Where I Was 40 Years Ago (a radio story)

[Donna Halper]

On another list, we were asked where we were when Kennedy was shot, and 
this was my reply:

I was at Roslindale High School, where I was doing what I normally did-- 
trying to listen to the radio whenever my classes got too boring.  Even 
then, I loved radio and got into trouble more than once for sneaking in my 
transistor to listen to sports (I loved baseball) or listen to the top 40 
stations. I hid the little earpiece and hoped nobody would notice, but 
alas, they sometimes did, which is another story for another time.   I was 
not listening at the moment when Kennedy was shot, but I did have my radio 
with me-- something I had been told not to do by the principal,  so when he 
poked his head into my civics class, and called my name, I figured I was in 
trouble again.  His name was Dr O'Leary (I never figured out what he was a 
doctor of...) and he said "Donna, do you have your radio with 
you?"  Figuring I was about to get suspended, I said I didn't.  He said, "I 
just got a phone call that the president may have been shot and I need 
somebody with a radio."  Once I realised I wasn't in trouble, I admitted I 
did have it with me and took it out.  I don't recall what station I 
listened to (my guess is WHDH, which is what my parents listened to), but I 
do recall that I was the one who confirmed for everyone the terrible news 
that yes, it was no rumour; the president really had been shot.  And so 
much changed for all of us after that.