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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VII - Page 459« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Lawrence F. O'brien)

Mr. Adams.
Now, going back to the time that you left Washington on that trip, did you leave with the President?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I did.
Mr. Adams.
From the White House?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I did.
Mr. Adams.
By helicopter?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Yes.
Mr. Adams.
And what was the time do you recall?
Mr. O'BRIEN. It was approximately forenoon, about 10:45, from the White House lawn, in the President's helicopter.
Mr. Adams.
And where did you go in the helicopter?
Mr. O'BRIEN. We went to Andrews Field.
Mr. Adams.
And did you go onboard Air Force I?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Yes; I did.
Mr. Adams.
And you went from there to Austin?
Mr. O'BRIEN. We went from there to San Antonio.
Mr. Adams.
I am sorry. I misspoke myself. San Antonio?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Yes.
Mr. Adams.
Arriving in San Antonio about when?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I think you would have to refer to the record on that.
Mr. Adams.
Some time early afternoon? Some time in the afternoon of that day?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Yes; I remember it was, weatherwise, an uneventful trip. The weather was fine. There is no reason to suggest we didn't arrive at pretty much the established time.
Mr. Adams.
Then, just briefly, what happened in San Antonio?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Well, there was a motorcade in San Antonio to the Aerospace Center for a ceremony. And, as I recall, the ceremony was relatively brief. The President spoke briefly. And then he inspected the installation.
The overall elapsed time I don't recall--perhaps an hour or an hour and a half.
And then we proceeded back to the airport for the trip to Fort Worth.
Mr. Adams.
What happened in Fort Worth?
Mr. O'BRIEN. In Fort Worth, as I recall, at the airport there was--from the airport into the hotel in Fort Worth, it was rather a lengthy trip. It also involved crowds at various stops.
The hour--I am sorry I cannot recall the hour of arrival--but it was, as we say, an offbeat hour. It was rather surprising to have the interest shown crowdwise as we went in. It delayed the motorcade into the hotel and outside of the hotel there was a large crowd of people.
Mr. Adams.
What was the reaction of that crowd? Was that a friendly group?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I would describe it as friendly; yes.
Mr. Adams.
Then what happened next, after you arrived at the hotel?
Mr. O'BRIEN. The President and his party checked into the hotel for the night. I do not recall any other official activity.
Mr. Adams.
And what happened next?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Well, the following morning the President arose early to attend a breakfast. As I recall, it was a civic breakfast, sponsored by the local civic group or groups.
Mr. Adams.
Did Mrs. Kennedy attend that, also, as you recall?
Mr. O'BRIEN. She arrived at the breakfast, as I recall, following the President. The President spoke at the breakfast, and received gifts, and Mrs. Kennedy received a gift. I recall one of the gifts to the President was a Stetson. I recall that he did not try it on, but he appreciated receiving it.
Following the breakfast, he then spoke to a large crowd in front of the hotel, in the parking area opposite the hotel. There had been indications of bad weather. There was some rain, and then the rain became intermittent.
Upon completing his speech in the parking area, he returned upstairs to await the normal departure time.
When that time arrived, I went downstairs ahead of the President and Mrs. Kennedy, and the Secret Service were determining whether or not they would
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