November 1963 – The Orlando Sentinel

This series of  Orlando Sentinel newspapers covering just a few days in November 1963 chronicle President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas and the international response to the horrific event.

Read  pages 1-3 from the  November 22, 1963 Orlando Sentinel – The day Kennedy was Shot. The newspaper reports that the “Birdman of Alcatraz” died and Orlando City Commissioners are arguing about the construction of a Convention Hall in Exposition Park at the fairgrounds or a music hall at Loch Haven Park. You read that a black Airman 1st Class W. B. Brim has caused a controversy by simply moving his family into a “white neighborhood.”

Another article reports construction projects taking place on Merritt Island at Cape Canaveral including the construction of the world’s largest building (we know it as the VAB – Vehicle Assembly Building). And yet another reports that the city can’t shut down Herndon Airport to aviation because they have a 20 year lease.

A separate front page story announces that the Sunshine State Parkway – the pike – is ready for use by the public and would open at noon on November 22 – that very day – for persons traveling from Orlando to Miami.

The medical board suspended the medical license of Dr. Bradford White, former Orlando physician and Captain Joe G. Hyde, Jr. of La Grange, Georgia, is missing – the wreckage of his U2 spy plane found off the Gulf of Mexico but the cockpit found empty. His mission likely over Castro’s Cuba – remember the Cuban Missile Crisis?

And on the local front, there was a water main break on Gore just east of Orange Avenue the day before, shutting down the intersection during lunch rush.

Last but not least, there is a photo of President and Mrs. Kennedy and Governor and First Lady of Texas, smiling from their vehicle as they arrived in San Antonio with a note that they would be in Dallas on Friday. No one reading that paper on Friday morning, November 22, 1963, had any idea how the day would unfold, turning our nation and the world upside down.

Others mentioned in the pages are Billy Graham, Gov. George C. Wallace, Cov. Farris Bryant, Very Rev. Oscar L. Huber, and comments from a host of Floridians. Read selection of pages entitled “Life of a President” from the A section of the  November 23, 1963 Orlando Sentinel.

Read page 1B from the November 23, 1963 Orlando Sentinel
Featured on this page is a photographic collection depicting events in President Kennedy’s life entitled: Life of a President. Another feature is a half-page article entitled: A Luncheon with a Courageous Man written by then publisher of the Orlando Sentinel Martin Anderson.

Comments and photos of 32 Florida residents were featured on page 2A in the November 23, 1963 edition of the Orlando Sentinel.

Most of the A Section was devoted to the details known at the time surrounding the horrific assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas the previous morning.

The section entitled, “City Stunned, Angered” featured comments and photographs of Lowell Halcom, Tax collector C. A. Chessman; Dixie Barber, Orange County registration supervisor; Dr. W. C. Sellers, pastor of the Southside Baptist Church, Apopka; Steve Martin, J. C. Penney employee; Mrs. Ruth Taylor, 3603 Pine Hills Road; Herman Smith, Charleston S.C., visitor; Mrs. Fred Likely, Orlando; C. R. Smith, 2801 Ardsley Drive; Mrs. Elva Gore; Grace Lambert, 125 Cottage Hill Road; Murray White, New York City; Marilyn Junjulas, Orlando; Delfin Berenguer; Donald Evans, county commission chairman; Gus Kirchhoff; Helen Boone, Ocoee; Bobbie Pignone, Murwood Beauty student; J. E. McConnell; Norman J. Brown, 1250 Richmond Road, Winter Park; Mrs. William Morse, Orlando; Mike Meldeau, Orlando; John E. Albine; Harry Van Allen; Okol Benskie, DeBary; Rev. B. W. Lyle, Orlando; Mrs. Lewis Gainey, Avon Park; Jack Newberry; Mrs. J. A. Hooker; Lewis Gainey, Avon Park; Mrs. Helen Strunk, 425 N. Barry Street; Mrs. Glenn Starmer, Orlando.

Billy Graham Had Premonition About JFK.

Section of page 16A from the Orlando Sentinel published on November 23, 1963, is primarily devoted to the horrific events of the previous day that threw the nation and the world into a state of shock and sorrow.

Featured in this section are three photos and an article about Evangelist Billy Graham’s premonition about JFK.

In the article Billy Graham revealed that Texas Gov. John B. Connally came to his hotel room in Houston two weeks prior to the assassination of John F. Kennedy and said he was “troubled and concerned” about the forthcoming trip of the President to Texas.

Billy Graham said “I had such a strong premonition that the President should not go to Texas that I tried unsuccessfully to reach him through Sen. George Smathers (D. Fla).”

Photographs show the casket being removed from the plane from Dallas and the image of the Secret Service agent pushing Jacqueline Kennedy back into the vehicle when she climbed out on the back to retrieve what was later revealed to be part of President Kennedy’s skull.

Read pages 1-3B from the November 24, 1963 Orlando Sentinel – Worlds Great and Lowly Mourn Lost Leader.
Mrs. Kennedy Returns to White House and West Berliners Gather to Mourn for President Kennedy. Page 3 has photos of Oswald, rifle, and more.

Read pages from the November 26, 1963 Orlando Sentinel – Peace of Eternity Comes to Kennedy – Impressive Last Rites for Fallen Leader. Includes photographs of the funeral of President Kennedy and the iconic photo of his little son John John saluting his father as the caisson rolled past the president’s family.

Read page 3A from the Orlando Sentinel November 26, 1963 – In Orlando Too A Farewell Salute

November 30, 1963 Orlando Sentinel

Discussion about renaming Cape Canaveral to Cape Kennedy.

Articles expressing different views on whether Cape Canaveral should become Cape Kennedy in the aftermath of the assassination that stunned the world. Photo shows now Cape Kennedy workers erecting sign with new name while the sign maker is still completing the letters in Kennedy’s name.

Former Catholic priest and Florida historian Michael V. Gannon comments on the history of the name Canaveral.

Peruse the images and documents under Attachments below. To enlarge images, right click and save to your device.