Patrick Kelly Watergate: A Constitutional Crisis Professor Donald Fulsom Due: November 2, 2013 Sid Davis Lecture The

class we had the Monday before break was one that was beyond fascinating to hear. Sid Davis had a distinguished career at NBC as a reporter through some of the darkest days and events in American history. I found his lecture to come at the absolute most perfect time. On November 22nd, the nation marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, one of the saddest days with so many questions left unanswered to this day. I have studied Kennedy a lot. He, in my opinion, is one of the most complex Presidents this nation has ever had. While I knew a lot about what Sid Davis discussed, I could not help but feel lucky to have say through a presentation from a man who saw so much on that fateful day in Dallas on November 22, 1963. It goes without being said that individual like Sid Davis are so crucial to listen to. Ive read a lot of books on Kennedy, especially the assassination. While some of these books are absolutely exceptional in highlighting all the important facts about President Kennedy and his death, none could really capture the essence and emotion of what that day was like fifty years ago. Sid Davis was able to. First, he definitely got his start in journalism at a pretty young age. He made a joke about how he could talk for eternity and I honestly wish I could have listened to him longer. I would have loved to have heard his full story. Furthermore, I wish that I have had time to hear his perspective of on how journalism has changed. A lot of

journalist, some of whom we have listened to in this class, have seemed pretty disgusted as to the path that journalism has gone down. There is without question so many more sources to get news given the rapid rise in technology. There is also the increase of sources to get news from as well, especially with the birth of social media like Twitter. Sadly, it seems with all of these advancements, there has also been a step back in regards to journalistic integrity. Everyone is racing to get the story out as fast as possible, which sometimes greatly hinders the accuracy of a story. So where I am going with this is I wish I had the chance to ask Sid what covering something so tragic as the assassination of President would be like if there was sites like Twitter where you could literally manufacture news in one hundred forty characters with the click of button. I can imagine that honest, reliable news would get lost fairly quickly. With this can come a lack of respect for Therefore, I would be fascinated to hear what Sid Daviss perspective would be. While I felt like I had read much of what he discussed, it was beyond incredible to hear a first hand account of that information. He was in the press car which was just a few behind President Kennedys open limousine. He witnessed so much history unfold in just an hour. It must have been so confusing to have heard those three loud blasts and then to watch Secret Service Agent Clint Hill sprint toward the Presidents limo. I have always found Clint Hill to be a remarkably fascinating historical figure who I dont feel is talked about enough when that day in Dallas is discussed. He possibly saved the life of Mrs. Kennedy and obviously was the only individual who could get through to her when she was in so much shock at

Parkland Hospital. I also cant imagine he will ever forget Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn in on Air Force so soon after the President was declared dead. A lot of reporters, including the great Walter Cronkite, got visibly emotional that day as they reported the tragic news. I cant even fathom how shaken Sid Davis must have been literally witnessing that heartrending day in Dallas fifty years ago. Overall I was not too surprised about his feelings of Nixon. He really seemed to have a bad taste for the President as most in media did. Yet Nixon made no friends in the media so how can you possibly blame him? This leads me to wonder if Nixon honestly did have anyone in the media he could count on for some good press. Quite frankly, it shows how poorly his administration was run even before the Watergate burglary occurred. But his recap of what happened on November 22, 1963 is one that I will never forget. I know he spoke at the Newseum around the time of the anniversary so it truly does highlight how lucky our class is to have had him. He was by far my favorite lecture of the semester and I am glad we got a chance to hear him!