This book was just unearthed from my Dad's storage building. I remember being fascinated by it as a child in the 70s. Can't bear to part with it though it's old and a bit crusty...

Friday, November 22, 1963. Coming upon the 50th Anniversary in 2013. This compilation of primary sources was published within weeks of President Kennedy's death by assassination. It is the work of journalists and heritage collectors -- United Press International and American Heritage Publishing.

The book has many black-and-white and a few color photographs. The first UPI news reports to hit the wire, and an article by a reporter who witnessed the assassination are included. Various accounts of events immediately surrounding the day are here, and full coverage of the president's funeral.

The funeral Eulogy by Reverend Philip Hannan quoted JFK's Inaugural, including these famous passages:

"Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friends and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born to this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of their ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed today at home and around the world."

"The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need, not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle year in and year out, 'rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation' -- a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself." [142] ( )

This 144-page book was published within weeks of President Kennedy's assasination, a joint publication by United Press International and American Heritage Publishing. It is a good primary source for those wishing to do a serious study of the event.

The book contains dozens of black-and-white and color photographs. Photocopies of the first UPI news reports to hit the wire and the full text of an article written by a reporter who witnessed the assasination first-hand are included. Accounts of all the events immediately surrounding the day are here, including full coverage of the president's funeral.

It is not a historical analysis, but rather, as the title states, a "historical record." As such it is a fine resource. ( )