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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 448« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Kenneth P. O'donnell)

Mr. Specter.
And approximately how far behind the Presidential vehicle was the followup car at that time?
Mr. O'DONNELL. My guess would be 5 to 8 feet, the normal--when there are large crowds, pressing in on the side, they try to stay close. It was moving at a steady pace. The crowds were orderly. So he was at a normal--I would presume they were just about turning to step up the speed a little bit because there would be no crowds from there.
Mr. Specter.
What is your best estimate of the speed of the President's vehicle at that time?
Mr. O'DONNELL. Well, I would think we probably were going between 15 and 20, up until that moment, and I think he probably had just begun to accelerate probably up to about 25, somewhere in that vicinity.
Mr. Specter.
Had the Secret Service followup car completed its left-hand turn prior to the time the shots rang out?
Mr. O'DONNELL. My recollection is they had, just about.
I don't recollect a separation of this nature. It was a slight sloping turn, as I remember, and I thought we were right together.
Mr. Specter.
So that when you just indicated with your hands, you were showing a pattern of the Secret Service car having made the turn and straightened up immediately behind the Presidential vehicle proceeding down the street?
Mr. O'DONNELL. That is my impression.
Mr. Specter.
And was the overpass in sight at that time, did you say?
Mr. O'DONNELL. Yes; it was.
Mr. Specter.
On which side of the car was President Kennedy seat?
Mr. O'DONNELL. He was on the right side.
Mr. Specter.
The extreme right?
Mr. O'DONNELL. The extreme right.
Mr. Specter.
And what was he doing with his hands prior to the time of the shooting, if you recall?
Mr. O'DONNELL. He was waving. We had just left the mass of crowds. But as we turned on the grass plot there were four or five people there, and I believe he waved to them.
Mr. Specter.
Indicating a right-handed wave?
Mr. O'DONNELL. Yes.
Mr. Specter.
Where was Governor Connally seated with respect to the President?
Mr. O'DONNELL. He was directly in front of the President.
Mr. Specter.
Do you know whether or not the President's seat was raised or was it in its extreme low position at that time?
Mr. O'DONNELL. I would not know.
Mr. Specter.
Do you know what the President's practice was as to whether or not the seat would be raised?
Mr. O'DONNELL. I don't know that, either.
Mr. Specter.
Do you know what the controls were on the Presidential automobile for raising or lowering the President's seat?
Mr. O'DONNELL. No; I don't
Mr. Specter.
How many shots were there in all?
Mr. O'DONNELL. Three.
Mr. Specter.
What is your best estimate as to the total time which elapsed from the first shot to the last shot?
Mr. O'DONNELL. I would say 5 to 6 seconds.
Mr. Specter.
And was there any distinguishable tempo to the shots?
Mr. O'DONNELL. Yes; the first two came almost simultaneously, came one right after the other, there was a slight hesitation, then the third one.
Mr. Specter.
And what was your reaction as to the source of the shots, if you had one?
Mr. O'DONNELL. My reaction in part is reconstruction---is that they came from the right rear. That would be my best judgment.
Mr. Specter.
Was there any reaction by any of the other people around in any specific direction?
Mr. O'DONNELL. The agents all turned to the rear. I would think, watching the reaction of the President when the shot--the first shot hit--that it would
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