The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston has been tweeting JFK’s “thousand days in office,” culminating today on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. The Twitter account @JFK_1963 will be recapping the events of Nov. 22, 1963, as they happened.
The account tweets excerpts from Kennedy’s speeches as well as links to primary-source documents.
Fifty years and 26 days ago, he spoke at Amherst College on the importance of the arts.
When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) October 26, 2013
The account tweets headlines from New York Times articles to give historical context.
NYTIMES: The office of Gov. George C. Wallace announced the arrest of two persons “in connection with the Birmingham bombings.”
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) September 28, 2013
NYTIMES: Riot police battled students in Santo Domingo as a three-man civilian junta took power in the Dominican Republic.
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) September 27, 2013
Some are more ominous than others.
NYTIMES: Soviet and U.S. clash in U.N. on Cuba
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) April 26, 2013
NYTIMES: US officials believe Soviet Union has removed from Cuba most, if not all, of long-range missiles that precipitated Cuban crisis.
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) November 11, 2012
Meets with advisers to discuss Laos and foreign aid.
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) August 19, 2013
Quieter moments amid the tumult:
Attends Mass at Camp David Chapel with Caroline and John Jr.
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) October 6, 2013
Cruises aboard the Honey Fitz, with Prince Stanislaus Radziwill.
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) December 24, 2012
The president visits Checkpoint Charlie.
Views “Checkpoint Charlie” – the crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin. pic.twitter.com/JpiSpyKFkL
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) June 26, 2013
Days before his assassination, Kennedy gave a speech on the space race.
This Nation has tossed its cap over the wall of space, and we have no choice but to follow it.
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) November 21, 2013
Here’s the president’s itinerary for today. He is currently at breakfast with Mrs. Kennedy and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
Attends Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce breakfast with Mrs. Kennedy pic.twitter.com/zYegGYQ8wY
— JFK_1963 (@JFK_1963) November 22, 2013
Photo via U.S. Embassy New Delhi/Flickr
