Tom Russell Oral History

Object number2004.001.0013

Date03/16/2004

ClassificationsOral Histories

Oral history interview subject Tom Russell

Oral history interviewer Stephen Fagin

ObjectOral history

Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumHi-8 videotape

Dimensions33 Minutes

Terms

Collections

DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with Tom Russell. A Dallas real estate developer in 1963, Russell attended the Trade Mart luncheon and put a memorial cross for President Kennedy in Dealey Plaza after the assassination. He recalls the entire city being a hotbed of radical conservative activity. Interview conducted at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza on March 16, 2004 by Stephen Fagin. The interview is thirty-three minutes long.

Curatorial Commentary

At the time of this oral history, Mr. Russell donated photographs of the recognizable memorial cross he placed in Dealey Plaza in memory of President Kennedy.

Ironically, despite being perhaps the most ornate display in the plaza in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination, Mr. Russell was forced to quickly remove his controversial tribute. Because Russell prominently listed the name of his development corporation on the display, the City of Dallas Parks Department considered it to be an advertisement. Russell was informed that it must be removed from the plaza or it would be confiscated and destroyed. In defiance, he kept the memorial tribute displayed in front of his home for more than one year after the assassination. - Stephen Fagin, Curator