Posted on 02/19/2007 5:52:35 PM PST by Mr. Brightside
New footage of JFK in Dallas released
By Ed Stoddard
Mon Feb 19, 4:52 PM ET
DALLAS (Reuters) - Previously unreleased footage of John F. Kennedy's fateful motorcade in Dallas moments before he was gunned down was released on Monday, a surprising new detail in a saga that has gripped the United States for four decades.
The silent 8mm film shows a beaming Jacqueline Kennedy close up in vivid color waving to the crowd.
A group of excited bystanders -- women sporting big 1960s hairstyles -- waves to the cameraman shortly before the motorcade sweeps past.
The president's coat is clearly if briefly seen bunched up on his back -- a detail that will be scrutinized by conspiracy theorists who see evidence of a plot in, among other things, the fact the bullet wounds on his jacket and body did not appear to match.
The film was donated to the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas by amateur photographer George Jefferies and his son-in-law, Wayne Graham. It was released to coincide with the Presidents Day federal holiday.
Museum curator Gary Mack said he was not surprised Jefferies took so long to come forward.
"Everyone who captured the motorcade before the assassination thinks their pictures are unimportant. But to historians, all photos and home movies are important to possibly answer questions that will be asked in the future," he said.
Located in the former Texas School Book Depository building where Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy from a sixth-floor window on November 22, 1963, the museum is devoted to Kennedy's presidency and the events surrounding his assassination.
The footage was taken less than 90 seconds before the fatal shots were fired. The 40-second film also shows the scene of the crime the following day.
The footage is sure to be new fodder for conspiracy buffs who have long maintained Kennedy was the victim of a sinister plot orchestrated by shadowy elements in either the government, the "military-industrial complex," the Mafia or communist Cuba.
"I've already seen the footage on a conspiracy Web site -- it's interesting for the conspiracy researchers to study Kennedy's coat which appears to be bunched up on his back," Mack said.
He said since Kennedy's jacket was riding high on his back, the entry wound in his body did not match the expected position in his coat -- grist for the conspiracy mill that charges more than three shots were fired.
Investigators maintain the shooting was carried out by Oswald acting alone. The most complete and best-known film of the Kennedy assassination to come to light was taken by bystander Abraham Zapruder.
Mack said the new footage offered the best view of Mrs. Kennedy in the motorcade he had ever seen.
A still image from previously unreleased footage
shows the late President John F. Kennedy (L) and the
late Jacqueline Kennedy (R) riding in a motorcade in
Dallas, Texas, moments before he was gunned down on
November 22, 1963 in this image released on February
19, 2007. MUST BE USED BY FEBRUARY 24, 2007. (The
Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza/Handout/Reuters)
Email Photo Print Photo
If there's a better still "photo" from those moments in time, I'd like to see it. That's a great photo. It should be in textbooks.
Military-industrial complex
I don't even know what that is but I believe it without question.
THis is what they looked like in the Houston parade the evening before. I was standing on the curb, as they drove slowly, through downtown Houston, going to the old Rice Hotel where they spent the night.
I had intended to get a good look at the First Lady, but to tell you the truth, JFK had such charisma that I couldn't take my eyes off of HIM!
I thought they spent the night before in Fort Worth. Or do you mean the night of Nov 20?
Sorry, I misread you. They flew from Houston to Fort Worth.-Sorry. It must have been quite an experience.
That's really good quality for such an old 8mm. I wonder if it was kept in a freezer.
Is the photo going to go stale? grow mold? self-destruct?
Won't play.
I wonder if the photo gains some kind of copywrite protection after that date.
Bump for later viewing when the server isn't bogged down.
Wow. I agree. A great photo.
Laugh of the day. Hadn't seen that one before.
I can't imagine why it wouldn't have copyright protection already.
- Figure the 6.5 Carcano bullet would be traveling roughly 2000 fps
- The movie camera would have been exposing 24 frames per second
- Per frame of film exposed, the bullet would travel (1/24)*(2000)=83.3 feet
Thanks!! It's an oldie, but one of my favorites.
I wonder how many of those people in the background are dead?
This should be on the bang-bang-bang-(bang) list.
I'll always think Carlos Marcellos was behind it.
Looks just like Kennedy's profile from the half dollar.
Is it just me, or was Jackie O. a hottie?
That's fantastic. ROFL
Jackie was a hottie who reeked of class, until she married Onassis.
Johnson had it done.
I think 8mm was 16 frames per second.
Thanks. In which case the bullet would travel (1/16)*(2000)=125 feet per frame
You are 100% correct, by far the Best looking first lady ever.
All that picture needs is the 9/11 backpack guy in the background!
Just won't be a true photo on Free Republic until someone photoshops either tourist guy or looter guy into the background or foreground.
You're right. Marvelous photo.
The sixth floor window that Oswald used was just sold at auction for 3 mil.
Jackie was a complete hottie and like all Kennedy women was a complete Doormat!
Pray for W and Our Troops
Typically, photos have copyright (note spelling) terms. The copyright holder has rights that go way back; he decided to license them fir a few days. He wants it out in the news; when it's no longer news, if you want to use it in a book or a documentary, you have to pay again.
I can remember the contrast between Jackie and the previous 2 first ladies: Eleanor Roosevelt and Mamie Eisenhower. I have to admit that she did look much better than they!
Bogus bid. The auction was voided., It'll be back on the block again soon.
All gone in an instant.
Commend each day to the merciful hands of God, for who knows what lies in store.
You forgot Bess Truman, but your point still stands.
I knew I was forgetting someone--much too late for my brain to still be functioning--LOL! Thanks!
ping to photo....
So she married Onassis and moved the kids well out of the Kennedy influence. Notice that except for a Kennedy style airplane crash, you never heard of any scandals surrounding John or Caroline. Jackie defended John Kennedy's reputation, and never went public about the reportedly hundreds of extramarital affairs he had. I've always wondered how she felt sitting next to John Kennedy, most likely knowing he had screwed Marilyn Monroe, while Monroe sang "Happy Birthday" to him. My mother would have climbed up on that stage and beat the everloving cr@p out of her.
Not to mention how she ever recovered from sitting next to her husband and seeing his head blown off, with parts of his brains splattering onto her. In the Zapruder film, you see her trying to climb out of the back of the car. At the time, the broadcasters said she was trying to help a secret service agent into the car. After watching the film dozens of times, it's obvious that part of Kennedy's skull was blown backwards out of the car. She was climbing back trying to get that part of his head. I heard on one news report a couple of days after the assassination that part of his head was found in the street.
I think she displayed class throughout her life. I understand what you think about Onassis, as I think he was creepy also, but I can't imagine anyone handling all the stuff life threw at her better than she did.
About half of those over 25 to about 90% of those over 40.
Because the government had not yet grown to the level that it feared its own people. Before 1900, you could go up to the White House door and knock on it. There was no fence.
Sung to the tune of "I Fought The Law"
Waiting in Dallas with my gun
I got shot by Ruby and the conspiracy won
I missed my target but they all hit one
I got shot by Ruby and the conspiracy won!
I got shot by Rudy and the conspiracy won!
I wanted to make history
But the mafia might have done it for me
They always said I acted alone
But they had J. Edgar Hoover on the phone
Well I never saw them on the grassy knoll
But there must have been one
I missed my mark but the CIA got one
I got shot by Ruby and the conspiracy won!
My band was going to use that Photoshop gem for our album "Blues Conspiracy" but we found out that both the photographer of the original crime photo as well as the producer of the altered version will sue your a$$ off. By mutual agreement, they won't release this artwork for ANY profitable use. It's copywrited forwards and back! Even just posting it here is "iffy"!
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