John F Kennedy (May 29, 1917–November 22, 1963)

Forty-three years ago today, John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. This is one of those moments that everyone remembers exactly where they were, exactly what they were doing when they heard the horrible news.

I was not alive then; I was still twenty years away from coming into this world. But it is still one of those events I have seen a thousand times on video, via the infamous Zapruder film.

I was looking around at different stories, and found this:

When a president is struck down by violent means, a blow is struck at the vital organs, at the nationhood, of the United States. The tragedy of the Kennedy family is a tragedy in all American homes.

The loss of the individual means as much as the blow that has been struck at the nation. John F. Kennedy studied the history and institutions of his nation throughout his life, seeking always to add to his knowledge and, most important, to apply this knowledge to public service. His speeches often echoed the words of former presidents, not out of feeble imitation as some charged, but out of deep respect for the men who preceded him in molding the office of president into the most important job in the world.

Who knows what would have happened with the rest of the Kennedy presidency? What we do know is that 43 years ago today was a horrible day in American history.