On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated during an entourage through Dallas, Texas. One of the reasons for his visit was to rally people and raise funds for his upcoming presidential campaign. However, as the date for his visit approached, a number of people, including members of the Dallas community, warned the president that it would be unsafe for him to visit Texas. Previously, US Ambassador Adlai Stevenson of the United Nations had been attacked while giving a speech in Dallas several months ago. It seemed that such an incident would not be unlikely during the president's upcoming visit. Consequently, some of the members within the White House advised President Kennedy to change his plans. Nevertheless, President Kennedy, determined to win Texas over for his campaign, refused.
Up to that point, the president had faced different political issues, including relations with the Soviets regarding nuclear weapons and East Berlin, conflict with the New Orleans Mafia, Missile Crisis with Castro, and the fight against Communism in Vietnam. Consequently, the atmosphere was brooding with
political unrest. Such an atmosphere seemed like a perfect stage to cause an incident. However, with the president fixed on going to Dallas, the Security Department promised the people that no such incident like an assassination would occur during his visit.
However, on November 22, shortly after President Kennedy's motorcade reached Elm Street, several gunshots were fired at the president, hitting him first in the neck and then on his head. He was rushed to the hospital. Shortly afterward, however, at 1pm, he was declared dead. Within two hours, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into office.