I recently was perusing my JFK collection and magazines that took place around the time of the deaths of President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.  Along with my classic Hollywood photos that I collect, I also collect a lot of Kennedy (primarily JFK) memorabilia. I’ve also collected quite a bit of Jacqueline Kennedy and other Kennedy memorabilia but these are among the oldest stuff I own which I would like to share with you. Please bare in mind that these magazines were quite large back then and my scanner is not that large to scan the complete width of the publications. These publications were released not too long after JFK’s death on November 22, 1963 and Robert F. Kennedy’s death on June 6, 1968.
This John F. Kennedy Memorial Edition was published by LIFE Magazine which was sold for .50 cents back on November 29, 1963. This was released a week after his death. I spotted this at an antique store and it was complete but it was taped. I was looking for this publication and was happy to run across it. The Memorial Edition was a touching piece that features beautiful photos of JFK and his family but coverage of the tragedy that took place on November 22, 1963.
This issue from the Saturday Evening POST features the article of JFK’s death, what transpired in Texas and a Eulogy. This issue came out on Dec. 19th, 1963. Found this at an antique shop fully intact which was surprising.
After JFK’s death, the United Press International with Chase Studios, LTD. released the following photography booklet. A photo book as it details his life as a child, in politics up to the funeral.
With the release of the photo book above, LOOK Magazine released their photo publication titled “KENNEDY AND HIS FAMILY IN PICTURES”. I found this one at an antique store as well, fully intact.
This issue of LOOK came out on New Year’s Eve of 1963. Instead of celebrating the New Year, the country continued to mourn the President. This issue featured one of the last cover shots taken of JFK for LOOK Magazine and a Christmas message that was submitted to the magazine before the death of JFK.
This issue was released on June 14, 1968. A week after Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination. Unlike JFK which was featured throughout the issue, but I was surprised to see no mention of RFK by the managing editor. Granted, a lot of these are publications are planned well-ahead in advance. But the chilling photo of Robert F. Kennedy laying in the ground while a busboy Juan Romero who holds him and tries to comfort him was bone chilling. An interview with him 35 years later is worth reading.
Newsweek’s publication which came out on Dec. 19th. A very hard magazine to look through. It was very graphic and it was the first time I have ever seen anything so graphic of that tragic day in any publication. It’s hard for me to even look at the photos in this issue. While other publications were black and white, Newsweek’s photos were in color.