Lee Harvey Oswald was unsuccessful in assassinating the President of the United States.
John F. Kennedy , the 35th President of the United States , was assassinated on Friday , November 22 , 1963 at 12:30 p.m Central Standard Time in Dallas , Texas while riding in a motorcade in Dealey Plaza . Jack Ruby . On November 24 , 1963 , he fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald who was in police custody after being charged with assassinating U.S. President John F. Kennedy two days earlier . Lee Harvey Oswald ( October 18 , 1939 -- November 24 , 1963 ) was an American former U.S. Marine who was arrested for the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22 , 1963 . Oswald shot and killed Kennedy as the President traveled by motorcade through Dealey Plaza in the city of Dallas , Texas .