The Day Kennedy Was Shot

by Jim Bishop

  William Greer, who drove SS-100-X, has retired from the Secret Service. I visited him at his home in Maryland. His wife was ill and it was not a time to badger a man with ugly memories, but he sat and said: “Go ahead. It will take my mind off other things.” The men of Gawler’s Sons were discreet and ethical. Cliff Carter, who sat with President Johnson that night at The Elms, has a long and accurate memory.

  Father Oscar Huber would not have seen me except that he was so angry at an earlier book about the assassination. This was also true of Roy Truly and others—some of whom assert that they were listed as having been interviewed but weren’t. Father Huber, a spiritually complacent man, becomes feverishly angry when he considers an author who claims that the priest, leaving Parkland Memorial Hospital, said: “He’s dead.” “I did not!” Father Huber says, “and I wrote that guy a letter and offered to pay his airfare back to Dallas to prove it to him. He never answered my letters.”

  All of the interviews helped to add chips and bits to the research. But the 10,400,000 words of the so-called “Warren Commission Report” is and must remain the primary source of all material on the assassination. It is often repetitious and disorderly, and it required two years for me to read and annotate, but it was worth it. Two sets of the twenty-six volumes were used for cutting out affidavits and placing them in the right minute of the eighteen loose-leaf notebooks I kept on November 22, 1963.

  Others who helped to make this book as complete as time and diligence can make it are: My wife Kelly, who helped with interviews, stenographic notes, copying documents, and retyping the manuscript; my daughters Karen and Kathleen, who helped to paste notes in the proper book, sometimes placing a “2:05 P.M.” note in the “2:05 A.M.” book; Mrs. Deloris Goldaker, who typed notes off and on for four years; and Miss Millicent Harrison, who separated the originals from the four carbon copies.

  To assist the future researcher, following is a list of the sources used in researching and writing this book.

  Source Material

  Following is a list of the sources used in the researching and writing of this book.

  1. The Warren Commission Report (Condensed Version). Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964.

  2. The Editors of The New York Times and Viking Press, The Kennedy Years. New York, Viking Press, Inc., 1964.

  3. Warren Leslie, Dallas City Limit. New York, Grossman Publishers, 1964.

  4. Miami Herald; editions 1963–1968.

  5. The New York Times; editions 1963–1968.

  6. The Associated Press; 1963–1968.

  7. United Press International; 1963–1968.

  8. Pierre Salinger and Sandor Vanocur (eds.), A Tribute to John F. Kennedy. Chicago, Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc., 1964.

  9. Bill Adler (ed.), The Kennedy Wit. New York, The Citadel Press, 1964.

  10. Four Days. Compiled by United Press International and American Heritage magazine, 1964.

  11. JFK Memorial Book. Special edition. Look magazine, November 17, 1964.

  12. Paul Ballot, Memorial to Greatness. Aspen Corp., 1964.

  13. John W. Gardner, To Turn The Tide. New York, Harper & Row, 1962.

  14. Hearings Before the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, Volumes 1 through 26. Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964.

  15. John F. Kennedy, Profiles in Courage. New York, Harper & Row, 1955.

  16. G. Lieberson and J. Meyers, John Fitzgerald Kennedy . . . As We Remember Him. New York, Atheneum Press. Columbia Records, 1965.

  17. James MacGregor Burns, John Kennedy: A Political Profile. New York, Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1959.

  18. The Speeches of Senator John F. Kennedy. Presidential Campaign of 1960. Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1961.

  19. Public Papers of the Presidents of the U.S. John F. Kennedy, 1963. Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964.

  20. John Hersey, “Survival”; reprinted in Here To Stay. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1963.

  21. Jacques Lowe, Portrait: The Emergence of John F. Kennedy. New York, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1961.

  22. William Manchester, Portrait of a President. New York, Little, Brown and Company, 1962.

  23. Joseph McCarthy, The Remarkable Kennedys. New York, The Dial Press, Inc., 1960.

  24. Hugh Sidey, John F. Kennedy, President. New York, Atheneum Press, 1963.

  25. Jim Bishop, A Day in the Life of President Kennedy. New York, Random House, Inc., 1964.

  26. Anne H. Lincoln, The Kennedy White House Parties. New York, The Viking Press, Inc., 1966.

  27. NBC News Staff, Seventy Hours and Thirty Minutes. New York, Random House, Inc., 1966.

  28. Fred J. Cook, “The Warren Commission Report”: Part I, “Some Unanswered Questions”; Part II, “Testimony of the Eye Witnesses.” The Nation, 1966.

  29. Photoplay magazine; editions 1963–1968.

  30. Charles Roberts, The Truth About the Assassination. New York, Grosset & Dunlap, Inc., Publishers, 1967.

  31. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., A Thousand Days. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1965.

