Blood, Money, & Power by Barr McClellan

Author:Barr McClellan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Those in possession of absolute power can not only prophesy and make their prophecies come true, but they can also lie and make their lies come true.

—Eric Hoffer

. . . that time may do him justice . . .

—from Profiles in Courage

14

Assassination

One of the most publicized and researched days in American history began quietly enough, with a cold front that pushed a light rain through Dallas and then cleared, leaving a beautiful morning in its wake.1 History has since treated the assassination with controversy, surrounding every moment in Dealey Plaza with alternative theories about what happened. Although agreement is hard to find on the varying details, the basics are reasonably clear.

Kennedy arrived with Jackie at Love Field in Dallas at 11:37 in the morning. The politicians waiting for Kennedy included Johnson and Governor John Connally. The planned motorcade through downtown Dallas was to end at the Trade Mart where the president was to address a group of community leaders and businessmen.

Because the skies had cleared, Kennedy’s limousine did not use the bubbletop. The motorcade formed with a pilot car one-quarter mile ahead of the main convoy, a lead car that included the Dallas police chief, the president’s car with the Kennedys and the Connallys, a follow-up car with eight Secret Service agents, and Johnson’s car, which included Mrs. Johnson and Senator Ralph Yarborough. Other vehicles trailed behind.

The motorcade departed at 11:50 and proceeded to Main Street in down-town Dallas. The welcome was very satisfying to Kennedy. He did not carry Dallas in 1960 and had been notified of hostile posters and news ads distributed that morning. There was no overt hate. The crowds provided a warm reception.

Near the end of the motorcade, Main intersected Houston at Dealey Plaza. The cars turned right onto Houston and went one block to Elm where they turned left. The president’s limousine was directly beneath the Texas School Book Depository as it proceeded slowly down Elm. The time was 12:30.

Shots were fired after the car had passed the depository. One hit the president from behind and exited through his throat. The shot was not fatal but could have been paralytic. Bullets also hit Connally, penetrating his right shoulder, breaking a rib, emerging to hit his wrist and then lodging in his thigh. Then another shot hit the president, apparently from the front, penetrating his right forehead and causing instant death. The shots were in rapid succession over a period of approximately six seconds.

The president’s limousine hurried to Parkland Hospital where Kennedy was pronounced dead at 1:00. Johnson, the new president, then drove to Love Field where he was officially sworn into office aboard Air Force One at 2:38. He insisted Jackie Kennedy stand beside him and she did. By that time, the casket with Kennedy’s body had been placed on board. Immediately after the swearing in, the plane took off for Washington, D.C.

When the shots were fired, a flock of pigeons had flown from the depository, directing attention to the building. As chaos took over

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