Where Were You? America Remembers the JFK Assassination

by Gus Russo, Harry Moses, Tom Brokaw (Foreword)

November 22, 1963. A policeman’s wife was fetching their sick child from school. A young shoe store manager had no idea what lay in wait for him that day. A future president was tending to his farm. A future vice president was standing on the steps of his college library. A Georgetown student was looking forward to playing the piano for the president when he returned to Washington, DC, that evening. A future movie star was attending his second-grade art class.
     Then the news rang out across airwaves, through telephone lines, and by word of mouth, plunging the country into shock and sorrow. It’s hard to imagine how the last fifty years would have unfolded if President John F. Kennedy had lived. Would Vietnam have dragged on until 1974? Would Nixon have come into power? It’s difficult to say—but, combining evocative archival images with the unique, first-person stories of those who lived through it, Where Were You? says what the history books can’t and offers a fresh look at what was, what is, and what might have been since that fateful day.
    In the two-hour NBC documentary event that this volume accompanies, special correspondent Tom Brokaw interviewed people close to the tragedy as well as former heads of state, politicians, authors, journalists, performers, musicians, and more. He asked them five simple questions, starting Where were you? Together, their words paint a rich and moving picture of a hopeful nation torn asunder by grief. It will remind those who lived it of a pivotal moment in American history, and it bears witness for all who follow.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, American History

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Gus Russo is a veteran investigative reporter, musician, and author. His first book, Live By the Sword: The Secret War Against Castro and the Death of JFK (Bancroft, 1998), was praised by the New York Times as “compelling, exhaustively researched and even handed.” Kirkus Reviews called Sword, “Probably the last book on the Kennedy assassination you will need to read....Gripping and convincing!” The book was a Book of the Month Club and History Book Club Featured Alternate. Sword was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 1999, and has been scripted for a mini-series by Showtime Networks. Russo next authored The Outfit: The Role of Chicago’s Underworld in the Shaping of Modern America (Bloomsbury, 2002). It was described as “seamless” (Baltimore Sun), “a tireless read...a saga...550 pages of good journalism” (Chicago Tribune), and “one of the essential works on the subject of organized crime” (Los Angeles Times). The Outfit was also nominated for the Pulitzer, and was optioned before publication by USA Networks.
Russo’s next book, Gangsters and GoodFellas (June 2004, M Evans Pub.), was a collaboration with former NY gangster Henry Hill, a sequel to his 1985 biography Wiseguy, which was the basis for the hit 1990 movie GoodFellas, starring Robert DeNiro.
Russo followed with Supermob: How Sidney Korshak and His Criminal Associates Became America’s Hidden Power Brokers (Sept. 2006); Supermob film rights were sold before publication to CBS-Paramount, and is being developed as a television series. Regarding this book, Publishers Weekly stated: “Veteran investigative author and organized crime expert Russo's magnum opus is a compelling look at one of the last century's major power players. Russo's extensive research is amply evident, and he has made use of recently disclosed records to paint a fuller picture than predecessors such as Seymour Hersh and Brian Ross were able to...a worthy addition to the genre.” Chicago Sun-Times: “An exhaustive look at [Korshak’s] exploits… Russo does a masterful job… The amount of research in the book is staggering… Russo pulls plenty of substantive dirty deeds done by Korshak into the light. Korshak would have cringed.” Kirkus: “there are plenty of revelations in this absorbing book.” SF Chronicle: “[Supermob] adds up to a compelling picture of the exercise of power in the 20th century… Russo’s chapter on the shameless plundering of the assets of imprisoned Japanese Americans during World War II, presided over by a bevy of Korshak’s associates, is particularly stirring.”
In January 2006, Russo, as co-writer with Wilfried Huismann, delivered a breakthrough 90-minute documentary for the German public television network WDR. The film, “Rendezvous With Death,” clarifies the relationship between Cuba’s intelligence service and JFK’s killer. At this writing, the film has aired in fifteen countries. In addition, Russo is also an occasional consultant to Hollywood screenwriter Ron Bass. Russo’s fifth book (w/ Steve Molton), is Brothers in Arms: The Kennedys, the Castros, and the Politics of Murder (October 2008). This book was inspired by the “Rendezvous” film. Brothers was named Winner of the 2008 History Prize by the New York Book Festival.


