JFK Assassination Covered Live on Dallas Radio

In this age of streaming media, high-speed internet, and mobile communications, it is often difficult to recall a time when live radio was a potent force of information delivery.

On an autumn Friday in 1963 in Dallas, Texas, many people were at work, without access to a television. Some played hooky to go watch the presidential motorcade scheduled during the lunch hour. Housewives were home, some with the television on. But, by far, most people in Dallas were close to their radios that November 22nd.

KLIF radio had been on-the-air just over 16 years, and was owned and operated by the legendary Gordon McLendon. In 1953, the station switched to a format best described that year by Sponsor magazine: "KLIF burst into national prominence with its formula of music and news plus razzle-dazzle promotion."

The Top-40 formula was very successful for KLIF, and by 1963 it was the top-ranked radio station in Dallas.

Joe Long, KLIF's News Director, was assigned as "pool reporter" for the arrival of Air Force One at Love Field in Dallas. Joe's coverage was heard live on KLIF and other stations in Dallas/Fort Worth as part of pool coverage. Listen to Part One of our audio presentation to experience this broadcast.

As the motorcade left the airport, KLIF resumed its regular programming, with deejay Larry Wilson resuming his truncated music show.

Topping the KLIF Contact News at noon was the recent arrival of the presidential party and the supposed rift between senator Ralph Yarborough and Texas governor John Connelly.

Moments after shots rang out in Dealey Plaza, KLIF interrupted I Have a Boyfriend by The Chiffons with their squealing news alert sound effect:

This KLIF Bulletin: From Dallas, three shots reportedly were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade today near the downtown section.

The brief, terse bulletin is startling to hear, even today. With hindsight, we know the gruesome details that will follow. But one wonders what reactions were felt by Dallas radio listeners who heard the report live. What did they say? Oh, that can't be true. Must be a mistake.

Announcer Rex Jones, who had only been with KLIF for a few weeks, continues his show as usual. But you can imagine the chaos in the newsroom, visible to Jones through the studio window. He flips on turntable one: it fires up Everybody by Tommy Roe.

One time or other everybody listen to me,
you lose somebody you love.
But that's no reason for you to break down and cry...

Part way through the record, another report. Someone was wounded in the shooting and was en route to Parkland Hospital.

Jones does his best to keep up his Top 40 enthusiasm as the record ends, but it sounds forced. His telephone is ringing off its hook, with listeners pleading for more information. Another report (filed by Joe Long within 15 minutes of the shooting) soon follows, live on-the-scene, and it includes details on the suspect and the murder weapon.

More commercials. Sandra Dee / Jimmy Stewart movie, anyone?

Rex Jones fires up Point of No Return by Gene McDaniels:

I'm at the point of no return and for me there'll be no turning back. It's as though McDaniels is singing for an entire nation.

As soon as a report airs confirming that Kennedy and Texas governor John Connelly have been struck, the format goes out the window. Jones plays a somber instrumental, and turns over the station to the news department.

Listen to Part Two of the broadcast.

With the rushed fade-out of the instrumental record, KLIF's wall-to-wall coverage of the assination begins, culminating in the official word that the president was dead. Uninterrupted reporting would continue through the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald, the funeral of John F. Kennedy and Jack Ruby's murder of the suspect.

Jack Ruby had ties to some of the KLIF staff. But that is a story for another day.

Listen to Part Three of KLIF's live assassination coverage.