Taking the Presidential Oath on Air Force One

November 22, 1963, stands etched in American memory as the day tragedy struck with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. Amidst the shock and grief that swept the nation, senior officials grappled with the urgent need to maintain stability in the face of chaos. With swift resolve, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was hastily sworn in as the new President aboard Air Force One, parked at Dallas’ Love Field.

The poignant photograph captured this solemn moment as Johnson, flanked by his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, and the grieving First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, stepped into the daunting role thrust upon him by fate. In the wake of a devastating loss, the nation looked to its new leader, finding solace in the seamless transition of power amid profound sorrow.