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Kathleen Vaughn and Peggy Vaughn Sorrentino Oral History
Kathleen Vaughn and Peggy Vaughn Sorrentino Oral History

Kathleen Vaughn and Peggy Vaughn Sorrentino Oral History

Object number2018.001.0043
Date05/10/2018
ClassificationsOral Histories
Oral history interview subject
Oral history interview subject
Oral history interviewer
Oral history interviewer
ObjectOral history
Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumBorn digital (.m2ts file)
DimensionsDuration: 33 Minutes
Collections
  • All Online Objects
  • Oral History Collection
DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with Kathleen Vaughn and Peggy Vaughn Sorrentino. Vaughan was along the fence line at Dallas Love Field on November 22, 1963, where President and Mrs. Kennedy briefly interacted with her fifteen-month-old daughter Peggy in a moment captured in several news photographs. Vaughan was interviewed with her daughter, Peggy Vaughan Sorrentino. Interview conducted at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas on May 10, 2018 by Stephen Fagin and Stephanie Allen-Givens. The interview is thirty-three minutes long.
Curatorial Commentary

The Museum's Peggy Vaughan Sorrentino and Kathleen Vaughan Collection (2018.023) includes the two-piece red toddler outfit worn by fifteen-month-old Peggy at Dallas Love Field (Red striped toddler outfit worn at Dallas Love Field on November 22, 1963 – Search vaughan (Objects) – Search – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza). It also includes Kathleen Vaughan's green corduroy maternity dress that she was wearing that day as well as newspapers and photographs related to their experience at Dallas Love Field.

Both Peggy Vaughan Sorrentino and Kathleen Vaughan may be seen with the Kennedys in these photographs from the Museum's Dallas Times Herald Collection: 1989.100.0007.0005 (Image of the Kennedys greeting the crowd at Love Field – Works – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza) and 1989.100.0007.0007 (Image of the Kennedys greeting the crowd at Love Field – Works – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza). - Stephen Fagin, Curator

Peggy Vaughan Sorrentino was born on August 22, 1962, making her exactly fifteen months old on the day of the Kennedy assassination. Her mother, Kathleen Vaughan, decided on the spur of the moment to take her young daughter to Dallas Love Field to see President and Mrs. Kennedy. Arriving about an hour early, she was able to get right up against the fence and had a good view of Air Force One as it landed. As the Kennedys made their way down the fence line, Kathleen recalls that Jackie Kennedy patted young Peggy on the cheek. Kathleen then shook hands with President Kennedy, welcoming him to Dallas. She also remembers Lady Bird Johnson remarking, "You're in a good spot," as she made her way down the fence line with Vice President Johnson. - Stephen Fagin, Curator