All language subtitles for The.Day.Kennedy.Died.2013.WEBRip.x264-ION10

Narrator:
ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963,

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
ARRIVES IN DALLAS

TO AN ECSTATIC WELCOME.

Reporter:
AND HERE THEY COME.

THE PEOPLE CHEER.

Man: HOLLYWOOD COULD NOT
HAVE PRODUCED A COUPLE

MORE GLAMOROUS
THAN JOHN KENNEDY AND JACKIE.

Narrator:
IN HIS THREE YEARS AS PRESIDENT,

KENNEDY HAS BECOME
A GLOBAL SUPERSTAR,

CREDITED WITH FACING DOWN THE
COLD WAR SOVIET ENEMY IN CUBA

AND SAVING THE WORLD
FROM NUCLEAR WAR.

Reporter: I CAN SEE HIS SUNTAN
ALL THE WAY FROM HERE.

Narrator: WITH HIS GLAMOROUS
STYLE-ICON WIFE JACKIE,

KENNEDY HAS ALSO BECOME THE
DARLING OF THE WORLD'S MEDIA,

THE FIRST TV PRESIDENT.

Man: IT WAS CAMELOT.

MAKE-BELIEVE.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
SAW THEM THAT WAY.

Narrator: BUT NOT EVERYONE
WELCOMES THE PRESIDENT

THAT MORNING IN DALLAS.

Woman: THE ATMOSPHERE IN DALLAS
WAS SO CHARGED,

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE WORRIED
ABOUT KENNEDY COMING AT ALL.

IT WAS IN THE AIR,

THE FEAR THAT
HE MIGHT BE KILLED.

Man: I SAW THE PRESIDENT
GRAB AT HIS THROAT,

AND I KNEW
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

Man: IT WENT KIND OF
"BANG...BANG-BANG."

Narrator: IN DALLAS TODAY,

THE SPOT WHERE KENNEDY
WAS TARGETED 50 YEARS AGO

CONTINUES TO DRAW VISITORS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

A TRAGEDY FROM LONG BEFORE
CELL PHONES AND THE INTERNET

HAS A POWERFUL HOLD
FOR SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS.

THIS FILM TELLS THE STORY
OF THAT DAY IN DALLAS

THROUGH THE MEMORIES OF PEOPLE
WHO PLAYED A PART

IN THOSE EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS

AND WHOSE LIVES WERE TOUCHED
FOREVER BY WHAT HAPPENED.

SOME HAVE NOT SPOKEN
ON CAMERA BEFORE.

THE DOCTOR WHO TRIED
TO SAVE KENNEDY...

THE SECRET SERVICE AGENT WHO
AGONIZED THAT HE WAS TOO LATE...

THE MAN WRONGLY ACCUSED
OF JFK'S MURDER...

THE WOMAN WHO DISCOVERED

SHE HAD SHELTERED
THE PRESIDENT'S ASSASSIN.

THIS IS
THE MINUTE-BY-MINUTE STORY

OF THE DEATH OF A PRESIDENT

TOLD THROUGH
RARELY SEEN FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHS

TO GIVE A DEFINITIVE EYEWITNESS
ACCOUNT OF THE DAY KENNEDY DIED.

Man: WITH THE ASSASSINATION
OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY,

I BELIEVE THE WORLD CHANGED.

[CROWD CHEERING]

Narrator: 8:50 A.M.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAS LESS
THAN FOUR HOURS TO LIVE

WHEN HE EMERGES FROM
THE TEXAS HOTEL IN FORT WORTH,

30 MILES FROM DALLAS.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
WAITING IN THE RAIN FOR HOURS

FOR A CHANCE
TO SEE THE PRESIDENT.

KENNEDY IS INTRODUCED BY
VICE PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON.

Lyndon Johnson: THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES!

John F. Kennedy: I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR WELCOME.

Narrator: BENEATH
THE PRESIDENT'S SMILE,

THERE'S A STEELY
POLITICAL MOTIVE.

HE FACES A TIGHT RE-ELECTION
IN 1964.

Man: HE HAD TO CARRY TEXAS
TO WIN THE PRE-NOMINATION.

AND HE CAME HERE PRIMARILY

TO HEAL A SPLIT BETWEEN
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,

WHICH THEN WOULD ASSURE HIM
OF CARRYING TEXAS.

Man: THE CONSERVATIVES
AND THE LIBERALS IN TEXAS

HAD REALLY SPLIT
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WIDE OPEN,

AND PRESIDENT KENNEDY KNEW THAT
HE COULD NOT WIN IN 1964

UNLESS HE COULD CARRY TEXAS,

AND HE COULD ONLY CARRY TEXAS

IF HE COULD HEAL THE WOUNDS
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SO THAT WAS REALLY THE REASON

THAT HE CAME TO TEXAS
TO START WITH.

Narrator:
AS THE PRESIDENT PREPARES
FOR HIS VISIT TO DALLAS,

TWO YOUNG MEN ARE DRIVING TOWARD
THE CENTER OF THE CITY

AND THEIR JOBS AT THE TEXAS
SCHOOL BOOK DEPOSITORY.

ONE OF THEM
IS LEE HARVEY OSWALD.

50 YEARS LATER,

OSWALD'S NEIGHBOR AND WORKMATE
BUELL FRAZIER RECALLS THAT DRIVE

AND THE DAY
THAT WOULD CHANGE HIS LIFE.

Buell Frazier:
THAT MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK,

LEE WAS HIS USUAL SELF,
HE WASN'T REAL TALKATIVE.

WHEN I FIRST SAT DOWN,
I GLANCED OVER

AND I SAW A PACKAGE
ON THE BACKSEAT,

AND I SAID,
"WELL, WHAT IS THAT?"

AND HE SAID, "REMEMBER,

I TOLD YOU I WAS
GONNA BRING CURTAIN RODS

TO PUT UP THE CURTAINS
IN MY APARTMENT"

THAT HIS WIFE MARINA
HAD MADE FOR HIM.

I SAID, "OH, THAT'S RIGHT."

Narrator:
THERE'S A BREAK THIS MORNING
WITH OSWALD'S USUAL ROUTINE.

Frazier: I ASKED HIM, I SAID,

"WELL, WILL YOU BE
GOING HOME WITH ME?"

HE SAYS, "NO." HE SAYS,
"I GOT SOMETHING TO DO."

Narrator: 8 A.M.

OSWALD AND FRAZIER
ARRIVE FOR WORK

AT THE TEXAS SCHOOL BOOK
DEPOSITORY IN DEALEY PLAZA.

OSWALD HAS BEEN WORKING THERE
FOR JUST A MONTH

AND FRAZIER HAS HELPED HIM
TO LEARN THE JOB.

Frazier: LEE WAS A, UH...

HE WAS DIFFERENT
FROM THE OTHER GUYS.

HE WAS MORE SERIOUS.

AND SOMETIMES THE GUYS WOULD...
WOULD LAUGH AT HIM.

Narrator:
MOST OF THE OTHER WORKERS

KNOW NOTHING
OF OSWALD'S BACKGROUND:

THAT HE'S BEEN
A U.S. MARINE AND A MARKSMAN;

THAT HE'S LIVED
IN THE SOVIET UNION

AND TRIED TO DEFECT;

THAT HE HAS A RUSSIAN WIFE
AND TWO CHILDREN IN DALLAS.

HE'S TOLD HIS STORY
ONLY TO BUELL FRAZIER.

Frazier: HE GOT THE PACKAGE
OUT OF THE CAR

AND PUT IT UNDER HIS RIGHT ARM,
AND HE BEGAN TO WALK OFF,

AND HE WENT INSIDE.

NOW, WHERE DID HE GO?
I DON'T KNOW.

ONE OF THE MEN I WORKED WITH
SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT

IS GONNA BE COMING RIGHT BY
THE BUILDING HERE TODAY.

I SAID, "REALLY?"

'CAUSE IF YOU STOP AND THINK,
THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING

TO BE ABLE TO SEE A PARADE
WHERE YOU HAVE THE PRESIDENT,

BECAUSE THAT
JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.

[APPLAUSE]

Narrator: 9:10 A.M.

IN FORT WORTH,

THE PRESIDENT ARRIVES
TO ADDRESS LOCAL BUSINESSMEN.

IT WILL BE HIS LAST SPEECH.

KENNEDY KNOWS THAT A KEY ASSET

IN WINNING
TEXAN HEARTS AND MINDS

IS HIS WIFE JACKIE.

Reporter: QUITE A FEW PEOPLE
IN THE BALLROOM

ARE WATCHING THE MAITRE D'.

SO FAR THERE IS NO PLATE
AT THE PLACE OF MRS. KENNEDY.

Narrator: A CALL IS MADE

TO JACKIE KENNEDY'S
SECRET SERVICE AGENT CLINT HILL

TO SUMMON THE FIRST LADY

FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE
IN THE HOTEL.

HILL HAS BEEN
TRAVELING THE WORLD

AS MRS. KENNEDY'S BODYGUARD
FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS

AND HAS BECOME HER TRUSTED
ESCORT AND PROTECTOR.

Clint Hill:
THE PHONE RANG IN THE SUITE.

I ANSWERED.

IT WAS THE AGENT WITH PRESIDENT
KENNEDY AT THE BREAKFAST.

THE PRESIDENT
WANTED MRS. KENNEDY

BROUGHT DOWN TO THE BREAKFAST
RIGHT NOW.

SHE KEPT ON DRESSING AND PUTTING
ON HER GLOVES AND THINGS,

AND FINALLY I SAID,
"YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT

IS REALLY WAITING FOR YOU
AT THE BREAKFAST,"

AND SO SHE PUT ON HER HAT,
AND DOWN WE WENT.

[APPLAUSE]

SHE HAD LOST A CHILD
SHORTLY AFTER BIRTH

IN AUGUST OF THAT YEAR,

AND SHE HAD BEEN
IN A STATE OF DEPRESSION

BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION.

SHE WAS GRADUALLY
COMING OUT OF IT,

AND SHE HAD MADE THE DECISION

THAT SHE WAS GOING TO
HELP THE PRESIDENT

IN HIS RE-ELECTION BID FOR 1964.

AND THE FIRST THING
THAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO

WAS GO WITH HIM
ON HIS TRIP TO TEXAS,

AND SO SHE WAS IN HIGH SPIRITS
AND VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT.

President Kennedy:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

TWO YEARS AGO
I INTRODUCED MYSELF IN PARIS

BY SAYING THAT I WAS THE MAN

WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED
MRS. KENNEDY TO PARIS.

I'M GETTING
SOMEWHAT THAT SAME SENSATION

AS I TRAVEL AROUND TEXAS.

[APPLAUSE]

NOBODY WONDERS
WHAT LYNDON AND I WEAR.

[LAUGHTER]

Sid Davis: I'D NEVER
SEEN HER HAPPIER

THAN SHE WAS ON THAT TRIP.

SHE DIDN'T LIKE POLITICS
TO A GREAT EXTENT.

SHE DIDN'T TRAVEL
WITH HIM VERY MUCH

ON POLITICAL TRIPS AS PRESIDENT.

AND SO TEXAS
WAS THE FIRST REAL TRIP

OF HER GETTING OUT
OF THE WHITE HOUSE

AND GOING WITH
THE PRESIDENT SOMEWHERE.

AND SO SHE WAS BOUNCING BACK,
SHE WAS SMILING AND HAPPY,

AFTER WHAT SHE'D BEEN THROUGH.

Man: MR. PRESIDENT,

WE KNOW THAT
YOU DON'T WEAR A HAT.

[LAUGHTER]

BUT WE COULDN'T
LET YOU LEAVE FORT WORTH

WITHOUT PROVIDING YOU WITH SOME
PROTECTION AGAINST THE RAIN.

[APPLAUSE]

Davis: HE WASN'T GONNA
PUT IT ON.

HE AVOIDED THINGS
A LOT OF POLITICIANS WOULD DO

JUST FOR THE VOTE.

President Kennedy: I'LL PUT IT
ON IN THE WHITE HOUSE ON MONDAY.

IF YOU'LL COME UP THERE, YOU'LL
HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE IT THERE.

Narrator: AS THE PRESIDENTIAL
PARTY LEAVES FORT WORTH

FOR THE SHORT FLIGHT TO DALLAS

THERE'S UNWELCOME NEWS.

A BITTERLY HOSTILE AD
IN A DALLAS NEWSPAPER

ACCUSING KENNEDY OF BEING
SOFT ON COMMUNISM

FOR REFUSING TO SUPPORT
ANTI-COMMUNIST GROUPS

IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CUBA.

Hugh Aynesworth:
IT WAS HORRENDOUS.