In 2009, Russo produced and co-wrote Generation 9-11, a documentary feature film on the West’s misconceptions about Islam, for Academy Award-winning director Nigel Nobel. Most recently, Russo’s The Outfit was optioned by top Hollywood producer Joe Roth (Alice in Wonderland) as a television series, and his original feature script, Django, ¬is currently being read by Mick Jagger for possible purchase by his Jagged Films Production Co.

Russo released his sixth book, a memoir entitled Boomer Days, in May 2011.

Previously, Gus Russo has worked an investigative reporter for PBS’ Frontline series, as well as ABC News Special Reports w

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my husbands book that’s been sitting for a while it was very interesting and will recommend it to others

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was at the library, I walked right by this book at first. It didn't seem like a book that I would interested in- just a bunch of people talking about where they were when President Kennedy was shot. But for some reason I went back to look at it, and then I checked it out. I started to read it, and it surprised me. I have been busy with school and other things in my life, I get in the habit of starting a book and not completing it, and or getting distracted by another book. But this book kept my interest. JFK has always been a fascinating historical figure to study, I didn't think that I would learn much about as I would be in just a general bio, but I was wrong, I think that this book taught me that there are more then one method about learning about a person. One of the best things I liked about this book is that to portray Kennedy as more then he is, the man was like everyone else, he did have his faults. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Kennedy or the assignation. The book goes into more then people just recounting where they were on that day, but there are intimate accounts from those who knew him personally, and they go into the conspiracy theories that surround his assassination.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

One star, because not enough time is spent speaking to people aware of the anomalies between what the Warren Commission said happened, and what was more like to actually (i)have(/i) happened. The narrators chosen are all people who spent time in one way or other living ff taxpayer moneys (ie. elected officials, or celebrities) and their reticence to speak of anything other than the "lone nut theory" gets old and weary, so much so that by the end of the book, you have only read two or three people who have their doubts, and everyone else is still on the same page the government wanted us to believe. There are no accounts from any "ordinary" people, unless you want to count people that were interviewed along the way being close to the events in time and space. But noting as to what any particalar someone in Anytown USA was doing. They are all folks whose names you know... In 1964, my Grandfather sent me (aged nine!) a copy of the Warren Report. Now my Grandfather was a Minnesota farmer, salt of the earth, immigrant-done-well, and he saw nothing good in the CIA. I think there might have been something to that, in that he sent this to me, knowing that even I would likely not live to see "the truth" ever come out about what happned that day. That "the truth" was to be hidden another 75 years... In fact, I think the plan is that, they are never going to tell "the truth" about it, until every one of us who can remember it, is dead, ourselves. Where was I? Home sick from school. A big Civil War buff at the time, I went to my room and came out with a poem of my on paraphrasing of Walt Whitman's "Oh Captain My Captain " titled "O President, My President". My Mom kept it for years, but I didn't.

[Kathy McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember vividly where I was, so it was easy to relate to the stories and memories of the wide variety of individuals who responded to the question, "Where were you?"
The same basic theme ran through every story, "there was optimism and hope for the future until that day in November."

