Bill and Gayle Newman Oral History
Object number1993.011.0004
Date03/10/1993
ClassificationsOral Histories
Oral history interview subject
Gayle Newman
Oral history interview subject
Bill Newman
Oral history interviewer
Wes Wise
Oral history interviewer
Bob Porter
ObjectOral history
Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumVHS
Dimensions73 Minutes
Collections
DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with William and Gayle Newman. The closest bystanders to President Kennedy at the time of the fatal shot, Mr. and Mrs. Newman were on the north side of Elm Street and shielded their two small children with their bodies when shots were fired. They were interviewed on live television approximately fifteen minutes after the assassination.
Interview conducted at the Newmans' home on March 10, 1993 by Wes Wise and Bob Porter. Interview is one hour and thirteen minutes long.
Curatorial CommentaryIn one of his two live interviews on WFAA-TV, Bill Newman said the shots sounded like they came from the "mall" behind him. His remark is often misunderstood or misrepresented to be "knoll," when he meant the area around or a few feet west of where Abraham Zapruder stood. He has pointed to that precise location several times over the years in TV and other interviews. In these first interviews, Newman said he heard two shots but later decided there were three. - Gary Mack, Curator
Bill and Gayle Newman have participated in several interviews with The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Videotaped oral history interviews were recorded on March 10, 1993, and July 10, 2003. In addition, the Newmans were the featured guests at the Museum's videotaped "Legacy" program on November 22, 2004. As of 2013, they have also participated in nine videotaped educational programs at the Museum, in addition to being the featured guests at the Museum's 50th anniversary program in November 2013. All of these recordings are part of the Oral History Collection. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