IT WAS SOME OF
THE FAR RIGHT PEOPLE

THAT WE'D BEEN WATCHING
FOR MONTHS.

Narrator: THERE ARE OTHER SIGNS

THAT DALLAS MIGHT BE HOSTILE
TERRITORY FOR PRESIDENT KENNEDY.

ON THE DAYS BEFORE HIS VISIT,

THOUSANDS OF HANDBILLS

HAVE APPEARED
ON THE STREETS OF THE CITY

WITH PHOTOGRAPHS
OF THE PRESIDENT

AND THE HEADLINE
"WANTED FOR TREASON."

THEY ACCUSE KENNEDY
OF COMMUNIST SYMPATHIES

AND ANTI-CHRISTIAN POLICIES.

A FEW WEEKS BEFORE
THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT,

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED
NATIONS ADLAI STEVENSON

HAD BEEN ATTACKED
BY PROTESTORS IN DALLAS.

STEVENSON
HAD EXPRESSED HIS DOUBTS

ABOUT THE SAFETY OF
THE PRESIDENT'S UPCOMING VISIT.

Davis: WE THOUGHT THAT KENNEDY
WOULD GET A HARD TIME

IF HE WENT TO DALLAS.

THAT WAS THE HOTBED FOR THE MOST
CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE IN TEXAS.

AND SO WE WENT TO DALLAS
WITH SOME TREPIDATION.

Narrator: FRIENDS
HAD URGED JACKIE KENNEDY

NOT TO GO TO DALLAS.

Hill: THIS CAUSED HER
SOME CONCERN.

SHE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THAT.

BUT I TOLD HER

THAT I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS
ANY MORE OF A PROBLEM IN DALLAS

THAN THERE WAS
IN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE SOUTH.

Narrator: KENNEDY TELLS JACKIE,

"WE'RE HEADING
INTO NUT COUNTRY TODAY."

THEN HE SAYS,
"LAST NIGHT IN FORTH WORTH

WOULD HAVE BEEN
A HELL OF A NIGHT

TO ASSASSINATE A PRESIDENT."

AS THE PRESIDENTIAL PLANE
AIR FORCE ONE

HEADS FOR DALLAS,

SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES
WILL BE OVERTURNED BY THAT DAY

ARE GATHERING
AT THE CITY'S LOVE FIELD

FOR KENNEDY'S ARRIVAL.

Reporter:
POLICE WERE CIRCLING THE FIELD

ALL MORNING LONG
FROM THE EARLY MORNING HOURS,

AND A HUGE CONTINGENT
OF POLICE ARE ON HAND.

Narrator: 23-YEAR-OLD
ELECTRICIAN BILL NEWMAN

AND HIS WIFE GAYLE
HAVE TAKEN THE DAY OFF

TO SEE THE PRESIDENT
AT THE AIRPORT

WITH THEIR YOUNG SONS.

Bill Newman: IT'S NOT EVERY DAY

THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES COMES TO YOUR CITY,

AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FOUR OF US

TO WITNESS THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Reporter:
SOME BRILLIANT YELLOW ROSES,

SOME BRILLIANT RED ROSES
HAVE BEEN BROUGHT OUT

AND WILL BE PRESENTED
TO THE FIRST LADY.

Narrator:
DEPUTY SHERIFF GENE BOONE

IS ON DUTY IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS,

HOPING TO SEE SOMETHING
OF THE PRESIDENT'S MOTORCADE.

Gene Boone: I KNEW THE
ATMOSPHERE WAS OF SUCH A NATURE

THAT SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN,

AND IT CONCERNED ME.

IT WAS ALMOST MILITANT.

Narrator:
RECENTLY OUT OF THE AIR FORCE,

27-YEAR-OLD JAMES TAGUE HAS
A NEW JOB AS A CAR SALESMAN.

THIS MORNING HE'S IN A HURRY
ON HIS DRIVE INTO THE CITY.

James Tague: I HAD A LUNCHEON
DATE WITH A CUTE REDHEAD

IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

THEN I REMEMBERED
READING IN THE PAPER

THAT THE PRESIDENT'S GONNA
BE IN TOWN, HAS A MOTORCADE.

Narrator: QUAKER RUTH PAINE
HAS HELPED LEE HARVEY OSWALD

TO GET HIS JOB
AT THE SCHOOL BOOK DEPOSITORY.

OSWALD HAS STAYED
AT HER HOUSE LAST NIGHT

WITH HIS RUSSIAN WIFE, MARINA.

Ruth Paine: AS HE WAS
BRINGING IN THE GROCERIES,

I SAID... [SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

WHICH MEANS
"THE PRESIDENT IS COMING."

AND HE JUST SORT OF
BRUSHED ON BY.

HE REALLY DIDN'T
RESPOND TO THAT.

Narrator: DALLAS NEWS REPORTER
HUGH AYNESWORTH

IS FRUSTRATED THAT HE HAS
NO ASSIGNMENT THAT MORNING

TO COVER
THE PRESIDENT'S ARRIVAL.

Aynesworth: EVERYBODY
WENT OUT OF THE NEWSROOM,

ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHERS
AND REPORTERS.

AND I DECIDED, WELL,

THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T
COME TO TOWN EVERY DAY.

I OUGHT TO GO OVER AND WATCH IT

OVER ON MAIN STREET
OR HOUSTON STREET.

Narrator:
6-YEAR-OLD JEFF FRANZEN
HAS A DAY OUT WITH HIS PARENTS

TO WATCH
THE PRESIDENT'S MOTORCADE.

Jeff Franzen:
IT STARTED TO REGISTER--

THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY EXCITING.

Narrator: 29-YEAR-OLD
DALLAS TIMES-HERALD PHOTOGRAPHER

BOB JACKSON

IS ASSIGNED TO COVER
THE PRESIDENT'S ARRIVAL

AND TO TRAVEL
IN KENNEDY'S MOTORCADE.

Bob Jackson: MY ASSIGNMENT
WAS TO GO TO LOVE FIELD

TO MEET AIR FORCE ONE.

IT WAS A HAPPY CROWD,

CLEARLY THERE
TO WELCOME THE PRESIDENT.

I PHOTOGRAPHED
THE CROWD ALONG THE FENCE

AND WAITED FOR
AIR FORCE ONE TO LAND.

Narrator:
27-YEAR-OLD PHYLLIS HALL

IS AN OUTPATIENTS NURSE
AT DALLAS PARKLAND HOSPITAL,

CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT.

Phyllis Hall: SOME OF
THE DOCTORS WERE SAYING

HOW EASY IT WOULD BE

TO TAKE A POT SHOT AT THE PLANE
OR TRAVELING DOWNTOWN.

Narrator:
SID DAVIS IS A RADIO REPORTER
ARRIVING WITH THE PRESIDENT

AS PART OF THE OFFICIAL POOL
OF CORRESPONDENTS.

Davis: I THINK THAT
THE KENNEDYS WERE DAREDEVILS.

WE WOULD FLY THROUGH WEATHER
WHERE THEY THOUGHT,

"WELL, WE'RE THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

NOTHING'S GONNA
HAPPEN TO US.

YOU KNOW, GOD'S GONNA TAKE CARE
OF THE THUNDERSTORMS

AND THE LIGHTNING OR WHATEVER."

Narrator: 11:35 A.M.

AFTER A 13-MINUTE FLIGHT
FROM FORT WORTH,

AIR FORCE ONE APPROACHES
DALLAS LOVE FIELD.

Hall: THE CLOUDS AND THE RAIN
JUST KIND OF CLEARED AWAY

AND THE SKY
WAS INTENSELY BLUE,

AND AIR FORCE ONE CAME
VERY CLOSE TO THE HOSPITAL.

IN FACT IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH
THAT WE COULD SEE

THE PRESIDENTIAL SEAL
ON THE FUSELAGE.

THE SUN WAS SHINING OFF IT,

AND IT WAS JUST
A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.

IT WAS JUST ALMOST EMOTIONAL.

Narrator: THE POLITICAL IMPACT
OF AN AIR FORCE ONE LANDING

WITH THE PRESIDENT
AND FIRST LADY

OVERRULES
SECRET SERVICE CONCERNS

ABOUT THE CROWDS
MASSING AT THE AIRPORT.

Hill: POLITICS AND SECURITY
ARE KIND OF LIKE OIL AND WATER.

THEY DON'T MIX VERY WELL.

BUT THIS WAS
A POLITICAL APPEARANCE.

THEY WANTED THE PHOTOGRAPH
OF PRESIDENT AND MRS. KENNEDY

COMING OFF THE REAR
OF AIR FORCE ONE IN DALLAS,

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY GOT.

Reporter:
THERE'S MRS. KENNEDY,

AND THE CROWD YELLS.

AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Hill: THEY CAME OFF
THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT,

DOWN THE STEPS
TO THE RECEIVING LINE,

SHOOK THE HANDS OF
VICE PRESIDENT AND MRS. JOHNSON,

WHO THEY HAD JUST SEEN
10 MINUTES BEFORE IN FORT WORTH.

Gayle Newman: THERE WAS
A LARGE CROWD OUT THERE,

AND BILL--
HE WAS CARRYING CLAYTON--

WERE ABLE TO RUN UP
TO THE FENCE AREA,

AND THEY GOT A REAL GOOD LOOK AT
THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. KENNEDY,

BUT BILLY AND I WERE
SORT OF CRUSHED IN THE CROWD

BECAUSE I COULDN'T CARRY HIM,

AND WE JUST SORT OF
GOT SMUSHED BACK.

Reporter:
HE'S BROKEN AWAY FROM HIS PLAN

AND GONE RIGHT UP TO THE FENCE
TO SHAKE HANDS WITH PEOPLE.

THIS IS GREAT FOR THE PEOPLE

AND MAKES THE EGGSHELLS
EVEN THINNER

FOR THE SECRET SERVICE WHOSE
JOB IT IS TO GUARD THE MAN.

BUT THE AUDIENCE LOVES THIS.

Hill: AS SOON AS HE SAW THAT
THERE WAS THIS CROWD THERE,

HE IMMEDIATELY
WENT TO THE CROWD,

AND THAT WAS TYPICAL
OF HOW HE OPERATED.

SHE NORMALLY WOULDN'T DO THAT,

BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS REALLY
TRYING TO HELP HIM

IN HIS RE-ELECTION BID,

SHE FOLLOWED RIGHT ALONG,
SHOOK HANDS JUST LIKE HE DID,

AND THE PEOPLE LOVED IT.

Reporter:
AND THE PEOPLE CHEER,

AND THEY'RE GONNA COME
RIGHT ON DOWN

AND SHAKE HANDS
WITH EVERYBODY...

SMILING.

SECRET SERVICE MEN ALL AROUND.

BOY, THIS IS SOMETHING.

Hill: I TRY TO BE
AS CLOSE AS I CAN BE--

WITHIN ARM'S LENGTH USUALLY--

JUST TO PREVENT ANYTHING
FROM HAPPENING TO MRS. KENNEDY.

Reporter: MRS. KENNEDY
GAVE A LOVELY SMILE

AND A WAVE AT THAT TIME.

Hill: I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED,

BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS
A POLITICAL SITUATION,

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THEY HAVE
TO GO TO THE PEOPLE

AND HAVE THE PEOPLE FEEL
THAT THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE

AND JUST ONE OF THEM.

Reporter: THE PRESIDENT
SAYING "THANK YOU VERY MUCH,"

IF I MAY BE PERMITTED TO READ
A PRESIDENTIAL LIP MOVEMENT.

Narrator: ALTHOUGH THE CROWDS AT
LOVE FIELD HAVE NOT BEEN VETTED,

THE DALLAS POLICE HAVE TRIED TO
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL AGITATORS

AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT.

Aynesworth:
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE

HAD TRAVELED AS FAR AS
60 OR 80 MILES OUT OF TOWN,

TO VISIT KNOWN TROUBLEMAKERS

AND WARN THEM THAT
THEY WOULDN'T BE TOLERATED.

Reporter: THE PEOPLE
SURGING UP TOWARD THAT FENCE.

AND THE PRESIDENT WAVES GOODBYE,
WAITS FOR HIS WIFE,

AND BACK THEY GO TO THE CAR.

Hill: YOUR ADRENALINE
STARTS TO RUN,

AND YOU ARE AT HEIGHTENED ALERT,

LOOKING FOR
SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY,

TRYING TO FIND
ANYTHING THAT'S DIFFERENT,

MAKING SURE THAT
EVERYBODY'S SAFE.

Narrator: 11:55 A.M.

THE MOTORCADE BEGINS
THE HALF-HOUR DRIVE INTO DALLAS.

