JFK – the aftermath of the assassination Using Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary sources are original materials. That is, the creator has personal experience with the subject. They are from the time period being studied. Secondary sources are created after the event. They discuss, re-use, re-tell information that has been found in primary sources. The creator does not have personal experience with the event but has talked to/read about/listened to people who do.

Primary Source: Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as President after Kennedy has died. Jacqueline is to his right. 22 nd November 1963 – On board Air Force One

What do you observe from this photograph?

Primary Source: Photograph published in Lifetime taken on 22 November. What does this show about the reaction to Kennedy’s death?

Public reaction in US to JFK’s death Many felt the loss personally. People were shocked. People had difficulty accepting Lyndon Johnson as the new President.

Primary Source: PEOPLE IN NEW YORK REACT TO THE ASSASSINATION (Broadcast) d-Y

Secondary Source: Mad Men depiction (television show) 8ms

What we learn: From the primary source we learn that… This is a reliable source because…/This is an unreliable source because… This is a useful source because…

From the secondary source we learn… This is a reliable source when used in conjunction with… This is a useful source because…

Lee Harvey Oswald (information from Retrospective 11) The Dallas Police Department arrested and then released several suspects. 1.50pm, 80 minutes after the assassination, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald in a cinema.

The Case Oswald worked in the Texas School Book Depository, people reported that shots had ben fired from there. They found a rifle and spent bullets on the sixth floor. On Nov 22 he carried a long parcel to work. A work colleague said he saw Oswald sitting on the 6 th floor, 35 minites before the assassination. Dismissed from the Marine Corps for being “undesirable”. Sources suggested he spoke Russian, lived in the Soviet Union (Russia) for 3 years and attempted to gain Soviet Citizenship.

Sources also said that he had tried to murder US General Edwin Walker and was a committed supporter of Fidel Castro (Cuban leader). Police believed he had killed policeman JD Tippit, an hour before his arrest.

No Trial There was never a trial. 24 November 1963 police were transporting Oswald to the County Jail. They were in a basement car park when Jack Ruby, a Dallas Night club owner, came forward and shot Oswald in the stomach. Oswald died in surgery. He was buried on 25 November 1963, the same day as JFK.