  32. William Manchester, Death of a President. New York, Harper & Row, 1967.

  33. Theodore C. Sorensen, Kennedy. New York, Harper & Row, 1965.

  34. Sylvia Meagher, Accessories After the Fact: The Warren Commission, The Authorities and The Report. Indianapolis, The Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1967.

  35. Jean Stafford, A Mother in History. New York, Farrar, Straus, Giroux Inc., 1965.

  36. Esquire magazine, December 1966.

  37. Richard J. Whalen, The Founding Father. New York, The New American Library, 1964.

  38. Penn Jones, Jr., Forgive My Grief. Midlothian, Texas, Midlothian Mirror, 1964.

  39. Gore Vidal, “The Holy Family.” Esquire magazine, April 1966.

  40. Inaugural Spectacle. Special edition, Life magazine, 1961.

  41. Harold W. Chase and Allen W. Lerman (eds.), Kennedy and the Press. New York, Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1965.

  42. William H. A. Carr, JFK, An Informal Biography. New York, Lancer Books Inc., 1962.

  43. Deane and David Heller, Jacqueline Kennedy. New York, Lancer Books Inc., 1962.

  44. Mark Shaw, The John F. Kennedys. New York, The Noonday Press, 1959.

  45. Arnold Bennett, Jackie, Bobby and Manchester, The Story Behind the Headlines. New York, Bee-Line Books Inc., 1967.

  46. Edward Hymoff and Phil Hirsch, The Kennedy Courage. New York, Pyramid Books, 1965.

  47. Lonnelle Aikman, The Living White House. Washington, D.C., National Geographic, 1966.

  48. Stanley P. Friedman, The Magnificent Kennedy Women. New York, Monarch Books Inc., 1964.

  49. Evelyn Lincoln, My Twelve Years with Kennedy. New York, David McKay Co. Inc., 1965.

  50. Theodore H. White, The Making of a President. New York, Atheneum House, Inc., 1961.

  51. Assassination of a President. The New York Times, special edition, 1963.

  52. Robert J. Donovan, PT 109, JFK in World War II. New York, Fawcett World Library, 1961.

  53. Paul B. Fay, Jr., The Pleasure of His Company. New York, Harper & Row, 1966.

  54. Mark Lane, Rush to Judgment. New York, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc., 1966.

  55. Ramparts, November 1966.

  56. NBC News Staff, There Was a President. New York, Random House, Inc., 1967.

  57. Time magazine; editions 1963–1968.

  58. Sylvan Fox, The Unanswered Questions About President Kennedy’s Assassination. New York, Award Books, 1965.

  59. U.S. News and World Report; editions 1963–1968.

  60. Harold Weisberg, Whitewash. New York, Dell Publishing Co., 1965.

  61. Harry A. Squires, “Will the Spell be Broken?” Southland Supplement, Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram, 1963.

  62. Lawrence Van Gelder, Why the Kennedys Lost the Book Battle. New York, Award Books, 1967.

  63. Maude Shaw, “White House Nannie.” Southern News Serv
ices Ltd., 1965.

  64. Thomas G. Buchanan, Who Killed Kennedy? New York, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1964.

  65. Pierre Salinger, With Kennedy. Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1966.

  66. Newspaper columns by Drew Pearson and Jack Anderson 1963–1968. Copyright by Bell-McClure Syndicate.

  67. Newsweek; editions 1963–1968.

  68. Articles by Peter Lisagor. Miami Herald-Chicago Daily News, 1967.

  69. Robert Oswald and Barbara Land, Lee, A Portrait of Lee Harvey Oswald. New York, Coward-McCann, Inc., 1967.

  70. Jim Matthews, Four Dark Days in History. Carmel, Calif., Special Publications Inc., 1963.

  71. Interviews by Jim Bishop.

  72. R. B. Denson (ed.), Destiny in Dallas. Dallas, Denco Corp., 1964.

  73. Josiah Thompson, Six Seconds in Dallas. New York, Bernard Geis Associates, 1967.

  74. John Connolly, “Why Kennedy Went to Texas.” Life magazine, 1967.

  75. Article by David Pearson. Miami Herald, November 22, 1967.

  76. Paul Ballot (ed.), The Thousand Days. New York, The Citadel Press, 1964.

  77. Look magazine; editions 1963–1968.

  78. Frances S. Leighton, “First Lady’s First Day.” This Week magazine, United Newspapers Magazine Corp., 1964.

  79. The Daily News; editions 1963–1968.

  80. Life magazine; editions 1963–1968.

  81. Jimmy Breslin, “Death in Emergency Room One.” The Saturday Evening Post, 1963.

  82. Radio Free Europe; transcripts 1963–1968.

  83. Mrs. John Connolly, “Since That Day in Dallas.” McCall’s magazine, 1964.

  84. Jessamyn West, “Prelude to Tragedy, The Woman Who Sheltered Lee Oswald’s Family Tells Her Story.” Redbook magazine, 1964.

