On the afternoon of November 22, 1963, I was in the library at Georgetown University Law School when I learned that President Kennedy had been shot.
That was 50 years ago today, but for my wife Marcelle and me, that tragic day is as vivid in our minds as if it were yesterday.
I recently sat down with Witnify, which, in conjunction with the Washington Post, compiled a series of reflections about this sad chapter in our nation's history. I recorded a short video about Marcelle's and my experience in Washington during those dark days 50 years ago, and I wanted to share it with you:
I hope you'll take a moment today not only to reflect on the tragedy of that day 50 years ago, but also on the lasting legacy of a young, visionary leader.
To many people in my generation and the generations that have followed, John F. Kennedy's election was a watershed moment -- the opening of a new American frontier, full of possibility and optimism. His vision and life, tragically cut short on that November day in Dallas, were the basis for so much positive change and inspiration.
Fifty years have passed since his death, but the ideals President Kennedy strived for still animate the work of those who are called to public service. So as we remember his life today, I hope you'll join me and recommit to the spirit of possibility and optimism that he embodied -- that is so uniquely American -- and which still calls on us to work together to realize a better future for us all.