(Testimony of Mrs. John F. Kennedy)
Mr. Rankin.
And then do you remember as you turned off of Houston onto Elm right by the Depository Building?
Mrs. Kennedy.
Well, I don't know the names of the streets, but I suppose right by the Depository is what you are talking about?
Mr. Rankin.
Yes; that is the street that sort of curves as you go down under the underpass.
Mr. Kennedy.
Yes; well, that is when she said to President Kennedy, "You certainly can't say that the people of Dallas haven't given you a nice welcome.
Mr. Rankin.
What did he say?
Mrs. Kennedy.
I think he said-I don't know if I remember it or I have read it, "No, you certainly can't," or something. And you know then the car was very slow and there weren't very many people around.
And then--do you want me to tell you what happened?
Mr. Rankin.
Yes; if you would, please.
Mrs. Kennedy.
You know, there is always noise in a motorcade and there are always motorcycles, besides us, a lot of them backfiring. So I was looking to the left. I guess there was a noise, but it didn't seem like any different noise really because there is so much noise, motorcycles and things. But then suddenly Governor Connally was yelling, "Oh, no, no, no."
Mr. Rankin.
Did he turn toward you?
Mrs. Kennedy.
No; I was looking this way, to the left, and I heard these terrible noises. You know. And my husband never made any sound. So I turned to the right. And all I remember is seeing my husband, he had this sort of quizzical look on his face, and his hand was up, it must have been his left hand. And just as I turned and looked at him, I could see a piece of his skull and I remember it was flesh colored. I remember thinking he just looked as if he had a slight headache. And I just remember seeing that. No blood or anything.
And then he sort of did this [indicating], put his hand to his forehead and fell in my lap.
And then I just remember falling on him and saying, "Oh, no, no, no," I mean, "Oh, my God, they have shot my husband." And "I love you, Jack," I remember I was shouting. And just being down in the car with his head in my lap. And it just seemed an eternity.
You know, then, there were pictures later on of me climbing out the back. But I don't remember that at all.
Mr. Rankin.
Do you remember Mr. Hill coming to try to help on the car?
Mrs. Kennedy.
I don't remember anything. I was just down like that. And finally I remember a voice behind me, or something, and then I remember the people in the front seat, or somebody, finally knew something was wrong, and a voice yelling, which must have been Mr. Hill, "Get to the hospital,"or maybe it was Mr. Kellerman, in the front seat. But someone yelling. I was just down and holding him. [Reference to wounds deleted.]
Mr. Rankin.
Do you have any recollection of whether there were one or more shots?
Mrs. Kennedy.
Well, there must have been two because the one that made me turn around was Governor Connally yelling. And it used to confuse me because first I remembered there were three and I used to think my husband didn't make any sound when he was shot. And Governor Connally screamed. And then I read the other day that it was the same shot that hit them both. But I used to think if I only had been looking to the right I would have seen the first shot hit him, then I could have pulled him down, and then the second shot would not have hit him. But I heard Governor Connally yelling and that made me turn around, and as I turned to the right my husband was doing this [indicating with hand at neck]. He was receiving a bullet. And those are the only two I remember.
And I read there was a third shot. But I don't know. Just those two.
Mr. Rankin.
Do you have any recollection generally of the speed that you were going, not any precise amount.
Mrs. Kennedy.
We were really slowing turning the corner. And there were very few people.
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