In the autumn of 1963, President Kennedy was making a tour of Texas to try to raise support and funding for the 1964 Presidential elections. On 22nd November, the President was scheduled to visit Fort Worth, before travelling to Dallas to have lunch at 1pm with local businessmen at the Trade Mart.
The route from the airfield to the Trade Mart was lined with people. The President travelled in an open-topped limousine which stopped several times to allow Kennedy to greet the people. Security advisors noted many open windows in the buildings lining the route.
The motorcade had to slow down considerably to make a tight turn into Elm Street. As the limousine passed the Texas School Book Depository (TSBD) building a single shot was heard. Moments later a second shot was heard and the President brought his hands to his neck. John Conally, Governor of Texas was also hit. A third shot blew part of the President’s brain away.
At 12.32, a motorcycle patrolman ran into the TSBD building and discovered Lee Harvey Oswald drinking a Coke. Once assured that Oswald was an employee the patrolman searched the rest of the building. Oswald took a bus home at 12.40, he was the only employee of the TSBD to leave the building after the assassination. Oswald changed his clothes and was seen by his landlady waiting for another bus at 13.04. Meanwhile a description of the suspect was circulated: A white male, thirty, slender build, five feet ten, a hundred and sixty-five pounds, armed with a .30 calibre rifle.
At 1314, Officer Tippet stopped his car to check a suspicious looking male. Four shots were fired and the Officer fell to the ground dead. Witnesses described the suspect: “A white male, about thirty, five eight, black hair, slender, wearing a white jacket, a white shirt and dark slacks. Last seen running towards West Jefferson”. Shells at the scene indicated a .38 gun had been used. At 1350, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in the Texas Theatre. On 24th November 1963, a man called Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald.
