On November 22, 1963, CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite interrupted a soap opera — first to broadcast the news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot, and then a second time to share the devastating news that Kennedy had been killed.
The interruption came during CBS’ regular broadcast of “As the World Turns,” at 1:40 p.m. ET, and began with just the words “CBS News Bulletin” on the screen because they went to air too fast to get the cameras ready to go.
60th anniversary of the JFK assassination. Breaking news from CBS and Walter Cronkite.
RIP Mr. President pic.twitter.com/pcBymLCz9Z
— 🌵 RC 🌵 (@DesertHemi556) November 22, 2023
“Here is a bulletin from CBS News,” the report began. “In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy’s motorcade in downtown Dallas. First reports say that President Kennedy has been seriously wounded by this shooting.”
CBS cut back to “As the World Turns” after the announcement had been made, but it was not long before the network preempted the program again — this time with the cameras rolling — to fill in the details of what had happened.
The camera showed Cronkite in the newsroom instead of behind the customary anchor’s desk, announcing the news to the American people just as he himself received it.
“This picture has just been transmitted by wire,” Cronkite said, holding a photo of Kennedy’s vehicle. “It is a picture taken just a moment or two before the incident, If you could zoom in with that camera, we get a closer look at this picture …”
About one hour after the initial bulletin, CBS News was back with Cronkite, still in the newsroom — and he delivered the devastating confirmation that Kennedy had died.
“From Dallas, Texas, the [news] flash apparently official, President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time,” Cronkite said, removing his glasses and appearing to struggle to keep his own emotions in check as he continued, “Two o’clock Eastern Standard Time, some 38 minutes ago.”
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“Vice President Johnson has left the hospital in Dallas but we do not know to where he has proceeded. Presumably, he will be taking the Oath of Office shortly and will become the 36th President of the United States.”