The Chair
recognizes Professor Blakey. Mr. BLAKEY. When the Zapruder film of the Kennedy Assassination
was made public, critics and people generally were fascinated by the
sight of a man with a black umbrella standing just a few few feet from
the Presidential limousine. It was a sunshiny day so what purpose could
anyone have for an umbrella? The theories about the umbrella man, for the most part,
attributed to him some sinister intent. At the very least, he was a
signalman for the actual gunmen, although one critic proposed the idea
that a firing device concealed in the umbrella was the weapon used to
assassinate the President. It also appeared curious that the umbrella man was one of the few
spectators in Dealey Plaza who was not later identified. In fact, his
identity has remained a secret to this day. When it studied all of the photographs taken in Dealey Plaza on
November 22, 1963, the
Umbrella Man and Dark Complected Man: Two big
question marks
If you read my
recent piece on the New York Times’ credulous video about
the “Umbrella Man” and his curious
behavior at the scene of the JFK assassination, you’re ready for
what follows. If not, please take a few minutes and get up to speed, by
clicking
here.
The article has struck a nerve, and generated considerable interest.
With that in mind, I’d like to offer some additional thoughts on the
subject.
NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN
As you’ll recall, the New York Times’ preferred explanation
for why a man opened an umbrella on a sunny day, just as JFK’s limousine
passed—and just as the bullets poured into the car— was an entirely
benign one. Strange, but benign.
Recap: Fifteen years after the assassination, as the special House
Select Committee on Assassinations was taking the first serious look at
the death of JFK (and others), a man came forward to identify himself as
the so-called “Umbrella Man” and to explain his bizarre behavior.
The man, Steven Louie Witt, said that, no, it was not someone
signaling the shooters, and no, it had nothing at all to do with the
assassination. Instead, he said, it was a message against appeasement of
enemies. He hoped to signal his disapproval of what he considered JFK’s
forbearance of America’s enemies.
How to signal that? Here’s where it gets complicated. Witt claimed he
held up the umbrella as an icon symbolizing the treachery of Neville
Chamberlain, the 1930s British prime minister. Chamberlain, who tried to
preserve peace with Hitler by ceding him a part of Czechoslovakia (the
Sudetenland), became a reviled symbol of appeasement. The self-described
Umbrella Man said that he had been identifying appeasement with
Chamberlain’s trademark umbrella. The connection to JFK came via his
father, Joseph P. Kennedy, ambassador to Britain at the time and an
anti-war isolationist.
Only a very unusual 15-year-old
American (Witt’s approximate age in 1938) would have strong feelings
about a British prime minister’s behavior, and still harbor those
feelings a quarter century later. It is even harder to accept that he
could believe JFK, himself a young man in 1938, might “get” the message
somehow via the umbrella.
Even if we are to accept that Witt really was the man pumping the
umbrella on the Grassy Knoll, and even if he was cognizant of
Chamberlain, and even if he did think he could get a message to JFK via
the Chamberlain affair, we still have a big problem with this
claim.
According to John Simkin, a retired British history
teacher and textbook author who runs the historical website
Spartacus Educational, the umbrella was never the symbol of
Chamberlain that the “umbrella man” claimed it was.
“In Britain, there was never any association with an umbrella at
all,” Simkin told me. “Everyone had umbrellas and bowlers in
those days.” According to Simkin, the only proper symbol for Chamberlain
and appeasement was a piece of paper. That was the documenthe held aloft, with Hitler’s signature to the so-called Munich
Agreement—in which Hitler agreed not to seek any further territorial
gains in Europe—as Chamberlain famously declared that he had secured
“peace in
our time.” (In
this old newsreel, you can see Chamberlain hold aloft that
document.)
Simkin finds the New York Times video’s assertion that the
purpose of opening the umbrella and pumping it in the air to signal
Munich simply laughable.
More likely, it was exactly what it appeared to be: a method of
signaling shooters, perhaps that JFK had been hit, perhaps that he still
seemed to be alive, perhaps to keep shooting. Although it was a sunny
day, it had rained the night before, and there was a wind, so it would
not have been operationally illogical to move forward with using an
umbrella. The fact that the New York Times and the
establishment in general have never considered the umbrella worthy of
real, serious inquiry, tells us that if the umbrella was part
of a plot, it was not so bad a choice.
RIO GRANDE BUILDING
In the last article, I mentioned that Witt, the self-proclaimed
“Umbrella Man,” worked for Rio Grande National Life Insurance in the Rio
Grande building. I mentioned that the same building housed the
Immigration office frequented by Lee Harvey Oswald, and the local office
of the highly negligent Secret Service. I mentioned that Rio Grande
wrote a lot of insurance for the military. And, separately, I noted the
strong military intelligence connections to key figures connected with
11/22/63.
One thing I did not mention, but should have, was that Military
Intelligence itself had offices in that Rio Grande building.
Now, all of that could be coincidence. But there’s a reason certain
entities signed leases with particular landlords and not
others—especially so in Dallas circa 1963 (more on this in
Family of Secrets.)
DARK COMPLECTED MAN
Some of our readers wondered why I did not mention another figure who
acted strangely as Kennedy’s limo passed. This was the so-called “Dark
Complected Man”—so named because his complexion was his most readily
identifiable feature in photos from November 22.
I left him out of the initial piece because I wanted to focus solely
on Umbrella Man, who, after all, was the sole subject of that New
York Times video I was considering.
Nevertheless, Dark Complected Man is without question an extremely
important character. Maybe even more deserving of scrutiny than Umbrella
Man.
Dark Complected Man (DCM), like Umbrella Man, was on the Grassy
Knoll, and, like Umbrella Man, appears to reasonable observers to have
been signaling. At the precise moment that JFK’s car passed, as Umbrella
Man opened and pumped his umbrella repeatedly, Dark Complected Man shot
his fist up into the air. To some, DCM seemed to be calling for a halt
to the presidential limo, which did in fact either come to a complete
halt or slowed down to a crawl.
It’s not just their actions at the moment that Kennedy’s head is
blown apart. It’s how they behave afterwards.
Instead of reacting with horror and springing into action, these two
purported strangers sit down together, on the curb, and calmly survey
the chaos. In their icy nonchalance, they exhibit an almost professional
detachment.
Another intriguing thing about DCM is that in photos, something that
looks like a radio or walkie-talkie appears to be protruding from his
back pocket.
Taken together, Dark Complected Man and Umbrella Man add real bulk to
the mountain of circumstantial evidence for a conspiracy in the death of
JFK.
Maybe we do have The Times to thank, after all. Although
that whimsical
video was intended to discourage inquiry, it has had exactly the
opposite effect. It goads us to focus diligently on long-ago events that
“the paper of record” will not scrutinize—and that cast a shadow over
democracy to the present moment.
