointed in his successors. |
| "People want a better life in this country," he said. "They want to think their children are going to do better. And they associate this with Kennedy's youth, his promise, possibility." | "People want a better life in this country," he said. "They want to think their children are going to do better. And they associate this with Kennedy's youth, his promise, possibility." |