TEXAS GOVERNOR
JOHN CONNALLY AND HIS WIFE

SHARE THE PRESIDENTIAL
LIMOUSINE WITH THE KENNEDYS.

Hill: IT WAS
A SPECIALLY BUILT AUTOMOBILE.

IT HAD A NUMBER OF TOPS,

NONE OF WHICH WERE
BULLET RESISTANT.

BUT PRESIDENT KENNEDY DID NOT
WANT THE TOP ON THE CAR.

HE WANTED THE CAR TO BE OPEN.

UNLESS IT WERE RAINING

OR IF MRS. KENNEDY WERE WITH HIM

AND WE WERE GOING TO BE GOING
AT A SUFFICIENT ENOUGH SPEED

IT WOULD MESS UP HER HAIR,

THEN HE'D PERMIT
THE PLEXIGLAS TOP TO BE ON IT.

HE WANTED PEOPLE TO FEEL
THAT HE WAS ACCESSIBLE.

HE WANTED THEM TO BE ABLE
TO REACH OUT SOMETIMES

AND TOUCH HIM.

Davis: KENNEDY HAD ISSUED ORDERS
A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE

THAT HE DID NOT WANT
THE SECRET SERVICE

RUNNING ALONGSIDE
THE PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINE

BECAUSE HE WANTED
THE CROWDS TO SEE JACKIE.

SHE WAS A DISARMING PERSON

FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T LIKE
JACK KENNEDY MAYBE.

Hill: THE PRESIDENT SAID,

"I CAN'T AFFORD
TO HAVE THE PEOPLE BELIEVE

THAT I'M NOT ACCESSIBLE.

WHEN THE AGENTS ARE UP ON
THE BACK OF THE CAR LIKE THAT

HOVERING,

IT APPEARS
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING

BETWEEN THE PEOPLE
AND MYSELF,

AND I CAN'T AFFORD THAT
IN THIS RE-ELECTION YEAR."

Narrator:
KENNEDY IS KEENLY ALERT

TO THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS IMAGE,
AND HIS WIFE'S.

HE ASKS JACKIE
TO REMOVE HER SUNGLASSES

AS THE MOTORCADE REACHES
THE CROWDED CITY CENTER.

Franzen: YOU COULD HEAR
THE NOISE FAR OFF,

AND IT WAS LIKE A ROLLING SOUND,

THE CHEERS AND THE CLAPPING.

IT WOULD JUST GET
LOUDER AND LOUDER AND LOUDER

AS IT BECAME CLOSER AND CLOSER.

Aynesworth:
THE CROWDS WERE EXUBERANT.

THEY WERE BIGGER AND MORE
EXCITED THAN ANYBODY EXPECTED.

AND I REMEMBER, JACKIE HAD ON
A PINK DRESS, BEAUTIFUL.

AND THERE WAS A HUGE
BLACK WOMAN NEXT TO ME

WHO HAD ON A DRESS VERY SIMILAR.

NOT THE SAME COLOR,

BUT SHE SAID,
"OH, SHE'S GOT MY DRESS ON!"

Narrator: BILL AND GAYLE NEWMAN

HAVE NOW RUSHED FROM LOVE FIELD
WITH THEIR CHILDREN

TO CATCH ANOTHER GLIMPSE
OF THE PRESIDENT

AS THE MOTORCADE REACHES
DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

Gayle Newman: BY KNOWING
THE PARADE ROUTE,

WE WERE ABLE TO GET
AT THE VERY END.

AND WE TOOK THE CHILDREN
AND JUST WALKED PAST THE CROWD

TO WHERE EVERYTHING THINNED OUT

AND WE COULD PUT THEM
NEXT TO THE CURB

SO THAT THEY COULD SEE
THE MOTORCADE AS IT PASSED.

Bill Newman: WE'D BEEN THERE
JUST A VERY SHORT TIME,

FIVE MINUTES OR LESS,

WHEN YOU COULD HEAR
THE PARADE ROUTE

COMING DOWN MAIN STREET.

Hill: AS WE APPROACHED
MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS,

PEOPLE WERE HANGING OUT
OF WINDOWS ON BALCONIES.

THE CROWD BEGAN TO SWELL,

AND IT FILLED INTO THE STREET,
OFF THE SIDEWALK.

IT WAS JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE.

THE DRIVER OF THE CAR HAD TO TRY
TO KEEP THE PRESIDENT AWAY

FROM THE CROWD
AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE,

PUTTING MRS. KENNEDY
RIGHT UP AGAINST THE CROWD.

WHEN THAT HAPPENED,
I GOT UP ON THE BACK OF THE CAR

TO BE CLOSE TO MRS. KENNEDY.

THE PRESIDENT
GLANCED PERIODICALLY

WHEN I WAS UP ON
THE BACK OF THE CAR.

HE KNEW I WAS THERE,
BUT HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

AS WE WERE GOING DOWN HOUSTON,

I HAD GOTTEN OFF
THE PRESIDENTIAL CAR

AND BACK UP ON THE FOLLOW-UP CAR

BECAUSE THE CROWDS
HAD DROPPED OFF.

AND SO WHEN
WE TURNED LEFT ON ELM,

I WAS ON THE FOLLOW-UP CAR
BEHIND THE PRESIDENTIAL VEHICLE.

Narrator: 12:29 P.M.

THE MOTORCADE
TURNS INTO DEALEY PLAZA,

WHERE WORKERS FROM
THE TEXAS BOOK DEPOSITORY

ARE WAITING TO SEE THE PRESIDENT
AND MRS. KENNEDY.

Frazier: AND I REMEMBER SAYING
TO THE LADY STANDING BESIDE ME,

"SHE'S AS PRETTY AS THE PICTURES
ARE IN THE MAGAZINE."

Gene Boone: SOMEWHERE
RIGHT IN THAT AREA

WAS WHERE NELLIE CONNALLY TURNED
TO THE PRESIDENT AND SAID,

"YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T SAY

THAT DALLAS DOESN'T LOVE YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT."

AND IN THOSE FEW SECONDS,
HISTORY CHANGED.

Narrator: WHAT HAPPENS
IN THE NEXT FEW SECONDS

IS STILL ENDLESSLY DEBATED
50 YEARS LATER.

THOUSANDS OF BOOKS
HAVE EXPLORED THOSE MOMENTS,

OFFICIAL INQUIRIES
HAVE DISSECTED EVERY DETAIL,

CONSPIRACY THEORIES
FLOURISH OVER THE DECADES.

THIS IS HOW IT WAS
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.

Franzen:
I WAS 6 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME,

AND AS THE CAR APPROACHED,

I REMEMBER THESE POPS
STARTED HAPPENING,

WHICH I ASSUMED
WERE FIRECRACKERS.

Hill: I HEARD A NOISE COMING
OVER MY RIGHT REAR SHOULDER.

IT WAS AN EXPLOSIVE NOISE.

Gayle Newman: THERE WAS A NOISE

THAT I THOUGHT
WAS A FIRECRACKER.

Tague: I WONDERED
WHAT KIND OF A NUT

WOULD BE THROWING A FIRECRACKER

WITH THE PRESIDENT COMING BY.

Gayle Newman:
AND PRESIDENT KENNEDY

SORT OF THREW HIS HANDS UP,

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,

"WELL, HE'S GOT A REAL GOOD
SENSE OF HUMOR."

Hill: I SAW THE PRESIDENT
GRAB AT HIS THROAT,

LURCH TO HIS LEFT,

AND I KNEW
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

I JUMPED FROM THE FOLLOW-UP CAR

AND STARTED TO RUN TOWARD
THE PRESIDENTIAL VEHICLE.

MY INTENT WAS TO MAKE SURE I WAS
UP THERE HIGH ENOUGH AS A SHIELD

ACROSS THE BACK OF THE CAR.

I HAD NOT QUITE
GOTTEN TO THE CAR,

AND THE THIRD SHOT RANG OUT.

Gayle Newman: AS THE CAR GOT
DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US,

THERE WAS THE THIRD NOISE.

Boone: IT WENT KIND OF
"BANG...BANG-BANG."

Bill Newman: WHEN THE PRESIDENT
WAS STRAIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF US,

PROBABLY 10 OR 12 FEET,

THE THIRD SHOT RANG OUT.

Gayle Newman: YOU SAW THE SIDE
OF HIS HEAD SORT OF EXPLODE

AND BITS OF FLESH AND STUFF
FLY UP IN THE AIR.

Hill: IT HIT THE PRESIDENT
IN THE HEAD,

CAUSING BLOOD AND BRAIN MATTER
AND BONE FRAGMENTS

TO COME OUT OF THAT WOUND
OVER THE TRUNK OF THE CAR

AND ONTO MYSELF.

Franzen: THE COLORS
WERE VERY VIBRANT.

SO YOU HAD THESE RED ROSES
TUMBLING AROUND,

YOU HAD HER IN PINK,

YOU HAD THE CONFETTI,

WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY
PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S HEAD.

Hill: SHE WAS TRYING TO RETRIEVE
SOME MATERIAL

THAT HAD COME OFF
THE PRESIDENT'S HEAD.

SHE DID NOT KNOW I WAS THERE.

Bob Jackson: I LOOKED UP,

AND THE RIFLE WAS RESTING
ON THE WINDOW LEDGE,

AND I COULD SEE IT
BEING DRAWN IN.

Bill Newman: AND I ACTUALLY
RECALL HEARING MRS. KENNEDY SAY,

"OH, MY GOD, NO,
THEY SHOT JACK."

Hill: SHE SAID, "OH, JACK, JACK,
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?"

AND "I'M HOLDING
YOUR BRAINS IN MY HAND."

I HAD THAT SENSE THAT I SHOULD
HAVE BEEN THERE QUICKER.

I COULD SEE THROUGH THE SKULL
INTO THE BRAIN CAVITY,

AND A GREAT PORTION
OF THE BRAIN WAS MISSING.

I TURNED AND GAVE
A THUMBS-DOWN SIGNAL

TO THE FOLLOW-UP CAR CREW
THAT WAS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME.

THEN WE SCREAMED
TO GET US TO A HOSPITAL.

Jackson:
I COULD SEE KENNEDY'S CAR
DISAPPEAR UNDER THE UNDERPASS

AND JOHNSON'S CAR BEHIND.

AND I COULD SEE PEOPLE RUNNING
ON THE GRASSY SLOPE.

Reporter:
THIS KLIF BULLETIN.

FROM DALLAS, THREE SHOTS
REPORTEDLY WERE FIRED

AT THE MOTORCADE
OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY TODAY

NEAR THE DOWNTOWN SECTION.

Davis: WHEN THE PRESIDENTIAL
LIMOUSINE TOOK OFF,

THEN WE KNEW SOMETHING TERRIBLE
HAD HAPPENED UP AHEAD.

Frazier: IT WAS REALLY BEDLAM,

AND PEOPLE WERE RUNNING
AND FALLING DOWN AND HOLLERING,

AND IT WAS JUST A REAL CHAOS.

Boone: JUST MASS PANDEMONIUM.

Gayle Newman:
BILL TURNED TO ME AND HE SAID,
"THAT'S IT. HIT THE GROUND."

AND WE TURNED AND PUT
THE CHILDREN ON THE GROUND,

AND WE SHIELDED THEM
WITH OUR BODY.

IT WAS VERY TERRIFYING.

Bill Newman: I WAS IN FEAR

THAT WE WERE RIGHT
IN THE PATH OF GUNFIRE.

Gayle: I REMEMBER LOOKING UP
AND IT WENT THROUGH MY MIND,

THAT MAN MUST BE CRAZY
TAKING PICTURES.

DOESN'T HE KNOW
THAT HE COULD BE SHOT?

Franzen: MY MOTHER WAS CRYING,

WHICH DIDN'T MAKE
A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.

SHE AUDIBLY GROANED AND GASPED,

AND THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING
STARTED TO SPEED UP.

POLICEMEN WERE RUNNING

WITH EITHER HANDS ON GUNS
OR GUNS OUT.

Boone: THERE WAS A MAN HOLDING
THE HAND OF HIS YOUNG SON,

AND TEARS WERE
STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE.

Aynesworth: THE WOMAN THAT HAD
THE PINK DRESS ON REGURGITATED.

SHE WAS LEANING UP
AGAINST THE POST.

AND IT WAS JUST...
NOBODY KNEW WHAT TO DO.

Tague: THE POLICEMAN SAID,
"YOU'VE GOT BLOOD ON YOUR FACE."

AND I RECALLED
THAT SOMETHING HAD STUNG ME

DURING THE "CRACK CRACK"
OF TWO RIFLE SHOTS.

