Marvin Faye and Rickey Chism Oral History

The late John Arthur Chism, age twenty-three at the time of the assassination, said in his statement that day at the Dallas County Sheriff's Department: "When I saw the motorcade round the corner, the President was standing and waving to the crowd. And just as it got just about in front of me, he turned and waved at the crowd on this side of the street, the right side; at this point I heard what sounded like one shot, and I saw him, 'The President,' sit back in his seat and lean his head to his left side. At this point, I saw Mrs. Kennedy stand up and pull his head over in her lap, and then lay down over him as if to shield him." 

Standing on the north side of Elm Street, the Chisms can be seen in several Dealey Plaza photographs, including one taken by bystander Charles Bronson during the assassination. The late Mr. Chism's wife, Marvin Faye, has always been reluctant to discuss her eyewitness account. This Museum oral history, recorded in January 2012, is - according to her son, Rickey - the only videotaped interview she has ever given about the assassination. - Stephen Fagin, Curator