WhoWhatWhy plans to continue doing this kind of
groundbreaking original reporting. You can count on it. But can we count
on you? We cannot do our work without your support. Please click here to donate;
it’s tax deductible. And it packs a punch.
committee discovered one,
taken by a Life photographer, in which the umbrella man could be seen
from the front. It is moments after the president has been shot, and the
man is sitting cn the curb, his umbrella by this time lying at his
Page 429 429
feet, The only problem was that he is off to the corner of the
picture, and the image is tiny, unrecognizable in fact. Nevertheless, through photographic enhancement techniques, the
committee was able to obtain a blowup of the photo in which the umbrella
man appeared clearly enough to be identified. The committee released the picture to the press, asking anyone
who recognized the umbrella man to contact, the committee. The committee
was contacted, and, as a result, the umbrella man was located by the
committee. It would be appropriate at this time, Mr. Chairman, to call Louie
Steven Witt. Will you please stand and
raise your right and be sworn. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you
will give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. WITT. I do. Louie Steven Witt Page 429 TESTIMONY OF LOUIE STEVEN WITT
Chairman STOKES. Thank you. You may be seated. The Chair recognizes counsel for the committee, Mr. Genzman. Mr. GENZMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Witt, would you state your full name for the record. Mr. WITT. Louie Steven Witt. Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Witt, I would like to direct your attention to
November 22, 1963. Were you in Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963? MR. WITT. Yes, I was. Mr. GENZMAN. Did you witness the assassination of President
Kennedy? Mr. WITT. Yes, sir. Mr. GENZMAN. Have you previously testified about the
assassination of President Kennedy? Mr. WITT. No. Mr. GENZMAN. Have you ever given information to any law
enforcement bodies concerning the assassination? Mr. WITT. No. Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Witt, what did you do on the morning of November
22, 1963? Mr. WITT. I guess I went to work in the usual manner about 8 or
8:30. MR. GENZMAN. Where did you work at that time? Mr. WITT. Rio Grande insurance Co. Mr. GENZMAN. What did you do at lunchtime on that day? Mr. WITT. Well, I went out as I usually did every day when the
weather was decent for a walk. Mr. GENZMAN. Were you carrying anything? Mr. WITT. Yes, On this particular day I was carrying a black
umbrella. Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Chairman, at this time I would ask that the
exhibit marked as JFK F-405 be entered into the record. Chairman STOKES Without objection, it may be entered into the
record. [whereupon exhibit JFK F-405 was entered and photographs included
for the record.]
Page 430 430
JFK EXHIBIT F-405
Page 431 431
JFK EXHIBIT F-405 cont.
Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Witt, can you identify Exhibit 405? Mr. WITT. I would say that is the umbrella I was carrying. Mr. GENZMAN. Why were you carrying an umbrella that day? Mr. WITT. Actually, I was going to use this umbrella to heckle
the President's motorcade. Mr. GENZMAN, How had you gotten this idea? Mr. WITT. In a coffee break conversation someone had mentioned
that the umbrella was a sore spot with the Kennedy family. Being a
conservative-type fellow, I sort of placed him in the liberal camp and I
was just going to kind of do a little heckling. Mr. GENZMAN. Are you saying you were going to use the umbrella as
a symbol for the purpose of heckling? Mr. WITT. I think that would cover it. Mr. GENZMAN. On November 22, 1963, were you aware of the
motorcade route? Mr. WITT. No. Not really. I knew that they would be going down
the center part of town somewhere noontime. Mr. GENZMAN. What route did you follow during your walk? Mr. WITT. Well, when I left the building which was located at the
corner of Elm Street and Field Street, I went south on Field Street over
to Main Street. This was where the crowds of people were, where the
people were lining the sidewalks on either side. Mr. GENZMAN. When you reached Main Street, in which direction did
you head? MR. WITT. I traveled west. This would put me turning right from
the direction that I came. MR. GENZMAN. West on Main Street? Mr. WITT. Yes. Mr. GENZMAN. Why did you continue in that direction? Mr. WITT. Well, every day I walk someplace, and looking back the
only reason I can account for my going that direction as
Page 432 432
opposed to the other direction would be since I was carrying that
stupid umbrella, intent to heckling the President, and not being a
person who was given to--prior to this time--doing things that would
bring myself into notice, the only thing I can say is that I went down
the street where I assumed there would be fewer people, because the
buildings on the west end of the street, or the lower end, were either
low buildings or low buildings where there were not a lot of people. Chairman STOKES. Would you be kind enough to pull that microphone
closer to you. We are having difficulty hearing you. Mr. GENZMAN. How far did you go on Main Street? Mr. WITT. I walked all the way down Main Street to the courthouse
records building area and on to Houston Street. Mr. GENZMAN. Which way did you travel on Houston? Mr. WITT. At this time I think I must have been planning to go
back to the street that I worked on, Elm Street, which would be 1block
over. I traveled north over toward Elm Street. Mr. GENZMAN. What did you do when you arrived at Elm Street? Mr. WITT. Well, I ended up turning left and going down into what
is known as Dealey Plaza. The only reason I can think that I ended up
down there was possibly I looked down there and saw an area where there
were not a large group of people. There were people in that area but
there was also in this area which later became known as the grassy
knoll, there was no one out in that area in any great number. Mr. GENZMAN. What did you do when you reached the grassy knoll? Mr. WITT. I think I went sort of maybe halfway up the grassy
area, somewhere in that vicinity. I am pretty sure I sat down. Mr. GENZMAN. Were you waiting for the motorcade? Mr. WITT. Yes. Mr. GENZMAN. Do you recall how long you waited? Mr. WITT. I really couldn't say. I don't think I was there very
long. Since I was not that all-fired determined to carry out what I set
out to do, I am sure I didn't wait a great length of time. Mr. GENZMAN. Did the motorcade come soon thereafter? Mr. WITT. Yes, it apparently did. Mr. GENZMAN. What did you do when you saw the motorcade coming
into the area? Mr. WITT. Well, as I recall, the motorcade had already made the
turn and was coming down Elm Street going west on Elm before I became
aware it was there, and it would have been from a straightline position
off to my left about like this [indicating] when I saw it. Mr. GENZMAN. What did you do when you saw it approaching you? Mr. WITT. I think I got up and started fiddling with that
umbrella trying to get it open, and at the same time I was walking
forward, walking toward the street. Mr. GENZMAN. You testified that you were opening the umbrella to
use it as a symbol hoping to catch the President's eye? Mr. WITT. Yes, sir. Mr. GENZMAN. Could you elaborate further as to the type of symbol
you thought you were applying?
Page 433 433
Mr. WITT. I just knew it was a sore spot with the Kennedys; I
just knew the vague generalities of it. It had something to do with
something that happened years ago with the senior Joe Kennedy when he
was Ambassador to England. Mr. GENZMAN. What happened next? Mr. WITT. I beg your pardon? Mr. GENZMAN. What happened next? I believe you testified that you
were moving forward opening your umbrella as the motorcade was
approaching you? Mr. WITT. Yes. As I moved toward the street, still walking on the
grass, I heard the shots that I eventually learned were shots. At the
time somehow it didn't register as shots because they were so close
together, and it was like hearing a string of firecrackers, or something
like that. It didn't at that moment register on me as being shots. Mr. GENZMAN. Did you react in any way? Mr. WITT. No. I continued to move forward and finally got this
umbrella up in the air. I think by the time I got the thing up in the
air I was over and possibly standing on the retaining wall. Mr. GENZMAN. Did President Kennedy see your umbrella? Mr. WITT. I have no way of knowing. I really don't. Mr. GENZMAN. What do you next recall happening? Mr. WITT. Let me go back a minute. As I was moving forward I
apparently had this umbrella in front of me for some few steps. Whereas other people I understand saw the President shot and his
movements; I did not see this because of this thing in front of me. The
next thing I saw after I saw the car coming down the street, down the
hill to my left, the car was just about at a position like this
[indicating] at this angle here. At this time there was the car stopping, the screeching of tires,
the jamming on of brakes, motorcycle patrolman right there beside one of
the cars. One car ran upon the President's car and a man jumped off and
jumped on the back. These were the scenes that unfolded as I reached the
point to where I was seeing things. Mr. GENZMAN. What did you hear at that time? Did you hear voices? Mr. WITT. I don't recall any voices at that particular time.