Narrator: JAMES TAGUE'S
MINOR RICOCHET SCRATCH

FROM A CURBSTONE
IN DEALEY PLAZA

MAKES HIM THE ONLY BYSTANDER

TO FEEL THE DIRECT IMPACT
OF THE SHOOTING THAT DAY.

Reporter: THE PRESIDENT,

HIS BODY CRADLED
IN THE ARMS OF MRS. KENNEDY,

HAS BEEN RUSHED
TO PARKLAND HOSPITAL...

Hill: I WAS ONLY THINKING
ABOUT GETTING TO THE HOSPITAL.

I DID TURN MY HEAD AT ONE POINT,
AND MY SUNGLASSES BLEW OFF.

APPARENTLY WE WERE GOING UP
ABOUT 80 MILES AN HOUR.

Narrator: 12:40 P.M.

AS THE PRESIDENT
IS RUSHED TO PARKLAND HOSPITAL,

AT THE DALLAS TRADE MART,

WHERE KENNEDY WAS DUE TO SPEAK
TO MORE THAN 2,000 BUSINESSMEN,

THERE IS CONFUSION.

NEWS OF THE ATTACK
IN DEALEY PLAZA

IS BEGINNING TO ARRIVE

WITH REPORTERS
WHO WERE IN THE MOTORCADE.

Davis: WE RAN THROUGH THE HALL
LIKE A HERD OF ELEPHANTS.

PEOPLE WERE
SITTING THERE EATING,

AND WE JUST CHARGED
THROUGH THERE

WITH OUR TYPEWRITERS
AND CAMERAS AND STUFF.

WE WERE RUNNING TO CALL
OUR OFFICES TO TELL THEM

THAT SOMETHING DREADFUL
HAS HAPPENED HERE.

Reporter: THIS IS SID DAVIS

REPORTING FROM
THE DALLAS TRADE MART

WHERE THE WORD
IS JUST NOW BEING PASSED

TO SEVERAL HUNDRED PERSONS

SITTING AT
THEIR NOON LUNCHEON TABLES

THAT PRESIDENT KENNEDY
HAS BEEN SHOT.

WE HAVE NO INFORMATION
ON THE PRESIDENT'S CONDITION.

WE DO KNOW
THAT HE HAS BEEN TAKEN,

ALONG WITH GOVERNOR
JOHN CONNALLY OF TEXAS,

TO THE HOSPITAL NEARBY.

Davis: MY BOSS SAID, "HE'S BEEN
TAKEN TO PARKLAND HOSPITAL.

GET OVER THERE
AS SOON AS YOU CAN."

I JUST GOT OUT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD,

AND I WAVED MY TYPEWRITER,

AND A GENTLEMAN,
A BLACK GENTLEMAN,

CAME UP WITH A WHITE CADILLAC,

AND HE SAID,
"ARE YOU A REPORTER?"

AND I SAID, "YEAH."

HE SAID, "I'LL GET YOU
TO PARKLAND HOSPITAL."

Hill: WHEN WE GOT TO PARKLAND,

THE ASSUMPTION WAS
THAT SOMEBODY WOULD MEET US

AND HAVE SOME GURNEYS
OUT THERE TO HELP US,

AND WHEN WE GOT THERE,
THERE WAS NOBODY THERE.

Narrator: THE REST
OF THE MOTORCADE

IS RACING FROM DOWNTOWN DALLAS
TO PARKLAND,

AND VICE PRESIDENT
LYNDON JOHNSON

ARRIVES AT THE HOSPITAL
WITH HIS WIFE, LADY BIRD.

Lady Bird Johnson:
AS WE GROUND TO A HALT,

THE SECRET SERVICE MEN
BEGAN TO PULL, LEAD,

GUIDE, HUSTLE US OUT.

Hall: AND THE DOORS
JUST EXPLODED.

LYNDON JOHNSON
WAS BROUGHT THROUGH,

AND HE WAS LOOKING PRETTY GRAY,

AND THEY FIGURED HE MIGHT BE
HAVING ANOTHER HEART ATTACK.

AND THEN GOVERNOR CONNALLY
CAME IN.

HE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE CHEST,

SO EVERY TIME HE BREATHED OUT,

THERE WAS JUST A SPRAY
OF BLOODY MIST

JUST GOING EVERYWHERE.

Reporter: MR. KENNEDY WAS RUSHED

TO THE PARKLAND HOSPITAL
EMERGENCY ROOM.

THE CORRIDORS OF THE HOSPITAL
ERUPTED IN PANDEMONIUM.

Narrator: AS REPORTERS,
POLICE, AND SPECTATORS

RUSH TO THE HOSPITAL,

THE DESPERATE CONDITION
OF THE PRESIDENT

IS BECOMING CLEAR TO HIS TEAM.

Hill: MRS. KENNEDY WOULDN'T
LET GO OF THE PRESIDENT'S BODY.

SHE DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO SEE

THE CONDITION
THE PRESIDENT WAS IN

BECAUSE IT WAS VERY BAD,

AND SO I TOOK OFF MY SUIT COAT.

I COVERED UP HIS HEAD
AND HIS UPPER BODY,

THEN SHE LET GO,

AND WE RUSHED HIM
INTO TRAUMA ROOM ONE,

AND MRS. KENNEDY
WENT IN WITH US.

Davis: I SAW WHAT I THOUGHT
WAS SOME BLOOD,

AND THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
WERE LYING ON THE FLOOR

OF THE LIMOUSINE,

AND THEY WERE
CLEANING IT UP.

I GOT INTO THE HOSPITAL,
I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM,

AND I DIDN'T LAST LONG.

THE SECRET SERVICE
AND THE POLICE

TOLD ME TO GET MY BUTT
OUT OF THERE.

Hall: A GENTLEMAN
IN A VERY WHITE SHIRT,

IT WAS JUST DAZZLING WHITE,

BUT HE WAS HOLDING
A VERY LARGE GUN

UP ABOVE HIS HEAD,

AND HE TOOK MY ARM AND HE SAYS,
"COME, WE NEED YOU BACK HERE."

I WASN'T GONNA ARGUE WITH A MAN
WITH THAT LARGE OF GUN.

Narrator:
PARKLAND'S TRAUMA ROOM ONE

BECOMES THE SCENE
OF A SCRAMBLE,

WITH AGENTS
AND DESPERATE KENNEDY LOYALISTS

SURROUNDING
THE PRESIDENT'S BODY.

Hall: IT WAS CHAOTIC.

THEY WERE HAVING A PUSH
AND SHOVE AND SHOUTING MATCH

OVER WHO WOULD
STAY WITH THE BODY.

Reporter: WHAT WAS A WONDERFUL
WELCOME IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS

HAS BECOME A SCENE
OF INDESCRIBABLE HORROR.

FACES ARE ASHEN WHITE
AND PEOPLE ARE WONDERING

IS OUR PRESIDENT
GOING TO LIVE?

Reporter: LATEST DETAILS
ON THE CHASE AND SEARCH

IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY
THAT THE WOULD-BE ASSASSIN

IS STILL INSIDE THE OLD TEXAS
SCHOOL BOOK DEPOSITORY BUILDING,

AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY
THAT THE WOULD-BE ASSASSIN

IS STILL INSIDE THAT BUILDING.

Narrator:
MINUTES AFTER THE SHOOTING,

POLICE ARE SWARMING
OVER THE BUILDING

IDENTIFIED BY WITNESSES
AS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRING--

THE TEXAS BOOK DEPOSITORY.

Man: WHEN THEY FIRST
WENT UP IN THERE LOOKING,

THEY WAS EXPECTING TO FIND
A STRANGER UP THERE.

THEY WASN'T EXPECTING TO FIND

AN EMPLOYEE
OF THE SCHOOL BOOK DEPOSITORY.

THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR A STRANGE INDIVIDUAL,

WHICH THEY DIDN'T FIND.

Frazier:
SO THEY DID A ROLL CALL,

AND THE ONLY BODY THAT WASN'T
THERE WAS LEE OSWALD.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK
BECAUSE SOMETIMES...

I REMEMBER THAT MORNING
HE DID NOT TAKE HIS LUNCH.

Narrator:
A DESCRIPTION OF OSWALD

GOES OUT TO POLICE AND
RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.

Reporter:
THERE'S A TENTATIVE DESCRIPTION

OF THE SHOOTING SUSPECT:

A WHITE MALE BELIEVED TO BE
APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS OLD,

REPORTEDLY ARMED
WITH A .30 CALIBER RIFLE.

HE WAS DESCRIBED AS ABOUT 5'10",
165 POUNDS, OF SLENDER BUILD,

AND ABOUT 30 TO 35 YEARS OLD.

POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THROWN OUT
AN EXTENSIVE DRAGNET.

Frazier: I WAS LISTENING
TO THE RADIO.

THEY WERE SAYING
THAT THEY HAD A SUSPECT

THAT HAD LIVED IN RUSSIA.

WELL, LEE HAD TOLD ME THAT HE
HAD LIVED IN RUSSIA FOR A WHILE.

AND THEN I SAID, "WELL,
LEE WASN'T AT THE ROLL CALL,

AND LEE HAD LIVED IN RUSSIA."

I SAID, "ARE THEY TALKING
ABOUT LEE OSWALD?"

Earl Jay Watson: GOOD AFTERNOON,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

YOU'LL EXCUSE THE FACT
THAT I'M OUT OF BREATH,

BUT ABOUT TEN
OR FIFTEEN MINUTES AGO

A TRAGIC THING, FROM
ALL INDICATIONS AT THIS POINT,

HAS HAPPENED
IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

MAY I HAVE
YOUR NAME, PLEASE, SIR?

Bill: BILL NEWMAN.

Reporter:
AND THIS IS MRS. NEWMAN?

Gayle: YES, SIR.

Reporter: AND THIS IS?

Bill: JAMES CLAYTON.

Reporter: JAMES. AND THIS IS?

Billy: BILLY.

Reporter: TELL ME WHAT YOU SAW
AND WHAT YOU FELT?

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

Bill: WE HEARD THE FIRST SHOT,

AND THE PRESIDENT
JUMPED UP IN HIS SEAT.

AND I THOUGHT IT SCARED HIM.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A FIRECRACKER

'CAUSE HE LOOKED,
YOU KNOW, FEAR.

Gayle: IT HAPPENED SO FAST

THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE
TO SEE ANYTHING.

IT...IT JUST WAS TOO FAST.

I WAS JUST VERY NERVOUS,

JUST, YOU KNOW.

I WAS JUST TREMBLING.

I WAS, I WAS REALLY SCARED.

Bill: AND THEN AS THE CAR
GOT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US,

WELL, A GUNSHOT
APPARENTLY FROM BEHIND US

HIT THE PRESIDENT
IN THE SIDE OF THE TEMPLE.

WE DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED

UNTIL WE SEEN
THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD,

WHENEVER THE BULLET
HIT HIM IN THE HEAD.

THE REPORT WHILE WE
WERE THERE CAME IN

THAT THE PRESIDENT
WAS STILL ALIVE.

AND OF COURSE, WE'D JUST
SEEN HIM MORTALLY WOUNDED,

AND THAT WAS
HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.

Narrator: 12:55 P.M.

AS CROWDS GATHER OUTSIDE
PARKLAND HOSPITAL,

DOCTORS ARE RUSHING DOWN
TO THE EMERGENCY AREA

KNOWN AS "THE PIT"
TO WORK ON THE PRESIDENT.

Man: THE CROWD SORT OF
SPONTANEOUSLY PARTED.

I COULD SEE MRS. KENNEDY
SITTING ON A FOLDING CHAIR,

OUTSIDE OF TRAUMA ROOM ONE,

AND SO IMMEDIATELY
IT OCCURRED TO ME

THAT THIS IS JUST AS BAD
AS THEY SAID IT WAS.

IT WAS TERRIFYING.

TERRIFYING.

AS I SAID, I HAD TO
LITERALLY FORCE MYSELF

TO KEEP WALKING
TOWARD TRAUMA ROOM ONE

WHERE MRS. KENNEDY WAS SITTING.

WHEN I PUSHED THE DOOR OPEN
OF TRAUMA ROOM ONE,

THE FIRST THING THAT I SAW
WAS THE HORRIFIC SIGHT

OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY
LYING ON HIS BACK,

AND HE HAD AN OPERATING ROOM
LIGHT SHINING ON HIS HEAD,

WHICH WAS COVERED IN BLOOD.

AND I COULD LOOK DOWN
INSIDE HIS SKULL CAVITY

AND SEE THAT THE WHOLE BACK HALF

OF THE RIGHT
CEREBRAL HEMISPHERE

HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT
BY THE BULLET WOUND.

