Francois Pelou Oral History

Although Francois Pelou covered both the Korean War and the Vietnam War for Agence France-Presse, he is perhaps best remembered for his coverage of the Kennedy assassination in 1963. He was the first French reporter to arrive in Dallas following the assassination and can frequently be seen in the background of television news footage captured that weekend in the crowded corridors of Dallas police headquarters. Millions watching television heard from Pelou directly on Sunday, November 24, when he was interviewed live by fellow journalists as a close eyewitness to the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald. Incorrectly called "Pierre" by a broadcaster in the frantic moments after the shooting, Pelou described the gunman as a well-dressed man with a hat and recalled a "flash on the black sweater" when Ruby shot Oswald. He also said that he initially thought Ruby was a police detective because of the way he was dressed.

Pelou can be seen in the center of this Dallas Times Herald photograph from November 23, 1963, standing next to Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry: Image of Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry interviewed in hallway – Search police headquarters (Objects) – Search – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Stephen Fagin, Curator