On November 22, 1963, Associated Press reporter Peggy Simpson was on the scene just minutes after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas as his motorcade passed through the city. Simpson attached herself to the police officers who had converged at the building from which the deadly shots were fired.
Now 84 years old, Simpson is one of the last surviving witnesses who are sharing their accounts as the U.S. marks the 60th anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination. Stephen Fagin, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza’s curator, noted that the loss of voices from that time period will lead to a tangible link to the past fading away.
To commemorate this historic event, National Geographic released “JFK: One Day in America,” a three-part series featuring the recollections of individuals such as Simpson and former U.S. Secret Service Agent Clint Hill. The documentary pairs their memories with recently colorized archival footage to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the emotional impact of the tragic day.
The assassination of JFK significantly impacted American culture, defining a generation and leaving a lasting impression. President Joe Biden, who was still in college at the time of Kennedy’s death, recalled being glued to the news as he and his peers mourned the loss of the beloved president. As the nation commemorates this day, it’s important to remember Kennedy’s vision for a brighter and united future.
Simpson recalled being at The Dallas Times Herald’s building when she first heard the news of the president’s shooting. This kickstarted a flurry of activity as she raced to gather more information on the tragedy. She then found herself in the midst of the chaotic scene at police headquarters, reporting on the unfolding events with the raw instinct of a dedicated journalist.
As a seasoned AP reporter, Simpson was determined to share the news with the world, even in the face of danger. She was at the county jail to cover Lee Harvey Oswald’s transfer when Jack Ruby emerged from a crowd of reporters and fatally shot the suspect. In the midst of the chaos, Simpson rushed to a nearby bank of phones to provide her editors with every detail she could gather.
Simpson’s vivid recollections are preserved in the oral history collection at The Sixth Floor Museum as testimony to the gripping events that unfolded that fateful weekend. The need to capture these narratives has become increasingly urgent, as the museum continues its efforts to record recollections from those who remember the somber day, even as children, racing against time to preserve a vital piece of history.
