President Kennedy is Laid to Rest - Monday, November 25, 1963

I didn't have any classes today. They originally called them off from 10:00-12:00 and then when the ceremonies lasted longer, they called them off for the rest of the day. There was a memorial service here at 10:00 and then a lot of us watched the funeral and procession to the cemetery on a television that was set up in Alumni. The funeral sermon consisted appropriately of quotes from Kennedy's inaugural address and some of his favorite Biblical passages. The flag-draped casket on the horse-drawn caisson as it made its way through Washington was an impressive sight. A contingent of planes flew over the Arlington National Cemetery and a 21-gun salute echoed in the crisp November air above the wooded plot.

Lee Harvey Oswald is Killed - Sunday, November 24, 1963

A complicating factor in the story arose about noon today when Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy's assassin, as he was being taken from one jail to another. It happened in the basement of the jail - now a different man is in custody. This is morbid. We have continued to watch history in the making. The flag-draped casket was drawn by seven horses from the White House to beneath the Capitol rotunda, accompanied by a muffled drum corps. Mrs.Kennedy and the two children were there. She is certainly maintaining composure. John Jr.'s third birthday is tomorrow and Caroline's sixth is Wednesday. I went riding this afternoon with Nancy, Karen and Bruce. The horses at this stable were really neat.

President Kennedy Will "Belong to the Ages" - Saturday, November 23, 1963

President Kennedy's funeral will be on Monday in Washington. He lay in state at the White House today. The new president has proclaimed Monday as a day of national mourning and public offices will be closed. Classes here have been cancelled from 10:00-12:00, and there weren't any today. The movie was cancelled tonight and we aren't having our open house tomorrow night. Radio and television have carried news almost constantly since yesterday at 12:30 when the shooting occurred. There is irony connected with several instances - Johnson is from Texas and was there when he became president. Also, Lincoln's successor was Johnson. Both Kennedy and Lincoln died in the fight for civil rights. I was reading what the papers of the world had to say. This will undoubtedly make Kennedy "belong to the ages." I studied - first Saturday afternoon this semester.

President Kennedy Was Assassinated - Friday, November 22, 1963

President Kennedy was assassinated today in Dallas. He died at 1:00, less than an hour after Lee Harvey Oswald fired shots at him and the governor of Texas as they and their wives rode a parade route in the presidential limousine. It is so hard to believe that he is dead and that something this awful could actually happen. The governor is in serious condition. They apprehended Oswald almost immediately. He used a telescopic lens on a high powered rifle from the sixth floor of an office building. Johnson was sworn in on the plane flying him, Mrs. Kennedy and the president's body back to Washington. The chapel was full at a meditation service tonight. From 12:30 when we first "heard" and turned the radio on, we have variously shared in this belief.  

Observing Elementary Teachers - Thursday, November 21, 1963

I spent the day observing. Carolyn Reed drove me out and I observed a first grade reading class and then went to a fifth grade class for reading and social studies. Their teacher is in her second year - she really enjoys it. Then Carolyn came out to get me at 2:00 and left me at the Parkville school where I saw another fifth grade. I'm really about sold on the level. My registration appointment was at 4:00. I'll be taking algebra, American national government, teaching of arithmetic, children's literature, organization and management of elementary schools, and geography. Dr. Dunham was at the health center tonight so I went up to work.

The Drive-In Tonight - Wednesday, November 20, 1963

There are no classes tomorrow because of pre-registration, so Chuck Young and Jim took Evelyn and me to the Riverside Drive-In tonight. We got there for the end of "Spencer's Mountain" and all of "Parrish." I always liked that show and was glad to get to see it again. We went to Waid's afterwards. I went in to talk to Mr. Colliver again about physiological psychology. I could cry, cry, cry. I don't know what to do or think and neither does he. Oh, help. This is the worst yet. On top of that we had an unannounced social problems test.

Am Over the Flu - Tuesday, November 19, 1963

What a day. I'm over the flu, but now I've begun to worry about all the work I have to do and the courses I'm in danger of "failing." I went over to Margie's room for an emotional upset, and then when she talked me out of going to statistics class, she came up here and sent Nancy over. Then tonight Judy Cox "talked to me." All of these people are so understanding. One nice thing - Chuck Young called this evening - he wants us to double with Jim and Evelyn tomorrow night. We just had a two hour house meeting. Now the administration is picking on Stephens.