First African-American news anchor for a Dallas television station, Iola Johnson Remembers JFK

It was around noon on Friday and we were heading home after going downtown to shop. We simply had to have hats to be properly attired for a funeral later that afternoon. It was a beautiful, bright, sunny, warm day, but nothing out of the ordinary for late November in southern Arizona.

Despite the perfect weather, there was a sense of gloom in the car. There was very little conversation as we drove along listening to the radio, when a voice interrupted the music with a special bulletin. President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, Texas.

It was unbelievable. It must be a mistake. No one would want to hurt our young, good looking and much beloved president. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was an American hero. My mother, my sister and I all broke into tears.

At home we turned on our Sylvania Silver Screen TV and watched and continued crying.

Then came the worst possible news, President Kennedy was dead. Hearing that, my whole world came to a abrupt halt.

Prior to hearing about the assassination, I was already in a mild state of shock. One of my class mates had been killed in an automobile accident. I had never before know a young person to die and I was not quite sure how to deal with her death.

We were glued to the television, but pulled ourselves away to attend the funeral that afternoon. Then it was right back to the non-stop coverage. One shocking story after another, a new president sworn in, a Dallas policeman killed, the assassin arrested and paraded before cameras. Then live as we watched, Jack Ruby shoots and kills the assassin. Finally, the funeral.

Like most African-Americans, I recognized President Kennedy’s humanity and compassion for the oppressed and had high hopes for what he would do to aid our cause. My heart sank when I heard the news and I had an overwhelming feeling of loss and fear. I had been filled with such hope when JFK was elected, then in an instant it was gone. My hopes and dreams seemed to die with our young president.

Such a horrible tragedy was not suppose to befall such a young leader, one so full of promise. It seemed like the end to our hopes and dreams for a better, more equitable future.

My mother told us that we would have to worked even harder now that President Kennedy was dead.

I had always been a political junkie! I wanted to be a freedom rider, but was too young. I watched political conventions on television from gavel to gavel as a child and considered the things my two sisters watched on TV trivial.

All the talk of a conspiracy by the Russians, Cubans and many here at home, made me want to know more about politics and how the system worked. I had a double major in political science and journalism in college.

Watch “JFK 50: A Texas Tribute”, streamed LIVE on ktxdtv.com; Friday, November 22nd from 7am-7pm CST  (UTC-6 Hours). This special 12 hour broadcast will feature rare video of President Kennedy’s trip to Dallas, live interviews with people who have first-hand connections to some of the darkest days in our country’s history, and live coverage of the observance in Dallas’ Dealey Plaza celebrating the remarkable life, legacy, and leadership of our 35th President. Follow the conversation about the broadcast on social media by following our twitter page at www.twitter.com/JFK50Texas and liking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JFK50Texas.

Where were you when JFK was shot? @JFK50Texas Twitter Followers Remember

We reached out to people on Twitter and asked them to tell us in a tweet what
they were doing on November 22, 1963.  Here’s what some of them had to say as we
continue to remember the remarkable life, legacy and leadership of John F.
Kennedy.

Let us hear from you! We are interested in where you were when JFK was shot.
Send it to us @jfk50Texas on Twitter or post it on our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/JFK50Texas

Watch “JFK 50: A Texas Tribute”, streamed LIVE on ktxdtv.com; Friday, November 22nd from 7am-7pm CST  (UTC-6 Hours). This special 12 hour broadcast will feature rare video of President Kennedy’s trip to Dallas, live interviews with people who have first-hand connections to some of the darkest days in our country’s history, and live coverage of the observance in Dallas’ Dealey Plaza celebrating the remarkable life, legacy, and leadership of our 35th President. Follow the conversation about the broadcast on social media by following our twitter page at www.twitter.com/JFK50Texas and liking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JFK50Texas.

20 Famous JFK Quotes

1) “The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.”

2) “An economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance our budget, just as it will never produce enough jobs or enough profits.”

3) “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

4) “If we cannot end our differences at least we can make the world safe for diversity.”

5) “A child miseducated is a child lost.”

6) “If scientific discovery has not been an unalloyed blessing, if it has conferred on mankind the power not only to create but also to annihilate, it has at the same time provided humanity with a supreme challenge and a supreme testing.”

7) “I am deeply touched not as deeply touched as you have been coming to this dinner, but nevertheless it is a sentimental occasion.”

8) “It is time for a new generation of leadership to cope with new problems and new opportunities. For there is a new world to be won.”

9) “Economic growth without social progress lets the great majority of people remain in poverty. While a privileged few reap the benefits of rising abundance.”

10) “The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.”

11) “The human mind is our fundamental resource.”

12) “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.”

13) “Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don’t want them to become politicians in the process.”

14) “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”

15) “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”

16) “Politics is like football; if you see daylight, go through the hole.”

17) “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

18) “Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.”

19) “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.”

20) “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

Watch “JFK 50: A Texas Tribute”, streamed LIVE on ktxdtv.com; Friday, November 22nd from 7am-7pm CST  (UTC-6 Hours). This special 12 hour broadcast will feature rare video of President Kennedy’s trip to Dallas, live interviews with people who have first-hand connections to some of the darkest days in our country’s history, and live coverage of the observance in Dallas’ Dealey Plaza celebrating the remarkable life, legacy, and leadership of our 35th President. Follow the conversation about the broadcast on social media by following our twitter page at www.twitter.com/JFK50Texas and liking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JFK50Texas.