The Kennedy Assassination–24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson’s Pivotal First Day as President

Driving in an open-topped convertible by means of Dallas on November 22, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson heard a sudden explosive sound at 12:30 PM. The Secret Service sped him away to security, however not till 1:20 PM did he be taught that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Sworn in subsequent to a bloodstained Jackie Kennedy at 2:40 PM, Johnson labored feverishly till 3:00 within the morning, agonizing about the way forward for each his nation and his celebration. Unbeknownst to him, his actions had already decided the tragic end result of his presidency.

In November 22, 1963, historian Steven Gillon tells the story of how Johnson consolidated energy within the twenty-four hours following the assassination. Based mostly on scrupulous analysis and new archival sources, this gripping narrative sheds new and stunning mild on probably the most written-about occasions of the 20 th century.