The Question is, “Where were you on November 22, 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated?

Let’s turn the clock back to the spring of 1958. I was at the University of Alabama. The month was March. I was getting ready to play baseball and graduate in June. I was on a roll, but the man upstairs changed all that. I came down with food poisoning and after a stay at Tuscaloosa Hospital I was on my way back to Metuchen.

John F. Kennedy was a State Senator from 1952 – 1960. He came to speak in N.J. in 1958. His Motorcade passed by our house on Amboy Avenue. My Mother was so excited so I went out with her to see him pass by. They had to stop for a few minutes as they ap- proached Main Street. When the Motorcade stopped, my Mother went over to his open car, gave him a handshake and a kiss. She also said, “This is my son, Tommy.” J.F.K. gave me a wave and I said, “Hi,” with my wave back.

I graduated from Alabama in January 1959 and Kennedy became president in 1960. Madison Township (Now Old Bridge) hired me as a teacher in September of 1959.

I usually would spend much of my free time during the summers up on Cape Cod. On an early summer morning back in 1961, I was going to get my newspaper. Coming out of the store with his newspaper was President Kennedy. He said, “Hi, Tom.” I have no idea what I said back to him. I know I answered. My memory is pretty good, but I don’t meet housands of people.

Where was I on November 22, 1963? I was teaching and in my third year at Madison Twp. (Old Bridge).

I was assigned to teach at a two room schoolhouse off of Rt. 18. We had a third and fourth grade. One bathroom and one black and white T.V. Our hours were 89 a.m. till noon. Third Grade was using the T.V. At about 11 a.m. the other teacher came rushing to my room and said, “The President has been shot.” We put both classes together and watched the news until it was time to go home. I drove home and had to face my Mom. She was very upset and crying. I had to be alone that night so I went to a bar on Main Street. Was a real bad experience for me and our Country.

-Thomas Francis Clark