End of Days

by James L. Swanson

  113 The three black men on fifth floor. These three individuals, all coworkers of Oswald, were in the closest proximity to him when the shots were fired. They all heard the shots coming from above them on the sixth floor, heard the sound of cartridge shells dropping on the floor, and experienced some cement falling from the ceiling. See the testimony of Bonnie Ray Williams, WC 3, pp. 161–84; Harold Norman, WC 3, pp. 186–98; and James Jarman Jr. (“Junior”), WC 3, pp. 198–211.

  113 Williams comments on why he didn’t decide to watch from sixth floor, and near encounter with Oswald. See the testimony of Bonnie Ray Williams, WC 3, pp. 165–69.

  113 Position of Williams, Jarman, and Norman. See WC 3, pp. 173–74.

  114 Arnold Louis Rowland and his wife came to Dealey Plaza to watch motorcade before his going to work at pizza restaurant. See the testimony of Arnold Louis Rowland, WC 2, pp. 165–90.

  114 Rowland commenting on security presence and attack on Ambassador Adlai Stevenson. Ibid., p. 169.

  115 Rowland recognized that there were individuals in the Texas School Book Depository windows. Ibid., pp. 169, 174–79.

  115 Rowland. “He was standing there and holding a rifle.” Ibid.

  115 Rowland’s description of man. Thought he might be “a security agent” or from “Secret Service.” Ibid., pp. 169, 171–72, 174.

  116 Distraction of epileptic, man in sixth-floor window disappears, Rowland continues to look at window constantly. Ibid., p. 174.

  116 Brennan also notes epileptic. See the testimony of Howard Leslie Brennan, a steamfitter who was working on a job nearby and immediately after lunch went to view the motorcade, WC 3, p. 141 (complete testimony WC 3, pp. 140–61, 184–86, 211). Years later, Brennan would also write about his observations before and after the assassination. See Howard L. Brennan and J. Edward Cherryholmes, Eyewitness to History: The Kennedy Assassination, as Seen by Howard Brennan (Waco, TX: Texian Press, 1987).

  117 Photograph capturing image of Brennan. See the testimony of Howard Brennan, WC 3, p. 479, and WC 17, CE 479, p. 178 (Zapruder frame used for Brennan to identify his location).

  117 Brennan observing crowd. See the testimony of Howard Brennan, WC 3, p. 143.

  117 Brennan sees man on sixth floor. Ibid., p. 144.

  117 Brennan sees JFK car turn Main, Houston, Elm. Ibid.

  118 Rowland, “maybe we should tell someone.” See the testimony of Arnold Rowland, WC 2, p. 189.

  119 Rowland commenting on pink suit. “My wife likes clothes.” Ibid., p. 175.

  119 Abraham Zapruder. Initially Abraham Zapruder, manufacturer of ladies’ dresses, did not bring his camera to work. At the urging of his secretary, Lillian Rogers, he returned home and retrieved his “high end” 8mm Bell & Howell 414PD Director Series camera. Around 11:30 a.m., he began to consider the best location from which he could film the motorcade. This included his own office window at Jennifer Jones Inc. of Dallas at 501 Elm Street, just across the street and to the east of the Texas School Book Depository. Finally Zapruder and his receptionist, Marilyn Sitzman, decided that the best location would be to stand on top of a four-foot-high concrete pedestal, which extended to the left of the pergola on the north side of Elm Street. See the testimony of Abraham Zapruder, WC 7, p. 570 (complete testimony pp. 569–76), and the obituary of Marilyn Sitzman, Dallas Morning News, Aug. 14, 1993, p. 40A.

  Today, there is always a “pool” camera covering the president’s public movements. So any future attempt or attack on a president will always be filmed. Some refer to this camera coverage as “the death watch.” This was not the case in November 1963. Nevertheless, there were many amateur and a few professional photographers and filmmakers in Dealey Plaza. Zapruder’s film was the most important and famous. Other important films include those taken from the other side of the Grassy Knoll by Orville Nix and Marie Muchmore. Also, important still photographs were taken by Phil Willis, James “Ike” Altgens, and Mary Moorman. For an illustration of where these individuals stood in Dealey Plaza, see Josiah Thompson, Six Seconds in Dallas: A Micro-Study of the Kennedy Assassination (New York: Bernard Geis Associates, 1967), p. 12. Copies of the Zapruder film were first “bootlegged” by Penn Jones Jr., publisher of the Midlothian Mirror, after Jim Garrison subpoenaed it as a part of his New Orleans investigation. The film was widely distributed and sold to the public. For black-and-white stills (along with Nix and Muchmore), see WC 18, pp. 1–95; several color stills of the Zapruder film were published in Life magazine a few years later. Dan Rather of CBS News gave an audio narration of the film on TV in 1963. The first TV viewing of the film occurs on Geraldo Rivera’s Good Night America on ABC in 1975. To view the first commercially released version of this film in VHS and later in DVD, see Images of the Assassination: A New Look at the Zapruder Film (Orland Park, IL: MPI Home Videos, 1998). This comprehensive 1½-hour documentary, which also includes the original televised interview with Abraham Zapruder, can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVafiaW4AdY. Also see David R. Wrone, The Zapruder Film: Reframing the Kennedy Assassination (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2003).

