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Image of the crowd gathered at Love Field to welcome President Kennedy to Dallas
Image of the crowd gathered at Love Field to welcome President Kennedy to Dallas

Image of the crowd gathered at Love Field to welcome President Kennedy to Dallas

Object number1994.003.0003.0003
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer Tom C. Dillard
ObjectNegative (b&w)
Credit LineTom C. Dillard Collection, The Dallas Morning News/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions15/16 × 1 7/16 in. (2.4 × 3.6 cm)
DescriptionOriginal black and white 35mm negative by Dallas Morning News chief photographer Tom Dillard. The image shows the crowd at Love Field waiting on the arrival of the Kennedys for the motorcade through Dallas on November 22, 1963. The crowd is behind a chain-link fence, and many people hold signs welcoming President Kennedy to Dallas. The largest sign in this image reads "Let's Barry King John," a reference to Republican Senator Barry Goldwater's upcoming presidential campaign.
Curatorial Commentary
Of the few anti-Kennedy signs seen at Dallas Love Field, by far the most prominent was the large "Let's Barry King John" banner, which references Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, who was by late 1963 considered the likely Republican nominee for president in 1964. In addition to its large size, this anti-Kennedy sign is best remembered for its extreme poor taste in retrospect since it plays on Sen. Goldwater's first name to reference a burial of "King John." A conspicuous Confederate battle flag was also prominently displayed at Dallas Love Field, though whether that was a sign of protest or southern school spirit remains in question. Other less prominent anti-Kennedy signs at the airport read: "Yankee Go Home and Take Your Equals With You," an explicit reference to President Kennedy's support of the Civil Rights Movement, and "Help JFK Stamp Out Democracy." -- Stephen Fagin, Curator