As a Dallasite, and particularly one born after the Kennedy assassination, hearing about the killings and the theories as to what happened has been, at least to me, tiresome and almost embarrassing in its association to the city. At best, it represented a very morbid, curious moment in our collective history.
I held that view until a year or so ago, when I portayed Jim Leavelle in a re-enactment for the Discovery Channel. This documentary brought together the available living witnesses of the moment Lee Harvey Oswald was murdered by Jack Ruby in the basement of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
One of the people present at both the filming of the show and the actual event was Bob Jackson, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer for The Dallas Times Herald. His work you have no doubt seen. But you've most likely only been privvy to a select few photos, and thus have only taken in a part of the story.
I had the pleasure of meeting the men who were in the garage when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald. I heard first-hand their experiences from that day and the days leading up to it. Their stories were powerful and awe-inspiring, and gave me new respect for what our nation, city and families were going through at that time.
The 6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is running an exhibition of Bob Jackson's work representing the time from when J.F.K. arrived in Dallas through to the killing of Oswald. The show ends October 17th, and you owe it to yourself to see it and get the full story before the exhibition closes.
Historical Sidebar: Jim Leavelle, the man in the light suit seen escorting Lee Harvey Oswald at the time he was shot by Jack Ruby, also served at Pearl Harbor at the time of its bombing.
A Photographer's Story: Bob Jackson & The Kennedy Assassination
214-747-6660
See you tomorrow.
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Giveaway:
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To move things to the next level, we will conduct a special giveaway when we reach 365 followers. Help us out by hitting the "Suggest to Friends" button on the 365 Things Dallas Facebook page.
When we reach that number, we'll randomly pick a winner from among the followers. Simple Enough.
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