(Testimony of Jesse Edward Curry)
Mr. Curry.
empty into this triple underpass are east-west, Elm Street is a one-way street west, Commerce is one-way east, Main Street is a two- way street going east and west. We had----
Mr. Rankin.
You were going to explain why you couldn't continue right down Main.
Mr. Curry.
We would--we left the parade route up to the host committee. They chose the route, asking that we go down Main Street, and then we would go on to what is known as the triple, through the triple underpass onto Stemmons Expressway. It was necessary to get on this expressway to get to the Trade Mart, the building where the dinner or luncheon would be held.
But had we proceeded on down Main Street, we could not have gotten onto Stemmons Expressway unless we had had public works to come in and remove some curbing and build some barricades over it.
So, in talking with the Secret Service people they suggested we come to Main Street to Elm Street, turn one block north and turn back west and go through the triple underpass on the Elm Street side and at this place Elm Street is two-way.
So that was the reason that it was necessary to take this motorcade one block north, and then turn west again in order that we could get on the triple, through the triple underpass onto the Stemmons Expressway without coming down and removing some curbing or building over the curbing and disturbing the regular flow of traffic.
Mr. Rankin.
Was there any consideration given prior to establishing the parade route to removing this curbing and going
Mr. Curry.
No, sir; nothing was said about it at all. In fact, when they were choosing the routes for this parade, we left it entirely up to the host committee and to the Secret Service.
They asked us what we thought about certain routes. We told them what we thought would be the most direct routes, and they chose to come through the downtown area, I think for the purpose they wanted the President to see as much of the people as possible and wanted the people to have an opportunity to see him.
Mr. Rankin.
Going to the Trade Mart building would be assumed that you would go by the Texas Depository Building?
Mr. Curry.
If we went on Stemmons Expressway and that is the way they wanted to go. The only other way we could have gone. We could have continued down Main Street passed through the underpass about a block past there to Industrial Boulevard and then we would have gone Industrial Boulevard and made an entrance from the Trade Mart, from the north side of the Trade Mart there. But it was decided with the Secret Service people that we would go Main to Houston, Houston to Elm, Elm through to triple underpass onto the expressway and the expressway to the Trade Mart where they would come off and had parking facilities reserved and had a security setup.
Mr. Rankin.
Will you describe the cars of the----
Mr. Mccloy.
Just before that, how far before November 22 was that route decided on?
Mr. Curry.
Approximately 2 days or so, I believe. That is in this chronological record.
Mr. Dulles.
When was this route published?
Mr. Mccloy.
That route was published.
Mr. Curry.
It was published perhaps 2 days before, a day or two before.
Mr. Rankin.
Is the Elm Street route a shorter route than to go by Industrial Boulevard?
Mr. Curry.
It's a more scenic route. The Stemmons Expressway was and it was easier to travel, traffic is easier to control on it, it is a 10-lane highway, and the Industrial Highway is heavily traveled by commercial vehicles and goes through a commercial section of the industrial area. And there was a more scenic route and traffic was more---a freer flow of traffic anyway.
Mr. Rankin.
Were you involved in the discussion about the choice of route?
Mr. Curry.
Not particularly. Chief Batchelor, my assistant chief, and Chief
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