Watch CBS News

Bob Schieffer Remembers The Kennedy Assassination 50 Years Later

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio1020 KDKA) - Fifty Years ago today the country was full of emotions as news broke about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

CBS Evening News's Bob Schieffer told KDKA's Joe DeStio about his story.

He was working as an overnight police reporter at the time and was asleep when the president was shot.

"I slept through all of that, my brother rushed in and told me to get to work, President Kennedy has been shot," he said.

Schieffer told DeStio he did as he brother told and when he got to work, his day became more interesting after a phone call from a woman who wanted a ride.

"She asked if someone could take her to Dallas, I told her 'lady we aren't running a taxi service here,'" he said, "Then she continued to tell me that she believes her son was the one they were saying shot the President."

Just like that, a story landed right in his lap, he had Lee Harvey Oswald, the mother of the man who shot the President, in the car with him.

He said he walked through the police station with her, trying to get the chance to talk to Oswald, until someone realized he wasn't a cop and didn't belong there.

"It was the biggest interview I almost got to do," he said.

You can hear the whole interview with Schieffer below:

Bob Schieffer Remembers the Kennedy Assassination

You can also listen to the Afternoon News with Bill Rehkopf weekdays 3 -7pm.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.