(Testimony of William Robert , Special Agent, Greer)
Mr. Greer.
I am not too sure. No; I wouldn't really know. I didn't have enough time.
Mr. Specter.
And are you familiar with the street which intersects with Main--
Mr. Greer.
Houston Street.
Mr. Specter.
And what street did you turn off of from Houston?
Mr. Greer.
Houston to Elm Street.
Mr. Specter.
Now, as you were proceeding down Main Street, which I will add is in a generally westerly direction, what is your best estimate of your speed as you turned the corner right onto Houston Street?
Mr. Greer.
I would estimate the speed was somewhere between 12 to 15 miles per hour, coming through there.
Mr. Specter.
And as you made that right-hand turn onto Houston Street, what was the composition of the crowds along the way, if any?
Mr. Greer.
On Main Street there were very, very large crowds. They were almost close up against the automobile. Sometimes the motorcycles on the sides could not even get through. They were real close to us. And very large crowds. And when we got around on Houston Street, the crowds thinned out quite a lot. My recollection here is that there wasn't too many people on Elm Street--a few scattered people at that point.
Mr. Specter.
And your finger indicated there the position near the Texas School Depository Building?
Mr. Greer.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Specter.
Now, you have described motorcycles. How many were present with the President's automobile, if any?
Mr. Greer.
I could not toll the exact amount of motorcycles that were escorting us at that time. We usually do have them on the two front fenders and two rear fenders, and some probably preceding that, and some along the motorcade behind us. I could not tell you exactly how many there probably would be.
Mr. Specter.
Do you recollect that there were some on this occasion, however?
Mr. Greer.
Yes, sir; there were motorcycles.
Mr. Specter.
Now, do you know how many cars back your car was in the motorcade?
Mr. Greer.
No; I don't know how many police cars were ahead of us. I knew that the lead car was right directly ahead of me, with one of our agents, or maybe two, and the chief of police in that car. But how many police cars prior to that, I do not know how many there were at the time in front of us.
Mr. Specter.
How far ahead of you was that police car as you turned off of Main Street onto Houston?
Mr. Greer.
I usually allow 4 or 5 car lengths, if possible, between the car and myself, in case that there is any reason to speed up quick. I like to leave enough room that I can get out of there. I don't like to get too tight to the lead car when possible--unless the crowds are so big that I have to get in or they would close in on me--I have to get in closer.
Mr. Specter.
Do you know how far behind you the first car immediately behind yours was?
Mr. Greer.
The car behind me was only some few feet, because with our training and all, we stay very, very close to the President's car. Sometimes we are bumper to bumper. And the car never is much more than 10 to 12 feet away from the President's car, at slow speeds.
Mr. Specter.
Did you endeavor to maintain a constant speed in the operation of the President's car so as to avoid contact with this close gap between the President's car and the President's follow-up automobile?
Mr. Greer.
Yes, sir. We tried to drive at a very steady speed. We are used to driving with each other, and we almost can tell each other's thoughts what we do, because of the training we have had, and we work so long together. We drive at a steady pace of speed, so that we give each other enough ample time to stop or move in close.
Mr. Specter.
After turning off Main onto Houston, did you have any opportunity to take a look at the building which you have since identified as the Texas School Book Depository Building?
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