22 November 1963: The Day the World Stood Still
On 22 November 1963, the world was shaken by the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. Shot while travelling in an open car through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, Kennedy’s death marked one of the defining moments of the 20th century - a point at which politics, culture and public consciousness shifted irreversibly.
The assassination unfolded in a nation already navigating Cold War tensions, civil rights struggles and rapid social change. Kennedy, young and charismatic, had come to embody a new vision for America’s place in the world, and his death sent shockwaves that reached far beyond U.S. borders. Radio stations fell silent, television coverage ran nonstop, and millions watched the unfolding tragedy in real time - an early moment of truly global news.
In the decades since, the event has been examined from every angle: historical, political, forensic and cultural. It has inspired films, documentaries, archives and scholarship. Yet it remains, at its heart, a profoundly human story - one of ambition, vulnerability, and the fragility of leadership in an uncertain world.
For those interested in 20th-century history, the Kennedy assassination stands as a powerful reminder of how sudden moments can redirect the course of nations. It forms part of the wider tapestry of conflict, diplomacy and change that influences many of the landscapes explored in our modern-era tours, from wartime Europe to the Mediterranean’s shifting geopolitical frontiers.
Added: 21st November 2025
