The plan for the Presidential parade did not include the sharp crack of a rifle, or the explosive reports of other weapons being fired, which reverberated off the surrounding buildings.
“What the... what was that?” Someone in the press car asked.
The first indication that there was a problem were the birds - pigeons, to be precise, gathered on the rooftop at the corner of Houston and Elm Streets. The building was the Texas School Book Depository. The birds suddenly fluttered into the midday sky. What startled them? Nature’s tiny creatures seemly had a gift. What was it called? A... a... sixth sense, yes that’s the phrase “a sixth sense.” Those tiny creatures seemed to sense the impending disaster just before it occurred. Was that the case here?
Had someone arrived on the roof of one of those buildings? What caused the alarm to the birds? At almost the precise instant, the birds took flight, or maybe a fraction after, a loud noise was heard - perhaps it was a car backfire? No... it could be the muffler discharge from one of the dozens of Harley Davidson police motorcycles. These ‘cycles were slowly maneuvering down the street. The distinctive “potato”, “potato”, “potato”, rhythmic exhaust sound of their two syrup bucket size pistons created a noise only a seventy-four cubic inch Harley two-cylinder engine could make. A firecracker? Who would be crazy enough to set off fireworks in this crowd? But what was that explosive report? A different description depends on which witnesses were describing the noises they heard.
About the only thing, most of the eyewitnesses agree on was the first shot. It occurred just after the presidential limousine made its final momentous left turn onto Elm Street off Houston. In slightly less than 300 feet, the way Americans view their government forever would change. No longer would Washington be trusted. No longer would officials be trusted, and no longer would the word conspiracy be considered a theory.
There was a slight drop in elevation as Elm continued downward toward the triple overpass. At this crossroad of history, there would be a large drop in the prestige of our U.S. government too.
As Abraham Zapruder’s movie film slowly clicked off the frame by frame advancement of the president’s limousine... 310... 311... 312...and then at exactly frame number 313 the first shot occurred. What was heard? No one knows, the first shot was not recorded on Mr. Zapruder’s silent slice of historical film. The sound of the rifle shots are still a tremendous matter of speculation: how many, from which direction and what were they fired from? The only ones that might have an idea would be the SCAR team that first witnessed the film, with full sound, in Cambodia, but one thing is known for certain.
The time was exactly 12:30, Friday November 22, 1963.
Chapter Ten
12:30 P.M., FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22, 1963
DALLAS, TEXAS
The time was 12:30 on the dot. No one looked at a watch to validate the exact time. The hour later would be verified by photographs of the large Hertz time clock on the roof of the School Book Depository building. The events transpired so fast it left no time for witnesses to glance at their watches. They could not remove their eyes from the grisly scene being played out in front of them; however, later a number of witnesses said it appeared as though things moved in slow motion. Noises, voices, motorcycle exhausts seemed garbled, and as they looked back on the events, movement of others was comical. It was as if they watched a movie set on slow speed. Those few seconds felt like hours.
Special Agent (SA) Clint Hill stood on the left running board of the Secret Service’s follow car, which was directly behind the President’s limo, heard what he first thought was a firecracker. Security protocol required him to act. He jumped from his position and immediately ran and threw himself on the rear trunk of the limousine.
He spread his body onto the trunk, trying to use his body to provide, as much protection to the President, Mrs. Kennedy and the Connally’s as possible when the second shot rang out. Many days later Agent Hill would state he could not tell from which direction the sounds seemed to come from. Others say it was from his right and to the rear.
This statement had to be taken many days later since the second rifle shot that echoed through the recesses of the Dealy Plaza complex hit Agent Hill about four inches below his right shoulder blade, passed through his upper torso and struck the President about six inches below his right shoulder. Pictures released by dozens of amateur and professionals later would show the President reaching for his throat, but doctors who have examined these pictures say this was merely a reactionary movement caused by the bullet hitting the President’s right lung. The movement to the throat was an indication he had trouble breathing. It was like he had the breath knocked out of him. That is an understatement! The bullet then exited the President’s body and struck Governor Connally in his back.
