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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VI - Page 21« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Dr. William Kemp Clark)

Mr. Specter.
Did you advise anyone else in the Presidential party of the death of the President?
Dr. CLARK. Yes; I told Mrs. Kennedy, the President's wife, of his death.
Mr. Specter.
And what, if anything, did she respond to you ?
Dr. CLARK. She told me that she knew it and thanked me for our efforts.

Mr. SPECTER. Were any bullets or parts of bullets found in the President's body?
Dr. CLARK. Not by me, nor did I see any such missiles recovered at Parkland Hospital.
Mr. SPECTER. Were you a part of any press conference which followed on the day of the assassination ?
Dr. CLARK. Yes sir; I was.
Mr. Specter.
And who made the arrangements for the press conference?
Dr. CLARK. Mr. Malcolm Kilduff, the Presidential press secretary.
Mr. Specter.
At what time did the press conference occur?
Dr. CLARK. Approximately 2:30.
Mr. Specter.
Where was it held ?
Dr. CLARK. It was held in room 101-102, Parkland Hospital.

Mr. SPECTER. What mechanical instruments were used, if any, by the press at the conference?
Dr. CLARK. Tape recorders and television cameras, as well as the usual note pads and pencils, and so forth.
Mr. SPECTER. And who was interviewed during the course of the press conference and photographed?
Dr. CLARK. Dr. Malcolm Perry and myself.
Mr. Specter.
No one else?
Dr. CLARK. No.

Mr. SPECTER. What, if anything, did you say then in the course of that press conference ?
Dr. CLARK. I described the President's wound in his head in very much the same way as I have described it here. I was asked if this wound was an entrance wound, an exit wound, or what, and I said it could be an exit wound, but I felt it was a tangential wound.
Mr. Specter.
Which wound did you refer to at this time ?
Dr. CLARK. The wound in the head.
Mr. Specter.
Did you describe at that time what you meant by "tangential"?
Dr. CLARK. Yes, sir; I did.
Mr. Specter.
What definition of "tangential" did you make at that time?

Dr. CLARK. As I remember, I defined the word "tangential" as being---striking an object obliquely, not squarely or head on.
Mr. SPECTER. Will you describe at this time in somewhat greater detail the consequences of a tangential wound as contrasted with another type of a striking ?
Dr. CLARK. Let me begin by saying that the damage suffered by an organ when struck by a bullet or other missile---
Mr. SPECTER. May the record show that I interrupted the deposition for about 2 minutes to ascertain what our afternoon schedule would be here because the regular administration office ordinarily closes at 12 o'clock, which was just about 15 minutes ago, and then we resumed the deposition of Dr. Clark as he was discussing the concept of tangential and other types of striking. Go ahead, Doctor.
Dr. CLARK. The effects of any missile striking an organ or a function of the energy which is shed by the missile in passing through this organ when a bullet strikes the head, if it is able to pass through rapidly without shedding any energy into the brain, little damage results, other than that part of the brain which is directly penetrated by the missile. However, if it strikes the skull at an angle, it must then penetrate much more bone than normal, therefore, is likely to shed more energy, striking the brain a more powerful blow.
Secondly, in striking the bone in this manner, it may cause pieces of the bone to be blown into the brain and thus act as secondary missiles. Finally, the bullet itself may be deformed and deflected so that it would go through or penetrate parts of the brain, not in the usual direct line it was proceeding.
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