End of Days

by James L. Swanson

  95 No crowd screening. Even up until John Hinckley Jr.’s attempted assassination of Reagan, the “zone-of-protection” was inadequate. Today there are metal detectors at all public functions. Nevertheless, the most difficult protective detail is to guard a president, especially presidential candidates when they are “working the crowd.”

  In 1964, the Warren Commission made several recommendations to improve presidential protection. See WR, pp. 425–69, ch. 8, “Protection of the President.”

  95 “Every possible precaution.” Even the early afternoon November 22, 1963, edition of the Dallas Times Herald (the first issue, printed before the assassination) contained a first-page story with the headline secret service sure all is secure.

  96 Ken O’Donnell, “This trip is turning out to be terrific.” See O’Donnell, Johnny, p. 26.

  96 “Mr. and Mrs. America.” Ibid.

  96 “There is Mrs. Kennedy . . . bright pink suit.” See Cathy Trost and Susan Bennett, President Kennedy Has Been Shot: Experience the Moment-to Moment Account of the Four Days That Changed America (Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 2003), p. 15.

  97 Comments from reporters at Love Field. In 1964, many long-playing 33 rpm records were commercially released that replayed the events of November 22. Some of these include: The Assassination of a President: The Four Black Days, November 22–25, 1963 (Beverly Hills, CA: American Society of Record Drama); The Actual Voices 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); The Fateful Hours, “actual unforgettable news reports on Friday, November 22nd, 1963 by KLIF Dallas” (Hollywood, CA: Capitol Records); and Four Dark Days in November: A Presentation of WQMR News, “featuring the actual ON-THE-AIR coverage of the events of November 22, 23, 24, and 25th 1963 as reported and broadcast by Radio Station WQMR, Washington, D.C.” (N.p.: Capitol Records).

  98 JFK steps up to chain-link fence to greet crowd. See Blaine, Kennedy Detail, pp. 200–1.

  98 Art Rickerby photos. For a review of the photographs taken the day of the Kennedy assassination, see three books by Richard B. Trask: Pictures of the Pain: Photography and the Assassination of President Kennedy (Danvers, MA: Yeoman Press, 1994); That Day in Dallas: Three Photographers Capture on Film the Day Kennedy Died (Danvers, MA: Yeoman Press, 1998); and National Nightmare on Six Feet of Film: Mr. Zapruder’s Home Movie and the Murder of President Kennedy (Danvers, MA: Yeoman Press, 2005).

  99 Charles Roberts question to Jackie about campaigning. See Trost, President, p. 15.

  102 The motorcade. The following listing is reflective of numerous firsthand accounts of journalists and Secret Service agents, as well as information obtained from testimony and exhibits (WC 17, CE 767 and CE 768, and WC, 18, CE 1024 and 1026—Secret Service Memoranda, as well as Commission Document 3—Secret Service Report) to the Warren Commission, interviews, police reports, actual film of the motorcade, obituaries, and many other sources. For the Secret Service code of names of some individuals in the motorcade, see Manchester, Death, and Blaine, Kennedy Detail. For determining the make and model of some of the cars, the location of some of the police motorcycle riders, and the location of some of the occupants in the vehicles, see: Todd Wayne, Vaughan. Presidential Motorcade Schematic Listing; November 22, 1963, Dallas, Texas. Jackson, Michigan: by the author, 1993 (a signed limited edition of 100 copies). Also helpful for compiling this listing are Mary Ferrell’s Chronologies, Volume 4, November 22, 1963, Narrative, and Book 1, November 22, 1963 (www.maryferrell.org), and Trask’s Pictures of the Pain. In the chaos of the events and the “whistle stop” nature of the President’s visit to Texas, there are different, and sometimes, conflicting accounts as to the exact location of some of the individuals in this Dallas motorcade. This is especially true of the three buses and the location of some members of JFK’s staff.

  The Advance car

  • Dallas Police Captain Perdue William Lawrence, Assistant in Charge of motorcade detail (Testimony—WC, Vol. VII, pp. 577–589 and WC, Vol. XX, Lawrence Exhibits Nos.1 through 4, pp. 482–98).

  The pilot car (a white Ford sedan) (WC, Vol. XVII, CE 768, p. 615; WC, Vol. XXI, Stevenson Exhibit 5053, p. 578—Report to Dallas Police Chief Jesse E. Curry; Curry, JFK Assassination File, p. 24; and Mary Ferrell’s Chronologies, Volume 4, November 22, 1963, Narrative, p. 369-1b).

  • Dallas Police Deputy Chief George L. (“G.L”) Lumpkin (driver)

  • Dallas Homicide Detective Faye M. (“F.M.”) Turner (front passenger seat)

  • Dallas Homicide Detective William (“Billy”) L. Senkel (left rear seat)

  • Lt. Col. George L. Whitmeyer, Jr., East Texas Section Commander of the Army Reserve (middle rear seat)

  • Jacob L. (“Jack”) Puterbaugh, Democratic National Committee Advance Man (right rear seat)

  Three two-wheel advance motorcycles (Harley Davidsons) (viewed from behind motorcade) (WC, Vol. XX, Lawrence Exhibit No. 2, p. 489).

  • Dallas Police Sergeant Samuel Q. Bellah (commander of this unit) (middle)

  • Dallas Police Officer Glen C. (“G.C.”) McBride (left)

  • Dallas Police Officer J.B. Garrick (right)

  Five two-wheel lead motorcycles (Harley Davidsons) (viewed from behind) (Vaughan, Presidential Motorcade, p. 4 and Mary Ferrell’s Chronologies, Volume 4, November 22, 1963, Narrative, p. 369-1b)

  • Dallas Police Officer Stavis (“Steve”) Ellis (commander of this unit) (far left)

  • Dallas Police Officer E.D. (“Buddy”) Brewer (immediate left of center)

  • Dallas Police Officer Leon E. (“L.E.”) Grey (center)

  • Dallas Police Officer Harold B. (“H.B.” or “Harry”) Freeman (immediate right of center)

  • Dallas Police Officer William G. (“W.G.” or “Bill) Lumpkin (far right)

  The lead car (a four door Ford Mercury sedan) (WC, Vol. XVII, CE 768, p. 615; numerous sources, including WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1026—Secret Service Memorandum; and Manchester, Death, p. 133)

  • Dallas Police Chief Jesse E. Curry (driver seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. IV, pp. 150–202. Vol. XII, p. 25, Vol. XV, pp. 124–33, 641)

  • Secret Service Agent Winston George (“Win”) Lawson (front passenger seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. IV, pp. 317–58)

  • Dallas County Sheriff James Eric (“J.E.” or “Bill”) Decker (left rear seat), (Testimony—WC, Vol. XII, pp. 42–52)

  • Secret Service Agent Forrest V. Sorrels, (in charge of the Dallas field office) (right rear seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. VII, pp. 332–60, 592 and. Vol. XIII, pp. 55–83)

  The Presidential limousine (Code name “SS 100 X”) (a 1961 Lincoln Continental flown in from Washington, D.C.) (District of Columbia orange License Plate Number GG-300) (numerous sources, including WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024 and WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1026—Secret Service Memoranda; and Manchester, Death, p. 134)

  • Secret Service Agent William Robert (“Bill”) Greer (driver seat) (­Testimony—WC, Vol. II, pp. 112–32 and Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, p. 723)

  • Secret Service Special Agent in Charge of Dallas Detail Roy H. Kellerman (Code name “Digest”) (front passenger seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. II, pp. 61–112)

  • Mrs. John H. Connally, Jr. (“Nellie”) (left middle “jump” seat) (­Testimony—WC, Vol. IV, pp. 146–49)

  • Governor John H. Connally, Jr. (right middle “jump” seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. IV, pp. 129–46).

  • First Lady, Mrs. John F. Kennedy (Jacqueline “Jackie”) (Code name “Lace”) (left rear seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. V, pp. 178–81)

  • President John F. Kennedy (“Jack”) (Code name “Lancer”) (right rear seat)

  Motorcycle escorts for the Presidential limousine (Harley Davidsons viewed from behind) (WC, Vol. XX, Lawrence Exhibit No. 2, p. 489 and Trask, Pictures of the Pain, p. 63)

  • Dallas Police Officer William Joseph Martin (“Billy Joe”) (far left)
(­Testimony—WC, Vol. VI, pp. 289–93)

  • Dallas Police Officer Bobby W. (“B.W.) Hargis (left) (Testimony—WC, Vol. VI, pp. 293–96)

  • Dallas Police Officer James M. (“J.M.”) Chaney (right)

  • Dallas Police Officer Douglas L. (“D.L.”) Jackson (far right) (Jackson’s recollection’s sent to District Attorney Henry Wade, June, 1980, in the Harold Weisberg archives at Hood College)

  The Presidential follow-up car (Code name “Half-back”) (SS 679X) (a 1956 Cadillac nine-passenger four-door touring sedan with the top down that was flown into Texas from Washington, DC) (WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024; WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1026—Secret Service Memoranda; Manchester, Death, p. 134; and Trask, Pictures of the Pain, p. 63)

  • Secret Service Agent Samuel A. (“Sam”) Kinney (driver seat) (­Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, pp. 730–31)

  • Secret Service Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge Emory P. Roberts (Code name “Dusty”) (right passenger seat) (Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, pp. 733–38)

  • Secret Service Agent Clinton J. (“Clint”) Hill (Code name “Dazzle”) (left front running board) (Testimony—WC, Vol. II, pp. 132–44 and Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024 pp. 740–45)

  • Secret Service Agent William T. (“Tim”) McIntyre (left rear running board) (Statement—Warren Commission Document (CD) 3, pp. 99–100)

  • Secret Service Agent John D. (“Jack”) Ready (right front running board) (Statement—CD 3, p. 102)

  • Secret Service Agent Paul E. Landis, Jr. (Code name “Debut”) (right rear running board) (Statement—in WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, pp. 751–59)

  • Presidential aide Kenneth P. O’Donnell (Code name “Wand”) (left middle seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. VII, p. 440–56)

  • Special Assistant to the President David Francis (“Dave”) Powers (right middle seat) (Affidavit—WC, Vol. VII, pp. 472–74)

  • Secret Service Agent George Warren Hickey, Jr. (left rear seat) (­Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, pp. 730–31)

  • Secret Service Agent Glen A. Bennett (right rear seat) (Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, p. 760)

  The Vice Presidential limousine (a 1962 light blue/gray Lincoln 4-door convertible) (numerous sources, including WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024 and 1026—Secret Service Memoranda, and Manchester, Death, p. 134)

  • Texas Highway Patrolman Hurchel D. Jacks (driver) (WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, p. 801)

  • Secret Service Agent Rufus Wayne Youngblood (Code name “Dagger”) (front passenger seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. II, pp. 144–55 and Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, pp. 766–72)

  • Senator Ralph Yarborough (left rear seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. VII, pp. 439–40)

  • Mrs. Lyndon Baines (“Lady Bird”) Johnson (Code name “Victoria”) (middle rear seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. V, pp. 564–67)

  • Vice-President Lyndon Baines Johnson (Code name “Volunteer”) (right rear seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. V, pp. 561–64)

  The Vice Presidential follow-up car (Code name “Varsity”) (a yellow 1963 Ford Mercury hardtop sedan) (WC, Vol. XVII, CE 768, p. 607; WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024 and 1026—Secret Service Memoranda; and Manchester, Death, p. 134)

  • Texas Highway Patrolman Joe Henry Rich (driver seat) (Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, p. 800)

  • Vice Presidential aide Clifton C. (“Cliff”) Carter (front middle seat) (­Affidavit—WC, Vol. VII, pp. 474–75)

  • Secret Service Agent Jerry D. Kivett (Code Name “Daylight”) (right passenger seat) (Statement in WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, pp. 776–77)

  • Secret Service Agent Warren W. (“Woody”) Taylor (left rear seat) (Statement in WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, pp. 782–84)

  • Secret Service Agent Thomas Lemuel (“Lem”) Johns (Code Name “Dandy”) (right rear seat) (Statement in WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, pp. 773–75)

  The car of the Mayor of Dallas (a two-door 1963 white Ford Mercury Comet Caliente convertible) (WC, Vol. XVII, CE 768, p. 615)

  • Texas Highway Patrolman Milton T. Wright (driver) (Statement—WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 1024, p. 802—Secret Service Memorandum)

  • Dallas Mayor Earle Cabell (front passenger seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. VII, pp. 467–85)

  • Mrs. Earle (Elizabeth “Dearie”) Cabell (rear left seat) (Testimony—WC. Vol. VII, p. 485–91)

  • Rep. Herbert Ray (“Ray”) Roberts (D-4th Congressional District-TX) (read right seat) (In testimony of Earle Cabell)

  The White House National Press “pool car” (a 1960 blue-gray or black Chevrolet

  • A driver provided by the telephone company (SW Bell Co.)

  • Malcolm (“Mac”) Kilduff (Code name “Warrior”) White House assistant press secretary (front passenger seat)

  • Merriman Smith (“Smitty”), White House Correspondent UPI (middle front seat)

  • Jack Bell, AP (left or middle rear seat)

  • Robert E. Baskin, Washington Bureau Chief of The Dallas Morning News (left or middle rear seat)

  • Bob Clark, ABC News Washington correspondent (right rear seat)

  Press—Camera car No. 1 (a 1964 yellow 2-door Chevrolet Impala convertible) (motion picture cameras) (Trask, Pictures of the Pain, pp. 306, 358–90)

  • A Texas Ranger (driver)

  • John Hoefan, NBC sound engineer (middle front passenger)

  • David (“Dave”) Wiegman, Jr., NBC cameraman (right passenger seat)

  • Thomas J. Cravens, Jr., CBS cameraman (left rear seat)

  • Cleveland (“Cleve”) Ryan, a lighting technician (middle rear seat)

  • Thomas Maurer (“Ollie”) Atkins, Navy White House photographer (right rear seat) (“Remembering JFK,” Ohio Today; For Alumni and Friends of Ohio University, Fall 2003: www.ohio.edu/ohiotoday/fall03/jfk/)

  Press—Camera car No. 2 (a 1964 silver 2-door Chevrolet Impala convertible) (still cameras) (Trask, Pictures of the Pain, pp. 306, 391–13)

  • A Driver

  • Donald C. (“Clint”) Grant, Dallas Morning News photographer (middle front seat) (C-Span broadcast, “Journalists Remember the JFK Assassination,” November 20, 1993)

  • Frank Cancellare, UPI photographer (front passenger seat) (jumped out of motorcade at Dealey Plaza)

  • Captain Cecil W. Stoughton, JFK’s photographer (left rear seat)

  • Arthur (“Art”) Rickerby, Life Magazine photographer (middle rear seat).

  • Henry D. Burroughs, AP photographer (right rear seat)

  Press—Camera car No. 3 (a gray 2-door 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertible) (Trask, Pictures of the Pain, pp. 306, 414–31)

  • An individual from the Texas Department of Public Safety (driver)

  • James H. Underwood, KRLD-TV (Channel 4, the CBS affiliate in Dallas) (middle passenger seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. VI, pp. 167–71)

  • Thomas C. (“Tom”) Dillard, chief photographer, The Dallas Morning News (right passenger seat) (the flexibility of driving in a car, gave photographers like Dillard an opportunity to pre-arrange with their coworkers a point to stop and drop-off film that he was taking all along the parade route in order to meet newspaper print deadlines) (­Testimony—WC, Vol. VI, pp.162–67).

  • James (“Jimmy”) Darnell, WBAP-TV (Channel 5, the NBC affiliate in Fort Worth) (left rear seat) (In Underwood’s testimony in WC)

  • Malcolm O. (“Mal”) Couch, WFAA-TV (Channel 8, the ABC affiliate in Dallas) (middle rear seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. VI, pp. 153–62)

  • Robert Hill (“Bob”) Jackson, photographer, The Dallas Times Herald (right rear seat) (WC, Vol. II, pp. 155–64)

  Two motorcycles (Harley Davidsons) (Traveling behind the second camera car on each side of cars) (Trask, Pictures of the Pain, p. 306 and Mary Ferrell’s Chronologies, Volume 4, November 22, 1963, Narrative p. 372)

  • Dallas Police Officer Marrion L. (“M.L.”) Baker (right) (Testimony—WC, Vol. III, pp. 242–70)

  • Dallas Police Officer Hollis B. (“H.B.”) McLain (left) (Testimony HSCA—Vol. V, pp. 617–71)

>   Members of Congress—Car No. 1 (a white Ford Mercury Comet Caliente two-door convertible) (WC, Vol. XVII, CE 768—Secret Service Memorandum and Manchester, Death, p. 132)

  • Driver

  • Rep. George Herman Mahon (D-19th Congressional District-TX) (right front passenger seat)

  • Rep. Walter Edward Rogers (D-18th Congressional District-TX) (left rear seat)

  • Rep. W. Homer Thornberry (D-10th Congressional District-TX) (middle rear seat)

  • Lawrence F. (“Larry”) O’Brien, Special Assistant to the President for Congressional Relations (right rear seat) (Testimony—WC, Vol. VII, pp. 457–72)

  Members of Congress—No. 2 (a white Ford Mercury Comet Caliente two-door convertible) (WC, Vol. XVII, CE 768, p. 616—Secret Service Memorandum)

  • Driver

  • Rep. Albert Richard Thomas (D-8th Congressional District-TX) (middle front passenger seat) (Mary Ferrell’s Chronologies, Vol. 4, November 22, 1963, Narrative, p. 371)

  • Rep. Jack Brooks (D-2nd Congressional District-TX) (right front passenger seat)

  • Rep. Lindley Beckworth, Sr. (D-3rd Congressional District-TX) (left rear seat)

  • Rep. Olin Earl (“Tiger”) Teague (D-6th Congressional District-TX) (middle rear seat)

  • Rep. James Claude (“Jim”) Wright, Jr. (D-12th Congressional District-TX (right rear seat)

  Members of Congress—Car No. 3 (a gray 1964 Lincoln sedan) (WC, Vol. XVII, CE 768, p. 616)

  • Driver

  • Rep. John Andrew Young (D-14th Congressional District-TX) (front passenger seat)

  • Rep. Henry Barbosa Gonzalez (D-20th Congressional District-TX) (left rear seat)

  • State Senator William Neff (“Bill”) Patman (D-14th Texas District) (middle rear seat)

  • Rep. Graham Boynton Purcell, Jr. (D-13th Congressional District-TX) (right rear seat)

  White House Staff Car (a 1964 Ford Mercury Colony Park Station Wagon) (Manchester, Death, p. 131 and Trask, Pictures of the Pain, p. 210) (some sources, place other senior White House Staff in this vehicle, contrary to Manchester, who places them in the VIP bus)