Bob Jackson Oral History
Object number1993.011.0018
Date11/22/1993
ClassificationsOral Histories
Oral history interview subject
Bob Jackson
Oral history interviewer
Wes Wise
Oral history interviewer
Bob Porter
ObjectOral history
Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumHi-8 videotape
Dimensions95 Minutes
Collections
DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with Bob Jackson. In 1963, Mr. Jackson was a photographer with the Dallas Times Herald. On November 22, 1963, he was assigned to take pictures of the presidential arrival at Love Field and then to ride in a press car several cars behind the president's limousine. While riding in the motorcade through Dealey Plaza, Jackson spotted a rifle in the sixth floor window of the Texas School Book Depository - he was one of only four eyewitnesses who saw the gun in the window. Later that day he took photographs at Parkland Hospital and Dallas Police headquarters. On Sunday, November 24, 1963, he captured a legendary image of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald, which later won the Pulitzer Prize.
Interview conducted at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1993 by Wes Wise with Bob Porter. The interview is one hour and thirty-five minutes long.
Curatorial CommentaryRiding in the motorcade seven cars behind the president, Jackson carried two cameras. One had a telephoto lens and the other had a wide-angle lens. The press car, a convertible, was approaching the Texas School Book Depository along Houston Street when shots were fired. Jackson looked up at the Book Depository and was one of the few who saw a rifle in the sixth floor corner window of the building. Unfortunately for history, Jackson was unable to get a picture of the assassin in action. The camera in his hands was out of film, and the one with the wide-angle lens was in his lap. From his position, even a photo with the wide-angle lens wouldn't have shown much of anything, and in those few seconds the rifle was withdrawn and Jackson couldn't see anyone. Despite many cameras in Dealey Plaza that day, no pictures are known to have shown the Depository window while shots were being fired. - Gary Mack, Curator
In addition to this 1993 oral history, Mr. Jackson has participated in numerous programs at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza over the years. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
