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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 493« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Phillip L. Willis)

Mr. Liebeler.
So you saw the motorcade coming down Main Street, did you?
Mr. Willis.
Yes; we could see it for a block or two.
Mr. Liebeler.
Then the motorcade, turned onto Houston and you took some pictures at that time?
Mr. Willis.
I remained there until I got the shot of the President approaching the turn onto Houston Street, and being a personal friend of then Vice President Lyndon Johnson, we were anxious to get him in one, and did. Then I took a picture as they turned onto Houston Street. Then another one from the rear after they proceeded down Houston approaching the turn they were to make onto Elm. Then I immediately ran across the plaza, raced over to Elm Street and stationed myself on the curb in front of the Texas School Book Depository.
Mr. Liebeler.
You were there when the motorcade made a left turn on Houston and went down Elm Street; is that correct?
Mr. Willis.
Yes; and I photographed the President. I was standing in front of the curb, as is shown in Life magazine, on the edge of the street, and I photographed the presidential car at not more than 10 feet because I didn't get the front or the rear of the car. I just got the occupants in the center. I was that close.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now you have indicated that you are depicted in a picture which is in the John F. Kennedy Memorial Edition of Life magazine in a picture that you said you were in the upper left-hand corner of page 4; is that correct?
Mr. Willis.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
You are the individual who stands almost directly behind the first motorcycle policeman in that picture, and you are shown with a camera?
Mr. Willis.
With my camera raised; yes, sir. The little girl in the red dress and white scarf and coat is my daughter.
Mr. Liebeler.
The farthest person in the right in the back of that picture?
Mr. Willis.
The farthest person in that picture.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now did you stand at that particular spot the entire time, or did you move down Elm Street?
Mr. Willis.
No, sir; I took that picture just seconds before the first shot was fired, to get back close up. Then I started down the street, and the regular weekly edition of Life magazine came out and shows me in about three different pictures going down the street. Then my next shot was taken at the very--in fact, the shot caused me to squeeze the camera shutter, and I got a picture of the President as he was hit with the first shot. So instantaneous, in fact, that the crowd hadn't had time to react.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now you have, as I understand it, a series of 12 slides, which apparently have been prepared by something called Phil Willis Enterprises, and which I understand is being marketed, at least in the Dallas area?
Mr. Willis.
We haven't done anything with them as yet, but I am the only one, I am told, who has a complete set of the prints covering the last 25 seconds of the President's life and the assassination and the tragedy following.
I was so shocked I didn't sell any, like everyone did at the moment. And the same people who bought those said they would have been invaluable had I brought them to them, but it didn't dawn on me to do that. And later there has been so many requests because of the historical nature, that we felt compelled to make them available to the public.
Mr. Liebeler.
I have here a picture that has been marked Hudson Exhibit No. 1, which I now show you and I suggest to you that it is one of the pictures that is a picture made from one of the slides.
Mr. Willis.
I made that picture.
Mr. Liebeler.
You made that picture yourself?
Mr. Willis.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
That is the same as slide No. 5? In your series of slides?
Mr. Willis.
That is correct.
Mr. Liebeler.
Can you tell us when that picture was made?
Mr. Willis.
That picture was made at the very instant that the first shot was fired. As a matter of fact, the fellow standing on the ledge under the right-hand corner of the Stemmons Highway sign is a gentleman who took the last pictures
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