President Kennedy is assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas while riding in a motorcade with Gov. John Connally of Texas, who is also wounded. Vice President Johnson is sworn in as president. Lee Harvey Oswald, presumed assassin, is held in police custody and subsequently murdered by nightclub owner Jack Ruby. A special commission, headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren, is named by President Johnson to investigate.

Elsewhere that year:

• The Supreme Court rules that states must provide free legal counsel for all defendants in criminal cases.
• Civil rights demonstrations occur across the United States. Dr. Martin Luther King leads a massive march on Washington in support of equal rights for blacks and delivers his famous “I have a dream…” speech.
• Popular television shows include The Twilight Zone, Mr. Ed, Gunsmoke, Leave it to Beaver, Perry Mason, The Beverly Hillbillies and The Dick van Dyke Show.
• A British group — the Beatles — dominates England’s pop music charts with hits such as ‘Please, Please Me’ and ‘Love Me, Do’.
• Polaroid introduces color film.
• Color TV is relayed via satellite for the first time.
• The Catholic Church approves the use of vernacular languages — such as English in the United States — in place of Latin for parts of the Mass and for the sacraments.