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Why JFK's Casket Stayed Closed

Caitlin Doughty・28 minutes read

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963, with his wife Jackie displaying unwavering determination and protectiveness during the chaotic aftermath of his death. Despite various challenges and controversies surrounding the handling of his remains, Kennedy's body was eventually embalmed, reconstructed, and buried at sea as he had wished.

Insights

  • Despite Jackie Kennedy's initial insistence on an open casket, she ultimately decided to keep President Kennedy's casket closed after seeing the embalmed and reconstructed body, allowing only herself and Robert Kennedy a final moment with him before burial.
  • The process of handling President Kennedy's remains involved significant challenges, including concerns about fluid leakage, a standoff over an autopsy, and difficulties loading the casket onto Air Force One, culminating in the casket being pushed into the Atlantic Ocean in 1966 to fulfill Kennedy's wish for burial at sea.

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Recent questions

  • How did President Kennedy die?

    He was shot in Dallas in 1963.

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Summary

00:00

Tragic Events Surrounding JFK's Assassination in Dallas

  • President John F. Kennedy was in Dallas for a campaign tour on November 22nd, 1963, when shots were fired at his motorcade.
  • Kennedy was hit by two bullets, one in the throat and another in the back of his head, leading to chaos and his limousine rushing to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
  • Despite efforts to save him, Kennedy was declared dead at 1:00 pm, with his wife Jackie Kennedy exhibiting unwavering protectiveness and determination.
  • The trauma room at Parkland was filled with medical personnel trying to save Kennedy, with Chief neurosurgeon William Kemp Clark informing Jackie of her husband's fatal wound.
  • Jackie Kennedy insisted on being present as Kennedy passed away, defying hospital policy and receiving support from Kennedy's personal physician.
  • After Kennedy's death, a Catholic priest administered the last rites, and Jackie sat silently outside the trauma room, acknowledging condolences.
  • The process of getting Kennedy's remains out of Dallas involved selecting an expensive casket, the Elgin Casket Company's Handley Brittania, despite its impracticality for transport.
  • Concerns arose about Kennedy's severe wounds leaking fluid in the casket, leading to staff lining it with plastic and rubber bags to contain the remains.
  • Dr. Earl Rose, the Dallas county medical examiner, demanded an autopsy, causing a standoff over the body's transport, eventually resolved by the Secret Service and Kennedy's associates.
  • President Kennedy's body was finally on its way to Love Field, with funeral director Vernon O'Neal facing unexpected circumstances and not accompanying the body, arriving at the airport later to retrieve his hearse.

14:55

Kennedy's Casket Loading Drama on Air Force One

  • Kennedy's men struggled to remove the casket from the hearse and load it onto Air Force One, causing damage in the process.
  • Despite their lack of experience, Kennedy's team managed to load the casket onto the plane at 2:20 pm.
  • The atmosphere on Air Force One was somber and tense, with conflicting opinions on when to depart.
  • Judge Sarah T. Hughes arrived at 2:28 pm to swear in Vice President Johnson as the new president.
  • Jackie Kennedy insisted on an ambulance, not a hearse, to transport Kennedy's remains to Bethesda Naval Hospital.
  • Jackie's trust in Agent William Greer, who drove the car during the assassination, touched many.
  • Robert Kennedy arrived at Andrews Air Force Base at 6:00 pm, showing similarities to his late brother.
  • Issues arose when the casket had to be lowered from Air Force One due to a lift that was too short.
  • Despite Jackie and Robert Kennedy's wishes, a funeral director was eventually involved in handling Kennedy's remains.
  • Jessica Mitford's book criticizing the funeral industry influenced the Kennedy family's decisions during this time.

29:22

President Kennedy's Casket: A Costly Reconstruction

  • The total cost of the casket was $3,160, different from what Robert had requested.
  • Gawler's brought the casket to Bethesda for embalming and reconstruction supervised by Joe Gawler's Chief Assistant Joe Hagen.
  • The team worked until 4:00 am to fill and rebuild President Kennedy's missing skull and brain with cotton and plaster, concerned about potential leakage.
  • Jackie did not want an open casket, but Robert Kennedy and Robert McNamara insisted it must be open for the public to see.
  • Eventually, Jackie decided to keep the casket closed after seeing the embalmed and reconstructed body, with a final opening for her and Robert to have last moments with Jack.
  • President Kennedy's casket was eventually destroyed by being pushed into the Atlantic Ocean in 1966, fulfilling his desire to be buried at sea.
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