Luci Baines Johnson ‘65 Reflects on Nov. 22, 1963

As the nation marked the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination on Nov. 22, 2023, one NCS alumna recalled the moment and its impact. Luci Baines Johnson ‘65 was in 11th grade in the fall of 1963. In a recent podcast released by the White House Historical Association, she reflected on the event that would change the trajectory of her family’s life and that of the nation. She remembered hearing the Cathedral bells ringing and said, “With the election of President Kennedy, people around the world saw a new frontier, saw a hope and a promise.” She continued, “But with his passing, the nation turned that devastation into a force for good. We said, ‘Let's come together and try to leave the world a better place because we love this man, and we will try to fulfill his dreams as we begin to make our own.’”

 

Special thanks to NCS archivist Elna Clevenger for curating photos and fact-checking.