The early afternoon of November 22nd, 1963 was a somber day in the history of the United States as President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas during his much-publicized trip to Texas with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. Offered here is a multi-page copy of the Official Presidential Schedule for the two days in Dallas from the Office of the White House Press Secretary, including that fateful day that changed the course of US history.

The schedule begins with a 9:00 PM baggage deadline for November 20th, but then immediately commences with a highly detailed whirlwind itinerary. Starting at 8:30 AM with a press check at the White House on November 21st, up to and including the 11:35 arrival to Love Field in Dallas on November 22nd, the departure of Love Field by motorcade at 11:45 and the 12:30 PM arrival to Trade Mart to attend the luncheon that never came to be.

The remainder of the itinerary continues until 10:20 PM, concluding with President Kennedy’s arrival to Vice President Johnson’s ranch. As history shows, there would be a break in the itinerary with Kennedy’s assassination and the immediate fallout from that historically tragic event. The trip itself was planned out early in the fall with the White House designating Jerry Bruno as the advance man to coordinate the Texas trip. With a split faction in the Texas Democratic Party between the liberal minority led by U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough and the conservative majority led by Governor John Connally, details had to be worked out where the luncheon would be held. Ultimately, Connally won out as the luncheon was scheduled for November 22nd at the Grand Courtyard of the Dallas Trade Mart – which was a smaller venue than the proposed Women’s Building, which was a massive exhibition hall on the state fairgrounds.

On the day of the assassination, guests began gathering at the Grand Courtyard at 11:00 AM with President Kennedy due to arrive at the function at 12:30 PM. Kennedy was assassinated at approximately 12:30 PM as his motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas where he was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald from the nearby Texas School Book Depository. Kennedy was immediately driven to nearby Parkland Hospital where he was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later. As news of the shooting reached the guests gathered at the Grand Courtyard, Vice President Johnson at first addressed the crowd by saying “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please. There has been a delay in the arrival of the motorcade. There has been a mishap. We believe from our report that we have just received that it is not serious. As soon as we have something to tell you, believe me, we’ll do it.” Only 12 minutes later, Johnson then re-addressed the crowd “I’m not sure that I can say what I have to say. I feel a little bit like the fellow on Pearl Harbor Day. It is true that our president and Governor Connally in the motorcade have been shot”.

The offered itinerary is in two parts, both copies are three pages on 8 ½ x 14-inch paper, with one copy having handwritten notes in red and the other copy incorporating the previous copies notes into the final version. The itinerary with the handwritten copy has the first page loose from the upper left corner staple and also has a crease fold in the center. The revised copy is fully intact does not have any crease marks. An incredible piece of history from one of America’s most defining historical moments. This package of documents come with a copy of the original LOA from University Archives, who states in their LOA that the provenance of these schedules comes from Sue Mortensen Vogelsinger, who was in the bus with the White House Staff behind the Kennedy limousine.

Auction Notepad