In your experience, reporting this event, the events of November 22, 23, and 24, do you feel that there were any--that any restrictions or precautions could have been taken, either to have provided more orderly distribution of information to the press, or to safeguard Lee Oswald, that in your estimation were not taken?
Mr. Pappas.
I wonder if you could state that again?
Mr. Griffin.
All right. Let me state it as two questions. From the standpoint of a newspaper reporter, do you feel that the local authorities in Dallas could have or should have instituted procedures which would have provided a more orderly flow of news to the press, or more restricted flow than was permitted?
Mr. Pappas.
It is hard to say for me. I think that we got the news from the police department. That is what I am concerned with. And how I get it, whether it is orderly or not, is really none of my concern. I think if that is the way they do it, holding interviews in a hallway, that is the way I have to get it. I think that if they had set up an auditorium somewhere and came in with reports, this would be orderly. But how productive it would have been, I don't know.
Mr. Griffin.
Well, do you have--
Mr. Pappas.
I think ideally, as a reporter, as a newsman, I think ideally if there is an incident, a crash, or a homicide, or something, it would make our job a lot easier if we could have all of the witnesses and all of the interviews that we have to get brought in and placed in front of us in a large auditorium. This would be nice and orderly for us. But, unfortunately, that is not the way our business works.
Mr. Griffin.
Well, do you think it would have been proper for the police to have refused access--refused you people access to the third floor?
Mr. Pappas.
As far as a newsman is concerned; no.
Mr. Griffin.
Let me ask you the second question, on the protection of Lee Oswald. Did you observe any inadequacies in the manner in which Oswald was protected that you would be able to bring to our attention?
Mr. Pappas.
I am not a police officer. I don't know what is adequate and what is not. I could not tell you. I am not a law officer.
Mr. Griffin.
That is all right. I appreciate that. Do you have any other observations that you would want to make about your experiences in Dallas on those 3 days?
Mr. Pappas.
Just that it was one of the saddest assignments that I have had to cover ever, and that it was professionally a challenge. That is all I could say generally about it.
Mr. Griffin.
You haven't any information that you think would be of significance for us?
Mr. Pappas.
Nothing; no. I have just told the story so many times. I have just made every statement that I think could be made by me. That is what I know at this point. Unless you can think of something else specifically that you are puzzled about.
Mr. Griffin.
No; I haven't anything in mind. I think we have covered it pretty well as far as we are concerned. One final question, then. You and I have not had any off-the-record conversations, or prior conversations before we began taking your deposition, have we?
Mr. Pappas.
Only when you wanted to finish your coffee.
Mr. Griffin.
When I saw you out in the hallway and asked you to wait a few minutes?
Mr. Pappas.
Yes.
Mr. Griffin.
But we did not discuss anything pertaining to your testimony at that point?
Mr. Pappas.
Nothing; no.
Mr. Griffin.
I haven't any further questions. I want to thank you very much for coming here. You have been very helpful to us. The tape recording and the photographs which you have provided in the past have been of considerable use to us.
Mr. Pappas.
Thank you for having me here, and I hope I have been of some help in getting to the bottom of all of this.
John G. McCullough
