headed at first in the wrong direction, and were again rerouted. And in a matter, however, of a couple of minutes from the entrance of the hospital, arrived behind these swinging doors with glass panels, and my first--I saw to my right sitting--yes--sitting in a chair, and to my left, in this corridor sitting in a similar chair--to my right Mrs. Kennedy, to my left Mrs. Connally.

Mr. Adams.

You didn't go in through the emergency entrance, then? You went through----
Mr. O'BRIEN. Apparently not. I am not sure of the entrance. But I just don't know. I assume that was not the emergency entrance.

Mr. Adams.

And you said that Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Connally were sitting there more or less together?
Mr. O'BRIEN. No. They were sitting--obviously chairs had been placed outside the door in each instance one door to the left as you walked through these swinging doors with the glass panels--one door to the left that was closed, one door to the right that was closed. And outside of the door--this was a fairly wide corridor that ran down perhaps through three rooms on each side, these first two rooms right and left, the President had been placed in the emergency room to the right and Governor Connally in the emergency room to the left. Both doors were closed at that moment.

Mr. Adams.

Was there anyone with Mrs. Kennedy at the time?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Mr. Powers and Mr. O'Donnell were standing there.

Mr. Adams.

Were you accompanied all the way up to this point by the two Congressmen you mentioned before?
Mr. O'BRIEN. The two Congressmen did not go through the doors with me. They left me at some point several feet from the doors, when it was determined that I was being taken to the right location.

Mr. Adams.

Now, at that point, you knew that--from the Congressmen and from others, that the President had been shot?
Mr. O'BRIEN. That is correct.

Mr. Adams.

Then did you go up to Mrs. Kennedy or Mrs. Connally, or what did you do then?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I immediately engaged Mr. O'Donnell and Mr. Powers in conversation.

Mr. Adam.

Can you recall that conversation?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Neither Mr. Powers or Mr. O'Donnell had a clear idea of the situation at the moment, but Mr. O'Donnell certainly gave me a positive indication that there was little or no chance.

Mr. Adams.

Did you have any conversation with Mrs. Kennedy at that point?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I did not have any conversation other than attempting to comfort her, asking her if there was anything we could do---brief moments of that nature. But conversation was extremely limited.

Mr. Adams.

Do you know where the Vice President was at that time?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I did not see the Vice President in the hospital. I was given to understand by Mr. O'Donnell he was down the corridor--again, if I did an about face, headed across in the other direction--that he was in a room across the hall.

Mr. Adams.

How long did you stay there?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Until the President was taken from the hospital.

Mr. Adams.

You stayed there with Mrs. Kennedy?
Mr. O'BRIEN. That is right.

Mr. Adams.

During that whole time?
Mr. O'BRIEN. That is right. During that period General McHugh at one point, Malcolm Kilduff from the press staff from time to time came in and out, Mrs. Lincoln, Dr. Burkley came in and out from time to time.

Mr. Adams.

Was Dr. Burkley also in the emergency room?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I don't recall.

Mr. Adams.

Now----
Mr. O'BRIEN. As we stood there, they moved equipment, heavy emergency equipment into the emergency room, and there was a great deal of what you would just envision--scurrying around of nurses and doctors, a great deal of activity.

Mr. Adams.

Did you go into the emergency room yourself?

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