The First Lady had turned to her right and was attempting to look back to see the source of the explosive noise. At first she did not realize it was a gunshot. She too, like Agent Hill, surmised it was a firecracker. As she turned she saw SA Hill jumping on the rear of her automobile, and out of instinct she jumped from her rear seat and extended her arm in an attempt to help him get into the automobile.
As the bullet tore through Hill’s body - blood, flesh and bone was strewn over the automobile and onto Elm Street. Mrs. Kennedy’s beautiful pink dress now almost matched the exquisite bouquet of ruby red roses she had dropped onto the limousine’s floor. Fortunately, she was not injured; however, to those witnessing the event, some as close as a mere few feet, would think she must surely be wounded due to the large amount of blood covering her lovely pink outfit. Within seconds, another shot rang out - from where - who knew - even today it is a matter of speculation. Then a third shot was fired. This third shot struck a glancing blow off the right side of the President’s head missing Agent Hill and did not injure the First Lady. An instant or two earlier the Governor and Mrs. Connally had glanced to their right, as did the First Lady and the President. Did they hear a shot from the right? Or were they reacting to the first shot, which obviously missed. Is this the bullet that struck the curb and injured James Teague’s cheek? Could they have heard the thud of the bullet as it caromed off the concrete?
The bewilderment was tremendous as exhibited by the deposition given to the Dallas Police Department: “Before me, the undersigned authority, on this the 22nd day of November A.D. 1963 personally appeared William Eugene Newman, Address: 1115 W. Robin Lane, Dallas, Texas, Age 28, Phone No. DK 6-3172. Deposes and says:
“Today at about 12:25 p.m., I was standing in a group of people on Elm Street near the west end of the concrete standard when the President's car turned left off Houston Street onto Elm Street. We were standing at the edge of the curb looking at the car as it was coming toward us, and all of a sudden there was a noise, apparently gunshot [sic]. The President jumped up in his seat, and it looked like what I thought was a firecracker had went off, and I thought he had realized it. It was just like an explosion, and he was standing up. By this time, he was directly in front of us, and I was looking directly at him when he was hit in the side of the head. Then he fell back, and Governor Connally was holding his middle section. Then we fell down on the grass, as it seemed we were in the direct path of fire. It looked as if Mrs. Kennedy had jumped on top of the President. He kinda [sic] fell back, and it looked as if she were holding him. Then the car sped away, and everybody in that area had run upon top of that grassy mound. I thought the shot had come from the garden directly behind me that it was on an elevation from where I was as I was right on the curb. I do not recall looking toward the Texas School Book Depository. I looked back in the vacinity [sic] of the garden.”
/s/ William E. Newhouse, Jr.
Subscribed and sworn to before me on this the 22nd day of Nov A. D. 1963
/s/ D. K. Osmand, Notary Public, Dallas County, Texas”
Hundreds of people were assembled in the area known as Dealy Plaza on that day many of them gave detailed reports to the FBI, the Dallas Police and later to the Warren
Commission on what exactly they saw. The accounts are as varied as the number of people who recounted them. Some tell of shots coming from the Texas School Book Depository building. Which floor? That becomes confusing too. Which window? Again not a resounding definitive conclusion, but the Grassy Knoll - less we forget this small strip of nature’s botanical beauty. Shots seem to have emanated from all around that vicinity - from behind the stonewall, behind the fence, in the bushes - stories with smoke in the air, men with guns running to a fro. Assassins dressed as policemen, or as he was referred to - the ‘badge man’. People with badges thought to be Secret Service agents when no agents were assigned to the area. Ask one person and get one answer, ask ten and you will get ten. There was no consensus - the only fact known for sure was the fact nothing was known for sure.
