Assassination of John F. Kennedy President Kennedy as his motorcade continued down Elm Street. About 80% of the witnesses recalled hearing three shots. A minority of the witnesses recognized the first gunshot they heard as weapon fire, but there was hardly any reaction to the first shot from a majority of the people in the crowd or those riding in the motorcade. Many bystanders later said that they heard what they first thought to either be a firecracker or the backfire of one of the vehicles shortly after the President had begun waving. Although some close witnesses recalled seeing the limousine slow down, nearly stop,
Timeline of the John F. Kennedy assassination to fly to Europe for a one week visit of the Benelux countries. November 6, 1963: White House Press Secretary Pierre Salinger announces that First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy has decided to accompany the President on his trip to Texas. November 7, 1963: The Albert Thomas Appreciation Dinner being held on November 21, 1963 sells out a second time. Organizers of the dinner had already moved the venue from the Rice Hotel to the larger Sam Houston Coliseum because they could not accommodate the increased demand for tickets once it became known that President Kennedy would attend. After it was announced