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Image of Lady Bird Johnson leaving Parkland Hospital
Image of Lady Bird Johnson leaving Parkland Hospital

Image of Lady Bird Johnson leaving Parkland Hospital

Object number1989.100.0016.0016
Date11/22/1963
ClassificationsPhotographs
Photographer Dallas Times Herald photographer
ObjectNegative (b&w)
Credit LineDallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumFilm
Dimensions15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (2.4 x 3.6 cm)
Collections
DescriptionOriginal 35mm black and white negative taken by a Dallas Times Herald photographer. This image shows President Lyndon Johnson's wife, Lady Bird, as she is escorted by Secret Service agents from Parkland Hospital to one of two waiting cars for the short trip back to Dallas Love Field. President Johnson, who followed moments after this picture was taken, was escorted to Chief Jesse Curry's personal car, the same one Curry drove leading the motorcade through Dallas. This picture was taken just a few minutes before 1:30 p.m. when the official announcement of President Kennedy's death was made. The images on this negative strip were taken by one of two Dallas Times Herald staff photographers at Parkland Hospital that day. There were two Dallas Times Herald photographers at Parkland who stayed for the press conference which appears in the last frames on this negative strip - Eamon Kennedy and John Mazziotta. One of them took these photos. Bob Jackson, who was at Parkland earlier, was not present at the press conference.
Curatorial Commentary
Why did the Johnsons ride in separate cars from Parkland to Love Field?  The Secret Service used Lady Bird Johnson as a decoy.  Their thinking, according to William Manchester, author of Death of A President, was that if another attack was about to take place, the gunman might recognize her and fire at the wrong car.  Johnson, riding on the floor in the other car, could not be seen. - Gary Mack, Curator