It has been 60 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, and the event remains etched in America's national memory. In this fascinating video, CBS News revisits that fateful day in Dallas through the eyes of photographer Bob Jackson, who was assigned to cover JFK's visit for the Dallas Times Herald and who won a Pulitzer Prize for his work related to the event.
In a riveting interview from downtown Dallas, Jackson brings us inside the presidential motorcade, recalling how he jockeyed for position to capture images alongside the first lady before realizing he had no film left in his camera. Mere days later, Jackson would photograph accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald’s murder at the hands of Jack Ruby in the basement of Dallas police headquarters, a split-second shot that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize.
CBS News correspondent Anna Werner traces Jackson’s steps through Dealey Plaza and the former Texas School Book Depository as he recounts the dramatic events he witnessed and photographed that weekend. Jackson reflects with candor on the missed opportunity when his camera was empty as shots rang out, while marveling at the “right place, right time” fortune of documenting Ruby fatally shoot Oswald.
Nearly 50 years on, Jackson’s story sheds light on this painful chapter of US history from the ground-level view of a photojournalist tasked with documenting the indelible moments surrounding the first presidential assassination of the modern broadcast era. His perspective offers unique context and insight even today. Check out the video above for more.
The commentators talk about incredible timing, yes. But more importantly is that he was ready to take the shot. The thought process prior to the shot of positioning, preparing the camera's focus, shutter speed, aperture, flash, and film speed all had to be done to get a great photo.