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JFK
President John F. Kennedy's assassination is an unforgettable part of Dallas' history.Nearly 54 years later, scholars and enthusiasts alike are still processing details from that fateful drive through Dealey Plaza now that the remaining investigation files have been unsealed. For the 50th anniversary in 2013, KERA produced special stories and reports from the commemoration:The 50th: Remembering John F. Kennedy was KERA's live, two-hour special covering the official commemoration event at Dealey Plaza in Dallas on Nov. 22, 2013. Hosted by Krys Boyd and Shelley Kofler, the special includes reports from KERA reporters before the ceremony begins. Listen to the special here.Bells tolled across the city, and the event featured historian David McCullough, who read from Kennedy’s presidential speeches; Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings; religious leaders; the U.S. Naval Academy Men’s Glee Club; and a moment of silence. Read highlights from the event from KERA's live blog from that day.Throughout the month, KERA posted an online series called 22 Days In November, which takes a closer look at that fateful day, what it meant to the country and how it affected Dallas.We shared stories and memories in a series called “JFK Voices.” Explore our archives below.

WFAA-TV Broadcaster Bert Shipp, Who Covered Kennedy Assassination, Dies At 85

"Breaking The News"/KERA
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Bert Shipp, a longtime WFAA-TV broadcaster, talked about covering President Kennedy's assassination on the KERA documentary "JFK: Breaking The News."

Bert Shipp, a longtime North Texas broadcaster who covered President Kennedy's assassination, has died at age 85.

In 1963, Shipp helped deliver the news on WFAA-TV that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.

He was at the Trade Mart, ready to cover the speech that Kennedy was scheduled to give there. Shipp was filming outside when the presidential motorcade raced instead to Parkland Hospital.

He went there, where doctors treated the president. Shipp then raced back to WFAA to report what had happened. 

He reflected on that moment in a 2003 KERA documentary called JFK: Breaking The News.

"Finally got in the station, told them that I think the president couldn't live with the back of his head gone. And I said, "Go ahead and tell, you know, put it on the air." And he said, "No way." He says, "We announced that somebody was dead and they weren't dead," and he said, "our news director said no more dead people until we see the death certificate." And I said, "Well, put me on there."

Shipp was the assistant news director at WFAA-TV at the time of the Kennedy assassination.

He said that covering the assassination tested his skills as a journalist – but it also broke his heart.

Video: Bert Shipp talks with WFAA-TV about the assassination

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYE33ZlPkSg

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