Hall: I LOOKED AT HIM, AND
I KNEW IT WAS THE PRESIDENT,

BUT HE WASN'T
SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

SO I JUST WENT AHEAD
AND FELT FOR PULSES.

THERE WERE NONE.

HE WAS DEAD.

HAD IT BEEN ANOTHER PERSON
COMING IN LIKE THAT,

THEY MAY HAVE CHECKED PULSES
AND VITAL SIGNS

AND PULLED THE SHEET UP
OVER HIM.

Robert McClelland: THE PEOPLE
THAT HAD BEEN IN THE ROOM

ALL HASTILY LEFT.

AND I GOT TRAPPED BETWEEN
THE CART AND THE WALL.

THE DOOR TO TRAUMA ROOM ONE
CAME OPEN, AND A PRIEST CAME IN.

AND WE WERE CAUGHT

SO THAT WE SAW
PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S FINAL RITES.

FATHER HUBER UNCOVERED
THE PRESIDENT'S FACE,

WHICH WAS COVERED WITH A SHEET,

ANOINTED HIM,

AND I COULD HEAR HIM SAY,

AS HE LEANED OVER
TO THE PRESIDENT'S LEFT EAR,

HE SAID, "IF THOU LIVEST,"

AND I COULDN'T HEAR HIM
SAY ANYTHING ELSE AFTER THAT.

AND JUST AS HE COMPLETED THAT,
MRS. KENNEDY CAME IN.

SHE STOOD THERE
FOR A FEW MOMENTS

AND EXCHANGED A RING
FROM HER FINGER

ONTO THE PRESIDENT'S FINGER,

AND A RING FROM HIS FINGER
ONTO HERS.

AND THEN SHE STOOD THERE
FOR A FEW MINUTES,

FEW MOMENTS MORE,

WALKED TO THE END OF THE GURNEY,

AND THE PRESIDENT'S RIGHT FOOT,

BARE RIGHT FOOT,
WAS STICKING OUT

FROM UNDERNEATH THE SHEET
THAT HE WAS COVERED WITH,

AND SHE STOOD BY HIS FOOT
FOR A MOMENT

AND THEN LEANED OVER,
KISSED HIS FOOT,

AND WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM.

Narrator: LYNDON JOHNSON'S WIFE,
LADY BIRD,

ASKS TO BE TAKEN
TO SEE JACKIE KENNEDY.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME
THE TWO WOMEN HAVE MET

SINCE THE MOTORCADE
LEFT LOVE FIELD

TO HEAD INTO DALLAS
THROUGH THE CHEERING CROWDS.

Hill: ATTORNEY GENERAL
ROBERT KENNEDY,

WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT'S BROTHER,
WAS ON THE PHONE,

AND HE ASKED ME, HE SAID,
"WELL, HOW BAD IS IT?"

APPARENTLY NOT THINKING
THAT IT WAS TOO SERIOUS.

I DIDN'T WANT TO TELL HIM

THAT HIS BROTHER
THE PRESIDENT WAS DEAD.

SO I JUST SAID, "WELL,
IT'S AS BAD AS IT CAN GET."

AND WITH THAT,
HE HUNG UP THE PHONE.

AND THEN ABOUT 1:00,
THE DOCTORS THERE AT PARKLAND

DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD DECLARE
THE PRESIDENT HAD DIED.

WE HAD NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT
HOW BAD WE FELT

BECAUSE WE HAD A JOB TO DO.

WE HAD TO DO THAT JOB TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS SAFE

AS MUCH AS WE COULD.

WE JUST COULDN'T GIVE IN
TO OUR OWN FEELINGS AT ALL.

WE JUST HAD
TO KEEP THOSE IN ABEYANCE.

Narrator: 1:15 P.M.

PATROLLING THE SUBURB
OF OAK CLIFF,

POLICE OFFICER J.D. TIPPIT

SPOTS LEE HARVEY OSWALD
ON THE STREET.

HE TRIES TO CONFRONT HIM.

Man on telephone:
HELLO, POLICE OPERATOR?

WHAT'S HIS...

IT'S IN A POLICE CAR.

NUMBER 10.

HELLO? POLICE OPERATOR,
DID YOU GET THAT?

Narrator: JOHNNY BREWER
IS THE MANAGER OF A SHOE SHOP

CLOSE TO THE LOCATION
OF OFFICER TIPPIT'S SHOOTING.

Johnny Brewer:
I'M LISTENING TO THE RADIO,

AND THEY SAID THAT AN OFFICER,
DALLAS POLICE OFFICER,

HAD BEEN SHOT.

AND THEN SHORTLY
AFTER THEY ANNOUNCED

THAT THE OFFICER HAD BEEN SHOT,

THERE WERE POLICE CARS,
FULL SIRENS.

I'M THINKING, "YOU KNOW,
THIS IS REALLY CLOSE.

THIS IS REALLY
GETTING CRAZY NOW, YOU KNOW."

Narrator: POLICE ARE COMBING
THE TEXAS BOOK DEPOSITORY

FOR CLUES TO THE SHOOTING.

DEPUTY SHERIFF GENE BOONE
JOINS THE SEARCH.

Boone: WE WENT
TO THE SIXTH FLOOR,

AND THERE WERE BOOKS
THAT WAS PILED UP,

THREE AND FOUR,
SOMETIMES FIVE CASES HIGH,

ALL ACROSS THE FLOOR,

WHICH MADE IT REAL DIFFICULT
TO SEE ANYTHING.

IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT,

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
THAT DOESN'T BELONG.

WE FOUND WHAT'S BEEN REFERRED TO
AS THE SNIPER'S NEST

IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER
OF THE BUILDING.

THE BOXES LINED UP
LOOKED LIKE A RIFLE REST.

I WAS LOOKING DOWN
BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF BOOKS,

AND I FOUND THE RIFLE.

LOOKED LIKE TWO BOXES
WERE PUSHED ACROSS THE TOP

SO AS TO CONCEAL THE CREVICE.

Narrator:
VICE PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON

IS SHUT AWAY WITH HIS WIFE
AND SECRET SERVICE AGENT

IN A SECLUDED ROOM
AT THE HOSPITAL.

NOW DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY
MALCOLM KILDUFF

HAS TO ASK JOHNSON'S PERMISSION

TO TELL THE PRESS
THE PRESIDENT IS DEAD.

Davis: HE SAID,
"I LOOKED AT JOHNSON,

AND I SAID, 'MR. PRESIDENT.'"

HE SAID, "I PROBABLY
WAS THE FIRST PERSON

TO SAY 'MR. PRESIDENT.'"

HE SAID, "THEN JOHNSON
LOOKED AT ME SOMEWHAT STUNNED."

HE SAID, "I HAVE TO
TELL THE PRESS

THAT JOHN F. KENNEDY'S DEAD."

AND LYNDON JOHNSON SAID,
"MAC, I AGREE,

BUT GIVE ME TIME
TO GET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

BEFORE YOU DO IT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS
A CONSPIRACY OR NOT."

Hill: WE HAD ENCOURAGED HIM
TO IMMEDIATELY GO TO LOVE FIELD

AND GET ON AIR FORCE ONE
AND LEAVE THE AREA.

HE HAD INDICATED HE WOULD NOT
BE WILLING TO DO THAT

UNLESS MRS. KENNEDY
WENT WITH HIM.

MRS. KENNEDY SAID
THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO GO

UNLESS THE PRESIDENT'S BODY
WENT WITH HER.

SO IT WAS KIND OF A STALEMATE.

THE VICE PRESIDENT
AND MRS. JOHNSON THEN DECIDED

THEY WOULD GO TO LOVE FIELD
AND GET ON AIR FORCE ONE

BUT WOULD WAIT THERE
FOR MRS. KENNEDY.

Davis:
KILDUFF THEN CAME UPSTAIRS,

AND HE STOOD IN THIS
NURSES' TRAINING ROOM,

AND HE'D BEEN CRYING.

HE OPENED HIS MOUTH,
AND NOTHING CAME OUT.

Man: DO IT AGAIN.

Malcolm Kilduff:
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

DIED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00
CENTRAL STANDARD TIME TODAY

HERE IN DALLAS.

HE DIED OF A GUNSHOT WOUND
IN THE BRAIN.

Davis: AND THEN ALL HELL
BROKE LOOSE,

AND WE RAN FOR OUR TELEPHONES.

Walter Cronkite:
FROM DALLAS, TEXAS,

THE FLASH,
APPARENTLY OFFICIAL,

PRESIDENT KENNEDY DIED AT 1 P.M.
CENTRAL STANDARD TIME,

2:00 EASTERN STANDARD TIME,

SOME 38 MINUTES AGO.

Narrator:
OSWALD'S RUSSIAN WIFE MARINA

HEARS THE NEWS
WITH HER FRIEND RUTH PAINE.

Paine: I, UH...

I LIT A CANDLE,

AND MARINA ASKED
WAS THAT A WAY OF PRAYING?

AND I SAID, YES, IT WAS.

AND THEN WE JUST SAT
WITH THE REST OF THE NATION

AND WATCHED

UNTIL WE HEARD THAT
HE DEFINITELY HAD DIED.

AND MARINA SAID,
"THAT'S SUCH A TRAGEDY.

THE CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO
GROW UP WITHOUT A FATHER."

AND WE JUST SAT THERE
IN OUR GRIEF.

[SIRENS]

Narrator: AS THE NEWS
OF KENNEDY'S DEATH

GOES OUT AROUND THE WORLD,

IN DALLAS THE HUNT IS ON

FOR THE KILLER
OF POLICE OFFICER TIPPIT.

THERE IS NO OBVIOUS CONNECTION

WITH THE KILLING
OF THE PRESIDENT.

SHOP MANAGER JOHNNY BREWER

NOTICES POLICE ACTIVITY
ON HIS STREET.

Brewer: I WAS
JUST ABOUT TO STEP OUT

AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON,

WHEN THIS YOUNG GUY

WALKS INTO THE RECESSED AREA
OF MY SHOE STORE

AND STANDS THERE AS THOUGH
HE WERE SHOPPING FOR SHOES.

I'M THINKING, "THIS IS
REALLY QUEER, LOOKING FOR SHOES,

WHEN ALL THIS COMMOTION
IS GOING ON BEHIND YOU."

AND AS THE SIRENS
GOT OFF INTO THE DISTANCE,

HE LOOKS OVER HIS SHOULDER

AND WALKS UP TOWARD
THE TEXAS THEATRE.

SO I STEPPED OUTSIDE

AND WATCHED HIM WALK
INTO THE TEXAS THEATRE.

"WAR IS HELL" WAS ON.

SO I WALKED IN, AND I SAW HIM.

Aynesworth: OVER THE POLICE
RADIO CAME THIS REPORT

THAT THE SUSPECT
IS IN THE TEXAS THEATRE.

I RUN LIKE MAD
TO THE TEXAS THEATRE.

Brewer: THERE WERE POLICEMEN,
ARMED POLICEMEN.

I HEAR COMMOTION OUTSIDE
THE EXIT DOOR INTO THE ALLEY,

POUNDING ON IT,
TRYING TO OPEN IT.

I OPENED IT.

I WAS IMMEDIATELY GRABBED
AND GUNS WERE HELD ON ME.

AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM
THAT, BASICALLY,

THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE THEATRE

THAT IS JUST ACTING
VERY SUSPICIOUSLY.

Aynesworth: SO I RAN INSIDE,

AND I GOT IN THERE
PROBABLY A MINUTE BEFORE

THE COPS CAME FROM THE STAGE
UP TO THE AISLES.

Brewer: NOBODY IN THE THEATRE
KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN SHOT.

Aynesworth: THEY HAD TRIED
TO PUT THE LIGHTS UP,

BUT THEY ONLY WENT UP HALFWAY,

SO IT WAS SEMI-DARK.

Brewer: AND ACTUALLY,
THE MOVIE WAS STILL PLAYING

EVEN WHEN THE LIGHTS
WERE TURNED ON,

AND I POINTED TO HIM. I SAID,
"THAT'S HIM RIGHT THERE."

A POLICEMAN GOT TO OSWALD,

TOLD HIM TO GET UP.

AND OSWALD DID GET UP,

AND HE THREW A HARD LEFT

AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN
ONTO THE SEATS,

AND AT THAT SAME MOMENT,
WITH HIS RIGHT HAND,

REACHED UNDER HIS SHIRT
AND PULLED OUT THIS REVOLVER.