  CHAPTER 5: “SOMEONE IS SHOOTING AT THE PRESIDENT”

  122 Motorcade running late. See O’Donnell, Johnny, p. 27, and Manchester, Death, p. 154.

  123 Jackie “cool in the tunnel.” See the testimony of Mrs. John F. Kennedy, WC 5, p. 179 (complete testimony, pp. 178–81).

  123 Amos Euins, a ninth grader, gets excused from school. See the testimony of Amos Euins, WC 2, p. 202 (complete testimony, pp. 201–10).

  123 Euins, “waved back at me.” Ibid., p. 203.

  125 Jackie says, “They were gunning the motorcycles.” See Theodore White Camelot interview.

  125 Jack Bell, “they are shooting off firecrackers.” See Trost, President, p. 22.

  126 Brennan, there was a sound . . . “backfire” . . . “firecracker.” See the testimony of Howard Brennan, WC 3, pp.143–44, 154.

  126 Brennan immediately sees man holding rifle. Ibid., p. 144–45.

  126 Zapruder hears shots and jostles camera. Many who viewed the Zapruder film believed that the camera shakes at the point where Zapruder is startled by the first shot.

  126 Rowland, “backfire.” See the testimony of Arnold Rowland, WC 2, p. 179.

  127 Worrell hears first shot. See the testimony of high-school student, James Richard Worrell Jr., who skipped school to watch motorcade, WC 2, p. 193 (complete testimony pp. 190–201).

  127 A “motorcycle backfire.” See the testimony of Buell Wesley Frazier, WC 2, p. 234.

  127 Euins thinking it was a “backfire.” See the testimony of Amos Euins, WC 2, p. 205.

  127 Williams, president pushing hair back. See the testimony of Bonnie Ray Williams, WC 3, p. 175.

  128 Fragment hits bystander. See the testimony of car salesman James Thomas Tague, who went downtown to take his wife to lunch and “accidentally came upon the motorcade,” WC 7, pp. 552–58.

  129 Williams (see above).

  130 Worrell sees rifle. See the testimony of Worrell, WC 2, p. 194.

  130 Williams hears shots. See the testimony of Bonnie Ray Williams, WC 3, p. 175.

  132 Dillard’s comments. See Trost, President, p. 23.

  132 Rowland knew it was rifle fire. See the testimony of Arnold Rowland, WC 2, p. 179.

  132 Brennan comments on shots. See the testimony of Howard Brennan, WC 3, pp. 144, 154.

  132 Frazier’s comments on shooting. See the testimony of Buell Wesley Frazier, WC 2, p. 234.

  133 AP Reporter, James William “Ike” Altgens photographs. See the testimony of Altgens, WC 7, pp. 515–25, and FBI interview, WC 22, CE 1407, pp. 790–92. Also see WC 16, CE 203, p. 594 (photo is cropped). For the entire image, see Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 14, 1963, pp. 24–25.

  133 Dave Powers, “President’s been shot.” See O’Donnell, Johnny, p. 27.

  133 Connally, “They’re going to kill us all!” See the testimony of Governor John D. Connally Jr., WC 4, p. 133. Also see John Connally and Mickey H
erskowitz, In History’s Shadow: An American Odyssey (New York: Putnam’s, 1967), pp. 175–92.

  134 Hill runs toward back of car. See the testimony of Clint Hill, WC 2, pp. 138–40, and Hill, Mrs. Kennedy and Me, pp. 290–91.

  135 Billy and Gayle Newman and their two children witness the assassination. See the Sheriff’s Department “Voluntary Statement” of Gayle Newman, WC 19, Decker Exhibit 5323, p. 488 (Dallas County Sheriff’s Office records of the events surrounding the assassination).