After I finally became aware that something had happened, you know,
something terrible had happened, I just sat down. I was standing on the
retaining wall, and I just sat down, just right straight down, and
apparently--I don't know if I had laid the umbrella down or dropped it
or what I did. Nevertheless, I think it ended up on the sidewalk and I
just sat there. Some of the things that I recall, one of the things I remember
seeing while standing, there was a couple, I looked down to the right
and there was a man and a woman, and they were covering
Page 434 434
sitting down to my right and he said something like: They done
shot them folks. He repeated it two or three times but it was repetitious of him
saying the same thing. Mr. GENZMAN. What was he saying? Mr. WITT. They done shot them folks--something to this effect. Mr. GENZMAN. Can you describe this man? Mr. WITT. I remember him as being a Negro man. I don't know if I
ever actually looked at him for any length of time or not. Mr. GENZMAN. Did you hear any other voices? Mr. WITT. Well, there was sort of a pandemonium all around. The
other thing that stands out in my mind, there was a woman or a girl, a
female voice up behind me shrieking and crying, and she again repeated
the same thing several times. She said something to the effect: They
shot those people right before my eyes, or something like this. Anyway,
there was repetition in what she said. She said it two or three times. Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Witt, at this time please refer to JFK exhibits
F-130 and F-404. JFK exhibit F-130, which is already on the easel, was
previously entered into the record. Mr. Chairman, I would ask at this time that JFK exhibit F-404 be
entered into the record. Chairman STOKES. Without objection, it may be entered into the
record at this point. [Whereupon, JFK exhibit F-404 was entered.]
Page 435 435
JFK EXHIBIT F-404
Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Witt, can you identify the photographs on JFK
exhibit F-130 on the left? Mr. WITT. Can I identify them in what--- Mr. GENZMAN. Can you identify for instance the two pictures of
the man in the top two photographs of that exhibit, with the arrows
pointing? Mr. WITT. Yes. That seems to be me. Mr. GENZMAN. In the bottom left corner there is an item in red.
Can you identify that? Mr. WITT. That would be the umbrella. Mr. GENZMAN. In the bottom right corner can you identify the
person sitting? Mr. WITT. I am sure that is me. I would have to say that is me. Mr. GENZMAN. In the other exhibit, which is JFK F-404, can you
identify either of those men sitting? Mr. WITT. Yes. The one on the right is definitely me. Mr. GENZMAN. Is the one on the left the man whom you were talking
about earlier? Mr. WITT. I really don't know. It could be or it might no be. I
really don't know. I don't recall ever actually looking at this person.
I don't know if I ever replied to what he said. I could have,
Page 436 436
just kind of speaking automatically, maybe agreeing with what he
said or something like this. Mr. GENZMAN. Did this man have a walkie-talkie, or a radio, or
any device of any sort? Mr. WITT. I don't recall the person carrying anything, although I
would say this, that they could have been carrying something and it
would not have registered on me at this particular time. Mr. GENZMAN. Did he act in any peculiar manner? Mr. WITT. Not that I recall. Mr. GENZMAN. Did you ever see him before or after that day? Mr. WITT. No. Mr. GENZMAN. What happened next, after you were seated and after
you had heard these voices? Mr. WITT. I continued to sit there for some period of time and I
don't know how long I was there. I don't know if it was say a minute or
2 or 3 minutes or longer. I doubt if I stayed there very long. The only
other thing that comes to my mind that I can definitely remember is
while sitting there in all of this commotion going on around me, I just
recall looking at my left and there was a policeman standing up there
with a drawn gun. He was holding the barrel of the gun up in the air. Mr. GENZMAN. How long did you stay in the area? Mr. WITT. There again, I really do not know as to the number of
minutes. I am sure I did not stay there very long. Mr. GENZMAN. When you left, did you go back to work? Mr. WITT. Yes. Mr. GENZMAN. When did you find out the President had in fact been
assassinated? Mr. WITT. When I went back into the building into the department
where I worked. Someone in there had a transistor radio. The first thing
that was said when I walked in, "Did you hear about the President being
shot?" I said something to the effect of I was down there in all that. Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Witt, some assassination critics have alleged
your actions with your umbrella were a signal to an assassin or to
assassins to fire or a signal that the President had in fact been hit. Were you signalling to anyone besides the President? Mr. WITT. No; no one. Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Chairman, I would ask the exhibit marked as JFK
F-406 be entered into the record. Chairman STOKES. Without objection, it may be entered into the
record. [The information follows:]
Page 437 437
JFK EXHIBIT F--406
Mr. GENZMAN. I would like to correct that to exhibit 406. Chairman STOKES. It may be so corrected. Mr. GENZMAN. Mr. Witt, exhibit 406 is a copyrighted diagram drawn
by assassinations critic Robert B. Cutler which shows two umbrellas with
rocket and flechette attachments. Mr. Witt, do you know what a flechette
is? Mr. WITT. I do now. I did not prior to our interview yesterday
evening. Mr. GENZMAN. Did the umbrella in your possesssion on November 22,
1963, contain a flechette, or a rocket or a dart? Mr. WITT, No, It did not. Mr. GENZMAN. Has exhibit 405, the umbrella, ever contained -a
flechette, rocket. or dart? Mr. WITT. No. Not since it's been in my possession. Mr. GENZMAN. Did the umbrella in your possession on November
1963; contain a gun or weapon of any sort?
Page 438 438
Mr. WITT. No. Mr. GENZMAN. Has exhibit 405 ever contained a gun or weapon of
any sort? Mr. WITT. This umbrella? Mr. GENZMAN. Yes. Mr. WITT. No. Mr. GENZMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Witt. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions. Chairman STOKES. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the
District of Columbia, Mr. Fauntroy, for whatever time he may consume. Mr. FAUNTROY. Will you tell us where you lived November 22, 1963? Mr. WITT. My home address? Mr. FAUNTROY. Yes. Mr. WITT. 7209 Embassy Street. I still live there. Mr. FAUNTROY. And where did you work at that time? Mr. WITT. I was working for the Rio Grande National Lifeinsurance
Co. They were located at 51 Northview Street, at the corner of Beal. Mr. FAUNTROY. Do you still work there? Mr. WITT. No, sir; that company merged with a company in Kentucky
in 1968, and that is when I left the insurance company. Mr. FAUNTROY. Do you recall what kind of day it was on the 22nd
in terms of its--the weather in the morning when you woke, when you got
up at home? Mr. WITT. I don't recall the early part of the day. I only know
what the weather was around the noontime area. Mr. FAUNTROY. I see. Did you keep your umbrella at home or did you keep your umbrella
at work? Mr. WITT. I don't--the umbrella could have been either place. I
tried to keep an umbrella in the car, or it would either be at work. Unfortunately it always seemed if I was in the car in the parking
lot and it was raining the umbrella was at work. And I never seemed to
have it at the right time. That morning I don't know if I took it from
the car to work or if it was already at my place of employment. Mr. FAUNTROY. Now, when you left--so you don't know whether you
took the umbrella from home to work and thence to the motorcade, or
whether the umbrella was at work. You don't recall that? Mr. WITT. I don't recall; no, sir. Mr. FAUNTROY. All right. Now, when you left--let's assume that it
was at work. When you left for lunch, is it your testimony that it was
your intent to utilize the umbrella to heckle the President? Mr. WITT. Yes; that is true. That was the only reason I was
carrying it. Mr. FAUNTROY. So that you weren't just going for a walk at lunch? Mr. WITT. Well, I did go out for a walk every day. Mr. FAUNTROY. I see. Mr. WITT. Every day that the weather was not extreme, either
raining or excessively hot. This day I took the umbrella along and
Page 439 439
going out, if it was handy for me to do my little act of
heckling, then that was my plan, yes. Mr. FAUNTROY. So it was your intent to use the umbrella if you
happened to be on the route that the President was traveling during that
day? Mr. WITT. That is correct. Mr. fAUNTROY. I wonder if you would care to tell us a little more
about your understanding of the significance of the umbrella, and why
you felt that it would heckle the president to raise the umbrella? Mr. WITT. I know the generalities of the thing. It had something
to do with the--when the senior Mr. Kennedy was Ambassador to England,
and the Prime Minister, some activity they had had in appeasing Hitler.
