a few days before a tragic

death come to president on a committee, he and his wife are in the picture of having it. he and his children are to mark their birthdays after the president returns from a trip to texas. arriving in dallas the morning of the fatal day, he and mrs. kennedy are greeted by vice president johnson and the mayor of dallas. john f. kennedy has been president two years, ten months, and ten days. they ride in the familiar presidential limousine. the weather has turned fair, the transparent bubble top has been removed. from a fifth floor window at 12:30 pm come the rifle shots that bring death to president kennedy, and seriously wounded

governor connally of texas. 29 minutes later the 35th president of the united states lives dead in a nearby hospital. the presidential limousine bears the marks a violent death. the flowers mr. kennedy carried from the airport are twisted and torn. shock and disbelief give way to tears. the nation and the world's reaction is one of bewilderment and grief. the dallas airport are, 99 minutes after mr. kennedy's death, by president lyndon b. johnson, his wife at his side, and the grief stricken widow with them, take the presidential oath aboard the jet which brings him, together with the body of the late

president, back to washington. >> lyndon b. johnson becomes america's 36 president. john f. kennedy chose him as his deputy. they were elected by the american people who now look to lyndon johnson to assure continuity of government upon him now falls all the way of leadership. >> this is a sad time for all people we have suffered a loss that cannot be weighed. for me, it is a deep, personal tragedy. i know that the world shares the sorrow that mrs. kennedy and her family bear. i'm i will do my best, that is all i can do. i ask for your help and god's.

>> the nation and the world mourns john fitzgerald kennedy. the funeral courtese moves from the white house to the congress of the to the capital, the seat of the congress of the united states. the case on closet the capital steps in from the limousine come the principal mourners. mrs. jacqueline kennedy and her children, and president johnson and his wife and robert kennedy, the late president's brother. beneath

the dome of the capital, the casket rests on a catacomb. president johnson places a wreath of red and white roses at the foot of the casket. then mrs. kennedy holding caroline by the hand goes up to the casket. the widow lifts the flag and touches her lips to the bronze casket. then it is the people of america who come to pay their last respects to president kennedy. over a quarter of 1 million stream through the rotunda. many wait

as long as ten hours. they wait through the chilly night. not since the death of franklin d. roosevelt have the american people known such deep sorrow. next day, mrs. kennedy and her brothers in law had the possession of walking orders. including heads of state who have come from far away for this final march of homage. all follow the late president's casket, walking from the white house to saint matthews cathedral. at the cathedral, richard cardinal cushing of

boston will celebrate for mr. kennedy the requiem mass of the catholic faith. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the notable figures here include the queen of greece, the emperor of ethiopia, the president of france, britain's prince philip, the president of the philippines, the president and chancellor of west germany and many others.

among them is -- first deputy premier of the soviet union. that the departure for the journey to arlington national cemetary. little john junior, who is three years old this day, responds to a whispered request from his mother. as the cortez crosses the bridge over the potomac river, there is a distant view of a memorial building dedicated to another martyred president, abraham lincoln. now the last goodbye

to john f. kennedy. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the flag that has covered the casket is folded. it is passed from hand to hand by the

honor guard. ♪ ♪ ♪ it is received by the widow. mrs. kennedy ignites an eternal flame at the head of her husband's grave. john fitzgerald kennedy reaches the end of his earthly journey. those he loves leave him at the great hills of arlington cemetery. the new president takes over is duties at once, for the presidency is a continuing institution. with secretary of state dean ross can out his side, he receives the distinguished leaders who attended the funeral. he expresses to them americas gratitude for their sympathy that is come from all over the world. ♪ ♪ ♪ president johnson has all along been a strong supporter of john f. kennedy's policies. already he's made known he tends to press for

early enactment of the late presidents civil rights bill. president johnson has traveled widely in asia, europe, africa, the americas, and knows the aspirations of their peoples he has assured the world that while defending the interest of free nations, he'lwell today weg book. ink