  135 Brennan’s seeing rifle. See the testimony of Howard Brennan, WC 3, pp. 144–45.

  135 Amos Euins looks at man in sixth-floor window. See the testimony of Amos Euins, WC 2, pp. 203–5.

  136 Dillard and Jackson’s comments. See Trost, President, pp. 23–24.

  136 Euins, third shot. See the testimony of Amos Euins, WC 2, p. 207.

  137 Dillard photos, after assassination. See WC 19, Tom C. Dillard Exhibit, A, B, and C, pp. 563–65, as well as his testimony, WC 6, p. 166.

  137 Merriman Smith, Bob Clark, and Pierce Allman comment on number of shots. See Trost, President, pp. 24, 27.

  138 Mrs. Robert Reid on Elm Street, three shots, black men on fifth floor. See testimony of Mrs. Robert Reid, WC 3, 273.

  139 Jackie’s “Oh no!” See the testimony of Jacqueline Kennedy, WC 5, p 180. Also see Associated Press, ed., The Torch Is Passed: The Associated Press Story of the Death of a President (New York: Associated Press, 1964), p. 14.

  139 O’Donnell and Powers, seeing third shot, know he’s dead. See O’Donnell, Johnny, pp. 27–28.

  140 Brennan’s concern that “there were going to be bullets flying from every direction.” See the testimony of Howard Brennan, WC 3, p. 145.

  141 Walker note. See the testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 17. Also see WC 16, CE 1, pp. 1–2. Marina discussed the note in a Secret Service interview on December 5, 1963, WC 23, CE 1785, pp. 392–94. For the translation, see WC 23, CE 1786, pp. 395–97, where Marina confirmed the note.

  142 “They have shot his head off.” See Hill, Mrs. Kennedy and Me, p. 291.

  In addition to governmental activities, there have been numerous independent studies as well as reenactments, confirming the number of shots and trajectory. See Life-Itek Kennedy Assassination Film Analysis (Lexington, MA: Itek Corp., 1967) and John Kennedy Assassination Film Analysis (Lexington, MA: Itek Corp., 1976). Also see the DVD JFK: Beyond the Magic Bullet (Discovery Channel, 2010) and the analysis in the CBS television documentary and companion book: Stephen White, Should We Now Believe the Warren Report? (New York: Macmillan, 1968).

  I have attempted to capture the excitement at the moment when shots were fired in Dealey Plaza, as well as to convey the impressions of those witnesses closest to the sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository. At the time of the assassination, there were over two hundred witnesses in Dealey Plaza. The majority of these witnesses thought that they heard no more than three shots and that they came from behind JFK’s car. Some of these witnesses and others believed that they initially heard the sounds of fireworks or motorcycles that backfired before they realized what had happened. Those closest to the sixth-floor window all testified that they heard and felt three shots.

  While some of the witness testimony changed over time and not all testimony was consistent, credible investigations both governmental and independent that reviewed the totality of the evidence concluded that the shots came from behind JFK and were fired from the sixth-floor window. Viewed by itself and without corroboration from other evidentiary sources, eyewitness testimony can be unreliable in many cases. See James M. Doyle and Elizabeth Loftus, Eyewitness Testimony: Civil and Criminal, 4th ed. (Los Angeles: LexisNexis, 2007), and Elizabeth Loftus, Eyewitness Testimony (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1979). Both the Warren Commission and the House Select Committee on Assassinations were charged with weighing the credibility of these witnesses, and both concluded that there were three shots fired from the sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository.

  143 Rufus Youngblood, “Get down.” See the testimony of Rufus Wayne Youngblood, WC 2, p. 149; Rufus W. Youngblood, 20 Years in U.S. Secret Service: My Life with Five Presidents (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1973); and Merle Miler, Lyndon: An Oral Biography (New York: Putnam’s, 1980), p. 313.

  143 Reporter, “something has happened,” Dallas radio broadcast of reporter Ronald Lee Jenkins of KBOX. While this recording was widely perceived to be contemporaneous, this audio was actually a re-creation made by the station a few days after the assassination. Apparently the original tapes were lost. The complete dramatization can be found on a long-playing phonographic recording, The Actual Voices and Events of the Four Days That Shocked the World, Nov. 22–25, 1963: The Complete Story (New York: Colpix Records, “produced in association with United Press International,” 1964; rereleased as a CD in the UK by RPM Records, 1998). A coworker of Jenkins, Sam Pate, who began this broadcast, told the FBI in 1964 that it was a re-creation. See Warren Commission Document 1245 and Warren Commission Document 1070). In an interview, Pate, Jenkins, and the sound board engineer all recalled interrupting the original KBOX broadcast on November 22, 1963. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIMMXcJbtfg. Also see interview with Sam Pate, oral history, Sixth Floor Museum.

