Herbert Gordon: 99 minutes after President Kennedy was pronounced dead, Lyndon Baines Johnson took the oath of office. Mrs. Kennedy stood solemnly on his left as he swore to uphold the constitution, and somehow in the hectic movements of that brief ceremony, aboard Air Force 1, the historical event was recorded like this.
Sarah T. Hughes: I do solemnly swear --
Lyndon B. Johnson: I do solemnly swear --
Sarah T. Hughes: That I will faithfully execute --
Lyndon B. Johnson: That I will faithfully execute --
Sarah T. Hughes: The office of President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson: The office of President of the United States
Sarah T. Hughes: And will to the best of my ability
Lyndon B. Johnson: And will to the best of my ability
Sarah T. Hughes: Preserve
Lyndon B. Johnson: Preserve
Sarah T. Hughes: Protect
Lyndon B. Johnson: Protect
Sarah T. Hughes: And defend the Constitution of the United States.
Sarah T. Hughes: And defend the Constitution of the United States.
Herbert Gordon: Immediately after taking the oak Lyndon B. Johnson said simply. “now let's get air bound,” and the 36th President of the United States was headed towards the White House, but in Dallas the tragedy of violence and death continued, on stage front and center.
