/internal/media/dispatcher/11299/fullTyped draft of a newspaper article by Dallas Times Herald editor Felix McKnight11/22/196312 x 8 1/2 in. (30.5 x 21.6 cm)PaperJohn Schoellkopf Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza1996.003.01290Two page carbon copy of a draft of a news article by Felix McKnight for the Dallas Times Herald, November 22, 1963. The copy is on tan copy paper with some handwritten editing notes and reports on the death of President Kennedy.
Text of page 1(in full):
"frm
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by sniper's bullets in Dallas Friday.
He died at 1 p.m. in Parkland Hospital...31 minutes after ambush bullets struck his head near Houston and Elm.
Gov. John Connally, riding at his side in the open convertible, was shot in the back. He was in xxxx surgery in mid-afternoon. His condition was serious.
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who now xxxxx assumes the presidency, was quickly whisked from the hospital by secret service agents.
No announcement was immediately made as to when he would take the oath xxxx office.
The President was waving to sidewalk throngs near the Triple Underpass when gunfire erupted--apparently from a nearby building ['the Texas Schoolbook Depository building at 411 Elm' added in pencil].
He clutched his chest and collapsed in his wife's arms.
Gov. Connally was shot in the back. He fell to the floor at his wife's feet. The two wives, sobbing, huddled over their husbands."
Text of page 2:
"first add
The President’s car, with secret servicemen scrambling aboard, immediately lurched forward to rush the President and Gov. Connally out Stemmons Expressway to Parkland Hospital.
Dallas police stationed near the Underpass rushed to the shooting scene, led by a motorcycle officer who had abandoned his vehicle to join in pursuit of the gunman.
At first glance it appeared that a woman and two small children had been xx injured. This was the first real indication that the sounds had been gunshots rather than a backfiring automobile.
In any case, the President's car would have hurried from the scene on the mere suspicion that it was gunfire.
When newsmen came on the scene, it was then apparent that the family lying on the grass were not injured but were obviously shocked over something they had seen. This gave reporters, who were by now far removed from the injured President, further confirmation that there had indeed been gunfire.
(more)"Documents7349121.590000000030.480000000012522DocumentA two-page carbon copy of a draft of an article typed in black on tan copy paper written by chief editor Felix McKnight for the Dallas Times Herald on November 22, 1963. The story begins with a statement of President Kennedy's assassination and time of death. McKnight describes events that happened after the shooting including Governor John Connally's injuries and surgery and Lyndon B. Johnson's relocation from the hospital. He transitions back to the moment of the assassination detailing President Kennedy's and Governor Connally's movements before and after injury, police action at the Texas School Book Depository building, the reactions of bystanders, and the rationale of suspected gunfire. The article includes handwritten annotations in pencil.
Text of first page (in full):
"frm
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by sniper's bullets in Dallas Friday.
He died at 1 p.m. in Parkland Hospital...31 minutes after ambush bullets struck his head near Houston and Elm.
Gov. John Connally, riding at his side in the open convertible, was shot in the back. He was in xxxx surgery in mid-afternoon. His condition was serious.
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who now xxxxx assumes the presidency, was quickly whisked from the hospital by secret service agents.
No announcement was immediately made as to when he would take the oath xxxx office.
The President was waving to sidewalk throngs near the Triple Underpass when gunfire erupted--apparently from a nearby building ['the Texas Schoolbook Depository building at 411 Elm' added in pencil].
He clutched his chest and collapsed in his wife's arms.
Gov. Connally was shot in the back. He fell to the floor at his wife's feet. The two wives, sobbing, huddled over their husbands."
Text of second page (in full):
"first add
The President’s car, with secret servicemen scrambling aboard, immediately lurched forward to rush the President and Gov. Connally out Stemmons Expressway to Parkland Hospital.
Dallas police stationed near the Underpass rushed to the shooting scene, led by a motorcycle officer who had abandoned his vehicle to join in pursuit of the gunman.
At first glance it appeared that a woman and two small children had been xx injured. This was the first real indication that the sounds had been gunshots rather than a backfiring automobile.
In any case, the President's car would have hurried from the scene on the mere suspicion that it was gunfire.
When newsmen came on the scene, it was then apparent that the family lying on the grass were not injured but were obviously shocked over something they had seen. This gave reporters, who were by now far removed from the injured President, further confirmation that there had indeed been gunfire.
(more)"NewspapersAssassinationReporterMotorcadeDealey PlazaEyewitnessesTriple underpassHouston StreetElm StreetMcKnight, FelixSchoellkopf, JohnKennedy, John F.Kennedy, JacquelineConnally, JohnConnally, NellieJohnson, Lyndon B.Dallas Times HeraldParkland HospitalSecret ServiceTexas School Book DepositoryDallas Police DepartmentDallasDallas Times Herald managing editor Felix McKnight recorded an oral history with the Museum on March 9, 1995. It may be found here: Felix McKnight Oral History – Works – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. He passed away in 2004. - Stephen Fagin, Curator This object is featured in the Museum's special exhibit, "On Assignment: Dallas Times Herald 1963," which opened on April 29, 2026.The Museum's John Schoellkopf Collection includes a number of typed notes and draft stories from November 22, 1963, as well as newspaper proofs, a pencil mock-up of the intended front page and other Dallas Times Herald documents related to the weekend of the Kennedy assassination. John L. Schoellkopf (1938-2018) had a remarkable career at the Dallas Times Herald, starting out as an intern while attending Southern Methodist University in 1957. By the time he left journalism in 1970 for a career in business, farming and politics, he had risen to become the Dallas Times Herald vice president of administration. At the time of the Kennedy assassination in 1963, he was the paper's assistant city editor. Schoellkopf later ran for Dallas mayor and served on the board of a number of organizations including the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas Theater Center and the Texas State Historical Association. Schoellkopf recorded an oral history with The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza on June 11, 1996. - Stephen Fagin, Curator