AND OSWALD PUTS THE GUN
IN OFFICER McDONALD'S FACE,

WHO HAD JUMPED UP

JUST AS QUICK AS YOU COULD EVER
IMAGINE A MAN CAN MOVE,

AND GRABBED THE PISTOL

WHICH WAS NO MORE THAN
A FOOT OR SO FROM HIS FACE.

TWO OR THREE OTHER POLICEMEN,

BY THIS TIME THEY WERE GETTING
ACTIVELY INVOLVED,

AND THEY WERE COMING OVER
THE BACKS OF THE SEATS,

AND THERE WAS A FEW FISTS SWUNG.

Aynesworth: IT WAS JUST LIKE
AN OLD COMIC BOOK

WHERE YOU SEE THIS MELEE,
THE FIGHT,

SEE ANIMALS, LEG UP HERE
AND ARM OVER THERE AND JUST...

Brewer: HE WASN'T BEATEN,

BUT HE WAS BEATEN LIKE
YOU WOULD EXPECT ANYBODY TO BE

THAT HAD PULLED A GUN
ON A POLICEMAN.

AND THEY CUFFED HIM UP
IMMEDIATELY.

I MEAN, IT WAS
VERY EFFICIENT, VERY FAST.

Aynesworth: I REMEMBER OSWALD,
I COULD HEAR HIM,

AND HE SAID TWICE, "I PROTEST
THIS POLICE BRUTALITY."

Brewer: WE'RE NO MORE THAN JUST
A COUPLE OF FEET AWAY,

AND HE HOLLERED,
"I'M NOT RESISTING ARREST."

HE SAID THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

WELL, I'M THINKING,
"YEAH, YOU ARE, YOU KNOW."

Aynesworth: BY THAT TIME,

THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
IN FRONT OF THE THEATRE,

SHOUTING, "KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"

Narrator: AT PARKLAND HOSPITAL,
CLINT HILL HAS THE TASK

OF FINDING A COFFIN
FOR PRESIDENT KENNEDY.

Hill: I TALKED
TO THE LOCAL MORTUARY.

I REQUESTED
THAT THEY BRING A CASKET

TO PARKLAND HOSPITAL
IMMEDIATELY,

THE BEST ONE THEY HAD,

AND DELIVER IT TO ME IN MY NAME.

IT WAS FOR THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Narrator: BUT AS KENNEDY'S TEAM

PREPARES TO LEAVE
FOR THE AIRPORT,

THERE'S A PROBLEM.

Hill: THE DALLAS AUTHORITIES
TOLD US THAT WE COULDN'T LEAVE.

THEY WERE GOING TO HOLD
PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S BODY

UNTIL THEY COULD DO AN AUTOPSY.

WE SAID, "WELL, HE'S A PRESIDENT
OF ALL THE PEOPLE.

WE WANT TO TAKE HIM BACK
TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL,

AND THEY CAN DO
THE AUTOPSY THERE."

AND THEY SAID, "THAT'S NOT
ACCORDING TO TEXAS LAW."

McClelland:
DR. ROSE HELD HIS HAND UP

TO STOP THE PROCESSION.

THE SECRET SERVICE MAN
LIFTED HIM UP OFF THE GROUND

LIKE YOU WOULD A SMALL CHILD,

AND SET HIM OVER AGAINST
THE WALL OF THE CORRIDOR

AND SHOOK HIS FINGER
IN DR. ROSE'S FACE,

DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING,

AND THEY PROCEEDED OUT
TO THE AMBULANCE.

Hill: MRS. KENNEDY CAME OUT.

SHE SAID, "I WANT TO RIDE
IN THE BACK OF THE HEARSE

WITH THE PRESIDENT."

AND I GOT IN WITH HER.

IT WAS RATHER CRAMPED.

THERE WAS NOTHING SAID.

IT WAS ABSOLUTE QUIET.

Watson: WE ARE ASHAMED
AT THE MOMENT.

WE ARE STUNNED.

THE WHOLE WORLD IS STUNNED,

BUT AT THIS MOMENT I DON'T THINK
ANYBODY COULD BE MORE STUNNED

THAN THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN OUR CITY.

Hill: WHEN WE GOT
TO LOVE FIELD,

WE UNLOADED THE CASKET

AND CARRIED IT UP THE REAR RAMP
TO AIR FORCE ONE.

IT WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY.

WE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME
CARRYING IT UP THAT REAR RAMP,

BUT WE MANAGED TO DO SO.

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT
THE HANDLES ON THE CASKET

MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT
THE CASKET THROUGH THE DOOR.

AND SO WE HAD TO BREAK
THE HANDLES OFF THE CASKET

IN ORDER TO GET IT INTO THE REAR
COMPARTMENT OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: THE KENNEDY TEAM IS
ANXIOUS TO LEAVE FOR WASHINGTON.

BUT THE NEW PRESIDENT
HAS OTHER PLANS.

2:00 P.M.

LEE HARVEY OSWALD IS BROUGHT
TO DALLAS POLICE HEADQUARTERS,

PARADED THROUGH A TANGLE
OF PRESS MEN AND CAMERAS.

IT'S JUST AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES

SINCE THE SHOOTING
OF THE PRESIDENT.

Boone: I WENT BACK OVER
TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

AND REALLY
JUST OBSERVED HUMAN NATURE.

THE WORLD MEDIA
WAS IN DALLAS,

AND EVERYBODY WAS TRYING
TO GET A STORY, I GUESS,

AND THEY WERE TALKING TO ANYBODY
THAT WOULD TALK TO THEM,

BUT YOU COULD HEAR ANYTHING

FROM SOME INDIVIDUAL
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT,

TO THE RUSSIANS WERE COMING.

IT WAS JUST CHAOTIC.

Narrator: JAMES TAGUE,

WHO WAS GRAZED BY A RICOCHET

FROM ONE OF THE SHOTS
IN DEALEY PLAZA,

ARRIVES AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS
TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

Tague: IT WAS JUST PANDEMONIUM
IN THERE.

I MEAN, THESE, SUPPOSEDLY, THESE
CALM, COOL, COLLECTED TYPES

THAT ARE POLICEMEN

ARE RUNNING AROUND
LIKE CRAZY MEN.

TWO POLICEMEN COME IN
WITH THIS YOUNG MAN,

AND HE LOOKS NOT
THE BEST FOR WEAR,

GOT A BRUISE ON HIS FACE.

AND THE DETECTIVE ASKED THE TWO
POLICEMEN THAT'S GOT HIM,

HE'S HANDCUFFED, SAYS,
"WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE?"

AND HE SAYS,
"WELL, THIS IS THE GUY

THAT KILLED THAT POLICEMAN
OVER IN OAK CLIFF."

Jim Leavelle: I TRIED TO
GET THEM TO EMPTY THAT HALLWAY.

YOU COULDN'T MOVE.

THEY WAS ALL HOLLERING AT HIM

AND STICKING THOSE MICROPHONES
OVER THERE,

AND I LOOKED DOWN

AND THERE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER
DOWN ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES

WITH HIS CAMERA
STUCK BETWEEN MY LEGS,

TRYING TO SHOOT A PICTURE.

WELL, HE GOT
THE BACK SIDE OF MY FOOT,

AND I SENT HIM ABOUT 10 FEET
BACK DOWN THE HALLWAY.

I WOULD HAVE HAD HIM PUT IN JAIL
IF I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

Narrator: HOMICIDE DETECTIVE
JIM LEAVELLE

BEGINS TO QUESTION OSWALD.

Leavelle: I WENT IN
AND STARTED TALKING TO HIM

ABOUT THE MURDER OF J.D. TIPPIT.

I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE THAT
HE WAS GOING TO BE A SUSPECT

IN THE PRESIDENTIAL KILLING.

OF COURSE HE DENIED
SHOOTING THE OFFICER.

WHEN I ASKED HIM ABOUT
SHOOTING THE OFFICER,

HE SAID,
"I DIDN'T SHOOT ANYBODY."

HE WAS VERY POLITE TO ME,
ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS.

OF COURSE HE DIDN'T
ANSWER THEM TRUTHFULLY,

BUT HE WASN'T ARGUMENTATIVE.

HE WAS ACTUALLY
A VERY PLEASANT INDIVIDUAL.

Narrator: 2:30 P.M.

POLICE INTERROGATOR
CAPTAIN WILLIAM FRITZ

RETURNS FROM
THE BOOK DEPOSITORY SEARCH

LOOKING FOR LEE HARVEY OSWALD.

HE HEARS THAT
DETECTIVE JIM LEAVELLE

IS ALREADY QUESTIONING OSWALD
ABOUT THE TIPPIT KILLING.

Leavelle: HE CAME OVER
AND OPENED THE DOOR

AND ASKED ME WHAT HIS NAME WAS,

AND I TOLD HIM IT WAS OSWALD,
LEE HARVEY OSWALD.

CAPTAIN SAYS,
"YOU'RE THE MAN I WANT.

COME WITH ME."

THAT'S THE FIRST INKLING I HAD

THAT HE WAS
GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE PRESIDENT'S
ASSASSINATION.

Narrator: AS THE POLICE
BEGIN TO UNCOVER

THE OUTLINES OF OSWALD'S LIFE,

THEY FIND AN UNSETTLING STORY.

OSWALD'S TIME
IN THE SOVIET UNION

AND HIS SOVIET WIFE MARINA

RAISE ALARMS ABOUT
A POSSIBLE SOVIET CONSPIRACY.

POLICE ARE ALSO SUSPICIOUS

OF HIS RUSSIAN-SPEAKING FRIEND
RUTH PAINE,

WHO HELPED TO GET HIM THE JOB
AT THE TEXAS BOOK DEPOSITORY.

Paine: SIX POLICE OFFICERS
ARRIVED AT THE DOOR

AND SAID THAT THEY HAD
LEE OSWALD IN CUSTODY

FOR SHOOTING AN OFFICER.

HERE I WAS,
THIS NAIVE 31-YEAR-OLD.

I EXPECTED THEM
TO COME IN AND SIT ON THE SOFA,

AND WE'D TALK.

THEY SPREAD OUT
ALL OVER THE HOUSE,

LOOKING
AND PEERING INTO THINGS,

AND IN THE GARAGE
AND EVERYWHERE.

THE LEAD OFFICER
ASKED WHETHER MARINA,

WHETHER LEE HAD HAD A GUN,

AND I, NOT KNOWING, SAID NO,

BUT TRANSLATED TO MARINA,
WHO SAID, "YES, HE DID."

THEY WENT INTO THE GARAGE

AND SHE POINTED TO A BLANKET
ROLL THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR,

WHERE SHE HAD SEEN THE GUN.

THE RIFLE WAS GONE.

THAT WAS MY WORST MOMENT
BECAUSE IT WAS THEN I REALIZED

THAT LEE PROBABLY
WAS THE SHOOTER

AND THAT HE'D COME OUT TO GET
THE GUN THAT NIGHT BEFORE.

Hill: WE GOT
ONTO AIR FORCE ONE

AND MRS. KENNEDY
SAT NEAR THE CASKET

IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT.

WE THOUGHT
WE WERE GOING TO TAKE OFF

RIGHT AWAY FOR WASHINGTON,

BUT WE FOUND OUT
THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT

HAD BEEN CONFERRING
WITH PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON

AND THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE
THAT HE NEEDED TO BE SWORN IN

WHILE WE WERE STILL
ON THE GROUND THERE IN DALLAS.

Narrator: FOR AN HOUR,

AIR FORCE ONE
REMAINS AT LOVE FIELD,

WAITING FOR A JUDGE WHO CAN
SWEAR IN THE NEW PRESIDENT.

STRANDED ON THE PLANE
IN SWELTERING HEAT,

KENNEDY LOYALISTS STRUGGLE

TO ACCEPT THE REALITY
OF A NEW PRESIDENT,

WHILE KENNEDY'S WIDOW
KEEPS WATCH OVER HIS COFFIN.

Hill: MRS. KENNEDY
GRABBED MY HANDS,

AND SHE SAID, "OH, MR. HILL,

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
TO YOU NOW?"

AND I SAID, "I'LL BE OK,
MRS. KENNEDY. I'LL BE OK."

BUT SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT MY WELLBEING

AND THAT OF THE OTHER AGENTS.

Narrator: 26 PEOPLE
CRAM INTO THE ROOM

TO WITNESS THE OATH.

Davis: JOHNSON WAS ALREADY
IN THE ROOM.

IT WAS ONLY ABOUT
A TEN-BY-TEN ROOM,

A VERY SMALL COMPARTMENT.

AND HE TURNED TO HIS SECRETARY,
AND HE SAID,

"WOULD YOU ASK MRS. KENNEDY

IF SHE WOULD LIKE
TO STAND WITH US?"

