What were JFK's final words?

Asked by: Fannie Stokes Jr.  |  Last update: July 12, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (5 votes)

Kennedy answered, “No, sir, I'm, uh, actually I'm heading a little, uh, north of it, uh, eastbound.” After the tower controller instructed Kennedy to “make it a right downwind departure then,” Kennedy responded, “Right downwind departure two two.” Those were his final recorded words.

What did JFK say right before he died?

“You certainly can't say that the people of Dallas haven't given you a nice welcome,” Nellie Connally had just remarked to the president, referring to the huge, adoring crowd. A split second before the shots rang out, JFK's last words were an answer to that observation: “No, you certainly can't.”

Who was Jackie Kennedy's lover?

Maurice Tempelsman was the longtime companion and last love of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, living with her from roughly 1980 until her death in 1994. A Belgian-American diamond merchant, Tempelsman was considered her devoted partner who provided companionship and stability in her final years.

Why was Kennedy's casket dropped in the ocean?

President Kennedy's original casket—used to transport his body from Dallas to Washington—was intentionally dumped in the Atlantic Ocean in 1966 to prevent it from becoming a morbid, commercialized relic for "sensation seekers". The Kennedy family requested the disposal, and officials wanted to avoid public exhibition of the damaged item.

How long did Bobby Kennedy live after being shot?

Robert F. Kennedy lived for approximately 25 to 26 hours after being shot. He was shot just after midnight on June 5, 1968, and passed away at 1:44 a.m. PDT on June 6, 1968, at the age of 42.

JFK Final Words

22 related questions found

Why did Jackie Kennedy climb on the back of the car when JFK was shot?

Jacqueline Kennedy climbed onto the back of the limousine following the shooting of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in a state of shock to retrieve fragments of her husband’s skull. She was attempting to gather the material that had exploded from his head onto the rear of the car.

How did RFK get brain worms?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely contracted a parasitic brain worm, identified as a pork tapeworm larva (Taenia solium), through ingestion of food or water contaminated with microscopic eggs while traveling in Asia, Africa, or South America. This condition, known as neurocysticercosis, occurs when tapeworm larvae leave the intestines and form cysts in the brain.

Did they ever find JFK Jr. remains?

Yes, search and recovery teams successfully found the remains of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and his sister-in-law Lauren Bessette. On July 21, 1999, Navy divers located the aircraft fuselage and the victims' bodies in 116 feet of water, approximately 7.57.57.5 miles off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Autopsies concluded that all three died upon impact.

What was Kennedy's venereal disease?

In 1947 he was diagnosed with Addison's disease, a condition of the adrenal glands. He also suffered from chronic and painful prostatitis, which may have resulted from "a possible sexual encounter in college," Dallek's rather oblique reference to the gonorrhea-like venereal disease that plagued Kennedy till his death.

What is left in a casket after 10 years?

After 10 years, a casket typically holds primarily skeletal remains, teeth, and hair, as the body has undergone significant decomposition. Depending on moisture and burial conditions, you might also find residual grave wax (adipocere), remnants of clothing fibers, and dried skin or sinew.

Who did Jackie Kennedy love the most?

Based on her life story, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis loved her children, Caroline and John Jr., the most, prioritizing their safety and privacy above all. Regarding romantic love, her longest and most peaceful relationship was with her final companion, Maurice Tempelsman, while her marriage to JFK was her most iconic, yet often tumultuous.

Why did Mamie Eisenhower dislike Jackie Kennedy?

Mamie Eisenhower disliked Jackie Kennedy primarily due to political rivalry, generational differences, and a clash of personalities during the 1960–1961 transition. Mamie favored Richard Nixon and felt the youthful, sophisticated Kennedy family represented a sharp, undesirable contrast to her own, more traditional, and "lived-in" style as First Lady.

Why was there blood on Jackie's dress?

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was wearing a pink suit that was styled in the fashion of Chanel when her husband, U.S. president John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. She insisted on wearing the suit, stained with his blood, during the swearing-in of Lyndon B.

Was Jackie Kennedy a smoker?

Yes, Jackie Kennedy was a heavy smoker for most of her adult life, smoking up to three packs a day for over 40 years. She kept her habit private, often avoiding being photographed with a cigarette to maintain her public image of elegance, though she did smoke during her pregnancies.

What was President Kennedy's favorite song?

John F. Kennedy’s favorite song was generally considered to be "September Song," famously sung by Walter Huston. He was also known for his deep fondness for the Broadway musical Camelot (specifically the title song and "If Ever I Should Leave You") and the song "I Believe in You" from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Did JFK Jr. know he was dying?

Kennedy, Jr., knew that his plane was crashing on July 16, 1999. He sent out no distress calls, and his plane did not have a black box, which would have recorded the cockpit audio and other flight information. According to the NTSB investigation, about an hour into the flight Kennedy became spatially disoriented.

Was JFK a heavy smoker?

Although a true aficionado, JFK was never a dedicated smoker in the Churchillian sense, which may be why the small, slim panatelas that he favored were never renamed "Kennedys." He would usually puff one for a while, then set it down, unfinished and forgotten, while he became engrossed in conversation or in his dinner ...

Did John F. Kennedy have gonorrhea?

Based on historical accounts and medical records, John F. Kennedy struggled with chronic urologic issues, including infections identified by doctors at the time as gonorrhea or resulting from it. Sources indicate he suffered from urethritis and prostatitis, potentially contracted in his youth, which plagued him throughout his life.

What famous people died of STDs?

Several prominent celebrities and historic figures have died from complications related to STDs, primarily HIV/AIDS and syphilis. Notable individuals who died of AIDS-related complications include singer Freddie Mercury (1991), actor Rock Hudson (1985), entertainer Liberace (1987), and artist Keith Haring (1990).

How long was JFK alive after getting shot?

President John F. Kennedy was shot at approximately 12:30 p.m. CST on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. He was pronounced dead at 1:00 p.m. CST at Parkland Memorial Hospital, making the time from the fatal shot to his official pronouncement exactly 30 minutes.

Did JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette actually love each other?

Yes, John F. Kennedy Jr. was deeply in love with Carolyn Bessette, with friends describing him as "obsessed" from the moment they met in 1992. While their marriage was intense and rocky—marked by paparazzi pressure and arguments—they were described as passionate, "love hard, fight hard" partners who were very much in love and in counseling to make it work until their tragic deaths in 1999.

Were any bodies recovered from flight 592?

Yes, human remains were recovered from the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Florida Everglades on May 11, 1996, but no intact bodies were found. Due to the high-speed, violent impact and the swamp environment, remains were severely fragmented, and searchers primarily found small fragments rather than whole victims.

What's the worst parasite a human can get?

The deadliest human parasite is Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba), causing >97% fatality via Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) from warm freshwater entering the nose. The most devastating in sheer numbers is Malaria (Plasmodium), killing ~600,000 annually, while Schistosomiasis is the second deadliest, infecting 200M+.

Did RFK Jr pass the bar exam?

Yes, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) passed the bar exam and was admitted to the New York State bar in 1985. He initially failed the bar exam in 1983 while working as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, but passed on a subsequent attempt.

How long has Cheryl Hines been married to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?

Marriage to Robert F.

The couple announced their engagement in April 2014 and married on August 2, 2014, at the Kennedy Compound on Cape Cod. In June 2019, Hines accompanied Kennedy on a trip to Samoa where they were special guests at the country's 57th Independence Celebration in Mulinu'u.