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Image of Malcolm Kilduff announcing the death of President Kennedy
Image of Malcolm Kilduff announcing the death of President Kennedy

Image of Malcolm Kilduff announcing the death of President Kennedy

Object number1989.100.0017.0004
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer Dallas Times Herald photographer
ObjectNegative (b&w)
Credit LineDallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (2.4 x 3.6 cm)
Collections
DescriptionOriginal 35mm black and white negative taken by a Dallas Times Herald photographer. This image shows White House Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff making the official announcement at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 1963, to reporters that President Kennedy had died. The photographer in front whose face is hidden behind his camera is WBAP-TV's Bob Welch; his sound camera made the only filmed recording of Kilduff's statement, given in a nurse's classroom at Parkland Hospital. The images on this negative strip were taken by one of two Dallas Times Herald staff photographers at Parkland Hospital that day. There were two Dallas Times Herald photographers at Parkland who stayed for the press conference - Eamon Kennedy and John Mazziotta. One of them took these photos. Bob Jackson, another photographer who was at Parkland earlier, was not present at the press conference.
Curatorial Commentary
Sid Davis of Westinghouse Broadcasting was present for the official announcement of President Kennedy's death.  In his 2003 oral history with the Museum, he recalled, "[Kilduff] stood in front of the room.  He had an unlit cigarette in his left hand, tears rolling down his cheeks.  Told me later that he opened his mouth and nothing came out.  And then he said, in the voice that was hoarse with anguish at what had happened, 'John F. Kennedy died today at one o'clock, Central Standard Time.  He died of a bullet wound in the brain.  I have no further information.'"  - Stephen Fagin, Curator
The WBAP recording is the only known recording of this press conference, but there was a second microphone in the room, visible in this picture just above Kilduff's hand, apparently held by a radio reporter.  Who is he, what station did he work for and, more importantly, what happened to his tape? - Gary Mack, Curator