WE WERE JUST STUNNED TO SEE HER.

SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
SHE JUST STOOD THERE.

I SAW THE BLOOD
THAT HAD HIT HER SKIRT.

THE STOCKINGS WERE THE THINGS
THAT STRUCK ME MOST,

THE STOCKINGS
WHERE THE BLOOD HAD CONGEALED.

Davis: THE STAFF,

WHO'D MADE THE LONG MARCH WITH
JOHN F. KENNEDY TO CAMELOT,

AND NOW HE WAS GONE.

AND THE MASCARA'S STREAKING DOWN
THEIR CHEEKS AS THEY'RE CRYING,

AND YOU COULD HEAR THE SOBBING,

MEN AND WOMEN.

AND JOHNSON
WENT OVER TO MRS. KENNEDY,

HE TOOK HER BY BOTH HANDS,

AND HE TOLD THE JUDGE
TO PROCEED.

Narrator: THEY FIND
PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S PRAYER BOOK

ON THE PLANE
FOR THE SWEARING IN,

AND A DICTAPHONE
RECORDS THE CEREMONY.

Hill: EVERYBODY WAS AWARE.

IT WAS VERY HISTORIC,
IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL.

AS SOON AS THE SWEARING-IN
CEREMONY TOOK PLACE,

THE PILOT
GOT THE AIRCRAFT MOVING,

AND WE TOOK OFF FOR ANDREWS
AIR FORCE BASE NEAR WASHINGTON.

Narrator: 2:47 P.M.

ALREADY THE NEWS
OF KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION

IS GOING OUT
AROUND THE WORLD.

IN LONDON,
PARLIAMENT HAS ADJOURNED.

PROCESSIONS OF MOURNERS
ARE WINDING THROUGH BERLIN.

FUNERAL MUSIC IS PLAYING
ON RADIO MOSCOW.

Operator: AF1 FROM CROWN
AND MRS. KENNEDY ON.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

Narrator: AS AIR FORCE ONE
HEADS FOR WASHINGTON,

PRESIDENT JOHNSON MAKES A CALL
TO JFK'S MOTHER, ROSE KENNEDY.

Narrator:
AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS,

CHIEF JESSE CURRY IS UNDER SIEGE
FROM THE WORLD'S PRESS.

Reporter: ARE YOU
AND THE REST OF THE POLICE

CONVINCED YOU HAVE
THE RIGHT MAN NOW?

Curry: I THINK WE DO.

Reporter: ARE THERE ANY OTHER
SUSPECTS LINKED WITH OSWALD?

Curry: NO.

Leavelle: ONE OF CHIEF CURRY'S
MAIN WORRIES

WAS WHAT THE PUBLIC
IS GOING TO THINK ABOUT US,

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,

PERMITTING THE PRESIDENT TO BE
SHOT IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

I KNEW THAT WAS HANGING HEAVY
OVER HIS HEAD,

AND HE WAS WORRIED
IF HE KICKED THEM ALL OUT

THAT THEY'D HAVE BAD THINGS
TO WRITE ABOUT HIM.

OF COURSE, I TOLD
SOME OF THE REPORTERS,

"I'D HAVE KICKED YOUR FANNIES
BACK DOWN THE HALLWAY THERE."

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WOULDN'T HAVE WORRIED ME A BIT.

Reporter: DOES HE SEEM
MENTALLY RIGHT, CHIEF?

Curry:
YES, HE'S MENTALLY RIGHT.

Reporter: YOU DON'T THINK
THE MAN IS OFF HIS ROCKER?

Curry: NO, SIR,
I DON'T THINK SO.

Reporter:
THANK YOU, CHIEF CURRY.

Aynesworth: YOU MUST REMEMBER

THAT THIS IS PROBABLY
THE BIGGEST SUCH STORY LIKE THAT

THAT HAD EVER HAPPENED
IN OUR NATION, ANYWAY.

EVERYBODY THOUGHT
IT WAS THE FAR RIGHT.

THEN THEY THOUGHT
IT WAS THE COMMUNISTS.

AND THERE WAS REALLY
NO LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY

AT THAT TIME.

Leavelle: THE ONLY PERSON THAT
WAS ENJOYING IT WAS OSWALD.

HE WAS ENJOYING
ALL THAT PUBLICITY,

'CAUSE THAT WAS
EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED.

HE WANTED TO MAKE A NAME
FOR HIMSELF,

AND HE KNEW HE WAS MAKING IT.

SO IT HAD FALLEN
RIGHT INTO PLACE FOR HIM.

EVEN THE TIME WHEN HE HAD
HIS FIST UP HERE,

THAT IRON-FISTED SALUTE,
FOR RUSSIA,

YOU COULD SEE THE PLEASED
EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE.

Narrator: 5:58 P.M.
EASTERN STANDARD TIME.

AIR FORCE ONE LANDS AT ANDREWS
AIR FORCE BASE IN WASHINGTON.

Hill: AS SOON
AS THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED,

DOWN THE AISLE
CAME THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,

ROBERT KENNEDY,
WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT'S BROTHER,

RUNNING TO
GET TO THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT

IN WHICH THE CASKET WAS LOCATED.

HE COMPLETELY IGNORED EVERYBODY.

THERE WAS NOT
A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN CERTAIN MEMBERS
OF THE KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION

AND JOHNSON,

SO THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT
WAS REALLY THAT UNUSUAL TO ME.

Narrator: JOHNSON HAS PLANNED

TO LEAVE THE PLANE
WITH THE PRESIDENT'S WIDOW,

BUT HE'S IGNORED
BY THE KENNEDY LOYALISTS

AS THEY NEGOTIATE
THE IMPROVISED ARRANGEMENTS

FOR UNLOADING THE COFFIN.

Hill: OFFICIALS THERE
AT ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE

HAD TAKEN A LIFT
THAT USUALLY IS USED

TO RAISE AND LOWER FOODSTUFFS
TO THE AIRCRAFT.

WE PLACED THE CASKET ON THE LIFT
AND LOWERED IT TO GROUND LEVEL,

AND THE AGENTS, MYSELF INCLUDED,

HELPED LOAD THE CASKET
INTO THE AMBULANCE.

Reporter: SECRET SERVICE ESCORT

NOW LIFTING THE BRONZE CASKET
OFF THE TRUCK.

THE CASKET IS NOW BEING PUT
INTO A GRAY NAVY AMBULANCE.

MRS. KENNEDY IS NOW COMING DOWN,
FOLLOWING THE CASKET.

WITH HER, OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE KENNEDY FAMILY.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
CAN BE SEEN.

Narrator: JOHNSON
HAS OVERRULED A KENNEDY WISH

TO EXCLUDE THE PRESS
FROM THE AIRPORT.

BY THE TIME HE MAKES HIS FIRST
BRIEF STATEMENT AS PRESIDENT,

KENNEDY'S BODY HAS ALREADY LEFT.

Reporter: AND NOW
THE SORROWING MRS. KENNEDY,

ACCOMPANYING
THE BODY OF HER HUSBAND,

HEADS TOWARDS
BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL.

AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

President Johnson: THIS IS
A SAD TIME FOR ALL PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SUFFERED A LOSS
THAT CANNOT BE WEIGHED.

FOR ME IT IS
A DEEP PERSONAL TRAGEDY.

I KNOW THAT THE WORLD
SHARES THE SORROW

THAT MRS. KENNEDY
AND HER FAMILY BEAR.

I WILL DO MY BEST.

THAT IS ALL I CAN DO.

I ASK FOR YOUR HELP,

AND GOD'S.

Narrator: 6:15 P.M.

DALLAS POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

Reporter: THIS IS ROOM 317,
HOMICIDE BUREAU.

AS YOU SEE, THEY ARE BRINGING
THE WEAPON ALLEGEDLY USED

IN THE ASSASSINATION
OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

THIS AFTERNOON AT 12:30,
HERE IN DALLAS.

Narrator: BY LATE AFTERNOON,
POLICE INQUIRIES

LEAD THEM TO OSWALD'S CO-WORKER
BUELL FRAZIER,

THE MAN WHO DROVE HIM
TO WORK THAT DAY.

Frazier: I OPENED THE DOOR,

AND I WAS MET
BY THESE TWO POLICE DETECTIVES,

AND THEY GRABBED HOLD OF ME

AND PUT ME UP AGAINST THE WALL
KIND OF FIRMLY AND QUICKLY,

AND I WAS TOTALLY IN SHOCK,
AS I SAID.

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" I SAID.
"WHO ARE YOU?"

I SAID,
"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?"

Narrator: FRAZIER IS TAKEN
TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS

TO BE QUESTIONED
BY CHIEF INTERROGATOR

CAPTAIN WILL FRITZ.

Frazier:
HE THOUGHT I WAS GUILTY,

SO HE HAD SOMEONE
TYPE UP A STATEMENT,

AND HE SAID, "SIGN THIS."

AND THIS SAID
THAT I WAS INVOLVED

IN THE ASSASSINATION
OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY.

I LOOKED AT HIM AND I SAID,
"I'M NOT SIGNING THAT."

I SAID,
"THAT'S RIDICULOUS."

WELL, HE DREW
HIS HAND BACK TO HIT ME,

AND I PUT MY ARM UP
LIKE THAT TO BLOCK.

AND HE SAID...

HE WAS SO MAD AT ME,
SO RED-FACED,

AND I TOLD HIM, I SAID,
"YOU HIT ME..."

I SAID, "THERE'S POLICEMEN
OUTSIDE THAT DOOR,

BUT I SAID, "WE'RE GONNA
HAVE A HELL OF A FIGHT

BEFORE THEY GET IN HERE."

SO, HE GRABBED THE PAPER
AND THE PEN AND STOMPED OUT,

AND I NEVER DID SEE HIM AGAIN.

Narrator:
BUT FRAZIER'S INTERROGATIONS
AND A LIE DETECTOR TEST

CONTINUE INTO THE NIGHT.

Reporter: THERE IS THE SUSPECT.
CAN WE ROLL IT, PLEASE?

Narrator: 7:10 P.M.

OSWALD IS CHARGED WITH THE
MURDER OF OFFICER J.D. TIPPIT.

Reporter:
DID YOU SHOOT THE PRESIDENT?

Oswald: I DIDN'T
SHOOT ANYBODY, NO, SIR.

Reporter: WE JUST HEARD OSWALD,

WHO SAID HE DID NOT
SHOOT ANYBODY.

Narrator: OSWALD'S TROUBLED
HISTORY IS BEGINNING TO EMERGE.

Reporter: I'M BEING
PUMMELED HERE.

Walter Cronkite: OSWALD,
AS WE SAID, WAS LOCAL CHAIRMAN

OF THE PRO-CASTRO
FAIR PLAY FOR CUBA COMMITTEE.

HE WENT TO RUSSIA IN 1959

SAYING HE WAS RELINQUISHING
HIS UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP.

HE RETURNED LAST YEAR

COMPLAINING THAT
HE WAS DISILLUSIONED.

Narrator: POLICE LEAD OSWALD
PAST REPORTERS 15 TIMES.

Reporter:
HERE COMES THE MAN AGAIN.

Oswald: I'D LIKE SOME
LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

THESE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE NOT
ALLOWED ME TO, TO HAVE ANY.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

Reporter:
DID YOU KILL THE PRESIDENT?

Oswald: NO, SIR, I DIDN'T.
PEOPLE KEEP ASKING ME THAT.

Narrator: SEVERAL WITNESSES
SINGLE HIM OUT

IN A SERIES OF POLICE LINEUPS.

HIS PALM PRINT
IS FOUND ON THE RIFLE.

Reporter: DID YOU SHOOT
THE PRESIDENT?

Oswald: NO, THEY'VE TAKEN ME IN

BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I'VE
LIVED IN THE SOVIET UNION.

I'M JUST A PATSY.

Narrator: OSWALD'S CLAIM
THAT HE IS A PATSY

WILL SPAWN GENERATIONS
OF CONSPIRACY THEORISTS.

Hill: ONCE WE GOT
TO BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL,

WE PLACED MRS. KENNEDY
UP IN A SUITE

AND SECURED HER THERE.

AND THE AUTOPSY BEGAN.

Narrator: THE PRESIDENT'S WIDOW
BEGINS HER VIGIL

AS AUTOPSY NUMBER A63-272
GETS UNDER WAY.

IT WILL BE MORE THAN SEVEN HOURS

BEFORE THE AUTOPSY AND FUNERAL
PREPARATIONS ARE COMPLETE.

THE AUTOPSY CONCLUDES THAT TWO
BULLETS STRUCK THE PRESIDENT.

