Something I've been wondering lately (JFK)

I'm watching the tv special "JFK Consperiacy" that is hosted by James Earl Jones (I found this online). I was wondering something that I never thought about before. Why was president Kennedy scheduled to go to Dallas? I remember reading he didn't want to go but he didn't want to disappoint the public. I know that Bush41 and Nixon were both there that day and all the other information. I don't mean to bring up another Kennedy thread but I was just wondering about this. There are thousands of cities in the country and I was wondering: why Dallas, Texas? I know Austin and Dallas are pretty democratic leaning then other parts of Texas. So thanks to those who reply.

...important for JFK, especially when his inner circle knew of death threats against JFK in the south. I'd like to see the posts on this one also.

I didn't know Nixon was there. What was he doing there?

He wanted to visit the Trade Mart as a means of building support on LBJ's home turf. The visit wasn't a setup, although there is evidence that Texas oilmen were plotting an attempt on his life during a proposed visit to Miami before the trip to Dallas had been planned.

type of visit. Back then, the presidential campaign didn't start so early, but JFK and his advisers knew that he probably would have a tough time in the re-election. He was also expecting that Barry Goldwater would be the Republican nominee, as actually happened. It's also been said that JFK was hoping to tour the country with Goldwater, holding debates between the two in many places. Would have been a truly fascinating and probably informative campaign.

There is nothing at all sinister about JFK's Dallas visit in terms of being set up specifically so he could be assassinated there.

Read The Death of a President by William Manchester to truly recapture what those four days, November 22-25 felt like living through them.

I'll have to look for that book. I'm basically obsessed with the JFK asssisnation and have been studying this for the past few years. Before I was ever involved in anything politically I was always interested in why he died and all that. I've always had this connection to the story and just felt motivated to learn all I can and very determined to learn who did it and why. I just never knew why exactly Dallas was the place. They could've gone to any other place. But I'll definietly have to look for that book.

it's readily available from Amazon.com.

While reading it, forget any conspiracy theory about the assassination, forget whatever you currently believe about who really killed JFK and simply realize that what you are reading is exactly what anyone knew during those four days.

Most of the "Oswald didn't act alone" stuff got started much later.

Oh, and remember that essentially no one saw the Zapruder film (other than stills from it) until some years later. So again, whatever you think about who killed JFK, just make the little trip back in time as you read the book.

talk. If somebody doesn't like it - they can ignore the whole thread.

Sorry for the rant, but it really irks me when people try to limit other people from posting whatever they want to (within DU rules of course.)