(Testimony of Roy H. , Special Agent, Kellerman)
Mr. Kellerman.
morning when the President, accompanied by the then Vice President Johnson, and a few congressional leaders walked out the front door, across this street which was a parking lot, and a few minutes speech was made to the gathering there. It was a light drizzle at the time. From there we returned to the hotel and he attended a breakfast given by the chamber of commerce and, I believe it was, a citizens group of Fort Worth. On completion of the breakfast he returned to his suite. The weather was then changing. It had quit raining and it looked like it was going to break out and be a real beautiful day. In the neighborhood of 10 o'clock in the morning I received a call from Mr. Lawson, Special Agent Lawson, who had the advance from Dallas, Tex.
Mr. Specter.
Mr. Lawson was with the Secret Service, was he?
Mr. Kellerman.
Yes, sir; he is. He asked me to determine whether the bubbletop car that the President would ride in in Dallas that day should have the top down or remain up.
Mr. Specter.
Let me interrupt you there for just a minute, Mr. Kellerman. I show you a photograph which has been marked as Commission Exhibit No. 344. Are you able to identify that picture and the automobile in that picture?
Mr. Kellerman.
Yes, sir; this is the 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible bubbletop. It is a special car.
Mr. Specter.
For the purpose of the record, how many doors does that car have?
Mr. Kellerman.
This vehicle has four doors.
Mr. Specter.
And in the posture of the picture identified as Commission Exhibit 344, is the top up or down?
Mr. Kellerman.
The top is down, sir.
Mr. Specter.
And what top does that automobile have?
Mr. Kellerman.
This top is a plastic top. From the rear of the passenger all the way to the windshield there are four sections of plastic glass. The one that comes over the top of the passengers in the back seat, two little sections that come over the two doors, and one over the driver and passenger in the front seat.
Mr. Specter.
In what way is that attached, if any, to the car?
Mr. Kellerman.
Securely bolted, screwed.
Mr. Specter.
Mr. Chairman, may I ask that the Exhibit 344 be introduced formally in evidence, please?
Representative Ford.
It will be so admitted.
(The photograph referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 344 for identification and received in evidence.)
Mr. Specter.
I now hand you a photograph marked Commission Exhibit 345. Are you able to tell us what that depicts?
Mr. Kellerman.
Yes, sir; this is the same vehicle as mentioned in 344. The difference being the top is up and there is a covering, a cloth covering that also fits over this plastic top.
Mr. Specter.
And Exhibit No. 345 is taken from what angle, Mr. Kellerman?
Mr. Kellerman.
From the rear, sir.
Mr. Specter.
As contrasted with Exhibit No. 344, which is taken from what angle?
Mr. Kellerman.
This is from the right side.
Mr. Specter.
I ask that Exhibit 345 be introduced, if the Commission please.
Representative Ford.
So admitted.
(The photograph referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 345 for identification and received in evidence.)
Mr. Specter.
I now hand you a photograph marked Commission Exhibit 346, Mr. Kellerman, and ask you if you can tell us what that depicts.
Mr. Kellerman.
This picture depicts the interior of this same automobile. It has a rear solid seat; there are two other jump seats that can be folded forward in the rear and the complete solid front seat for the driver and passenger. This is the same vehicle.
Mr. SPECTER. Will you describe what, if anything, is present between the front seat and the rear seat area?
Mr. Kellerman.
Yes, sir. This metal partition that is erected in back of the driver, between the driver and the passengers in the rear seat, is a metal
|