An assassin in the limousine
In addition to Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline, Governor Connally, his wife, and two security agents were in the limousine driving through Dallas. Some researchers argue that the location from which the fatal shot was fired may not be far-fetched – it might have occurred inside the car. Was there an assassin in the limousine?
Secret Service agent William Greer
The presidential vehicle was driven by Secret Service agent William Greer (1909-1985). The Irish-born driver joined the U.S. federal government’s security service in 1945. He served as a personal bodyguard for Presidents Truman and Eisenhower and had been Kennedy’s driver numerous times before November 22, 1963. Seated next to him was his superior, senior agent Roy Kellerman (1915-1984), who had been with the Secret Service since 1941. Both men were trained to use their bodies as human shields when necessary, sacrificing their own lives if it meant saving the president. However, particularly Greer, the duo is often implicated in conspiracy theories. Questions arise, such as why the limousine slowed down after the first shot. Why did both agents take the time to look back twice before the fatal shot? Some even claim to see a pistol in Greer’s hands in Abraham Zapruder’s film, with the barrel pointed at the president.
Why slow down instead of speeding away upon hearing a shot? This question has been asked many times, including to William Greer himself. Kellerman wondered immediately after the assassination why his colleague didn’t respond to his command to drive away, but his explanation doesn’t align with Zapruder’s evidence: even the agent in the passenger seat took his time. Jacqueline Kennedy expressed surprise at the slow driving immediately after the first shot. Greer felt guilty; he developed a stomach ulcer and retired in 1966. Since 1963, Secret Service agents receive extensive training to prevent confusion in the first seconds of a similar situation. If Greer had reacted more effectively, the final bullet might have bounced off Elm Street’s pavement. Kennedy might have survived, though opinions on this vary. No agent faced reprimand or punishment after ‘Dallas.’
In the first decades after the assassination, criticism mainly focused on the alleged failure of Secret Service agents. However, suspicions about Greer’s possible involvement emerged later. The book “Behold a Pale Horse” is the most famous work accusing Greer. Cooper suggests, “The first time Greer and Kellerman looked back, they checked to see if the first shot had done its job. It wasn’t a lethal shot, so plan B kicked in. Greer finished the job personally.” Cooper further claims, “Back in Washington DC, the same agents were still guarding Kennedy’s body. Kellerman and Greer kept as many authorities and ambulance attendants away from the body as possible. Again, evidence that they had something to hide.” While other books and articles discuss Greer’s role, most authors dismiss the speculation as complete nonsense.
Cooper, the author most cited as a source for the theory implicating Greer, also wrote about extraterrestrial beings and new world leaders poised to take over. His reservations about William Greer are no longer taken seriously.
Jackie was the shooter
Even more remarkable is the following accusation. Some believe that Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was involved in her husband’s murder. She supposedly grew tired of his infidelities, feeling embarrassed in front of the nation. During her time in Greece, she met the influential, wealthy Aristotle Onassis. Jackie was impressed by the shipping magnate. In the summer of 1963, the world press noticed their frequent presence together during her European stay. The Australian Women’s Weekly interviewed Lucianne Cummings, a Democratic Party worker in the early ’60s, in July 1970: “She was quite taken with him. At one point, Kennedy was fed up with learning from newspapers about his wife’s interactions with Onassis. He called her and asked her to return to the White House as soon as possible. Jackie obeyed, but she wasn’t enthusiastic. A month later, the president was dead. And in 1968, the widow married the Greek shipowner.” Reportedly, even French President Charles de Gaulle thought there was a connection between the murder in Dallas and the romance in Greece.
Researchers claim that Jackie was not hesitant to do the dirty work herself. She didn’t need underworld figures—she pulled the trigger herself in the backseat of the limousine. Sceptics on the internet say, “It’s no wonder she didn’t embrace her husband after the first shot. That would have been logical. It’s as if she’s hiding her hands: if you look closely at Zapruder’s film, you’ll notice that her right hand is not visible. Was she holding a small pistol? In any case, she showed little attention to her wounded husband; she seemed more concerned with the governor in front of her. What did he say to her?” These sources then argue that there is some white smoke visible near Kennedy’s head. “Smoke comes from the barrel of a gun, not from a bullet. In other words, there must have been a weapon there. And from many mouths came the statement after that tragic week that Jackie was stoic. She showed little emotion, telling anyone who would listen about the gruesome details. How her husband’s head exploded. How she picked up the brains. How Governor Connally screamed like a pig. Is that logical? Does a grieving, innocent widow react that way?”
Jackie is said to have had Jewish ancestors that were not well-received in the capital. She is said to have worked for the CIA, having an accomplice hiding in the trunk of the limousine. Articles on these and even more outlandish theories exist. The possibility of shots being fired from inside the car is, of course, unlikely. Was there an assassin in the limousine? We don’t think so.
Links
More on what occurred on November 22, 1963 here
