Kiker was born in Griffin , Georgia . He first gained national attention for his book " The Southerner , " published in 1957 and followed by " Strangers on the Shore " . Later , he became director of information for the Peace Corps , serving from 1961 until 1963 . He left the government and became a reporter for the '' New York Herald Tribune '' newspaper and in his first week on the job rode in the press bus in the motorcade of President John F. Kennedy when Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas , Texas . By 1966 , NBC News had taken notice of his varied background and hired him as a correspondent . He would remain with that network for the rest of his life
assassinated
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Douglas Kiker