Later Agent Hill would make his official statement as to his part in the day’s events. Some of his comments are as follows: “The motorcade made a right hand turn onto Elm Street. I was on the forward portion of the left running board of the follow-up car. The motorcade made a left hand turn from Elm Street toward the overpass. We were traveling about twelve to fifteen miles per hour. On the left hand side, was a grassy area with a few people scattered along it observing the motorcade passing and I was visually scanning these people when I heard a noise similar to a firecracker. The sound came from my right rear, and I immediately moved my head in that direction. In so doing, my eyes had to cross the Presidential automobile, and I saw the President was still sitting upright and appeared unhurt. I jumped from the follow-up car and ran toward the Presidential automobile. As I jumped onto the left rear step of the Presidential automobile, Mrs. Kennedy shouted, “Give me your hand.” I had barely mounted the rear trunk when I heard a second firecracker type noise, but it had a different sound-- like the sound of shooting a revolver into something hard. I saw the President slump more toward his left.
I forced Mrs. Kennedy back into her seat and placed my body above the President and Mrs. Kennedy. At the time, I had not realized that I had been shot; neither did I realize that the President had also been wounded. Special Agent Green had as I jumped onto the Presidential automobile, accelerated the Presidential automobile forward. I heard Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge (ASAIC) Kellerman call Special Agent Lawson on the two-way radio and say, "To the nearest hospital, quick." I shouted as loud as I could at the lead car, "Head to the hospital, to the hospital!"
As I lay over the top of the back seat I noticed the President's head on the right rear side was bleeding profusely. Part of his hair was gone. I saw a portion of his scalp with hair on it lying in the back seat. The time of the shooting was approximately 12:30 p.m., Dallas time. I looked forward to the jump seats, and noticed Governor Connally's chest was covered with blood, and he was slumped to his left and partially covered up by his wife. I had not realized until this point that the Governor had been shot.
When we arrived at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, I... I’m sorry, but all that took place at the Hospital is still a blur. Most of what happened to me was related to me by others. I just cannot remember all the details. I know they removed the President from the automobile, and covered the President's upper chest with my suit jacket. I understand ASAIC Kellerman assisted in removing the President from the back seat of the automobile onto a wheeled stretcher and accompanied the President and Mrs. Kennedy into the Emergency Room. Governor Connally had been placed in an Emergency Room across the hall.
I was taken into the Emergency Room almost immediately and do remember the large number of doctors and nurses in the room, which was quite small. Kellerman asked a nurse to make sure all the other hospital people except the necessary medical personnel working in the emergency room, please return to their normal duties. She immediately began checking the medical staff members. I’m sorry, but the rest of my statement has been told to me. I do not remember much of the rest of the day.
ASAIC Kellerman left the Emergency Room to get in touch with the White House and was going to ask them to make sure to keep the line open at all times. I was told he asked Special Agent Lawson for the telephone number of the switchboard in Dallas that had contact with the White House and he gave it to him. He dialed the Dallas contact number and told her to connect him with the White House in Washington, and to keep this line open continuously. He did so.
ASAIC Kellerman came out of the Emergency Room again and took the telephone and asked for SAIC Gerald A. Behn, Secret Service, The White House, Washington, D.C. This was approximately 12:39 p.m. Kellerman told Behn that there had been a double tragedy; that the President and Governor Connally had both been shot and that he would keep him advised. Another agent (I do not know who) took over the telephone and told Mr. Behn that the situation was extremely critical. The operator cut into the line and said The Attorney General wanted to talk to Kellerman. He asked what the situation was, and he was advised that the President had been injured very seriously and that he would keep him advised as to his condition. He said he also advised the Attorney General that I was wounded and was currently undergoing emergency surgery for a wound in my right rear shoulder. He said that my prognosis was favorable. At the time, I probably would have disagreed with him.
