New footage has been surfaced just before the assassination of the former President Kennedy in 1963:
Still image, moments before he was gunned down on November 22, 1963 in this image released on February 19, 2007
-Photo: Reuters
New footage of JFK in Dallas released
For forty years, most people believed that all the video footage of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s fateful Dallas trip was out in the open. Recently, additional footage showing President Kennedy just before his assassination has surfaced, much to the surprise of historians around the world. As the new footage was revealed to the world yesterday, it also fueled new interest into the conspiracy theory surrounding the late President’s murder.
According to Reuters, previously unknown footage of President John F. Kennedy, just moments before his assassination in Dallas, was revealed yesterday at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas to coincide with the President’s Day holiday. Apparently, the 40 second silent clip was donated by amateur photographer George Jefferies and his son-in-law, Wayne Graham, after more than 40 years. The footage reveals a few more details that conspiracy theorists will be studying for years to come. In the short clip, we are given some of the best full color shots of Jacqueline Kennedy waving to the crowd, as well as a clear view of JFK’s coat bunched up behind him. The coat is likely to be where the conspiracy buffs will focus their attention as it gives more proof that the bullet wounds on the body don’t match the holes in the coat. As far the reason to why the footage took so long to surface, Museum curator, Gary Mack reveals, ”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.” When asked about all of the conspiracy theories floating around surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy, Mack admits, ”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.”
The Associated Press reports that the 40 second clip, filmed 90 seconds before the first fateful shot rang out, also clearly shows Secret Service agent Clint Hill riding on the back of the car. The new footage also includes video taken the next day outside of the Texas School Book Depository, the building from which assassin Lee Harvey Oswald fired the fatal shots on Nov. 22, 1963. Sixth Floor Museum curator Gary Mack tells how through a casual conversation between the 82 year old amateur photographer, George Jefferies, and his son-in-law, Wayne Graham, Graham convinced Jefferies to donate the footage of President Kennedy to the museum. Mack also points out that over 150,000 people, many with cameras, lined the motorcade route and he is positive that even more still photos and film exist. He tells AP, ”I know there are pictures out here that have not surfaced. The museum is always on the lookout for pictures. The bottom line is: Don’t throw anything away.”
On November 22, 1963 United States President, John F. Kennedy was fatally shot in Dallas, Texas, in one of the most famous assassinations ever to take place on American soil. The assassin was identified as Lee Harvey Oswald, who fired the shots from the Texas School Book Depository and was later murdered by Jack Ruby while being transferred to court. In the years since that fateful day in Dallas, conspiracies have floated around about the CIA’s involvement in the assassination, as well as theories involving the mob and communists from Cuba. Up until yesterday, the only known footage to exist was the now famous Zapruder film, which showed the President’s death in graphic detail and the ensuing pandemonium at the scene of the crime.
By Ed Stoddard
-Reuters
