November 22, 2023 – USA Radio Museum

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WWJ NBC Detroit Radio logo, 1963

In this segment you will hear NBC radio reports by the following correspondents:

Ron Nessen (Washington); Don Doke (White House); Ed Gulf (Mobile Unit); Dave Rush (St. Matthews Cathedral)

The complete coverage of the Low Pontifical Requiem Mass for President Kennedy at St. Matthews Cathedral, as broadcasted on WWJ, Detroit, on the NBC Radio Network. Highlights:

“Hail to the Chief” (JFK casket brought into Cathedral); Commencement of Mass; Entrance Hymn; Reading of the Gospel; Offertory; Consecration; The Lord’s Prayer; Celebrant’s Communion; Communion Missile; Communion Prayer; End of Mass; Words by Reverend Phillip M. Hannon (Auxiliary Catholic Bishop) Washington; Cardinal Richard Cushing; Cardinal and dignitaries exit Cathedral.

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Note: In 1963, WWJ WWJ-FM was owned and operated by The Detroit News. The NBC Detroit affiliate was represented nationally by Peters, Griffins, Woodward, Inc.

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Sunday, November 24 and through Monday morning, November 25. Lying in state, the President’s bier is viewed by over 250,000 mourners for nearly twenty-four hours inside the United States Capitol Rotunda. (Photo: Associated Press)

Monday morning. Outside the U.S. Capitol, the President’s casket rests momentarily on the military horse drawn cortege before proceeding to St. Matthews Cathedral.

John F. Kennedy, Jr., salutes his father’s flag-draped coffin outside St. Matthews Cathedral. *(Photo: Associated Press)*

The Detroit Free Press Tuesday, November 26, 1963

The Military Cortege on Connecticut Avenue, approaching the Lincoln Memorial and the Memorial Bridge, crossing the Potomac into Arlington. *(Photo: Associated Press)*

A U.S. Navy serviceman weeps as President Kennedy’s casket passes by inside Arlington.

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WWJ NBC Detroit Radio logo, 1963

In this segment you will hear the NBC reports of President John F. Kennedy’s State Funeral:

The complete and final coverage of President Kennedy’s Funeral. As broadcasted on WWJ, Detroit, on the NBC Radio Network. Highlights:

JFK’s casket, caisson leaves Cathedral; Ed Gulf, (Mobile Unit) reporting; JFK Funeral procession crossing Potomac; Procession continues; Procession enters Arlington; JFK casket carried to gravesite; Kennedy family approaches grave; National Anthem, Air Force Bag Pipes; The Fly-By; Blessing of the Grave (Richard Cardinal Cushing presides); Military Honor 21 Gun Salute; Oratory Prayers, Church Consecration; Military Honor Guard 3 Gun Salute, Playing Military Taps; Military Honor Guard folds Flag; Cushing officiates Prayers, recites Church Blessings of the Grave; Flag handed to Mrs. Kennedy, commence lighting of the Eternal Flame.

” . . . John F. Kennedy, has been laid to rest.”

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Classical music resumes play over the NBC Radio Network

The Honor Guard rests the President’s casket upon the placer. It is 2:52 p.m., EST. *(Photo: Associated Press)*

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A special thank you to Bob Pratt, of Farmington Hills, MI., for contributing these historic recordings to the Motor City Radio Flashbacks archive.

In November 1963, Bob Pratt recorded over 20 hours on reeled tapes covering the tragic four days, 60 years ago.

In November 1963, Bob Pratt recorded over 20 hours on reeled tapes covering the tragic four days, 60 years ago. The recordings began at 11:16 a.m. through 3:43 p.m., Monday afternoon, November 25, 1963.

Bob Pratt also shared his own recollections of President Kennedy’s assassination. His personal memories is featured on this website, here.

These historic Detroit radio broadcasts was never available to anyone — anywhere. Motor City Radio Flashbacks featured these historic recordings in their entirety — exclusively here — for the very first time, when this site premiered these broadcasts in November 2018, five years ago.

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Archbishop Richard Cardinal Cushing officiates Prayers, recites the Church Blessing of the Grave over President Kennedy’s casket and final resting place in Arlington. *(Photo: Charles Del Vecchio, The Washington Post)*

The U.S. flag draping the President’s coffin is folded and is presented to Mrs. Kennedy, photographed facing Auxiliary Catholic Bishop Phillip Hannon (Washington D.C.), 3:15 p.m., EST. (Photo: Associated Press)

The above featured images was ‘clipped,’ saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

All photographs used for this featured presentation was randomly selected. All photographs was captioned by the author. All selected photos herein were found to be under/as ‘public domain’ and are displayed here for educational purposes only, as stipulated under the “fair use” clause, unless specified otherwise, and having been credited, as.

For largest views – if viewing on your mobile device, tap over newspaper images. Open to second window. “Stretch” images across your device screen to magnify detailed view.

All images posted in this featured presentation was re-imaged, re-framed, and was web created for this featured presentation by Jim Feliciano. The selected ‘televised’ image was used (see top frame), having been obtained from the personal collection of the author.