"We felt that Kennedy gave his life for us. It was the moral mandate that America had to change. Without Kennedy's life and death, Johnson couldn't have gotten the Civil Rights Bill through Congress." Andrew Young

"A commission to solve the death of the president that never met as a complete body. We owe Jack Kennedy the truth, and we owe the American people the truth." Mort Sahl

"I think everybody had the feeling that Kennedy was going to get it done somehow. America of November 21, 1963 was a place filled with optimism." Judy Collins

"A lot of people lived the Kennedy kind of life, but they didn't necessarily do things for the people who didn't live that kind of life. That was the great difference. When you would see a Kennedy show up at a rally to help people get home heating oil or to do something for the poor- that was the difference." Jay Leno

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives insights on Kennedy’s assassination different from any I’ve read before. Acquaintances of Oswald share their observations of him. One of the memories is from the widow of the police officer. There is the story of Oswald’s capture, along with stories of Oliver Stone’s movie. There are a couple of sections that could have been omitted, such as the one by Robert DeNiro. Overall, this is a worthwhile read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of insightful and, ultimately, sad interviews with people from all walks of life and where they were when the heard that JFK had been assassinated. Had to put it down several times because it made me begin to remember (I was in the 4th grade) and that event still hits hard (although not as hard as RFK's assassination). Many incredibly interesting and powerful reminisces. Does not have to be read in order.

[Mark Selby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent idea with a good group of contributors. However, most people selected were liberals. Would have liked to gotten more people who were kids at the time.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Kennedy used the pictures to cover up what he was. He loved the glamour shots. He loved being handsome. He loved Jackie being beautiful. He loved all that photography. He loved the kids. He loved Macaroni the pony. I think he liked that idea because it created a certain thing he could manipulate and use. The inner Jack Kennedy was far less romantic and far tougher.

- "Chris Matthews", from "Where Were You?"

“Where Were You?” is a collection of stories, told of the JFK assassination, his presidency, the conspiracy theories, and his legacy. Most of the stories contain “the moment” that they had heard of that he had been shot, although not all of the testimonies are specific to the assassination. Some of the folks were there in Dallas at the day that the assassination happened, but others were instead involved in Jim Garrison's investigation against Clay Shaw or just reflect on the overall Presidency and legacy of JFK and of their own experiences during that time.

Perhaps the most significant stories in the book were of the “unvarnished” John F. Kennedy. Some think back on the JFK legacy of the space program, his “New Frontier”, Peace Corps, and “Camelot”, but the stories that I found that the most meaning for me were the ones of JFK beneath his public persona. His numerous affairs with women, his affliction from Addison's disease and his multiple back surgeries. He often had to wear crutches, and apparently one foot was longer than the other and he wore special shoes to correct the height difference. Moreover, his domestic agenda that included civil rights was stalled in Congress and he himself was somewhat lukewarm to civil rights if it was not for his brother, Bobby Kennedy.

I do not see these flaws as diminishing the legacy of JFK – as it is often the case, it is best to consider the perfections and imperfections of a person, even those of our most popular leaders. After his death, Lyndon Baines Johnson would continue the work on the Civil Rights Act, which he would later be able to pass into law.

The other stories that stood out were the ones of the man behind the rifle, Lee Harvey Oswald. Although he is not the focus of the book, the impressions of him given sprinkled in the narratives are oddly contradictory. If there were a multitude of perspectives on JFK, the President, the man and the myth, then the same can also be said of his assassin. Some think Lee Harvey Oswald was after the attention, some think he was a “loner” and an “angry man”, but still another remember him as a “hard worker”, “dedicated” and a man “not capable of an assassination” who played with the neighborhood children. The man asks rhetorically “Did I really know the true Lee Oswald?”

The same question, perhaps, can also be asked of JFK.

[Doug Tabner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have easily rated 5 stars. All they needed to do was to omit the final 1/3 or so of the book, when they stopped treating the assassination as a historical event and begin treating it as a pop culture phenomena.

The beginning gives voice to people you usually don't hear from; Ruth Paine, with whom Marina was living. The guy who gave Oswald a ride to the depository on 11/22. The "smaller" players in the tragedy. Those were highly fascinating.

Then it moves on to more famous personalities, people who were either close to Kennedy or were higher ups in the government. Again, fascinating.

