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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VI - Page 23« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Dr. William Kemp Clark)

Mr. SPECTER. Did he say anything about whether the neck wound was a point of entry or exit?
Dr. CLARK. I do not remember---I specifically discussed this---may I add something to what I said in the first press conference?
Mr. SPECTER. Yes; please do, if you find something that comes to mind, please feel free to add that.
Dr. CLARK. All right. Let me check what I remember Dr. Perry said at the first press conference. He was asked if the neck wound could be a wound of entrance or appeared to be a wound of exit, and Dr. Perry said something like "possibly or conceivably," or something of this sort.
Mr. SPECTER. And, did he elaborate as to how that projectory would have been possible in that press conference?
Dr. CLARK. He did not elaborate on this. One of the reporters with gestures indicated the direction that such a bullet would have to take, and Dr. Perry quite obviously had to agree that this is the way it had to go to get from there to the top of his head.

Mr. Specter.
But that was a possible trajectory under the circumstances?
Dr. CLARK. Yes.
Mr. SPECTER. How would that have been postulated in terms of striking specific parts of the body ?
Dr. CLARK. Well, on a speculation, this would mean that the missile would have had to have been fired from below-- upward or that the President was hanging upside down.
Mr. Specter.
Did Dr. Perry discuss anything with you prior to that second conference about a telephone call from Washington, D.C.?
Dr. CLARK. Yes; he did.

Mr. SPECTER. Would you relate briefly what Dr. Perry told you about that subject ?
Dr. CLARK. Yes; Dr. Perry stated that he had talked to the Bethesda Naval Hospital on two occasions that morning and that he knew what the autopsy findings had shown and that he did not wish to be questioned by the press, as he had been asked by Bethesda to confine his remarks to that which he knew from having examined the President, and suggested that the major part of this press conference be conducted by me.
Mr. SPECTER. Was anyone else present when he expressed those thoughts to you?
Dr. CLARK. I believe that Mr. Price and Dr. Shires were present. I could be wrong on that.
Mr. Specter.
Now, were you a part of a third press conference?
Dr. CLARK. Yes, sir.
Mr. Specter.
And when did that occur?
Dr. CLARK. During the following week--I have forgotten exactly the day.
Mr. Specter.
And what networks were involved at that time ?
Dr. CLARK. It was CBS.
Mr. Specter.
Was that a television conference?
Dr. CLARK. Yes; this was filmed.
Mr. Specter.
And who arranged that conference?
Dr. CLARK. Again, Mr. Landregan.
Mr. Specter.
And who spoke at that conference?

Dr. CLARK. Dr. Shaw, Dr. Shires, Dr. Baxter, Dr. McClelland, Dr. Jenkins, Dr. Gieseke, and myself.
Mr. Specter.
Was Dr. Perry there at that time ?
Dr. CLARK. Yes; Dr. Perry was there.
Mr. Specter.
Would you outline briefly what you said at that time, if it differed in any way from what you said before?
Dr. CLARK. No, sir; it did not.
Mr. Specter.
What did Dr. Perry say at that time?

Dr. CLARK. Essentially the same thing that he had said before, describing the wound in the throat, describing the condition of the President, how he was called and so forth.
Mr. SPECTER. Did he comment at that time as to whether it was an entrance wound or an exit wound or what?
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