Published on Motor City Radio Flashbacks: Monday, November 25, 2023

Photos featured: Associated Press

At 3:34 p.m., EST., the NBC Radio Network concludes its four-day coverage, closing with these remarks, ”*. . . John F. Kennedy, has been laid to rest.*”

President Kennedy leaves the Hotel Texas for a scheduled outdoor speech before a large crowd gathered outside the hotel’s parking lot in Ft. Worth. Escorting the President is Texas Senator Ralph Yarborough, Texas Representative Jim Wright, Governor John Connally, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, Secret Service agent Rufus Youngblood, and Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff. *(Photo: William Allen)*

Friday, November 22. 8:30 A.M., outside the Hotel Texas in Ft. Worth. President Kennedy handshakes with a receptive crowd after his speech at the hotel’s parking lot before addressing the Forth Worth Chamber of Commerce. The President’s breakfast address was scheduled for sometime after 9:00 a.m., inside the hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

President Kennedy is presented with a Washer Bros. Stetson Road Hat “*for some protection against the rain*” by Raymond Buck, president of the Ft. Worth Chamber of Commerce, before addressing a crowd of 2,000 guests gathered for breakfast in the Grand Ballroom at the Hotel Texas. (Photo: Ft. Worth-Star Telegram)

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The Dallas Morning News. Early-Friday, November 22, 1963

The morning of November 22 began as auspiciously as any day during President Kennedy’s first term in office. In Texas, having arrived on Thursday, November 21, for two pre-scheduled stops in San Antonio and in Houston, the Presidential entourage flies to Ft. Worth late that evening. At 11:50 p.m. C.S.T. President Kennedy and the First Lady was booked into Suite 850 at Hotel Texas for the night, in downtown Ft. Worth.

For Friday morning, the White House itinerary calls for two public speeches to be given by the President. One outside the hotel’s parking lot, and the second speech will be given at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast event inside the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Thereafter, Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy will take a short 13 minute flight from Carswell AFB to Lovefield in Dallas for a scheduled motorcade through the city, before an afternoon luncheon and a major speech Mr. Kennedy will give at the Trade Mart. President Kennedy and his party will then fly to Austin for a late-evening Democratic fundraising dinner event at the ranch of Vice-President Lyndon Johnson.

The marque at Hotel Texas welcomes President Kennedy’s arrival there in Ft. Worth. November 21, 1963

Meanwhile, in the day’s national news, the “Soviet staff” abruptly was ousted in the Congo. Debris from a crashed U2 plane was found in the Gulf north of Havana. South Africa rejects UN compliance to end racial bias. Bobby Kennedy stated he will not direct the Presidential campaign in 1964. Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz” is dead. While in Dallas, Richard Nixon tells the press JFK “will drop LBJ” from vice presidential contention in 1964. In Viet Nam news, the Detroit Free Press reports (United Press International) the Kennedy administration, under Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara — ‘Confirmed: 1,300 Viet GIs To Leave Within 2 Months’.

The Detroit Free Press. Early-Friday, November 22, 1963

In Detroit, in local news. Due to the 1963 auto boom, Lansing reports the state’s jobless rate dips to 3.9 percent, a 7-year low. An investigation of Teamsters union pension funds revealed 20 million dollars was appropriated for Vegas “gambling enterprises.” Another headline reads, “Hoffa Unaware of ‘Fix’ Try.” In money markets, the ‘Detroit Stock Exchange’ volume in trading reports a significant October markup. In sports, the Detroit Red Wings are 6-8 in NHL standings. In the theater district downtown, the Fox theater marquee reads, now showing, “The Man With The X-Ray Eyes.” At the Olympia, through Sunday, tickets were available for the ‘Ice Follies of 1964’. The Tigers trade Rocky Colavito to Kansas City. For Saturday collegiate football, it will be Michigan State versus Illinois. Also reported in the morning Free Press, Detroiters read, “JFK Walks Into Texas Party Fight”. And the day’s newspaper retail ads reminds Detroiters — 33 shopping days left until Christmas.

For SE Michigan and the Detroit metro area, the day’s weather forecast calls for above average ‘mild’ temperatures. Friday’s highs, 60s. Evening lows, 40s.

In Ft. Worth and in Dallas, the biggest story of the day is President Kennedy’s 2-day whirlwind trip to Texas. At 7:00 a.m. C.S.T., Ft. Worth ABC News affiliate WBAP 570 news anchor Norwood McClendon reports the day’s morning news with ‘Morning Edition.’ And from New York, it is ‘News Around The World’ with ABC News anchor, Don Gardiner. The same ‘News Around The World’ segment you will hear in this presentation aired 8:15 a.m. [E.S.T.] that Friday morning at ABC affiliate WXYZ Radio 1270 in Detroit.

This was the news. On this day, sixty years ago. It is early Friday morning, November 22, 1963. — Jim Feliciano

Audio was digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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Dallas. 12:20 p.m. The presidential motorcade on Main Street west heading towards Houston and Elm, then it’s on to the Stemmons Fwy. for a state Democratic luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart, scheduled for the 1:00 p.m. hour.

If viewing on your mobile device, tap over the images. Open to second window. “Stretch” images across your device screen to magnify detailed print and view. On your PC, click on images 2x for largest detailed view.

The selected audio file in this featured presentation was obtained by the author and selections were culled and were combined from 20 hours of actual WBAP radio programming the station aired (and recorded) during that tragic weekend, November 1963.

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All photographs selected herein for this feature presentation was found to be in the public domain. All photos were captioned by the author. The selected photos displayed in this presentation are used as historical references and are used for educational purposes only.

The photographs (including the newspaper images) was digitally re-imaged, re-framed by Motor City Radio Flashbacks