Mr. Kellerman came back out of the Emergency Room and made an announcement, "Agent Lawson, tell Gerry that this is not for release and not official - the President is critical, but the doctors believe he will make it." That information was told to Mr. Behn, and then requested that he immediately contact the other members of the President's family so that he could advise them of the situation rather than having them hear it over some news media.”
THE WITNESSES
Michael Thomas, standing on the triple railroad overpass just west of Dealey Plaza, had gotten there early. He had found a suitable spot; the whole of Dealey Plaza was viewable to his east including the travel route down Elm Street toward him as he stood on the train overpass. From his vantage point, he would be able to watch the motorcade travel right beneath him.
He had seen the map of the presidential parade route earlier in the Dallas Times Herald and knew this would be a perfect place to see President Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline. Thomas’s daughter Olivia, age nine and son Payton age fourteen were standing next to the concrete railing peering eastward. They were waiting for the presidential procession to turn right on Houston and then left on Elm and proceed directly underneath them.
Both kids hardly could contain their excitement at the thought of seeing The President. Not the President, thought Olivia, I want to see Jackie. Surveying the building up Elm and over on Houston Michael noticed a glint of light from the roof of the Texas State Book Depository. Good, he thought. Secret Service men are on the roof doing their job. Those guys certainly know their business. Michael’s wife, a schoolteacher was supposed to meet them there, but she was late. I hope she hurries, or she going to miss seeing the President, Mike thought. The Presidential parade had turned from Houston and was headed straight toward Michael, Payton and Olivia. The lead car was almost directly below them.
No sooner than that thought crossed his mind, Michael was startled by a boom... yes, that’s his description ‘a boom’. Where did it come from? His first thought was from the roof of the Texas State Book Building. He could see the birds fluttering as if disturbed by the noise.
A millisecond or two passed as another shot sounded almost simultaneously from his left toward the area of the picket fence and the grassy area. A couple of seconds later a third and forth shot came from his left but further up towards the Texas School Book Depository building again. He saw one of these shots hit the curb almost immediately below where he and his two kids were standing. “Get down, get down,” he yelled to everyone on the bridge, especially to his two kids. Michael a Navy veteran, recognized gunfire, “Someone is shooting!” All three huddled behind the concrete barrier at the railroad overpass edge. Michael poked his head up... he had to... his Navy training took over. He had to see what was going on.
Directly below and in front him on Elm Street was the black Presidential convertible - he could look almost straight down into its gory interior. The President was lying over in the First Lady’s lap. He saw the blood... blood was everywhere... Jackie’s charming pink outfit covered in dark red blood. Governor Connolly was leaning over supported by his wife. Someone was stretched out on the trunk... What was he trying to do? Was he the shooter trying to get into the limousine? Why were all the people running up the grassy hill? And all the people lying on the grass - had they been shot or wounded?’ All those things bounced through his head, so fast he couldn’t think of one answer before another question arose. And standing to the left of the black convertible... what was that? Everyone was running or lying on the grass, but this one small man... he... he... didn’t move. He seemed to be frozen... no... wait a second he moved... he was opening and closing an umbrella.
What, Michael thought, am I going crazy? Let me look again, as he peered again over the concrete barrier of the bridge. Sure enough the diminutive person was still standing on the north side of Elm Street watching the presidential limousine speed away toward the triple overpass. Had he not just witnessed the President of the United States being shot right in front of his eyes, no more than a few feet to his front? If the situation had not been so serious, Michael thought to himself, this could be real funny, a pint-sized man standing opening and shutting an umbrella on a clear, cloudless November Texas day as he watched a presidential parade. Was this actually a man or could it have been a boy? This was a man, Michael reasoned. About this time, Mike noticed a man in a tan overcoat come around the western end of the Texas School Book building and get into a light brown Nash Rambler station wagon. As the station wagon drove by the slightly built man with the umbrella he pointed his finger, and opened and shut the umbrella again. Is that an arm waving out of the passenger’s side window? It appears someone is waving at the undersized man. What the... Mike thought?
Justification For Killing Page 9