  85. Dr. Renatus Hartogs and Lucy Freeman, The Two Assassins. New York, Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1965.

  86. Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1965 edition.

  87. The Warren Report. Published by Associated Press, 1965.

  88. Operating Room Nurses Journal, November 1967.

  89. Jim Bishop, A Day in the Life of President Johnson. New York, Random House, Inc., 1967.

  90. Relman Morin, Assassination. The Death of President Kennedy. A Signet Book. New York, The New American Library, 1968.

  91. Evelyn Lincoln, Kennedy & Johnson. New York, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1968.

  92. The National Archives.

  Index

  The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use your e-book reader’s search tools.

  A

  Ables, Don, 378–379, 504

  Abt, John, 303–305, 320, 400–401, 457–458, 554n, 605, 639n, 656, 686

  Acme Brick Company, 373–376

  Adamcik, John (Detective), 359–362, 477–478, 492, 544, 600–601, 612

  Adams, Vickie, 167

  Advance Syndicate, 42

  Air Force One (Presidential Aircraft 26000), 6, 85, 97–98, 100–105, 107–112, 116–125,245–246, 250–251,261–263,271–273, 295–296, 299–300, 305–313, 315–318, 320–322, 327–329, 342, 347, 353–359, 371, 393–399, 401–402, 407–413

  Air Force Two (Aircraft 86970), 85, 107–112, 116–125, 296, 307, 322

  Akin, Dr. Gene, 201

  Albert, Carl B., 522

  Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Birge, 86–87

  Alexander, William, 472–473, 587, 614, 654

  American Booksellers Association, 607

  American Broadcasting Company (ABC), 132, 133, 197

  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 303, 304, 553, 602–606, 627–628, 639n, 656–657, 686

  Andrews Air Force Base, 311, 320–322, 344–347, 371, 401–402, 407–418, 433, 490, 615, 646–647

  Arce, Danny, 57–58, 128, 154, 162–163

  Arlington National Cemetery, 384, 557, 665–666

  Associated Press (AP), 42, 132, 133, 181–182, 194, 211

  Auchincloss, Mrs. Hugh, 339–340, 381–383, 451, 465–466

  B

  Bagman, The (Ira Gearhart), 5–6, 97, 108, 202–203, 240, 248, 273

  Bailey, John, 578–579

  Baker, Mrs. Donald S., 171

  Baker, T. L., 175, 180, 182, 291

  Bales, Art, 76, 202

  Ball, George, 411, 416, 417, 428–429, 616

  Barmett, W. E., 192–193

  Barnes, Sgt. E. E., 518–520

  Barnett, W. B., 95–96

  Bartlett (Nurse), 190

  Bartlett, Charles and Mary, 513

  Bartlett, Orin, 640

  Bashour, Dr. Fouad, 201

  Baskin, Robert, 181, 196

  Batchelor, Assistant Chief Charles O., 52, 76, 114, 255, 364, 584–585, 625, 654

  Baughman, Sgt. Walter, 214

  Baxter, Dr. Charles, 284, 352

  Behn, Gerald A. (Jerry), 38–42, 75, 197, 198, 217, 231, 245, 383, 416, 417, 489

  Bell, Jack, 42, 132, 181–182, 194

  Belmont, Alan, 469, 522, 523, 640, 675

  Benavides, Domingo, 257, 258–259

  Bennett, Glen, 132, 195

  Bentley, Paul, 280–281

  Berger, Andy, 298–299

  Bergstrom Air Force Base, 109, 121

  Bernstein, Robert, xiv–xv

  Bethesda Naval Hospital, 357–358, 372, 409, 438–440, 447, 450–454, 474–477, 485–486, 498–503, 512–514, 516–517, 525, 532–534, 549–550, 558–561, 571–573, 582–584, 598–599, 647–648, 652–653, 665–666, 668–671

  Bible, Senator Alan, 311

  Biffle, Ken, 405

  Bishop, Kelly, xi, xii, 689

  Bledsoe, Mary, 210–211

  Boland, Dr. James, 243

  Boles, Dr. Russell, Jr., 371–372

  Bookhout, James, 301, 304, 326, 581

  Boone, Deputy Eugene, 256

  Booth, Edwin, 376

  Booth, John Wilkes, 376

  Boring, Floyd, 40, 41, 514–516, 549, 561

  Boswell, Cmdr. J. Thornton, 453, 454, 474, 499–503, 516–517, 517n, 532–534, 560, 571–573, 582–584

