Dallas Doctors First Statements
PRESS CONFERENCE
PARKLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
DALLAS, TEXAS
NOVEMBER 22, 1963
2:16 P.M. CST
AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH WAYNE HAWKS
MR. HAWKS-
Let me have your attention, please. You wanted to talk to some of the attending physicians. I have two of them here, Dr. Malcolm Perry, an attending surgeon here at Parkland Memorial Hospital. He will talk to you first, and then Dr. Kemp Clark, the chief neurosurgeon here at the hospital. He will tell you what he knows about it. Dr. Perry.
QUESTION-
Were you in attendance when the President died?
QUESTION-
Let him tell his story.
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I was summoned to the Emergency Room shortly after the President was brought in, on an emergency basis, immediately after the President’s arrival. Upon reaching his side, I noted that he was in critical condition from a wound of the neck and of the head. Immediate resuscitative measures—
QUESTION-
Would you go slower?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I noted he was in critical condition from the wound in the neck and the head.
QUESTION-
Could that be done by one shot?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I cannot conjecture. I don’t know.
QUESTION-
A wound of the neck and of the—
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
—of the head. Immediate resuscitative measures were undertaken, and Dr. Kemp Clark, Professor of Neurosurgery, was summoned, along with several other members of the surgical and medical staff. They arrived immediately, but at this point the President’s condition did not allow complete resuscitation.
QUESTION-
What do you mean by "complete resuscitation"?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
He was critically ill and moribund at the time these measures were begun.
QUESTION-
Completely ill and what?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Moribund.
QUESTION-
What does that mean?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Near death.
QUESTION-
What was the word you used?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Moribund. Dr. Clark arrived thereafter, immediately.
QUESTION-
Could you tell us what resuscitative measures were attempted?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Assisted respiration.
QUESTION-
What is that?
QUESTION-
With what?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Assisted respiration with oxygen and an anesthesia machine, passage of an endotracheal tube.
QUESTION-
Does that mean you stick it in?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Yes, place it in the trachea.
QUESTION-
Spell it for us, please.
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
E-n-d-o-t-r-a-c-h-e-a-l. A tracheostomy.
QUESTION-
Did they perform a tracheostomy?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Yes.
QUESTION-
Would you spell it?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
T-r-a-c-h-e-o-s-t-o-m-y.
QUESTION-
Was there a priest in the room at this time, Doctor?
MR. HAWKS-
The doctor is just telling you about the operation.
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Blood and fluids were also given, and an electrocardiograph monitor was attached to record any heart beat that might be present. At this point, Dr. Clark was also in attendance.
QUESTION-
What is his name?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Dr. Kemp Clark. And Dr. Charles Baxter.
DR. KEMP CLARK-
I was called by Dr. Perry because the President—
QUESTION-
You are Dr. Clark?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
I am Dr. Clark. —because the President had sustained a brain wound. On my arrival, the resuscitative efforts, the tracheostomy, the administration of chest tubes to relieve any possible—
QUESTION-
Could you slow down a little bit, Doctor, please?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
—to relieve any possibility of air being in the pleural space, the electrocardiogram had been hooked up, blood and fluids were being administered by Dr. Perry and Dr. Baxter. It was apparent that the President had sustained a lethal wound.
A missile had gone in or out of the back of his head, causing extensive lacerations and loss of brain tissue. Shortly after I arrived, the patient, the President, lost his heart action by the electrocardiogram, his heart action had stopped.
We attempted resuscitative measures of his heart, including closed chest cardiac massage, but to no avail.
QUESTION-
Was that closed chest?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Yes.
QUESTION-
Does that mean external, Doctor, closed?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Yes. We were able to obtain palpable pulses by this method, but, again, to no avail.
QUESTION-
What is palpable?
MR. HAWKS-
What did you ask?
QUESTION-
Palpable?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Palpable.
QUESTION-
Palpable what?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Pulses.
QUESTION-
Doctor, how many doctors were in attendance at the time of the President’s death?
QUESTION-
Doctor, can you tell us how long after he arrived on the Emergency table before he expired? In other words, how long was he living while in the hospital?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
40 minutes, perhaps.
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I was far too busy to tell. I didn’t even look at my watch.
DR. KEMP CLARK-
I would guess about 40 minutes.
