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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 449« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Kenneth P. O'donnell)

Mr. Specter.
be automatic it would have to have come from the rear. I think any experienced agent would make that assumption immediately.
Mr. Specter.
And was the reaction of the agents which you have referred to as coming from the rear, to the right rear or to the left rear?
Mr. O'DONNELL. The reaction I note would be right rear. And, again, looking at the manner of the President's movement, I would think you would have to feel the thrust of the shot was from the right rear.
Mr. Specter.
Now, what was there about the President's movement which leads you to that conclusion?
Mr. O'DONNELL. He was leaning out waving. He may have just been withdrawing his hand. And the shot hit him, and threw him to the left. He slumped on Mrs. Kennedy.
Mr. Specter.
Were you able to determine a reaction on that slumping movement, as to whether it was the first, the second, or the third shot?
Mr. O'DONNELL. It was not the third shot. Whether it was the first or second, I would not know.
Mr. Specter.
Do you think it could have been the second shot?
Mr. O'DONNELL. Yes; I do. If I had to pick one of the two, I think it might have been the second shot. It seemed to be--but, again, it is a foggy recollection--it seemed to have been that his movement coincided--with such a slight difference of time, that is just guesswork.
Mr. Specter.
Did you observe any reaction of Governor Connally in the car?
Mr. O'DONNELL. I saw the Governor turn toward the President. The President, in that period of time, had been--they were one right behind the other. And the only reason I would even notice it was when the President had slumped to the left, the Governor then turned, and he was in my view. Otherwise, he would not have been. But the President slumped over, and, therefore, the Governor just turned and I could see him. I had no knowledge that he had been hit at that time.
Mr. Specter.
When did you get the first knowledge that he had been hit?
Mr. O'DONNELL. When the third shot came. The President was hit. The motorcade accelerated. And one of the agents said, "The Governor has been hit, too."
Mr. Specter.
Prior to the time that President Kennedy shifted to the left, then, could you see the Governor at all from your position?
Mr. O'DONNELL. Depending on how each one moved, normally, no. The President was directly behind the Governor. But if the President was over to the right waving, then you could see the Governor.
Mr. Specter.
On the President's left when the Governor.
Mr. O'DONNELL. If the President was all the way to the right, the Governor, who was in front of him, would be visible to us. If they were both sitting, they were not. But they did confer back and forth. So the Governor was visible upon occasion. But when he turned around, it was really the first time I had been able to see him clearly.
Mr. Specter.
At a time, though, when the President was on the extreme right-hand side, waving, would the Governor then have been visible on the President's left or on his right?
Mr. O'DONNELL. He would be on his left.
Mr. Specter.
Was the jump seat situated, if you know, to the precise front of the President, to the right, to the left, or what?
Mr. O'DONNELL. I don't know.
Mr. Specter.
What reaction did you observe, if any, as to Mrs. Kennedy during the shots?
Mr. O'DONNELL. Well, he slumped on her. She appeared to be immediately aware that something had happened. She turned toward him. And then the third shot hit. Obviously, she then knew what happened. She turned, looking at the backup car. Meanwhile Agent Hill had gotten off the car and started running up. She was clambering toward the back, and reached his hand, and he was on the car.
Mr. Specter.
Did you observe any reactions in the President's car other than those which you have now testified about?
Mr. O'DONNELL. No.
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