  Bowers, Lee E., Jr., 183

  Bowron, Nurse Diana, 196, 200–201, 232, 270, 297

  Boyd, E. L., 93, 292, 304, 626

  Boyd, Truman, 50–51

  Brend, Charles, 175

  Brennan, Howard L., 162–163, 165, 172, 174, 176, 180, 192–193, 252–253, 347–348, 458–461, 462–463, 586

  Brewer, Patrolman E. D., 222

  Brewer, Johnny Calvin, 274–277, 281, 462

  Brian, V. J., 302

  Brinkley, David, 197, 310–311, 548, 607

  Brooks, Jack, 203, 250

  Brown, C. W., 155, 378, 457, 458

  Brown, Earle V., 182–183

  Brown, Edmund G. (Pat), 27, 230

  Browning Societies, 143

  Brown, Judge Joe B., xvi, 689

  Bryan, John Neely, 142

  Buck, Raymond (Ray), 62, 71, 77, 78

  Bundy, McGeorge, 137–138, 356, 356n, 383, 385, 396, 398, 411, 416, 417, 430–431

  Burkley, Dr. George, 4, 7–8, 61–62, 108–109, 134, 202, 217, 224, 244–245, 285n, 286, 299, 316, 328, 355–358, 396, 411, 412, 452, 501, 549, 550, 560, 572, 642, 647, 652–653, 665

  Burroughs, Butch, 274–276, 279

  Busby, Horace, 560

  Butler, Lt. George, 625

  Byrd, Senator Harry, 311

  C

  Cabell, Mayor Earle, 132, 196, 311, 330, 331, 530, 548–549, 604

  Cabell, Elizabeth (Mrs. Earle), 132, 175–176, 270

  Callahan, John A., 274

  Callaway, Ted, 259, 459, 461, 462

  Camelot, 678

  Campbell, Don J., 151

  Campbell, Ochus V., 154–155, 162–163, 228

  Campble, Reverend, 544, 579, 639

  Camp, Christine, 117, 619

  Canada, Capt. R. O., Jr., 347, 412, 438–440, 485, 502, 653n

  Candid Camera, 336–337

  Cape Canaveral (Cape Kennedy), xiii–xiv

&nb
sp; Carousel Club (Dallas), 151, 349–352, 380, 427, 575, 651, 658, 662

  Carpenter, Elizabeth (Liz), 108, 307, 354, 358–359, 397, 446, 449–450, 517–518, 594

  Carrico, Dr. Charles J., 191, 200–201, 227, 372, 502

  Carr, Mrs. Waggoner, 108

  Carr, Waggoner, 108, 526

  Carroll, Bob, 279, 280

  Carroll, Marion, 526

  Carswell Air Force Base (Fort Worth), 6, 7, 45, 97–98, 100–112, 645

  Carter, Amon, 31

  Carter, Clifton (Cliff), 199–200, 251, 464, 526, 531–532, 543, 560, 595–596, 663, 664–665, 690

  Castro, Fidel, 15, 304, 541, 587, 677

  Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, D.C.), 558

  CBS, 197

  Cellar, The (Fort Worth), 32–33

  Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 6, 38–39, 342, 471, 498, 524

  Cerf, Bennett, xv

  Cermak, Charles, 547

  Chance (Patrolman), 155

  Chance Vought Aircraft, 146

  Chayes, Abram, 429–430, 471, 523–524

  Chester, Jerrol F., 453

  Childers, Sgt. R. C., 112

  Clark, Richard, 378–379

  Clark, Robert, 132, 181

  Clark, Dr. William Kemp, 201, 215, 227, 244–245, 284–285, 372–373, 502

  Clements, Manning C., 581, 600–602

  Clifton, Maj. Gen. Chester V. (Ted), Jr., 5–6, 108, 240, 267, 273, 316, 342, 357, 396, 398–399, 416, 550–551

  Cloy, Capt. Richard C., 283, 283n

  Coleman, Kay Helen, 660–662

  Collective, The (Oswald), 36

  Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), 197

  Communists, 11, 13, 25, 26, 39, 68, 144, 294, 301, 304, 341–343, 359, 554, 602, 632

  Connally, Governor John B., 9, 20–21, 39, 44–46, 61–62, 70–71, 82, 101, 102, 109, 114, 117, 118, 120, 123–124, 129–130, 134, 135, 151, 153, 158, 168, 172–174, 177, 178, 194, 196–198, 200–201, 203, 226, 242–244, 268, 272–273, 297, 352, 369, 376–377, 406, 424, 433, 470, 515–516, 540, 569, 641n, 646, 674, 687

  Connally, John, Jr., 376–377

  Connally, Nellie (Mrs. John B.), 9, 46, 47–48, 61, 70–71, 77, 82, 102, 103, 109, 117, 124, 129–130, 168, 170, 174, 177, 178, 196, 203–204, 215–216, 226–227, 243, 246, 355, 376–377, 450, 515