The first JFK assassination bulletin

This appears to be the very first bulletin over a TV station announcing that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• President
• Kennedy
• assassination
• television
• bulletin

[WellHiFoLLLks]

I can't imagine watching something as harmless as a home clothing design show, and then having a guy suddenly appear, out of breath, saying the president was shot. I wonder how long it would take me to realize that what I was watching was actually happening.

[MsKeith1969]

jay watson performed ADMIRABLY considering the extenuating circumstances involved.

[larrywheels]

@sfcphilip alot of people did not feel he was "great" for their interests at the time. this was at a time when organized crime reached into every part of the country. cuba was seen as a major threat, civil rights movement was seen as a threat, j edgar hoover and his buddy lbj also percieved jfk as a threat. oh yeah that org. crime thing I mentioned had hoover and lbj in their corner. then along comes that lone commie nut oswald to do em all a big favor. I guess they all just got lucky.

[Superbook4Eva]

As for the smoking, there's plenty of smoking on-set if you watch the NBC and ABC network coverage as well. Cigarette ads on TV and radio weren't outlawed until 1971 and a lot of ads (especially in the '40s and '50s) actually touted the supposed health BENEFITS of smoking. And after all, I don't think anyone would have begrudged Jay Watson a cig considering the enormous amount of stress he (and every other newsman in America) was likely under at the time.

[Superbook4Eva]

This bulletin may have not been the VERY first one, but it carries a special weight because Jay Watson had actually seen the shooting taking place and knew how serious it was. He was out of breath from running back to the station. He does a good job considering he was only the station's program director and probably not used to being on camera. Jay later worked for WJBK-TV in Detroit in the '70s and '80s. He died in 1995.

[sfcphilip]

What do you guys think about this?!! I was born in 1971........However, any mention of JFK causes my antennas to go up. There is something about President Kennedy that either fascinates or spooks me. He was a great President...I get it. But I just don't understand why I am so consumed by him...any thoughts?!!

[jensmom604]

@Creepingdeathx81 Many people smoked back then.

[bkj333]

@mikhelandrew @mikhelandrew Put the following words in the YouTube search window: "JFK Assassination: First Radio Network Bulletin" That will connect you to the very first nationwide bulletin at 12:36 pm CST which was the first ABC Radio bulletin. Next, put this in the search window: "JFK'S ASSASSINATION (CBS-TV COVERAGE)(11+ HOURS OF FOOTAGE)(PART 1)" That will connect you to the very first nationwide TV bulletin at 12:40 pm CST. Both of these beat the WFAA TV bulletin at 12:45pm CST.

[mikhelandrew]

@bkj333 Well, where is the FIRST one, if you know so much?

[bkj333]

@altfactor Local stations are often beaten to the punch by the networks especially in national emergencies like presidential shootings. The ABC radio network with anchor Don Gardiner was first on the air at 12:36 pm CST. The first TV bulletin was by the CBS television network with anchor Walter Cronkite (voice only, at first) at 12:40 pm CST. So kingdaevid is simply wrong when he assumes that this WFAA TV bulletin was the first one that day; it did not air until 12:45 pm CST (easily verifiable).

[altfactor]

@bkj333 Thanks for the correction.

Given that this was from a Dallas TV station, I thought that they would have had the news prior to any network.

[bkj333]

@altfactor You are wrong. This bulletin by WFAA TV did not air until 12:45 pm CST. This is easily verifiable if one possesses the entire WFAA TV coverage, which I do. This WFAA TV bulletin was NOT the first Kennedy shooting bulletin that was broadcast that day.