Fort Worth

‘KENNEDY SLAIN’: Fort Worth Star-Telegram front pages on JFK’s assassination in 1963

President John F. Kennedy’s arrival in Fort Worth on Nov. 21, 1963, was a big deal. So was his appearance at the Hotel Texas the next morning, where some 5,000 people waited in the rain outside for a chance to see him speak and shake his hand.

When Kennedy left Fort Worth to fly to Dallas, the Star-Telegram newsroom thought they were done with the big story of the day. They were wrong.

Here are front pages of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from his welcome to Fort Worth through the aftermath of the assassination. The “extra” edition on Nov. 22 was the first time the paper had published such a breaking news edition in years.

[MORE: Then vs. now photos of JFK in Fort Worth]

The Star-Telegram’s morning edition on Nov. 22, 1963.
The Star-Telegram’s morning edition on Nov. 22, 1963. Star-Telegram
The afternoon edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 22, 1963, with coverage of that morning’s events in Fort Worth before the assassination that afternoon in Dallas.
The afternoon edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 22, 1963, with coverage of that morning’s events in Fort Worth before the assassination that afternoon in Dallas. Star-Telegram
An extra edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 22, 1963, after Kennedy’s assassination.
An extra edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 22, 1963, after Kennedy’s assassination.
The morning edition of the Star-Telegram on Saturday, Nov. 23, 1963.
The morning edition of the Star-Telegram on Saturday, Nov. 23, 1963. Star-Telegram
The morning edition of the Star-Telegram on Saturday, Nov. 23, 1963.
The morning edition of the Star-Telegram on Saturday, Nov. 23, 1963. Star-Telegram
The evening edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 23, 1963.
The evening edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 23, 1963. Star-Telegram
The morning edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 25, 1963.
The morning edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 25, 1963. Star-Telegram
The evening edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 25, 1963.
The evening edition of the Star-Telegram on Nov. 25, 1963. Star-Telegram

MORE: See photos of JFK in Fort Worth on day of assassination.

Profile Image of Matt Leclercq
Matt Leclercq
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Matt Leclercq was senior managing editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from 2021 to 2026. He is now editor of The Charlotte Observer and can be reached at mleclercq@charlotteobserver.com. 
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