Thomas Vasquez Oral History
Object number2021.001.0025
Date04/28/2021
ClassificationsOral Histories
Oral history interview subject
Thomas Vasquez
Oral history interviewer
Stephen Fagin
ObjectOral history
Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumBorn digital (.wav file)
DimensionsDuration: 72 Minutes
Terms
- Civil rights
- Oral histories
- Assassination
- Presidential campaign
- Race relations
- Segregation
- Integration
- Racism
- 1960s
- Vietnam
- Social and political climate
- Debates
- 1960 presidential election
- Television commercials
- Cold War
- Nuclear threat
- Catholicism
- Legacy
- Military service
- Kennedy, John F.
- U.S. Marine Corps
- Viva Kennedy
- San Antonio
- Civil Rights and Social Activism (OHC)
- Dallas and 1960s History and Culture (OHC)
- 1960 Campaign (OHC)
- Childhood Recollections (OHC)
- Chicano History and Culture (OHC)
Collections
- All Online Objects
- Oral History Collection
DescriptionAudio oral history interview with Thomas Vasquez. A lifelong resident of San Antonio, Vasquez experienced racism and prejudice throughout his early life. In part because his late father suffered a massive stroke on the night of November 22, 1963, Vasquez believes that the Kennedy assassination had a significant impact on his life and ultimately led to his service in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Interview conducted by phone on April 28, 2021 by Stephen Fagin. The interview is one hour and twelve minutes long.
Curatorial CommentaryThomas Vasquez mailed a two-page reflection on the Kennedy assassination to The Sixth Floor Museum in May 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Museum was closed at the time, but fortunately a copy of his letter was shared with me as I worked from home. We kept in touch in the hopes of speaking on the record once the Museum re-opened and I resumed recording interviews. Remarkably, it took nearly a full year for the two of us to record this oral history on April 28, 2021. Subsequent to this interview, Mr. Vasquez shared writings about his father and older sister, which are part of the Oral History Project file. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
The Museum's Oral History Collection includes several interviews that discuss Chicano History and Culture. These interviews highlight the Mexican-American experience, in places such as Texas, Mexico, and Cuba; outlining hardships, activism, and community. These interviews may be viewed on the Museum's online database here: Thesaurus – Vocabularies – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger
Jacqueline Kennedy's Spanish-language 1960 campaign commercial, mentioned in this interview, can be found on the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation's YouTube channel here: IFP:135 F-131-1M Jacqueline Kennedy Campaign Spot in Spanish. - Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger
