End of Days

by James L. Swanson

  157 Possible escape to Mexico. Warren Commission Assistant Counsel David W. Belin speculated that Oswald may have been on his way to catching a bus to Mexico before his encounter with Officer Tippit. This hypothesis was in draft chapter 6 of the Warren Report but was excluded in the final version. See Gerald Posner, Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK (New York: Random House, 1993), p. 273.

  158 Oswald not accounted for at work. See the testimony of Roy Truly, WC 3, p. 230, 239.

  158 Wicker, speculation and rumor at Trade Mart. See Trost, President, pp. 52–53. Eddie Barker at KRLD-TV, provided about 32 minutes of live reports from the Trade Mart, beginning at approximately one p.m. (CST). Some of this coverage was broadcast on CBS. Barker mentioned that three shots were fired in Dealey Plaza but in error reported that a Secret Service agent was killed. Go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=utBnHGEBvQk.

  158 Kilduff’s comments on Jackie’s hair. See Trost, President, pp. 40–41.

  158 O’Donnell, “I did not have the heart.” See O’Donnell. Johnny, p. 30.

  158 Merriman Smith, wire report “seriously wounded.” See Trost, President, p. 42. At this time, almost everyone knew that JFK was dead. Clint Hill told Smith of Kennedy’s death, but the reporter would need official confirmation before he communicated this over the UPI wire service. See Manchester, Death, p. 168, and also the small pamphlet, The Murder of the Young President, by Merriman Smith, which United Press International inserted into the phonographic recording, The Actual Voices and Events, Colpix Records, 1964.

  159 Local radio station WQMR announcement. 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., 331/3 rpm phonographic recording (Capitol Records, 1964).

  160 Hugh Sidey sees Secret Service washing the car. See Trost, President, p. 59.

  160 Jackie’s “red roses” and blood comment. See Theodore White, Camelot Interview.

  160 Jackie, “I want to be with him when he dies,” to Dave Powers. See O’Donnell, Johnny, p. 30.

  160 Navy admiral, “It is her right.” See Manchester, Death.

  161 Jackie holding a piece of JFK’s brain. Ibid.

  161 Doctor’s comment, “a fatal wound,” and Jackie, “I know.” See Manchester, Death, p. 188.

  161 Minutes after the assassination, there was another car racing to Parkland Hospital. After the broadcast on television that the president had been shot and had been taken to Parkland Hospital, a decision quickly had been made at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Independently, Jackie Kennedy requested hospital officials to get a priest. In fact, the church’s pastor, the Very Reverend Oscar L. Huber, C.M., was already on his way there in a car driven by his assistant pastor, Rev. James N. Thompson. C.M. Parkland Hospital was regularly served by this parish. They were concerned about the traffic, but Thompson had a “secret way” to get there quickly. As they approached the hospital, a policeman stopped them. Thompson said, “Look, officer, the President is in there and he is either dying or dead, one of us has to go.” As Thompson began to shut his car down, another officer came running, saw they were priests, and stated, “OK, let them through.” Since Parkland Hospital was surrounded in the chaos of onlookers, vehicles, and police, Rev. Thompson let Father Huber out of the car while he parked it, and Huber was escorted by police to the emergency room.

  It was Father Huber who gave JFK last rites close to one p.m. (CST). Mrs. Kennedy was very concerned that since her husband was already dead, it was too late to perform this religious ritual. Huber assured her that the president’s soul had not yet left his body, as the pastor removed the sheet already covering the president’s limp body. See the self-published limited-edition signed pamphlet, Reverend James Thompson, C.M., Around One O’Clock (Dallas: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1964).

  Father Oscar Huber also personally signed typed copies of his recollections of this day. In addition, see Gillon, Kennedy Assassination, pp. 75–80, and Manchester, Death, pp. 213–19.

  161 Placing the ring on finger. See Manchester, Death, pp. 293–94.

  162 Notifying LBJ about death, calling him Mr. President. LBJ is first notified of JFK’s death by Kenny O’Donnell (“He’s gone”). See the testimony of Lyndon Baines Johnson, WC 5, p. 693. The assistant press secretary, Mac Kildruff, addressing LBJ, as Mr. President, requested that he be able to make the official announcement to the press. See Robert A. Caro, The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Passage to Power (New York: Knopf, 2012), pp. 320–21.

  162 Delay in official notification of the press until LBJ leaves. At this time, private concerns were first discussed about a possible conspiracy to attack other officials, including the vice president. See Caro, Years, p. 320.

  At the time of the assassination, the Speaker of the House was next in line to succeed President Lyndon Johnson. See the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, 3 U.S.C. §19. But there was no constitutional directive for replacing the vacancy of the vice presidency due to JFK’s death. Also, there was no guidance for addressing the problematic situation of a disabled president, should Kennedy have lived. This situation would result in the 1967 ratification of the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

  162 Johnson’s unmarked car travels to Love Field. With a few motorcycles leading the way, Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry drove LBJ back to Love Field in an unmarked police car. In this vehicle, Rep. Thomas (a longtime friend of Johnson who served with him in the U.S. House of Representatives) sat in the passenger seat, and in the backseat, the new president crouched in the middle between Rep. Thornberry (who followed LBJ as the congressman representing the 10th Congressional District of Texas) and Secret Service agent Rufus Youngblood. A few cars raced behind them, one carrying Lady Bird Johnson and several Secret Service agents. Behind them was a car with more agents, along with Chief Warrant Officer Ira Gearhart, who held the “football,” the codes to launch a nuclear attack, and Liz Carpenter, executive assistant to the vice president, who began to draft Johnson’s statement, which he would deliver to the American people that evening. The last car in this group included Jack Valenti, a political consultant to Johnson, Cliff Carter, LBJ’s aide, and Captain Cecil W. Stoughton, JFK’s photographer. Ibid., pp. 247–48, and see Manchester, Death, pp. 237–39.

  162 Cronkite announcement that priests administered last rites and that Dan Rather says JFK is dead. See Trost, President, p. 80.

  163 Kilduff’s official announcement. See Manchester, Death, p. 221, and the brief announcement and news conference at www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHQ4EoDZKdg.

  163 Merriman Smith UPI eyewitness account. See United Press International, ed., Four Days: The Historical Record of the Death of President Kennedy (Rockville, MD: American Heritage, 1964), pp. 32–33.

  163 KLIF announcement. Four Dark Days in November (Capitol Records, 1964).

  163 CBS, “the flash, apparently official . . .” See Trost, President, p. 85.

  164 Every afternoon paper in the country issued extra editions, and some subsequently published commemorative editions. The Dallas Times Herald issued four editions that afternoon, three on the assassination as further information became available. See the recollection of reporter Keith Shelton, Trost, President, p. 103. See also Charles Cameron, C-Span broadcast, “Journalists Remember the JFK Assassination,” November 20, 1993. www.c-spanvideo.org/program/FKASS.

  The very first edition of the Dallas Times Herald was printed before the assassination and is the scarcest of all the newspapers from that day in Dallas, but not as desired by collectors. Fewer copies of it were saved than the assassination editions. This edition was the final (“1 star”) edition with the normal-size above-the-fold headline “Texas Progress, U.S. Projects Linked, JFK Tells Forth Worth.” This edition included the front-page story “Secret Service Sure All Secure.” Subsequent afternoon editions were: final edition (“2 stars”) with the large above-the-fold headline, “Pres
ident Dead”; and the two final editions (“3 stars”) one with the lead-in headline, “JFK Ambushed in Dallas” and the large above-the-fold headline, “President Dead; Connally Shot”; and the other with the lead-in headline, “Suspect Arrested” and the large above-the-fold headline, “President Dead; Connally Shot.” Inasmuch as the Dallas Morning News was a morning newspaper, there is the November 22 morning edition with no coverage of the assassination, and the Saturday, November 23, 1963, edition with its up-to-date reporting of the shooting.

  164 Chicago American. This newspaper box is in the author’s own collection.

  166 Ordering of the casket over the telephone. Hill ordered the most expensive casket from the O’Neal funeral home. See the testimony of Clint Hill, WC 2, pp. 142; Hill, Mrs. Kennedy and Me, pp. 297–98; and Manchester, Death, p. 291–92.

  166 The tensions between J. Edgar Hoover and Bobby Kennedy were evident. Hoover used to say that presidents were going through his administration. Because of the “secret files” he kept, no president would dare terminate his employment as director of the FBI. For his relationship, or lack of one, with Robert Kennedy, see Burton Hersch, Bobby and J. Edgar: The Historic Face-Off between the Kennedys and J. Edgar Hoover That Transformed America (New York: Carroll & Graf, 2007).

  167 RFK office call from Hoover, “president has been shot.” See Manchester, Death, pp. 195–96.

  167 Ted Kennedy is notified in the Senate. See Trost, President, p. 46 (recollection of Richard Reidel, press liaison aide, U.S. Senate).

  CHAPTER 7: “I HAVEN’T SHOT ANYBODY”

  169 Confrontation over removing the body without an autopsy performed in Texas. See Manchester, Death, p. 289–329.

  171 Broadcast of the description of Oswald. See Trost, President, p. 57 (Dallas Police Department radio transmission, channel 1, at about 12:45 CST).

  171 Oswald’s encounter with J. D Tippit. Over twelve witnesses were present during the shooting of J. D. Tippit. See WR, pp. 156–76. Several identified Oswald in a subsequent lineup, including: Mrs. Helen Markham, William W. Scoggins (he did not see the shooting, but identified him as the man running away), Mrs. Barbara Jeanette Davis, and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Charlie Virginia Davis. See the testimony of Mrs. Helen Markham, WC 3, p. 318 (complete testimony pp. 305–22, 340–42); the testimony of William W. Scoggins, WC 3, pp. 322–27 (complete testimony pp. 322–40); the testimony of Mrs. Barbara Jeanette Davis, WC 3, pp. 349–50 (complete testimony pp. 342–50); and the testimony of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Charlie Virginia Davis, WC 6, pp. 461–63 (complete testimony, pp. 454–68).

  The cartridges and bullets from the revolver were traced to Oswald’s gun, which was in his possession when he was captured. See WR, appendix 10, pp. 558–60. Years later, the House Select Committee on Assassinations would again conclude that Oswald shot Officer Tippit. See HSCA Final Report, pp. 59–60. For a comprehensive review of the evidence implicating Oswald in the Tippit murder, see Dale K. Myers, With Malice: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Murder of Officer J. D. Tippit (Milford, MI: Oak Cliff Press, 1998).

  174 LBJ aboard Air Force One. See Holland, Kennedy Assassination Tapes, pp. 19–51; Caro, Years, pp. 323–64; Gillon, Kennedy Assassination, pp. 87–166; and Manchester, Death, pp. 339–51, 386–88.

  176 Breaking the coffin handle to get it aboard. See Manchester, Death, p. 308.

  176 WQMR gets word of LBJ oath. Four Dark Days in November (Capitol Records, 1964).

  177 Getting Jackie to stand near LBJ. See Manchester, Death, p. 322.

  177 Lady Bird’s interaction with Jackie, “I want them to see . . .” See Lady Bird Johnson, A White House Diary (New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1970), p. 6.

  178 Jackie’s comments about keeping on the same clothes, but washing the blood off—“I should have kept the blood on.” See Theodore White, Camelot Interview.

  178 O’Donnell interaction with Jackie, her decision to participate in swearing in. O’Donnell, Johnny, p. 36.

  179 Merriman Smith observation, “Mrs. Kennedy walked down the narrow corridor.” The Actual Voices and Events (Colpix Records, 1964).

  179 Stoughton’s photos. To view the photographs taken by Cecil Stoughton on Air Force One, go to the “November 22, 1963 and Beyond” Web page of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum at www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/kennedy/index.htm. See “Historic Notes: the Full Record,” Time, Feb. 24, 1967, pp. 17–19. Also see Richard B. Trask, “The Day Kennedy Was Shot,” American Heritage 39, no. 7 (Nov. 1988), www.americanheritage.com/content/day-kennedy-was-shot.

  180 The oath, the dictabelt, and the photographs. To demonstrate to the nation that a new president was now the commander-in-chief, Stoughton immediately raced off the plane with the recording and his camera. By the time Air Force One landed at Andrews Air Force Base, one of the iconic photographs had already been broadcast on NBC. See Gillon, Kennedy Assassination, pp. 141–42.

  180 Shoe salesman follows Oswald to theater. See the testimony of Johnny Calvin Brewer, manager of Hardy’s Shoe Store, WC 7, pp. 1–8.

  181 Arrest of Oswald. See the testimony of M. N. (“Nick”) McDonald, WC 3, pp. 295–305. Also see Dale K. Myers, With Malice: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Murder of Officer J. D. Tippit (Milford, MI: Oak Cliff Press, 1998), pp. 139–87.

  181 Oswald’s comments upon arrest, “Well it’s all over now,” police brutality. Ibid., pp. 301, 303. See also WC 24, CE 2003, p. 240 (Dallas Police Department file on the investigation of the assassination of President Kennedy, pp. 195–404). Testimony of theater patron John Gibson, WC 7, p. 73. “Civil rights.” Bugliosi, Reclaiming History, p. 106.

  182 Oswald’s comments in police car, “You fry for that” and “I hear they burn for murder.” See the testimony of Dallas Police Sergeant Gerald Lynn Hill, WC 7, p. 58 (complete testimony, pp. 43–66) and the testimony of C. T. Walker, with Accident Investigations for the Dallas Police Department, WC 7, pp. 40–41 (complete testimony, pp. 34–43).

  182 First identification as A. J. Hidell. See the testimony of Dallas Police Sergeant Gerald Lynn Hill, WC 7, p. 58.

  182 “Why should I hide my face?” Ibid., p. 59.

  183 Shelley’s identification. “Well, that is Oswald. He works for us. He is one of my boys.” See the testimony of Dallas Police Officer C. W. Brown, WC 7, p. 248 (complete testimony, pp. 246–51).

  183 “You find out.” See testimony of Dallas Police Detective Guy F. Rose, WC 7, p. 228.

  183 Fritz first interview. See generally the testimony of Captain J. W. Fritz, WC 4, pp. 202–47; the testimony of James Patrick Hosty Jr., WC 4, pp. 440–76; James P. Hosty and Thomas Hosty, Assignment Oswald (New York: Arcade Publishing, 1996); WC 29, CE 2003, pp. 195–404 (Dallas Police Department file on the investigation of the assassination of the president, especially pp. 264–79, interview with Oswald); and WC 17, CE 832, pp. 785–86 (FBI report of interview with Lee Harvey Oswald). For the most comprehensive attempt to capture the conversation and the chronology of all Oswald’s comments while in custody during interviews and in comments to the press, see Bugliosi, Reclaiming History, pp. 123–273.

  183 “Well I struck an officer.” See the testimony of Dallas Police Detective Elmer L. Boyd, WC 7, p. 135 (complete testimony, pp. 119–35).

  In the almost forty-eight hours Oswald was in custody, he was interviewed for more than twelve hours by several individuals from the Dallas police, FBI, Secret Service, and the U.S. Post Office—often by more than one at the same time. While there were no recordings of these encounters, there were several reports, summaries, and testimonies that captured what was said during these sessions. The reports of some of these interviews can be found in appendix 11 of the Warren Report, pp. 599–636, and additional interaction can be found in witness testimony, commission exhibits, and subsequent books written by some of the principal players. It is not surprising that there would be no recordings. Even Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry would admit in his testimony before the Warren Commission that there should not have been so many people in a
room at once when questioning Oswald. Curry said “we were violating every principle of interrogation.” See the testimony of Jesse Edward Curry, WC 4, p. 152 (complete testimony, pp. 150–202).

  Many judge Oswald’s interrogation by the Miranda warning rule adopted by the Supreme Court in 1966 and other subsequent protections of a suspect’s rights. This was definitely not the case in 1963, and the custodial interrogation of criminal suspects was very different. When Oswald mentions a few times, including to the press, that he was hit by an officer, it is difficult if not impossible to know whether this was only during the struggle in the Texas Theater. Some police officers who testified stated that Oswald was not struck in the theater, but there was a scuffle. See WR, p. 200. Recognizing the concept of “the thin blue line,” it is difficult to assess Oswald’s treatment.

  The tactics used in 1963 would not meet the rigorous standards of today, and it is doubtful that any official would have admitted to some of these approaches if they had occurred. For standards of acceptable police conduct during this time period, see Fred E. Inbau and John Reid, Criminal Interrogation and Confessions (Baltimore: Williams & Wilkens, 1962).

  In 1963, the Supreme Court decided in the case of Gideon v. Wainright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963), that state courts were required to provide counsel in criminal cases to represent defendants who were unable to afford to pay their own attorneys. However, it was not until the Supreme Court ruled in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), that police also were mandated to notify defendants of their rights. In 1963, under Texas state law, the police were required to inform the suspect in custodial interrogation that there was the right to remain silent and that anything said could be used against him in a court of law. Oswald was informed of his rights, as required by Texas law. See generally Bugliosi, Reclaiming History, p. 115–16.

  184 “Oh, so you’re Hosty, the agent who’s been harassing my wife.” See Hosty, Assignment, p. 20.

  184 “My wife is a Russian citizen.” Ibid., p. 20.