QUESTION-
Doctor, can you describe the course of the wound through the head?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
We were too busy to be absolutely sure of the track, but the back of his head.
QUESTION-
And through the neck?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Principally on his right side, towards the right side.
QUESTION-
What was the exact time of death, doctor?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
That is very difficult to say. We were very busy, and in answer to someone else’s question, we had a lot of people in attendance. We elected to make this at 1300.
QUESTION-
You elected?
QUESTION-
What, sir?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
We pronounced him at 1300 hours.
QUESTION-
Thirteen of?
MR. HAWKS-
1:00 o’clock.
QUESTION-
Can you describe his neck wound?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
I was busy with his head wound. I would like to ask the people took care of that part to describe that to you.
QUESTION-
What was the question?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
The neck wound, as visible on the patient, revealed a bullet hole almost in the mid line.
QUESTION-
What was that?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
A bullet hole almost in the mid line.
QUESTION-
Would you demonstrate?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
In the lower portion of the neck, in front.
QUESTION-
Can you demonstrate, Doctor, on your own neck?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Approximately here (indicating).
QUESTION-
Below the Adam’s apple?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Below the Adam’s apple.
QUESTION-
Doctor, is it the assumption that it went through the head?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
That would be on conjecture on my part. There are two wounds, as Dr. Clark noted, one of the neck and one of the head. Whether they are directly related or related to two bullets, I cannot say.
QUESTION-
Where was the entrance wound?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
There was an entrance wound in the neck. As regards the one on the head, I cannot say.
QUESTION-
Which way was the bullet coming on the neck wound? At him?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
It appeared to be coming at him.
QUESTION-
And the one behind?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
The nature of the wound defies the ability to describe whether it went through it from either side. I cannot tell you that. Can you, Dr. Clark?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
The head wound could have been either the exit wound from the neck or it could have been a tangential wound, as it was simply a large, gaping loss of tissue.
QUESTION-
That was the immediate cause of death — the head wound?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
I assume so, yes.
QUESTION-
There is a rumor that Lyndon Johnson had a heart attack, and I would like to check that out.
DR. KEMP CLARK-
I have no information.
MR. HAWKS-
I don’t believe these gentlemen were in attendance with the Vice President.
QUESTION-
Where was he when this was going on?
MR. HAWKS-
That is not a question you should put to this doctor.
QUESTION-
Can you tell us where he is?
MR. HAWKS-
I can’t now, but Mr. Kilduff will be available later and we will take those details then.
QUESTION-
We can’t hear you.
MR. HAWKS-
They were asking where the Vice President was, but I don’t know at the moment. That is not the proper question to put to these gentlemen. They were busy with the President at the time.
QUESTION-
Where was Mrs. Kennedy?
MR. HAWKS-
I don’t know that detail either. As you might suspect, we were all busy around here.
QUESTION-
Can’t we clear this up just a little more? In your estimation, was there one or two wounds? Just give us something.
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I don’t know. From the injury, it is conceivable that it could have been caused by one wound, but there could have been two just as well if the second bullet struck the head in addition to striking the neck, and I cannot tell you that due to the nature of the wound. There is no way for me to tell.
QUESTION-
Doctor, describe the entrance wound. You think from the front in the throat?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
The wound appeared to be an entrance wound in the front of the throat; yes, that is correct. The exit wound, I don’t know. It could have been the head or there could have been a second wound of the head. There was not time to determine this at the particular instant.
QUESTION-
Would the bullet have to travel up from the neck wound to exit through the back?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Unless it was deviated from its course by striking bone or some other object.
QUESTION-
Doctor, can you give us your ages, please?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I am 34.
QUESTION-
You are Doctor who?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Perry.
MR. HAWKS-
This is Dr. Malcom Perry, attending surgeon, and this is Dr. Kemp Clark, chief of neurosurgery at this hospital.
QUESTION-
How old are you, sir?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
38.
QUESTION-
Is that C-l-a-r-k?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Yes.
QUESTION-
Can you tell us whether the autopsy will be performed here or elsewhere?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I do not have that information.
MR. HAWKS-
I don’t know either.
QUESTION-
Will there be one?
MR. HAWKS-
I don’t know that.
QUESTION-
Where is the President’s body?
MR. HAWKS-
I couldn’t tell you.
QUESTION-
Was the President ever conscious after the bullet struck him?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
No, not while I was in attendance.
