The assassination of John F. Kennedy, a watershed moment in American history, has been a wellspring for an entire genre of creative expression. Spanning documentaries, films, television series, literature, and music, the event has sparked more conspiracy theories than could ever be meticulously cataloged. Touched by the imaginative hands of giants such as J.J. Abrams and Stephen King, it’s been twisted into science fiction narratives, analyzed from every conceivable angle by filmmakers like Oliver Stone, and reimagined in alternate histories, including those where even the Doctor from “Doctor Who” grapples with the haunting question: “What if?”
As we reached the 50th anniversary of that national tragedy in 2013, National Geographic stepped forward with “JFK: One Day in America,” a series imbued with the gravitas of a docudrama, inspired by Bill O’Reilly’s “Killing Kennedy.” Rob Lowe’s portrayal of JFK brought the charismatic president’s larger-than-life legend back into the spotlight, a testament to the enduring legacy of a leader whose influence persists in contemporary politics, albeit with complex connotations.
Yet, for all the talents that actors like Lowe bring to the screen, the abundance of these retellings suggests a growing emotional detachment from the raw heartache that enveloped the nation on November 22, 1963.
Now, six decades removed, the cultural fixation on Kennedy’s tale often glosses over the profound human element of those directly impacted. In contrast, “JFK: One Day in America” endeavors to reclaim some of that humanity across its three-hour narrative. This emotional reclamation echoes the narrative approach seen in NatGeo’s earlier project, “9/11: One Day in America.” Although condensed into a single evening’s three-part series, it lacks none of the emotional depth, drawing from an extensive collection of photographs and films courtesy of a collaboration with The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, now shown in vivid, colorized detail.
Unlike the 9/11 series, which had a multitude of voices from survivors and first responders, the firsthand witnesses to Kennedy’s assassination are far fewer today. Yet, those who remain share their experiences with a palpable intensity that time has not diminished. Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who once shielded Jackie Kennedy and now at 91, poignantly expresses a lingering sense of guilt for not being “faster than a speeding bullet.”
This series strives to narrow the temporal gap with intimate perspectives like Hill’s and those of Sid Davis, the Westinghouse White House Correspondent who was on the scene that day. The narrative is not from the Kennedys themselves but from professionals who were close enough to bear personal witness to the horror.
The series begins with an episode that weaves the reflections of Davis, Hill, and fellow agent Paul Landis. Their memories are a testament to the sheer emotional magnitude of the events as they unfolded, with the editorial team applying meticulous colorization to the archival footage, injecting life into the pre-assassination scenes and a respectful solemnity post-tragedy.
NatGeo’s series does more than just retell a historical event; it offers an elegiac journey through the collective mourning of a nation. It contemplates the loss of innocence and the shattering of an unspoken societal pact, reminding viewers of the enormity of the tragedy through an intimate, human lens.
The subsequent episodes, “Manhunt” and “Revenge,” delve into the frantic search for Lee Harvey Oswald and the piecing together of his motives, broadening the narrative to encompass the lives touched by Oswald’s actions, such as the Dallas policeman J.D. Tippit.
While the series may tread over familiar ground for those steeped in Kennedy lore, its fresh approach and cinematic finesse afford a closer connection to the individuals who lived through the ordeal. The production uniquely captures the witnesses in contemplation, set against their narratives, compelling viewers to confront the enduring impact of the tragedy.
“JFK: One Day in America” premieres at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, with the series streaming on Disney+ and Hulu starting on Monday, Nov. 6. This production stands as a rare opportunity for audiences to immerse themselves authentically in a pivotal chapter of American history, free from the distorting effects of time and dramatization.