The question of who was in the car with JFK is one of the most enduring details of that tragic day in Dallas. The immediate answer is that Texas Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie were seated in the limousine with President Kennedy.
But the story of the presidential limousine, its occupants, and their fates is a crucial piece of history. Understanding the seating arrangement helps clarify the events of November 22, 1963.
This article provides a detailed look at everyone in the motorcade car, their roles, and the aftermath of the assassination.
Who Was In The Car With Jfk
The vehicle was a 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible, known as the SS-100-X by the Secret Service. It was modified for presidential use but was open-top that day, a decision that remains a point of significant historical debate.
There were six people in the limousine during the motorcade through Dallas. They were arranged in a very specific seating configuration.
The seats were essentially in two rows, facing forward, with two jump seats that folded out from the cabin wall between the rows.
The Seating Arrangement In Detail
To visualize the scene, it’s best to break down the limousine’s layout from front to back.
- Front Left (Driver): Secret Service Agent William “Bill” Greer was behind the wheel. His responsibility was to navigate the motorcade route safely.
- Front Right (Passenger Seat): Secret Service Agent Roy Kellerman sat here. As the agent in charge of the trip, he was Greer’s supervisor and a key figure in the immediate response.
- Middle Left (Jump Seat): Texas Governor John Connally occupied this fold-out seat. He was facing forward, directly in front of the president.
- Middle Right (Jump Seat): Nellie Connally, the governor’s wife, sat here. She was to the left of the First Lady.
- Rear Left: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy sat in the back left seat, next to her husband.
- Rear Right: President John F. Kennedy sat in the rear right seat, the traditional place of honor.
This arrangement placed both President Kennedy and Governor Connally on the right side of the vehicle, which faced the Texas School Book Depository as the car turned onto Elm Street.
Profiles Of The Occupants
Each person in the car had a unique relationship to the event. Here is a closer look at their stories.
President John F. Kennedy
The 35th President of the United States was the central figure of the motorcade. He was in Texas for a series of political appearances aimed at smoothing over factional disputes within the state’s Democratic Party.
He was 46 years old. Sitting in the rear right, he was tragically exposed to gunfire from the depository building.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy, known for her style and dignity, was accompanying her husband on the Texas trip. Her presence in the open car was intended to project an image of confidence and accessibility.
Her actions in the moments after the shots—climbing onto the trunk of the moving car—became an iconic and harrowing image of the assassination.
Governor John Connally
John Connally was a rising star in the Democratic Party and a former Secretary of the Navy. He was riding in the jump seat directly in front of President Kennedy.
During the shooting, he was severly wounded by a bullet that passed through the president’s body first, according to the Warren Commission. He survived his injuries after extensive surgery.
Nellie Connally
Nellie Connally was an accomplished public figure in her own right. As the motorcade entered Dealey Plaza, she famously turned to President Kennedy and said, “Mr. President, you can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you.”
Moments later, she pulled her wounded husband down into her lap, an act that likely saved his life by lowering his profile in the line of fire.
Secret Service Agent Roy Kellerman
Roy Kellerman was the “SAIC” or Special Agent in Charge for the Texas trip. From the front passenger seat, he was responsible for the president’s security detail.
After the first shot, he turned to look back. Following the fatal shot, he famously yelled “Let’s get out of here!” to driver Bill Greer.
Secret Service Agent William Greer
Bill Greer was the driver of the SS-100-X. His actions during and after the shooting have been analyzed for decades.
After the first shot, he appears to slow the vehicle momentarily, before accelerating after the final shot upon Kellerman’s order. The Warren Commission concluded he acted appropriately given the confusion.
The Immediate Aftermath In The Limousine
The sequence of events inside the car was chaotic and horrifying. The reactions of the occupants shaped the narrative of those critical minutes.
- The First Shot: Many witnesses, including Nellie Connally, believed the first sound was a firecracker or backfire. Governor Connally, however, recognized it as a shot and began to turn.
- The Second Shot: This bullet struck President Kennedy in the back and exited his throat, then went on to hit Governor Connally in the back, chest, wrist, and thigh. This is known as the “single-bullet theory.”