QUESTION-
How much blood was used?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I don’t know. There was considerable bleeding.
QUESTION-
How soon did you see him after he got in?
QUESTION-
Did you have to send for blood?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Blood was sent for and obtained; yes.
QUESTION-
Where?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
From our Blood Bank.
QUESTION-
Here in the hospital?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Here in the hospital.
QUESTION-
How much was used?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I don’t know.
QUESTION-
Doctor, were the last rites performed in the Emergency Room?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Yes.
QUESTION-
Yes, they were?
MR. HAWKS-
Yes, they said they were. Kilduff told you, too.
QUESTION-
Which room was this? What is the room like?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Emergency Operating Room No. 1.
QUESTION-
How far from the door is that, and which way?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Straight in from the Emergency Room entrance, at the back of the hospital, approximately 40 feet.
QUESTION-
Approximately what?
MR. HAWKS-
Forty feet from the emergency entrance.
QUESTION-
The first floor?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
The ground floor.
QUESTION-
How many doctors and nurses were in attendance at the time of death?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
There were at least eight or ten physicians at that time.
QUESTION-
At least eight or ten physicians?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
Yes.
QUESTION-
Did you think him mortally wounded at the time you first examined him, or did you think there was no possibility of saving his life at that point?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
No, I did not.
DR. KEMP CLARK-
No, sir.
QUESTION-
Did you say there were eight or ten doctors or doctors and nurses?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Eight or ten doctors.
QUESTION-
Can we get that straight, Doctor? Did you say you did not think there was any possibility of saving his life when you first looked at him?
DR KEMP CLARK-
That is what I said; yes.
QUESTION-
How long had he been in before you saw him, sir?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
This I don’t know because I was not looking at my watch.
QUESTION-
Who was the first doctor who saw him, and how long before he got there?
DR. KEMP CLARK-
Just a matter of a few seconds.
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I arrived there shortly after his admission. I can’t tell you the exact time because I went immediately and he had just been admitted and I walked in the room. I don’t know the exact time. I was in quite a hurry.
QUESTION-
Were there any members of the family or others in the room besides the doctors, in the Emergency Room?
DR. MALCOM PERRY-
I am afraid I was not aware of that. I was quite too busy to notice.
MR. HAWKS-
We will have to get those details from Mac.
QUESTION-
Do you have any new details about our plans, what you are going to do?
MR. HAWKS-
I can’t until I get a reading from you fellows. For instance, you have a new President.
QUESTION-
Do we? Was he sworn in?
MR. HAWKS-
Well, he went somewhere to get sworn in. I assume he is sworn in at this time, but I wasn’t in attendance. Obviously, you are going to have a new President. Let’s put it that way.
QUESTION-
Where is he going to be?
MR. HAWKS-
That is what I am trying to find out. Mac is with him, trying to get the details, and he will call me or come in here. We will try to find out.
DR. PERRY-
Can we go now?
THE PRESS-
Thank you, Doctors.
MR. HAWKS-
Your plans, what do you want to do?
QUESTION-
First, is there any more about Mrs. Kennedy?
MR. HAWKS-
Let’s do some "supposing" because we need some planning for your press plane.
QUESTION-
How about Mrs. Kennedy? Has she gone back to Washington, or is she going?
MR. HAWKS-
That is what Mac is trying to find out now. This takes a lot of doing.
QUESTION-
Can we stay here with the new President?
MR. HAWKS-
If you want to stay here with the new President, if he stays here. I don’t know that he is going to stay here. That is why I want to "suppose" here for a minute.
QUESTION-
Let’s put it on the basis of what the new President does. If he stays, we stay; and if he goes, we go.
MR. HAWKS-
Suppose the body goes back and the new President stays? Do some of you want to stay, or go?
QUESTION-
Stay with the new President.
MR. HAWKS-
All right, that is what I wanted to find out. You know, there are buses and planes and things like that.
QUESTION-
I know I won’t be going back in any case. Can I get my luggage back here? How do we get luggage on the press plane off of there?
MR. HAWKS-
If we decide to spend the night here, we will get the luggage here. Don’t worry about it.
QUESTION-
We have luggage in the wire car, but God knows where it is.
QUESTION-
Where will the next briefing be, here or where?
MR. HAWKS-
Right here, so far as I know. This is where Mac said he could come back to.
Link:
http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/press.htm
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