Image of Malcolm Kilduff announcing the president's death

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Image of Malcolm Kilduff announcing the president's death

Original 35mm black and white negative taken by a Dallas Times Herald photographer. This image shows White House Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff making the official announcement to reporters that President Kennedy had died. The press conference was held in a nurses' clasroom at Parkland Hospital at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 1963. The photographer in front whose face is hidden by his camera is WBAP-TV's Bob Welch; his camera made the only known sound film recording of Kilduff's statement.The images on this negative strip were taken by one of two Dallas Times Herald staff photographers at Parkland Hospital that day. There were two Dallas Times Herald photographers at Parkland who stayed for the press conference - Eamon Kennedy and John Mazziotta. One of them took these photos. Bob Jackson, who was at Parkland earlier, was not present at this press conference.

Object Details
Object title:

Image of Malcolm Kilduff announcing the president's death

Date:

11/22/1963

Medium:

Film

Dimensions:

15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (2.4 x 3.6 cm)

Credit line:

Dallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Object number:

1989.100.0016.0019

Curatorial Note:

The WBAP recording is the only known recording of this press conference, but there was a second microphone in the room, barely noticeable in this picture near Kilduff's stomach, apparently held by a radio reporter. Who is he, what station did he work for and, more importantly, what happened to his tape? - Gary Mack, Curator

Ordinarily, Press Secretary Pierre Salinger would have accompanied President Kennedy on his Texas trip. However, Salinger and several Cabinet members were traveling to Japan to attend an economic conference, so Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff accompanied the president. During his announcement, Kilduff pointed to his right temple saying, "It was a simple matter, Tom (Wicker, of The New York Times), of a bullet right through the head." He attributed his information to George Burkley, Kennedy's personal physician. That gesture, captured on film, was used years later to suggest the bullet came from the front, not behind. But in one of his visits to The Sixth Floor Museum, Kilduff told me he was merely pointing to indicate the president's head wound. He was angry that some had taken his gesture out of context. - Gary Mack, Curator

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Image of Malcolm Kilduff announcing the president's death

Original 35mm black and white negative taken by a Dallas Times Herald photographer. This image shows White House Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff making the official announcement to reporters that President Kennedy had died. The press conference was held in a nurses' clasroom at Parkland Hospital at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 1963. The photographer in front whose face is hidden by his camera is WBAP-TV's Bob Welch; his camera made the only known sound film recording of Kilduff's statement.The images on this negative strip were taken by one of two Dallas Times Herald staff photographers at Parkland Hospital that day. There were two Dallas Times Herald photographers at Parkland who stayed for the press conference - Eamon Kennedy and John Mazziotta. One of them took these photos. Bob Jackson, who was at Parkland earlier, was not present at this press conference.

Object Details
Object title:

Image of Malcolm Kilduff announcing the president's death

Date:

11/22/1963

Terms:

Press conference

Photographs

Kilduff, Malcolm

Welch, Bob

WBAP-TV

Dallas Times Herald

Parkland Hospital

Dallas

Medium:

Film

Dimensions:

15/16 x 1 7/16 in. (2.4 x 3.6 cm)

Credit line:

Dallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Object number:

1989.100.0016.0019

Curatorial Note:

The WBAP recording is the only known recording of this press conference, but there was a second microphone in the room, barely noticeable in this picture near Kilduff's stomach, apparently held by a radio reporter. Who is he, what station did he work for and, more importantly, what happened to his tape? - Gary Mack, Curator

Ordinarily, Press Secretary Pierre Salinger would have accompanied President Kennedy on his Texas trip. However, Salinger and several Cabinet members were traveling to Japan to attend an economic conference, so Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff accompanied the president. During his announcement, Kilduff pointed to his right temple saying, "It was a simple matter, Tom (Wicker, of The New York Times), of a bullet right through the head." He attributed his information to George Burkley, Kennedy's personal physician. That gesture, captured on film, was used years later to suggest the bullet came from the front, not behind. But in one of his visits to The Sixth Floor Museum, Kilduff told me he was merely pointing to indicate the president's head wound. He was angry that some had taken his gesture out of context. - Gary Mack, Curator