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35th President of the United States
Tenure
Appointments
Presidential campaign Assassination and legacy
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This is a list of dignitaries at the state funeral of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, and his state funeral took place on November 25, 1963, in Washington, D.C.
As President Kennedy lay in state, foreign dignitaries—including heads of state and government and members of royal families—started to arrive in Washington to attend the state funeral on Monday.[1] Secretary of State Dean Rusk and other State Department personnel went to both of Washington's commercial airports to personally greet foreign dignitaries.[1][2][3]
With so many foreign dignitaires attending the funeral, some law enforcement officials, including MPDC Chief Robert V. Murray, later said that it was the biggest security nightmare they ever faced.[4][5][6]
Not since the funeral of Britain's King Edward VII, in 1910, had there been such a large gathering of presidents, prime ministers, and royalty at a state funeral.[4][6][7] In all, 220 foreign dignitaries from 92 countries, five international agencies, and the papacy attended the funeral.[8][9] The dignitaries including 19 heads of state and government and members of royal families.[10] This was the largest gathering of foreign statesmen in the history of the United States.[11]