But then we move on to the section labelled, generously, "Culture." Some of the people were mildly interesting, Tom Hanks comes to mind. But others had nothing to do with the assassination and never knew JFK. I like Robert DeNiro, but his space in this book was completely irrelevant. I don't care what Jane Fonda thinks about anything at all, let alone something of such historical significance as JFK's murder. Same with Chris Matthews (though he was in an earlier section.) Oliver Stone's contribution was, unsurprisingly nothing but a long rant about conspiracies.

I don't recommend giving up on books half way through, and I stuck with this until the bitter end. Having said that,I couldn't blame anyone who read the first half of this and then put it down and started their next book.

[Cathryn Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in fourth grade at Silverside Elementary School in Wilmington, Delaware on Friday, November 22, 1963--the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. For decades after, people would ask each other: "Where were you?" Now Gus Russo and Harry Moses have asked that question of a historic lineup of more than 50 people. And the answers are fascinating!

Those featured include people who were in Dallas on that tragic day, including Dan Rather and Marie Tippit (the wife of slain police officer J.D. Tippit); politicians, including Bill Daley, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden; those who were for and against the various conspiracy theories; and celebrities--from John Glenn to Tom Hanks and Oliver Stone to Judy Collins. Most of those interviewed had a personal connection to JFK. Some met him only once, while others were good friends.

Much discussed are the theories of who shot Kennedy. Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? Or was there a conspiracy--and if so, who?

This is a captivating, uniquely personal book with so many different answers to that one question: Where were you?

[Deb Ristow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Good Reads giveaway. The assassination of JFK happened before I was born but it still had an impact on me. Growing up, I watched my mother with almost absolute reverence my mother handle the media that she had saved from JFK's assassination and had heard many times where she was when she had heard about the death of the president. I enjoyed reading this book which divulged information about JFK's life that I wasn't aware of. I also enjoyed the retelling from the different standpoints of how this affected the lives of the American people and where they were when they heard the news. And even though many have differing opinions on how they felt about JFK and his presidency, they all have the overwhelming opinion of his life being taken too soon and total shock. I have always loved hearing the story of my mother sharing where she was when JFK was shot and the emotions that she felt, and this was a wonderful opportunity to hear stories from many people that I have heard of, and many I have not.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was beyond excited to receive this as a first reads giveaway.

Oral history books are usually amazing, and this one doesn't disappoint. It is much more than the title suggests. The contributors span from politicians and journalists to musicians and actors who remember the time and Kennedy himself vividly. They discuss not only where they were and what they remember of his assassination, but what they remember of his character and the incredible era in America that constituted his presidency.

Reading the stories of those who knew Kennedy and remember his assassination with the clarity of yesterday is powerful beyond words. More than a few of the stories gave me chills as I read them. There is representation of a wide array of opinions in this book. There are those who believe that Oswald acted alone and those who are certain there was a cover up.

What is amazing about this book is that there is no author interference. You can just listen to these people speak, absorb what they have to say, and then, if you want, make your own judgments.

[Nicole Overmoyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most fascinating part of this collection of memories of the JFK assassination is the first section in which people who were in Dallas or knew the Kennedys or the Oswalds remember the event. That's fascinating.

What Steven Spielberg and Bill Clinton and Robert DeNiro remember is all well and good but it's not really relevant to the larger picture of what America remembers because, and this is the cynic in me speaking, no one would consider them in terms of what "America remembers" if they hadn't got famous.

A more interesting collection of stories, or even addition to this collection, would have been to random ask average people across America what they remember. I know my own parents have told me again and again what they remember from that day. That's what I'd really want to read, after the recollections of those were were involved.

(I received my copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.)