  CHAPTER 6: “THEY’VE SHOT HIS HEAD OFF”

  144 Truly’s encounter with Oswald. See the testimony of Roy Truly, WC 3, pp. 224–26, 239.

  145 Mrs. Reid, Oswald’s coworker who ran into building and encountered Oswald. See the testimony of Mrs. Robert A. Reid, WC 3, pp. 274–75 (complete testimony, pp. 270–81).

  146 MacNeil’s encounter with Oswald. See Robert MacNeil, The Right Place at the Right Time (Boston: Little, Brown, 1982), pp. 198–216, and Trost, President, p. 35. Also see his recollections on the NBC News website at www.nbcnews.com/id/3476061/ns/msnbc-jfk_the_day_that_changed_americ a/t/covering-jfk-assassination.

  One other reporter, Pierce Allman of WFAA-TV and radio, also believed that he ran into Oswald just as he was leaving out of the front door of the Texas School Book Depository. See Trost, President, p. 35.

  146 Smith and Bell struggle for first national press notice, UPI “Three Shots Were Fired.” See Manchester, Death, p. 168.

  147 “[E]verybody was running. See the testimony of Bonnie Ray Williams, WC 3, 175, 177, 211.

  148 Brennan, officers search. See the testimony of Howard L. Brennan, WC 3, p. 145–46.

  148 Jenkins outside Trade Mart, car rushes by, “Something is wrong.” Jenkins, KBOX broadcast, Actual Voices and Events.

  149 Rowland, silence of man in window. See the testimony of Arnold Rowland, WC 2, p. 174.

  150 First CBS broadcast. Walter Cronkite interrupts the CBS daily broadcast of the soap opera As the World Turns; go to the CBS website at www.cbsnews.com/2100-500202_162-584646.html. Comprehensive coverage can be found on the YouTube .com website in ten parts. For the complete coverage, beginning with the first interruption, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtXfZs0-Bn0 and also for an additional two hours of uninterrupted coverage go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Ry9-bpixM.

  151 Marina Oswald’s first awareness of assassination. See the testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, pp. 73–74.

  153 Jackie, “Dave, he’s dead.” See O’Donnell, Johnny, p. 29.

  154 Hill attempts to move JFK from the presidential limousine. See Hill, Mrs. Kennedy and Me, pp. 293–94.

  154 Merriman Smith (“Smitty”) viewed president at Parkland. See Trost, President, p. 39. Merriman Smith received a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the assassination. Go to the UPI website at www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/11/22/UPI-Archives-Merriman-Smiths-account-of-JFKs-assassination/PC-9391321983592.

  155 Bob Clark’s comments on wounds. See Trost, President, pp. 39–40.

  155 Clint Hill’s jacket to cover head. See Hill, Mrs. Kennedy and Me, p. 293. Subsequent to the assassination, Hill would destroy his jacket.

  155 Jenkins broadcast. Jenkins, KBOX broadcast, Actual Voices and Even
ts.

  156 Oswald’s escape compared to that of Booth. See James L. Swanson, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer (New York: Morrow, 2006).

  157 Bus driver’s account. See the testimony of Cecil J. McWatters, WC 2, pp. 262–92. This bus driver gave Oswald a bus transfer that was found on his person at the time of arrest. See WC 16, CE 381-A, p. 974. Oswald’s former landlady happened to be on the bus as well, and she identified him. See the testimony of Mary E. Bledsoe, WC 6, pp. 408–27 (complete testimony pp. 400–27).

  157 Cab ride. See the testimony of William Wayne Whaley, WC 2, pp. 253–62, 294, and WC 6, pp. 428–33. Also see his taxicab manifest for November 22, 1963, WC 16, CE 370, p. 966.

  157 Housekeeper’s observations. Mrs. Earlene Roberts, worked for Mrs. Arthur Carl (Gladys) Johnson, the owner of the property. Roberts was the person who rented Oswald the room and also encountered him shortly after the assassination at the rooming house at 1026 North Beckley. See the testimony of Earlene Roberts, WC 6, pp. 434–44. Gladys Johnson also testified, WC 10, pp. 292–301.