- The Third Shot: The final shot struck President Kennedy in the head, causing a mortal wound. Agent Kellerman then ordered Greer to accelerate.
- The Response: Mrs. Connally pulled the governor down. Mrs. Kennedy climbed onto the trunk, retrieved by Agent Clint Hill. Greer sped to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
The limousine itself, stained with blood and tissue, was quickly secured. It was later rebuilt with a permanent roof, titanium armor, and bulletproof glass, and remained in service for presidents until 1977.
Common Misconceptions And Clarifications
Over the years, several incorrect details about the car’s occupants have circulated. Let’s clarify a few.
- Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson: He was not in the car with JFK. He and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, were two cars behind in the motorcade, in a convertible with Senator Ralph Yarborough.
- Secret Service Agent Clint Hill: He was not initially in the limousine. He was the agent who ran from the follow-up car and jumped onto the back of the moving SS-100-X to shield the First Lady after the shooting.
- The “Grassy Knoll” Passenger: No credible evidence supports that there was an additional person in the car. All photographic and eyewitness accounts confirm the six known occupants.
Another frequent point of confusion is the exact wounds suffered by Governor Connally. He was hit by a single bullet that caused multiple injuries, a medical fact that is central to understanding the ballistics of the assassination.
The Long-Term Impact On The Survivors
The trauma of that day profoundly affected the lives of the four survivors for decades.
Jacqueline Kennedy endured the global spotlight with immense privacy, eventually marrying Aristotle Onassis. She dedicated herself to raising her children and preserving her husband’s legacy, including the creation of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.
John Connally recovered from his wounds and continued his political career. He served three terms as Governor of Texas, became Secretary of the Treasury under President Nixon, and even switched parties to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980.
Nellie Connally remained a prominent figure in Texas. She outlived her husband by over a decade and wrote a memoir about her experiences titled *From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy*.
Secret Service Agents Greer and Kellerman both remained with the service for a short time after the assassination. They testified before the Warren Commission and lived relatively private lives thereafter, their careers forever defined by the events in Dallas.
The limousine itself is now on permanent display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, a somber artifact of American history.
Why The Question Still Matters
You might wonder why such a specific detail remains so important. Knowing exactly who was in the car with JFK is fundamental for several reasons.
First, it establishes the factual baseline for understanding the assassination. It counters conspiracy theories about additional passengers or altered seating.
Second, it humanizes the event. This wasn’t just an attack on a president; it was a violent trauma inflicted on six individuals and their families.
Finally, the seating arrangement is critical for forensic analysis. It helps experts map the trajectory of the bullets and understand the wounds sustained by both President Kennedy and Governor Connally.
By fixing this detail in history, we can better analyze the evidence and honor the memories of all involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions related to the keyword “who was in the car with JFK.”
Who else was in the motorcade with JFK?
The motorcade consisted of many vehicles. Directly behind JFK’s limousine was the “follow-up car” carrying Secret Service agents, including Clint Hill. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife were in the third car. Various other officials, police, and press filled out the procession.
Where was Lyndon B. Johnson during the shooting?
Vice President Johnson was two cars behind President Kennedy, riding in a convertible with his wife and Senator Ralph Yarborough. He was rushed to safety at Parkland Hospital after the shooting and was sworn in as president aboard Air Force One later that afternoon.
Did anyone in the car besides JFK die?
No. President Kennedy was the only fatality inside the limousine. Governor Connally was seriously wounded but survived. All other occupants, including the drivers, were physically unharmed by the gunfire, though they suffered lasting psychological trauma.
How many shots were fired at the car?
The Warren Commission concluded that three shots were fired from the Texas School Book Depository. The House Select Committee on Assassinations later suggested a possibility of a fourth shot from a different direction, but the official finding of three shots remains the most widely accepted.
What happened to the car JFK was shot in?
The 1961 Lincoln Continental was refurbished and armored after the assassination. It received a permanent non-removable roof, bulletproof glass, and other security features. It remained in presidential service until 1977. Today, it is on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.