The umbrella that the Prime Minister of England came back with got to be
a symbol in some manner with the British people. By association, it got
transferred ot the Kennedy family, and, as I understood, it was a sore
spot with the Kennedy family, like I said, in coffee break conversations
someone had mentioned, I think it is one of the towns in Arizona, it is
Tucson or Phoenix, that someone had been out at the airport or some
place where some members of the Kennedy family came through and they
were rather irritated by the fact that they were brandishing the
umbrellas. This is how the idea sort of got stuck in my mind. Mr. FAUNTROY. Is it true that what you felt was that Mr. Kennedy
would be sensitive because of the appeasement image of the umbrella as
related to his father? Mr. WITT. Not the appeasement thing. It was just--excuse me--I
just understood that it was sort of a sore spot, with them and this was
just one thing. I personally never thought too much of liberal politics
in general. In this case the Kennedy family just happened to be in
office. Mr. FAUNTROY. I see. And it had no relationship in your own
thinking between Mr. Kennedy's posture with; say, the Russians? Mr. WITT. No. No. No. That was not it at all. Mr. FAUNTROY. But someone had--no--you had read in the paper that
someone had used an umbrella to heckle the President and that it was a
sore spot, and that was the reason---
Mr. WITT. Not read in the papers. Mr. FAUNTROY. Someone told you? Mr. WITT. Yes. This was in a conversation somewhere at work. I
wish that I could remember now who brought the subject up and put this
idea in my head. I am sure that I would have taken that umbrella and
clouted him over the head somewhere in this last 2 or 3 weeks. Mr. FAUNTROY. OK. Now, Mr. Witt, I wonder if you would again show
us what happened, what you did? As I understand your testimony, you found your way into Dealey
Plaza because there were not many people there, and you thought you
would have an opportunity to in fact see the President and perhaps even
heckle him.
Page 440 440
Now, do you recall seeing the motorcade approach Dealey Plaza? Mr. WITT. Yes. As a matter of fact, it was only--it was traveling
west at the time I saw it. Mr. FAUNTROY. All right. Now, where were you at that time? Mr. WITT. I was sitting somewhere in the grassy area there in
Dealey Plaza. Mr. FAUNTROY. All right. May we suspend for just a moment? [Discussion off the record.] Mr. FAUNTROY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the brief interlude
here. Mr. Witt, I was--as we suspended momentarily, I was asking you to
recall the turning of the motorcade, and the car in which President
Kennedy sat, into Dealey Plaza. Can you recall that? Mr. WITT. Yes, sir. Mr. FAUNTROY. And you at that time, you were telling me, were
sitting down probably on the grassy knoll? Mr. WITT. Yes, sir; that is correct. Mr. FAUNTROY. Now, describe to us what happened and what you did
when the ear turned into the Dealey Plaza? Mr. WITT. Well, after I became aware of its presence, I got up
and took the umbrella and started walking toward the street and opening
the umbrella at the same time. Mr. FAUNTROY. So that to the best of your recollection you--as
you approached the sidewalk, you were opening the umbrella? Mr. WITT. Yes, sir; that is correct. Mr. FAUNTROY. All right. And the ear is now passing and
you---describe to us what happened. Mr. WITT. Well, as I was moving forward opening this umbrella, it
was somewhere at--excuse me--it was somewhere at this point that I heard
the shots, and I continued to move forward and eventually brought the
umbrella up over my head. I think by this time I had already--by the
time I got the umbrella up over my head, I was at the retaining wall and
standing on it. Mr. FAUNTROY. All right. Now, the ear is moving beyond you now.
Are you aware that the President has been hit at this point---after you
hear these firecracker-like shots? Mr. WITT. No, sir. I--my view of the ear during that length of
time was blocked by the umbrella being open. And my--the next time I saw
the car after I saw it coming down on my left traveling west, the next
time I saw the ear was when this activity of the car stopping, one ear
rushing up on another, the motorcycle patrolman stopping, there was this
screeching of tires, this sort of thing. One thing I recall there was a movement in the President's ear.
By this time--I don't recall seeing the President. He must have--I am
sure he was down. The only thing I recall was the--there was a sort of a pink
movement, and it was--that was Jaekie Kennedy, I think, wearing a pink
dress or something. This pink thing stood out in my mind, and all of
this happened in very rapid order. The--as soon as the one ear ran up
behind this one, a man jumped off and I think the first ear was pulling
out about the time he had jumped on the back. Mr. FAUNTROY. Your testimony is that you then sat down where you
are pictured there?
Page 441 441
Mr. WITT. Yes, sir. Mr. FAUNTROY. In the exhibit? Mr. WITT. At this point I was aware that something terrible had
happened. Mr. FAUNTROY. Something terrible had happened? Mr. WITT. Yes. At the time that I was moving forward with this
umbrella in front of me, I was not aware of what was happening, even
though I had heard the shots, until the movement, all this activity with
the cars. That was my first awareness, and it was at this point that I
just sat down. Mr. FAUNTROY. And as you sat, you recall that--two things. One,
that you recall seeing a couple covering their children, you say, off to
the side? Mr. WITT. Yes, off to my right. Mr. FAUNTROY. And you recall the presence of someone sitting
beside you, is that true? Mr. WITT. That is correct. Mr. FAUNTROY. Any someone from behind you saying something? Mr. WITT. Yes. I don't know which of these came first, but the
person sitting to my right said something to the effect that "They done
shot them folks," something like that. I think it was repeated about two
or three times. It was repetitious. I don't know if they meant to be
talking to me, or if they were just talking out loud to themselves. As I testified before, I don't think I ever actually looked
directly at this person. I don't recall ever, say, just turning and
taking a good look at the person. I think what I was doing, I was--at this point I was somewhat
stunned, and I just heard this while sitting there. At about this same
time--I don't know if it was before I heard this or after---about this
same time there was this female voice up behind me shrieking and saying,
"They have shot those people. They shot those people." I think she may have said "They shot those people before my eyes"
or something like this, There were a number of people--I could hear
crying in the background, this sort of thing.
Mr. FAUNTROY. So that your description of your emotions after
sitting down would be that you were stunned, Is that true? Mr. WITT. Yes, Once the realization--the realization that
something--- Mr. FAUNTROY. Terrible had happened? Mr. WITT. Had happened, yes, I was stunned. Mr. FAUNTROY. I must admit that my reaction to the picture by
which you were ultimately identified was one of a very cool cat. That
is, you look rather cool there to me. But you were--- Mr. WITT. I can assure you I was not all that cool. I think one
my reactions was knowing that I was there with this stupid umbrella and
heckling the President and-of course, I didn't know that the President
had been killed. As a matter of fact, I didn't know he had been shot. I
just knew that something had happened by the activity and what seemed to
be in the air around me.
But I think my own thinking may have been at the time that ---I
would have to describe it as a--kind of like a bad joke that had
Page 442 442
gone sour, or a practical joke you pulled on someone that had
gone sour, since I was there with this thing, and for that purpose. Mr. FAUNTROY. Mr. Witt, is it your testimony that at no time did
the Dallas police or the FBI contact you about your presence at Dealey
Court Plaza at this time? Mr. WITT. No. In later years--after all this came up, I have
always wondered why they didn't, but no one ever--so far as I know, no
one ever made any attempt to find out who I was or why I was there. Mr. FAUNTROY. When did you find out that you were a subject of
suspicion; that is, that the umbrella man was somehow involved in the
assassination? Mr. WITT. When the committee sent these things to the newspapers,
and it was printed in the local papers, in the Dallas paper there. As a
matter of fact, I didn't see it on the day that it came out. We take the
afternoon paper, the evening paper. I didn't see it on the day that it
came out. I saw it later, after I had taken the newspapers to work,
because I wrapped small parts in it for shipping, and it was at this
point that I saw the thing and read the thing, and was then aware that
someone was looking for me, so to speak. Mr. FAUNTROY. So that--is it your testimony that you did not
learn that somebody was concerned about the umbrella man until 10 or 15
years after, until 1978--only in 1978 were you aware? Mr. WITT. Well, as far as I know, no one was concerned with me. Mr. FAUNTROY. So that explains, therefore, why you did not
yourself contact the FBI or the police--Dallas Police Department,
because you did not--you were not aware that someone with an umbrella in
Dealey Plaza was an object of interest? Mr. WITT. No. As a matter of fact, I wasn't aware that I was an
object of interest. As a matter of fact, I have found out since---within
the last few weeks, that there have been countless numbers of books and
all sorts of controversies over this thing. But I drifted along all of
these years and I have never seen one of these books because I have
never been a fan of this assassination thing. I don't go out of my way
to read anything about it. So it sort of all has gone over my head up until the last few
weeks. Mr. FAUNTROY. Now, is it your testimony that you did in fact see
this picture in the papers in July of this year? Mr. WITT. I saw this picture right here, the blurred picture in
the lower right-hand corner. Mr. FAUNTROY. And did you recognize it as yourself? Mr. WITT. After I read it, yes. Mr. FAUNTROY. Why didn't you come forward then? Mr. WITT. Quite frankly I didn't at this point-I certainly didn't
want anybody to know who I was. Mr. FAUNTROY. Uh huh. Mr. WITT. And I would say further that, had you never found me, I
would have been far happier than I am right at this moment. Mr. FAUNTROY. Mr. Chairman, I will suspend at this time in the
event there are other members who have questions for the witness. I
should like to reserve just a little time. Chairman STOKES. The Chair will protect the gentleman's time.
Page 443 443
Mr. Witness, the umbrella which lies before you on the witness
table, did you bring it here today? Mr. WITT. I brought it from Dallas and I turned it over to Mr.
Genzman yesterday. Chairman STOKES. And has that umbrella been in your possession
from november 22, 1963, until today, Mr. WITT. Yes; it has. Chairman STOKES. It has never left your possession for any
reason-- Mr. WITT. Well, I would have to-- Chairman STOKES. Other than here when you gave it to Mr. Genzman? Mr. WITT. No. As a matter of fact, the day that I went back to
work this umbrella was just tossed back on the rack where the raincoats
and other umbrellas would have been. It could have been used by any
number of people. There were quite a number of people who worked in this
department, young boys who went out on errands, they could have taken
this umbrella any number of times in or out. Chairman STOKES. OK. Now, I note that when Congressman Fauntroy was questioning you,
it had been his intent to ask you to demonstrate the way in which you
had held the umbrella on that specific date, but he was informed by
counsel for the committee you had made a specific request that you not
be asked to make such a demonstration; is that correct? Mr. WITT. That is correct. Chairman STOKES. OK. And is that still your request to this committee? Mr. WITT. Yes, sir. I--my line of thinking is that since we are
not in the same area, we couldn't exactly duplicate what I did there.
The only thing my doing that, it would just be more fodder for an
overeager press back in Dallas to show this off and continue to
embarrass me and my family, more so than we have already been
embarrassed.
Chairman STOKES. Certainly. Mr. WITT. We--I would add at this point that we have been through
quite a bit. I brought it on myself, but nevertheless, we have been
through quite a bit already. Chairman STOKES. Well I certainly understand that, and I am sure
this committee is going to respect your wishes in that respect. I have one concern though, and that is that if the committee does
not cause the umbrella to be opened up, it may lend once again to more
speculation that the reason we didn't open it was because there was such
a dart gun in it. For that reason I am not going to ask you to do it,
but I think that it is important that committee staff open this umbrella
so we can ascertain there is no dart gun in it. Mr. WITT. As far as I am concerned, they are certainly welcome
to. Chairman STOKES. All right. Can we have someone from the staff do that? Miss Cynthia Cooper
of the committee staff.
Page 444 444
Maybe you ought to turn that way with it [indicating toward press
and cameras]. [Laughter.]
[Photograph depicts what occurred when Miss Cynthia Cooper opened
umbrella.]
Chairman STOKES. I guess there is no gun in it. Thank you very much. The gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Devine. Mr. DEVINE. Mr. Witt, we understand your reluctance to be here. We appreciate very much your coming forward. Just for the record,
would you tell the committee what you did when you saw your picture in
the paper? To whom did you report, or what did you do? Mr. WITT. When I saw the picture? Mr. DEVINE. Yes. Mr. WITT. I didn't do anything at that time. I was working at the
time I saw it and was aware that I was wanted for questioning by this
committee. I didn't do anything. I didn't make any effort to contact
this committee or anyone else. I just did nothing. Mr. DEVINE. How did you become revealed publicly as the person
with the umbrella? Mr. WITT. As I understand it, one of my good friends went to the
press. As a matter of fact, a couple of guys--reporters--came to where I
work and started barraging me with questions, and I knew it was just a
matter of time until they would have my name in the paper and then it
would be known. For me it was just a matter of waiting until somebody
came along and said, "I want to talk to you." Mr. DEVINE. Getting back to the time and the place. I think in
your original testimony in response to a question from counsel you said
you heard a shot or something when you were sitting or standing there by
the grassy knoll. Could you tell where this
Page 445 445
disturbance or this shot came from in relation to where you were
standing? Mr. WITT. No, sir, really couldn't. Of course, there were a
number of shots and they all seemed to be just rapid--just very close
spaced. As to the direction, I couldn't say. Mr. DEVINE. You do not know, you cannot recall from what
direction they may have come? Mr. WITT. No, sir. I am sorry, I can't be of any help there. Mr. DEVINE. We recognize it has been 15 years nearly. Can you
tell this committee how many shots you thought you heard? Mr. WITT. I really couldn't say. Just remembering--I would have
to say three or more. Mr. DEVINE. Three or more. Were they in rapid succession? Mr. WITT. Very. As I recall, very rapid. Mr. DEVINE. Unless you have some objection, would you demonstrate
by rapping your knuckle on the table about the time interval you feel
you remember the shots were fired. Mr. WITT. I don't know if I could really give you a good example,
but it was just [witness wraps three times rapidly on table]. Mr. DEVINE. As I recall, when the President's motorcade was
moving toward you, you were standing. Did you run the umbrella up and
down as a symbol of Neville Chamberlain or did you just hold it up or
did you point it in his direction? What did you do, specifically? Mr. WITT. I really don't recall. I could have moved the umbrella
up and down but I just don't recall. Mr. DEVINE. Then when the disturbance occurred and the
Presidential motorcade moved out, you sat down? Mr. WITT. Yes, sir. Mr. DEVINE. And there was someone beside you as indicated by that
lower right-hand picture? Mr. WITT. Yes. I still don't know if they were sitting there when
I sat down or if they moved to that point later. I don't remember. Mr. DEVINE. Did you say you saw people running then, after you
were seated? Mr. WITT. No; at one point the person that I mentioned before as
running was a man who jumped off the second car and ran and jumped on
the President's car. Mr. DEVINE. I am talking primarily about spectators. Was there
any movement among the spectators that you noticed? Mr. WITT. Not as I recall spectators. There were people who
seemed to run up from the street to that grassy knoll, but somewhere
along the way I heard these were Secret Servicemen or plainclothesmen. Mr. DEVINE. When you say running up the grassy knoll, you mean in
the direction away from the President's car? Mr. WITT. Away from the street, and it would be up to the side of
that schoolbook depository building. Mr. DEVINE. You mentioned you saw a police officer with a
revolver, or a handgun, in a raised position? Mr. WITT. This was after some time had elapsed. Mr. DEVINE. Are you talking about seconds or minutes?
Page 446 446
Mr. WITT. More in minutes. This was after I had sat down. As a
matter of fact, it was somewhere about the point where I guess I was
getting ready to leave. Mr. DEVINE. After the motorcade moved out and the crowd was
milling around you, you just casually went back to your place of
employment? Mr. WITT. I don't know if casually describes it. I did pick up
the umbrella and go back to the building where I worked. One end of the
building was on Elm Street. Mr. DEVINE. That is the first time you learned the President had
been shot? Mr. WITT. After I got back in the building, yes. Mr. DEVINE. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Chairman STOKES. The time of the gentleman has expired. The
gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. Ford. Mr. FORD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am going to be very brief. Mr. Witt, in light of what Mr. Fauntroy and the chairman have
mentioned to you earlier, I would like to know if for the last 15 years
you have kept that umbrella at your home and your business place or some
other place? Mr. WITT. Yes. Mr. FORD. You know, just looking at it, even though I know it
flapped over when the young lady opened it up a minute ago. that
umbrella is in pretty good shape, wouldn't you say? Mr. WITT. I suppose. Mr. FORD. Other than flipping on the wrong side. You can buy a
new one and it will flip over. Why did you keep it 15 years? Did you
have any reason for keeping that umbrella that long? Mr. WITT. Not particularly. The only thing that the umbrella
survived that long--like I say, this was in use because it was thrown in
there with all the others--the only reason I can figure out it lasted
this long is because of the size. You take this thing out and it's big
and it's clumsy, whereas I had other umbrellas and would wear a raincoat
and wouldn't use this one. Mr. FORD. How many others do you have? Mr. WITT. I have no idea. Over the years I have no idea. Mr. FORD. Do you think you could have picked up the wrong one and
brought it here from Dallas? Mr. WITT. It is quite possible. The only reason I believe with
almost 100 percent that is the very same umbrella is the fact that it's
a big umbrella, and I am almost positive that is the one. Mr. FORD. You said some of the other office people used the
umbrella when you carried it to your job. Could they have walked out
with your umbrella and brought this one back, a completely different
umbrella from the one you used on the day John Kennedy was assassinated? Mr. WITT. That is entirely possible, but I really don't think
that happened. Mr. FORD. In your house there are two, three, or four umbrellas;
is that correct? Mr. WITT. I wouldn't know how many are there. There are some in
the back closet. I usually have one in the car. The other day I stumbled
over one in the garage.
Page 447
447
Mr. FORD. You did not identify that one 15 years ago and say, "I
am going to keep this umbrella here"? Mr. WITT. No; at that particular time I placed no significance on
that umbrella. Mr. FORD. When this committee's staff made contact with you did
you go to your closet and identify "This is the one I had November 23,
1963"? Were you able to say that to yourself? Mr. WITT. Yes; when Mr. Moriarity was at my house there Dallas he
asked me if I still had the umbrella. I said, "Yes, I have an umbrella
that I believe is the exact same umbrella" Mr. FORD. You didn't have to look at the other umbrellas in
closet? Mr. WITT. No: the other umbrellas I believe are little stubby
things. Some of them may be folded up. Anyway, they are not and clumsy
like this thing. Mr. FORD. So you buy a lot of umbrellas; is that correct? Mr. WITT. No; not particularly. I am 53 years old. You collect
lot of stuff in that period of time. Umbrellas are not a particulay
hobby of mine. It is just that over the years--although God knows it may
seem it is. Mr. FORD. My final question, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Witt, what do you think an umbrella is used for? Is it used
to keep the sun off you, the rain, or just to carry along with you match
a topcoat or something? Mr. WITT. Well, an umbrella sure can be used for many things. I
am sure you would use it to keep the rain off, keep the sun off, and in
this case you can use it to--as I did for that purpose that I named. Mr. FORD. Why are you using it today? Why did you come Washington
today with the umbrella? For what purpose? Mr. WITT. Why did I? Mr. FORD. Yes. Mr. WITT. Because I was subpenaed. Mr. FORD. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. Chairman STOKES. The time of the gentleman has expired. The
gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Fithian. Mr. FITHIAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, for the record, I would like to ask permission of
the Chair to write a two-page historical memorandum on the tenure of
Ambassador Kennedy in England and the Neville Chamberlain episode. I am
afraid perhaps some might not get the clear significance of the umbrella
as the symbol. Ambassador Kennedy took a rather merciless treatment
subsequent to his placing his own belief in Neville Chamberlain's
policies. These of course came in great disrepute after Winston
Churchill became Prime Minister and alter the Munich Conference broke
down. I think it might be helpful if at this point in the record we had
a somewhat clearer historical explanation than we have. I won't burden
you with it now but I would like permission to write such. Chairman STOKES. We would be happy to take advantage of the
gentleman's expertise in the area of history and have it for the benefit
of the committee's files.
Page 448 448
Mr. FITHIAN. It is very hard 30 years hence to understand how
much the symbol of Neville Chamberlain became associated with an
umbrella. Mr. Witt, in 1963, you said you were a conservative and you did
not care much for liberal policies and you didn't care much for liberal
politicians; is that correct? Mr. WITT. Yes. Mr. FITHIAN. Do you remember what groups or organizations you
belonged to in 1963? Mr. WITT. None. Mr. FITHIAN. Not even any civic organizations or clubs? Mr. WITT. At that time; no. Mr. FITHIAN. Have you ever belonged to organizations such as the
White Citizens Council or Ku Klux Klan? Mr. WITT. No; I am just not a joiner of organizations in general.
I am certainly not a joiner of organizations either to the left or the
right. Mr. FITHIAN. I just wanted to make sure. I think Mr. Devine
questioned on the shots but you really at this date, even thinking about
it all this time trying to reconstruct it, as I am sure you must have
many times, you can't help the committee at all as to either the
direction the shots came from or the number of shots fired? Mr. WITT. No; I really can't. The only thing that I can recall is
the rapid fire, their close spacing. Mr. FITHIAN. I have no further questions. Chairman STOKES. The time of the gentleragu has expired. Is
anyone else seeking recognition? The gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. McKinney. Mr. McKINNEY. Mr. Witt, it is a pleasure to see you in person. I
know it is not a pleasure for you to be here and I really don't blame
you, but I have been looking at that picture for so many years. It is a
pleasure to see you in person. You did hear gunfire, correct. and you saw several shots in rapid
succession? Mr. WITT. No, sir. I really can't place them at any particular
place. Mr. McKINNEY. You mentioned a policeman standing beside you on
the grassy knoll with a gun, I guess sort of pointed up this way
[indicating]. Did you notice anything more than normal activity of
police or anyone running around looking for people or as if they were
looking for people? Mr. WITT. No. Not that I recall. Mr. McKINNEY. I never disagree with my colleagues on this
committee, particularly the member from the District of Columbia, since
I am one of his most ardent supporters. But I think you have a rather
stunned look on your face in the picture in the lower right-hand corner.
You are just sort of staring across the street. You testified, you
didn't even look at the guy next to you? Mr. WITT. Yes. This is correct. One of the gentlemen up there
described me as being very cool. I am afraid-- Mr. McKINNEY. I think your jaw is a little too low to look cool. Mr. WITT. I was definitely stunned. This is why there are some
things I don't remember. The things that I do remember are the
Page 449 449
things where there was repetition, the multiple shots, this
person repeating themselves, the woman repeating herself. Naturally the
activity of the cars, that sticks with me. If I said anything to the
person sitting to my right, I don't recall what it was. Mr. McKINEY. One of the strange things about this assassination
is that a few people were right about the picket fence or the retaining
wall, and the committee has had to spend hundreds of thousands of
dollars to find out what went on. They have made a lot of money out of a
few words and we have spent a lot of money trying to figure out whether
what they said is true or not. Did you notice anyone or anything going on by the picket fence or
by the retaining wall in Dealey Plaza up at the top of the grassy knoll?
Did you see anyone peering over the fence or jumping over the fence or
chasing anyone, or did you hear or see anything from that particular
area? Mr. WITT. No, sir, I did not, because at no point was I ever
facing that direction. Mr. McKINNEY. Since that area was quite close to you in
comparison to the book depository, do you feel in your own mind that if
a shot had come from the grassy knoll picket fence retaining wall area,
that you would have been aware of where that shot had come from? In
general, you were not aware of where any of the shots came from but that
area was quite close to you? Mr. WITT. I don't know if I would have been aware of a shot that
would have come from the area that you mention or not. Mr. MCKINNEY. It is an unfair question because it asks for an
assumption. I am not a lawyer, so I am allowed to get away with that
sort of thing. Did you notice the reaction or the movement, or anything else, of
any of the other eyewitnesses across the street or around you? Mr. WITT. No, sir, I did not. Mr. McKINNEY. In fact, you really didn't turn around to look at
the guy who sat down next to you? Mr. WITT. No, sir, I didn't. Mr. McKINNEY. You stated earlier that you did not look at the
picket fence or at the retaining wall. So obviously if I ask you, did
you observe anyone behind them, it is a slight redundancy. But did you
observe anyone at any time wandering around that fence or wall before
you opened the umbrella or before you left the grassy knoll? Mr. WITT. No, I did not. The only time that I would have looked
in that direction, if I even looked at all, would be when I was walking
out into the middle of this grassy area. At no other time would I,
because it would have been to either my back or my side. I really don't
know how it is laid out down there. The picket fence, I don't even know
where it is. Mr. MCKINNEY. I really think this is very unfair for me to do
this for you because I have trouble summarizing my own thoughts. But I
would like to, if I could, summarize what I think you have said and, get
you to agree with me or not. That is, you were sitting there waiting for
the President to come by in an area where you were somewhat by yourself
so that you could be noticed and so you could brandish the umbrella. As
you opened the umbrella, your visibility of the scene was obstructed.
When you held the umbrella
Page 450 450
up, you became aware that something and something pretty bad, had
happened. You had heard shots, you had seen a Secret Service man leap on
the back of the other car, you had seen the pink blur of Mrs. Kennedy
sort of scrambling on the back of the car. You closed the umbrella, sat
down, dropped the umbrella on the sidewalk and realized that what had
started out as a, quote, "joke," somehow or other had turned into
something that hadn't worked, that was sour. Is that a pretty fair
summary? Mr. WITT. Yes; that is correct. I think that sums it up. Mr. McKINNEY. Mr. Witt, I thank you very much for coming. I know
you are an extremely private person and that this has been extremely
painful situation for both you and your family, and I for one, who feels
quite often that my privacy and my family's privacy gets invaded for no
good reason, sympathize with you and admire your willingness to answer
questions that have been hanging around for 15 years. Chairman STOKES. The time of the gentleman has expired. The
gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Edgar. Mr. EDGAR. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As I have been listening to Mr. McKinney's conversation with you
about your recollection, I am reminded of the fact that my wife just a
few weeks ago witnessed a very tragic accident and her first impression
or expression was of shock when she saw the accident occur. But after
the shock subsided she had the presence to go and say to the policeman
who eventually arrived that she would be willing to act as a witness,
give whatever testimony she could about who was or was not involved and exactly how the accident
occurred for purposes of later investigations. Did it ever occur to you, as someone who literally sat down in
front of where the President was assassinated, that you might have a bit
or piece of evidence that might be a contribution to the authorities
looking into the death of President Kennedy? Mr. WITT. I don't really know if this ever occurred to me or not.
Had it occurred to me, I seriously doubt that I would have gone forward
to volunteer any information. Mr. EDGAR. Were you frightened about the fact that you had
deliberately set out to cause a scene or an embarrassment to the
President? Mr. WITT. Not frightened as such, but at that time there was a
great deal of what I would have to describe as hysteria in the Dallas
area about the President being killed. It could have been extremely
unwise for me to have volunteered and become known at that time. It
could have been dangerous to me or my family. Mr. EDGAR. In what way would it have been dangerous to you or
your family? Mr. WITT. Well, you would have had to have lived in the city to
be aware of how things were then, in that everyone--I really wouldn't
know how to describe it. I really don't know, but nevertheless I would
say that I would not have made it known. Mr. EDGAR. Were you afraid to go privately to the Dallas Police
Department and share the information of what you saw with a police
officer in the privacy of a room at the police station? Mr. WITT. I really don't know. I really think if I had any real
thought on this--and I can't recall one way or the other--it would
Page 451 451
be my guess that my line of thinking was I really had nothing to
offer other than just having done a foolish thing. Mr. EDGAR. Were you concerned about the foolishness of your act
or were you concerned about the retribution that might come to you? Mr. WITT. I don't know what my line of thinking was. But I think
it would have been both. Mr. EDGAR. I appreciate the fact that you have come forward now
in response to the picture that we have shown. It is difficult many
years later to piece together all of what happened in Dealey Plaza. You
do have a contribution to make, as has been exhibited by your presence
here today. I hope that others who may see various events like this stop
and think about making a contribution by notifying whatever authorities
are there of what they see even if it isn't very important to them or if
it looks insignificant to them. It may play a part in unraveling a very
complicated story. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Chairman STOKES. The time of the gentleman has expired. The gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Sawyer. Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to request that when
the gentleman from Indiana submits his historical analysis of the
attribution of the umbrella as a symbol of Neville Chamberlain and the
senior Mr. Joseph Kennedy, who was then Ambassador to the Court of St.
James, I be allowed to submit one page on the subject of Scotch. Mr. FITHIAN. If the gentleman would yield, I meant to say for the
benefit of the witness more than anyone else the sensitivity of the late
Kennedy on this point stems not only because of the close family
relationship but because he was secretary to his father the ambassador
during a part of that tenure, and I think it was all the more kind of a
personal thing, and he went on, of course, to write the award-winning
thesis at Harvard entitled "While England. Slept," and a lot of people
believe that was again sort of his own trying to wrestle with this bad
taste that was left in the mouth of the American people because of
Ambassador Kennedy's interpretation of the German British pact at
Munich. Mr. SAWYER. I have nothing further Mr. Chairman. Chairman STOKES. The time of the gentleman has expired. The
gentleman from the District of Columbia, Mr. Fauntroy. Mr. FAUNTROY. I have one more question for Mr. Witt: You have
indicated that you have learned over these years now that the umbrella
man was considered a factor; that even someone has suggested the
umbrella was a gun and that it may have been a signal. You may want also
to know and, therefore, to help us, that the person sitting beside you
has been alleged to have been a Cuban and that other pictures taken in
the plaza suggested that he may have been talking on a two-way radio
while he was sitting beside you. It would have been of great interest to
us to identify who that person sitting beside you was. For that reason I
simply ask, is there anything that you can recall about the person that
would enable us to find him, even as we found you, because your story
sounds plausible? Mr. WITT. I wish that I could give you more information, but I am
sorry I can't. Now, as for him talking on a---
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Mr. FAUNTROY. Two-way radio. Mr. WITT. Two-way radio, while sitting beside me, I feel sure
that I would have been aware of that even though I was stunned and I
don't recall ever looking directly at the man, but I believe that anyone
who was sitting that close, as the picture shows him, I feel sure that I
would have known if they were holding--because those walkie-talkie
things are fairly large, they are certainly bigger than a person's hand.
I feel like I would have remembered that. I can't say with 100 percent
certainty that I would have remembered that, but somehow I just feel
like I would have. One thing--there are two things in having been shown these
pictures where my memory was different from what the pictures showed.
No. 1, the couple that was covering the children, I remember them as
being up close to me, as being fairly close, because I saw them doing
this, and in later years I have thought how ridiculous it was of me
standing up with gunfire going on, and standing there like a tourist,
and here these people had the presence of mind to cover these children. The other thing is in my memory I don't remember a person sitting
that close to me. The person that I remember as saying what he did and
repeating it a number of times, I don't remember having been that close.
I don't know if these pictures are taken at an angle that makes it look
like that or if my memory is playing tricks on me. Mr. FAUNTROY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman STOKES. The gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Devine. Mr. DEVINE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have just one question for
the purpose of the record, Mr. Witt. This appears to have been somewhat of an impulsive act on your
part. Is there anything in your history that you have been a
demonstrator or picket or engaged in symbolic acts in the pst, or is
this a single incident in your life that you wish had never happened? Mr. WITT. Never before. This is the only time. True, I wish it
had never happened. I am not a person who wishes to bring himself into
notice, and I think this very fact is what put me down there in this
area, in this street I went down. there were all those people. Had I
broke out this big oversize umbrella, there would have been people
standing on either side of me and probably questioning what the heck was
I doing.
By continuing my little walk, I do not know how long I continued
to maintain the idea I was going to do this, but I have the feeling when
I was headed back in the direction of where I work, that I saw this area
down there an open space where there were not all this many people
around. So I would think it would be my particular personality of not
wanting to be questioned by people or putting on a show in front of
people that led me into that particular location.
Mr. DEVINE. For the record, this is the first and probably the
last time you have engaged in a demonstration such as this? Mr. WITT. Indeed; the first and the last. Mr. DEVINE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman STOKES. Mr. Witt, I would just like to say what is
probably equally tragic with the event which occurred on that date
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has been the rumors and theories which have grown up around such
a tragic event in our history. Indeed, one of the reasons this
particular committee was constituted by the House of Representatives is
so that we might once and for all investigate all the facts and
circumstances surrounding the death of President Kennedy and report to
the American people the true facts as we have found them. It is in that respect that even though this has been perhaps an
unfortunate event for you, one that has caused you and your family some
concern and indeed some embarrassment, I want to say that I think you
have performed for the American people a real service today, by coming
forth and dispelling another one of the rumors which have for now some
15 years caused great uneasiness in the American people. Indeed, over the years many people have profited in continuing to
form rumors around one of the most tragic events in our history. Additionally, since it has been in a rather somber vein, you have
been a very candid witness and one who has lent some degree of levity to
our proceeding to give us some relief from this. I indeed applaud you
for coming forth and giving us your testimony today.
Additionally I would extend to you 5 minutes for any comments you
may wish to make, to which you are entitled under our rules. Mr. WITT. I do not think I have any comment. I cannot really
think of anything else that I could offer the committee which would be
of any help to them. If I could, I certainly would. I would like to
thank everyone for their courtesy. The only two people I have had direct
dealings with was Mr. Moriarty who interviewed me in Dallas, and Mr.
Genzman, who interviewed me last night. Both of these men have been very thorough, I would say, in their
questioning, very businesslike, but at all times very courteous, and I
do appreciate that. The only other thing that I would care to say is that I think if
the Guinness Book of World Records had a category for people who were at
the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing, I would be No.
1 in that position, without even a close runner-up. Chairman STOKES. Thank you very much, Mr. Witt. You are excused
now, sir. The Chair recognizes Professor Blakey. Mr. BLAKEY. A widely held belief that has been fostered by some
of the critics is that the death rate of individuals connected in some
way to the assassination has been improbably high. The editor of a weekly newspaper in Midlothian Tex. Penn Jones,
started it all by publishing his mysterious death theory in a book
"Forgive My Grief", in 1966. Jones assembled details of the deaths and
of the connections of the deceased to the assassination--an attorney for
Jack Ruby, Oswald's landlady, newsman who had covered the assassination,
a noted columnist who had interviewed Ruby, and so on.
Other critics picked up on Jones' thesis. In Accessories After
the Fact, Sylvia Meagher writes:
Viewed subjectively, the witnesses appear to be dying like flies.
But an authoritative opinion on the mortality rate of those involved
directly or marginally in the assassination and attendant events remains
to be rendered by some actuarial