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. It is an interesting book, but perhaps especially so because 2013 is the 50th. anniversary of Kennedy's assassination. Almost everyone will agree that Kennedy's assassination was a pivotal point for the country. This book is more than just "Where were you when you heard of Kennedy's death?" The people chosen came from a broad spectrum of America (Pat Buchanan to Jane Fonda) and were prominent in the arts, business, and politics. Each gave a brief background about how he/she knew Kennedy, even briefly, before the assassination. Then, each explained what the assassination and its aftermath meant to him/her personally and for the country. Almost all of them seemed to think that the assassination affected them personally. Most people who remember November 22, 1963 will agree with this perspective.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the companion book to the NBC 2-hour documentary and contains thoughts about and reactions to the events of November 1963 of various recognizable cultural and political figures. I clearly remember where I was, and my mind recalls the sounds and sights--down to the industrial green of the walls--of a high school classroom on that fateful day fifty years ago. Where were you?

From the Foreward by Tom Brokaw...
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, wealthy young aristocrat, war hero, and ladies' man, remains ageless in our memories and in the official and informal photographs from his presidency. He was already preparing to run for a second term and beginning to muse on what he might do after eight years in the White House. We'll never know, of course, but his life and then his sudden, violent death remain an indelible part of our history.

[Christopher Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of us who lived through those pivotal days, this wide-ranging collection will be a nostalgic trip filled with deep and perhaps long forgotten emotions. Most of the contributors (an incredible diverse cross-section) cover three aspects of that time: their personal connection(s) (if any) with JFK and the Kennedy family; the answer to the title filled out with their emotions and actions; an appreciation, not always adulatory or even positive of Kennedy as a man and as a President done with candour and hindsight.

I loved and savoured this book, many times through a vale of tears as I reflected on my feelings at a moment in my life that like 9/11 colours my world.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not around for the Kennedy years. But I love reading about them. So this book was amazing. It's just cooler than most because it is from the point of view of people that were there. Not necessarily in Dealy Plaza, but by people who were alive at the time. From what I understand, the Kennedy assassination is like 9/11 in the way that everyone remembers exactly where they were and exactly what they were doing when they heard. If you are all into all things Kennedy...this would be a great book to add to what you have read.

[jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book. It contains interviews with well known public figures and less well known people about their relationships with John Kennedy and where they were at the time of the assassination in 1963. It includes photographs from then and now, and the immediate reactions to the tragedy. One of the best chapters is about how Joseph Kennedy Sr. hired Mort Sahl to write comedy one liners for his son to use. He wanted Sahl to put a stiletto through Nixon's 5th and 6th rib rather than bludgeoning him. That comment says a lot about the father and even more about the son.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the thoughts and feelings of so many people who were impacted by JFK's death was powerful. Some, I think, used it to spread their ideas and rant a bit, but that was to be expected. My parents remember vividly where they were when they heard the news. It's one of those moments in history where you will always remember where you were and how you felt. President Kennedy was and remains inspirational - it's just one of those tragic times where we will always wonder "What if he had lived?"

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I will definitely attempt to incorporate it into my curriculum as a American History/Cultural Studies teacher. What a great way to illustrate perspective and the impact on a single event on the lives of people from all walks of life. I will definitely be recommending this book!!

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just ok. The beginning had some very important people that were related to JFK's assassignation. It was very interesting to read their narratives. I thought that the second half of the book really did not have anything to do with JFK. The second half of the book was just people remembering how they founbd out JFK was assassignated.

[Edy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about one of the most life-altering moments in American history. For those of us who experienced those unbelievable days as well as for those who are interested in American history, this book adds to the existing knowledge of Nov. 22, 1963. I particularly enjoyed the different perspectives presented in the book. I highly recommend this book.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy nice read. It gives lots of details about various people personal experience relating the assassination. It helped me as a guide to go on further reading and watching documentaries about kennedy years.

[Harolyn Legg]

A collection of recollections from various Americans on what they were doing when John Kennedy was killed.

[Cara Gerster · Rating 2 out of 5]

I pretty much knew everything mentioned in this book from all the other books I've read. I really hoped to get a different perspective but that wasn't the case