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Image of the Kennedys and Governor Connally in the limousine at Love Field
Image of the Kennedys and Governor Connally in the limousine at Love Field

Image of the Kennedys and Governor Connally in the limousine at Love Field

Object number1994.003.0009.0004
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer Tom C. Dillard
ObjectNegative (b&w)
Credit LineTom C. Dillard Collection, The Dallas Morning News/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions1 x 1 1/2 in. (2.5 x 3.8 cm)
DescriptionOriginal black and white 35mm negative by Dallas Morning News chief photographer Tom Dillard. The image shows the presidential limousine. Governor Connally, seated in the jump-seat in front of the Kennedys, waves to bystanders. The limousine was equipped with two jump-seats that could be folded up when not in use. Secret Service agent Clint Hill, assigned to protect First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, stands behind her and Secret Service agent Roy Kellerman rides in the front seat.
Curatorial Commentary
This photograph demonstrates that the middle jump seats, where Governor and Mrs. Connally were seated, were several inches lower than the rear seat of the presidential limousine. This is a significant point when considering the single or "magic" bullet theory. Inaccurate models place President Kennedy and Governor Connally at the same height in perfect alignment. In reality, at the time of the shooting, Govenor Connally was approximately four inches lower than President Kennedy and three inches further inboard. In his 1964 Warren Commission testimony, Governor Connally estimated that the Kennedys were seated "approximately six inches higher than the jump seats on which Mrs. Connally and I sat." -- Stephen Fagin, Curator 
In the center-right of this photograph, wearing a light-colored raincoat and seen in line beneath the open doorway of the farthest aircraft, is Dallas Times Herald photographer Eamon Kennedy. A native of Ireland and possibly a distant relation to President Kennedy's mother, Rose Kennedy, Eamon Kennedy took a number of significant images during the assassination weekend as well as the Jack Ruby trial in 1964. In addition to his images which are part of the Museum's Dallas Times Herald Collection, Eamon donated a personal collection of more than 1,100 photographic negatives to the Museum in 2014. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator