the Bullet that Changed America
Consequences of death of John F Kennedy as observed by David L Lewis
It was sixty years now past. To be precise, 12:35PM, Friday, November 22 1963. I was a civilian clerk for St. Louis Police Department typing on a green IBM Selectric typewriter. A woman in communications room opened the door and called out, “FBI reporting someone is shooting at the President in Dallas Texas”. In this now old man’s observation it was day the world turned over and would never be the same as whatever it had been. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the man who carried the hopes and dreams of a generation, was dead.
In high school American History the first semester ended with 1860 election of Lincoln. The second semester began with the American Civil War and went through to 1950 or so. I submit the second turning point in American history was the 1960 election of 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. What JFK would say in his inaugural address would inspire a generation and release social and political reform the full consequences of which we have not yet seen: “And, so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
The world turned that day now 60 years past. Nothing would ever be the same because Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B Johnson, came to office. LBJ had the political clout and expertise, and sympathy of the country, to put into reality the dreams which Kennedy probably never dreamed himself, nor would have been able to accomplish. It is because we lost the man who inspired us that the man who could get it done came to power – for better or worse, or both.
Medicare
Medicare put profit into the research needed to extend lives. It is well within the realm of possible alternatives that I am alive today because JFK gave way to LBJ.
Civil Rights
Fought at first, but new generations knew no other world. We became the nation of all nationalities to a great extent because of these laws.
Voting Rights
Which changed the loyalties of competing parties and entered America into a new phase of politics.
The Great Society
Which included such things as Aid to Dependent Children, Food Stamps, and Medicaid. To an extent creating something of a ‘cottage industry’ out making babies, and creating a certain degree of dependence on government. The Great Society also came to include Pell grants, Student Loans, and other provisions which put profit into providing education. Three of our children got their education in part because LBJ was President.
Vietnam
Kennedy inherited this conflict from Eisenhower. There was an unconfirmed story that Kennedy had decided US needed to get out. Supposedly he told his secretary, Mrs. Lincoln, that he had decided to try and get out of Vietnam and wanted to work on the problem as soon as they got back from Dallas. In any case, there would not have been the Vietnam war we got without Lyndn Johnson.
My American History professor said something which has stuck with me all these years: ‘History is not about artifacts, or dates, or events. History is about people – the circumstances they faced, how they responded, and what consequences it has on we who followed.’ None of the so-called “Great Society” legislation would have come to fruition without Lyndon Johnson. We can never tell our history without mention of Vietnam. Would Kennedy even recognize the world created by the consequences of one bullet?
Ours was the first generation of the 21st century to know a world without world war. As children of ‘the greatest generation’ we envisioned how great America could be. We were the only generation to be inspired by John F Kennedy. We were sure he would turn the world over. He did. That dark day in Dallas changed America, me, and you because it changed the circumstances for all of us who followed.
TheLifeObserver!
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