ONE PASSED THROUGH HIS BACK
AND EXITED THROUGH HIS THROAT.

THE FATAL SHOT
HIT THE BACK OF HIS SKULL

AND EXPLODED HIS BRAIN.

THE LONG NIGHT IS TAKEN UP
WITH PLANS FOR A FUNERAL

INSPIRED BY CEREMONIES
FOR ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Reporter:
HE IS A SLIGHT FELLOW

WITH SOME SCRATCHES
AROUND HIS FACE.

Narrator: JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT,

AFTER HOURS OF BEING BOMBARDED
BY DEMANDS FROM REPORTERS,

POLICE BRING OSWALD
TO A PRESS CONFERENCE.

Oswald: I REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT THIS SITUATION IS ABOUT.

NOBODY HAS TOLD ME ANYTHING

EXCEPT THAT I'M ACCUSED
OF MURDERING A POLICEMAN.

I KNOW NOTHING MORE THAN THAT.

Reporter: DID YOU KILL
THE PRESIDENT?

Oswald: NO, I'VE NOT
BEEN CHARGED WITH THAT.

IN FACT NOBODY
HAS SAID THAT TO ME YET.

THE FIRST THING I HEARD ABOUT IT

WAS WHEN THE NEWSPAPER REPORTERS
IN THE HALL

ASKED ME THAT QUESTION.

Reporter: YOU HAVE
BEEN CHARGED WITH THAT.

Oswald: SIR?

Reporter: YOU HAVE BEEN
CHARGED WITH THAT.

Reporter:
WHAT DID YOU DO IN RUSSIA?

MR. OSWALD,
HOW DID YOU HURT YOUR EYE?

Oswald:
A POLICEMAN HIT ME.

Narrator: FOLLOWING
THE CHAOTIC PRESS CONFERENCE,

OSWALD IS AT LAST
FORMALLY CHARGED

WITH THE MURDER OF PRESIDENT
JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY.

Hill: THE PHONE RANG.

I WAS ASKED TO COME DOWN
TO THE AUTOPSY ROOM.

THEY WANTED ME TO
OBSERVE THE PRESIDENT'S BODY

SO THAT IF MRS. KENNEDY
EVER HAD ANY QUESTIONS,

I WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM,

BECAUSE THEY KNEW

THAT IF SHE WAS GOING TO
ASK ANYBODY ABOUT IT,

MORE THAN LIKELY
IT WOULD BE ME.

IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT I KNEW I HAD TO DO,

AND SO I WENT THROUGH WITH IT.

WE LOADED THE BODY
INTO AN AMBULANCE.

MRS. KENNEDY
AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

GOT INTO THE BACK OF
THE AMBULANCE WITH THE BODY.

I GOT INTO A CAR,
AND WE DROVE TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

Narrator:
AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING,

JOHN KENNEDY'S BODY RETURNS
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

Davis: I SAW THE FLASHING LIGHTS
COMING DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,

AHEAD OF THE AMBULANCE.

NOW, MRS. KENNEDY
WANTED HER HUSBAND'S BODY

TO BE IN AN AMBULANCE
AND NOT IN A HEARSE.

THE KENNEDY FAMILY
DON'T WANT TO FACE THE FACT

THAT A PERSON'S DEAD.

IT'S TOO FINAL.

I COULD SEE MRS. KENNEDY
WITH HER HAND ON THE CASKET,

AND I STARTED TO FEEL

THE FINALITY
OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

I TOLD THEM THAT WE OUGHT TO
GO BACK ON THE AIR.

Sid Davis: THERE'S
VERY LITTLE MORE WE CAN SAY.

IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING,
PERHAPS,

JOHN F. KENNEDY HAS COME HOME.

HE LIKED TO QUOTE
FROM ROBERT FROST

MANY TIMES ON THE CAMPAIGN,

AND ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S
FAVORITE QUOTATIONS--

AND I BELIEVE IT WENT
SOMETHING LIKE THIS--

"I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP,

AND MANY MILES TO GO
BEFORE I SLEEP."

AND WITH THAT,
THIS IS SID DAVIS...

[voice breaking] ...REPORTING
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

Narrator: AS FLOWERS PILE UP
ON DEALEY PLAZA,

THE WORLD JOINS
IN THE MOURNING FOR A PRESIDENT.

Cronkite: IN LONDON, THE GREAT
TENOR BELL OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY

HAS BEEN PEALING OUT
EVERY MINUTE.

IN WEST BERLIN,
THE CITY GOVERNMENT

ORDERED OFFICIAL MOURNING
UNTIL TUESDAY.

IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
THE SHAH OF IRAN

HAS ORDERED ALL FLAGS
FLOWN AT HALF STAFF THERE.

IN IRAQ,
THREE DAYS OF NATIONAL MOURNING.

IN JORDAN, KING HUSSEIN
HAS ORDERED THE ROYAL COURT

TO GO INTO MOURNING
FOR THREE DAYS.

SO THE STORIES GO
FROM SOUTH AMERICA,

FROM AFRICA, FROM ASIA.

Narrator: THE STORY
OF THE DAY KENNEDY DIED

DID NOT END
ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1963.

THERE WAS ANOTHER
SHOCKING CONCLUSION

JUST 35 HOURS LATER
IN DALLAS.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24,

11:20 A.M.

POLICE TAKE LEE HARVEY OSWALD

DOWN TO THE BASEMENT
OF THE DALLAS HEADQUARTERS.

FOLLOWING
MANY THREATS TO HIS LIFE

AND SURROUNDED
BY MAXIMUM SECURITY,

OSWALD IS SHACKLED
TO DETECTIVE JIM LEAVELLE

FOR THE TRANSFER
TO THE COUNTY JAIL.

Leavelle: I SAID,
"LEE, IF ANYBODY SHOOTS AT YOU,

I HOPE THEY'RE
AS GOOD A SHOT AS YOU ARE."

AND HE KIND OF SMILED
AND HE SAID,

"OH, NOBODY'S GOING
TO SHOOT AT ME."

IT'S THE ONLY TIME HE SMILED

DURING THE ENTIRE TIME
HE WAS IN CUSTODY.

Man: THERE HE IS.
HERE HE COMES.

Jackson: I HEARD HIM SAY,
"HERE HE COMES,"

AND I COULD SEE LEAVELLE'S HAT
AND OSWALD, YOU KNOW,

COMING OUT THROUGH
THE BOOKING ROOM.

AND SO I WAS LOOKING
THROUGH THE CAMERA.

Aynesworth: ALL THE LIGHTS
WENT ON, ALL THE CAMERAS.

Leavelle:
THE FLOODLIGHTS CAME ON

AND MOMENTARILY BLINDED ME.

THE FIRST THING I SAW
WHEN I TURNED THAT CORNER

WAS JACK RUBY STANDING AT ABOUT
THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY.

HE HAD THAT PISTOL
IN HIS HAND

PRESSED AGAINST
THE SIDE OF HIS LEG.

Jackson: AS THEY APPROACHED
THE SPOT

WHERE I WAS GONNA SHOOT ANYWAY,

I WAS AWARE THAT A FIGURE
WAS MOVING OUT FROM MY RIGHT.

[GUNSHOT]

Aynesworth:
AND THEN I HEARD ONE POP.

ONE POP.

AND I KNEW IT WAS A SHOT.

Reporter: HE'S BEEN SHOT,
HE'S BEEN SHOT.

LEE OSWALD HAS BEEN SHOT.

THERE'S A MAN WITH A GUN.

IT'S ABSOLUTE PANIC,
ABSOLUTE PANIC,

HERE IN THE BASEMENT
OF DALLAS POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

Jackson:
HE FIRED, AND I FIRED.

I COULDN'T HAVE
PLANNED IT ANY BETTER.

Narrator: LEE HARVEY OSWALD

IS GUNNED DOWN
IN POLICE HEADQUARTERS

BY CLUB OWNER JACK RUBY.

Leavelle: I WAS GOING TO
TRY TO PULL HIM BEHIND ME,

BUT I HAD HIM RIGHT UP CLOSE,
I HAD MY HAND IN HIS BELT,

AND I HAD NO LEVERAGE.

HAD HE BEEN OUT AT ARM'S LENGTH,

I COULD HAVE JERKED HIM
PLUMB OFF HIS FEET,

BACK BEHIND ME.

I JERKED ON HIM,
AND ALL I DID WAS TURN HIS BODY

SO THE BULLET DID NOT
HIT HIM DEAD CENTER.

IT HIT HIM ABOUT 3 OR 4 INCHES
TO THE LEFT OF THE NAVEL.

WHAT SAVED ME WAS OSWALD'S RIB.

IF IT HADN'T HAVE HIT THAT RIB,

THE BULLET WOULD HAVE COME ON
THROUGH AND CAUGHT ME OVER HERE.

SO THE RIB'S
WHAT SAVED ME THAT DAY.

Reporter:
IT IS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE.

IT'S ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE.

THIS IS THE...

HERE HE COMES,
HERE'S OSWALD AGAIN.

HE IS NOW LYING VERY PALE
ON THE STRETCHER.

HE'S BEING PUT INTO
THE AMBULANCE.

CAPTAIN, WHERE WILL HE BE TAKEN?

Officer: I'M ASSUMING
PARKLAND HOSPITAL.

Reporter: PARKLAND HOSPITAL,
THE IRONY OF IRONIES,

THE PLACE WHERE
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY DIED.

Narrator: AT PARKLAND HOSPITAL,

JUST TWO DAYS AFTER TRYING
TO SAVE PRESIDENT KENNEDY,

DR. ROBERT McCLELLAND
FINDS HIMSELF FACING OSWALD.

McClelland: THE DEPUTY SHERIFF,

WHO HAD BEEN HANDCUFFED
TO OSWALD WHEN HE WAS SHOT,

SAID, "I GOT DOWN ON ALL FOURS

AND PUT MY FACE
DIRECTLY IN HIS,"

AND I SAID,
"SON, YOU'RE HURT REAL BAD.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SAY ANYTHING TO ME NOW?"

AND HE SAID OSWALD LOOKED UP
AT HIM FOR A LONG FEW MOMENTS,

OPENED HIS EYES REAL WIDE,

AND THEN FINALLY SHOOK HIS HEAD
VERY WIDELY FROM SIDE TO SIDE,

AS IF NO, HE DIDN'T WANT
TO SAY ANYTHING,

AND CLOSED HIS EYES

AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
THAT HE EVER OPENED THEM.

Narrator: OSWALD'S MURDER
FANS THE FLAMES OF CONSPIRACY

FOR DECADES TO COME.

Paine: IT WAS LIKE
A CLOSURE FOR ME

TO HAVE HIS LIFE FINISHED.

Narrator: MINUTES AFTER
OSWALD'S SHOOTING,

PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S
FUNERAL PROCESSION

LEAVES THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE IMPACT
OF WHAT HAPPENED IN DALLAS

BROUGHT KINGS AND PRESIDENTS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD

TO WASHINGTON.

BUT FOR THE PEOPLE
WHOSE LIVES WERE TOUCHED

ON THE DAY KENNEDY DIED,

THE STORY HAS NEVER ENDED.

Paine: IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO,

BUT IT'S STILL
VERY FRESH FOR ME,

AND VERY PAINFUL STILL.

WE ALL WERE NUMB,

THE WHOLE COUNTRY...

WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED
AND HOW IT HAPPENED

AND WHAT WOULD BE NEXT.

YEAH.

Hill:
I WAS EMOTIONALLY DRAINED.

I FELT A SENSE OF GREAT LOSS.

I FELT A SENSE OF FAILURE.

AND I HAD A SENSE OF GUILT

FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO DO
MORE THAN I DID.

Frazier: THAT MORNING,
NOVEMBER 22, 1963,

A YOUNG BOY WENT TO WORK.

UH...

THAT YOUNG BOY
NEVER DID COME HOME.

I HAVE A HARD TIME
TRUSTING ANYONE.

I JUST GOT TIRED
OF BEING CHASTISED

FOR SOMETHING I HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH.

UH...THE PAIN AND THE ANGER
THAT YOU GO THROUGH

ISN'T WORTH IT.

Hall: I THINK IT WAS ONE OF
THE GREAT TRAGEDIES OF MY TIME,

AND I THINK
IT SHOULD CAUSE PEOPLE

TO REALLY LOOK AT THEIR LIVES
AND THEIR FAMILIES,

AND MAYBE JUST HOLD THEM
A LITTLE TIGHTER.

Hill: I CALL THAT
THE END OF THE AGE OF INNOCENCE,

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

THINGS LIKE THAT
JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.

BUT THEY DID.