第二章
CHAPTER II covers the immediate events following the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963. It establishes the precise time of the shooting, calculates the speed of the Presidential limousine, recounts the experiences of occupants inside the limousine, documents the reactions of Secret Service agents, and follows the race to Parkland Memorial Hospital and the emergency medical treatment of the President.
The Time
The exact time of the assassination, 12:30 p.m., was established through four independent witnesses. Special Agent Rufus W. Youngblood observed the electric sign clock atop the Texas School Book Depository Building reading “12:30” as the Vice-Presidential car proceeded north on Houston Street. David F. Powers remarked to Kenneth O’Donnell that it was 12:30 p.m., the scheduled arrival time at the Trade Mart. Seconds after the shooting, Roy Kellerman looked at his watch and said “12:30” to driver William Greer. The Dallas police radio log confirmed that Chief of Police Curry reported the shooting and issued initial orders at 12:30 p.m.
Speed of the Limousine
Driver William Greer estimated the Presidential limousine’s speed at the time of the first shot as 12 to 15 miles per hour, with other witnesses providing estimates ranging from 7 to 22 miles per hour. A more precise determination was made using Abraham Zapruder’s amateur motion picture film. Based on 152 frames covering 136 feet of travel at 18.3 frames per second, it was calculated that the car required 8.3 seconds to cover that distance, yielding an average speed of 11.2 miles per hour immediately preceding the shot that struck the President in the head.
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