Transcript--Radio Traffic
November 22, 1963
Air Force-1 and
Plane Carrying US Cabinet
--
The transcript of the AF-1 audio tapes obtained from the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library
---
CODE NAMES USED
Code names that appear in upper case only come from the official transcript obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Code names that appear in both upper and lower case have been added to the official list of code names, based on information gleaned from the audio tapes.
Begin Transcript Tape One--Side One
The following recording has been reproduced from ground recorded non-high fidelity tapes used to record record-type communications between aircraft and air ground facilities. This tape, although mainly to record radio traffic from the Presidential aircraft, also includes related traffic from jet aircraft 86972 carrying Secretary of State Rusk, then Press Secretary Salinger and other dignitaries enroute between Honolulu and Japan. The following information relative to Presidential aircraft radio call signs is given for clarification due to interchangeable use. "Air Force One" and "Angel" are used when the President is aboard the aircraft. "Air Force 2600" is used at all other times. This tape has been edited and condensed to only to contain pertinent communications relative to events during the 22nd of November, 1963. Only material available from radio circuits used is available.
ANDREWSCOMMAND POST: 972 Andrews, Roger. You are readable at this time sir. Also, be advised 2600 coming up on this frequency shortly. Request you contact Andrews on 15, sir.
SAM 86972:OK, 15, and I'll just keep the time off for no relay. We off Honolulu at 1703. Estimated approximate wait at 2140 [3 unintelligible syllables].
ANDREWSCOMMAND POST: 972 Roger, copy, thank you much for the copy.
---
AF-1:Command Post, AF-1. Off time 1725 [garble]
ANDREWSCOMMAND POST: AF-1, understand. Aborne 1725z. Do you have an ETA? Over.
AF-1:I estimate twenty minutes enroute. I'll give you a firm time in a couple of minutes.
ANDREWSCOMMAND POST: Roger, AF-1. Command Post listening out.
AF-1:I'll pick up the 1700z weather if that's operating.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: I have it now for you. Stand by One. Air Force One. I have Weather Officer on line if you're ready to copy.
AF-1:Go ahead.
WEATHER:1700z weather: 6,000 broken. Fifteen miles plus visibility. Temperature 57. Ramp temperature 62. Wind south west at 10. Altimeter steady 29.07. Just talked to Ramp and they indicate it is clearing rather rapidly there.
AF-1:Roger, copy, roger. Thank you.
WEATHER:Weather out.
---
AF-1:Andrews, AF-1 -- the Command Post, please.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, Roger, stand by.
COMMAND POST: Command Post, Sgt. Shillberger [phonetic].
ANDREWS:This is Airman Gilmore at Andrews [two garbled syllables]. I have AF-1 for a patch.
COMMAND POST: Stand by, please.
ANDREWS:AF-1, Andrews. Air Force Command Post on line. Go ahead, sir.
AF-1:Roger, Command Post, AF-1 our estimated time on the blocks, Dallas, 1740 -- 1740.
COMMAND POST: Roger, understand. 1740 on the blocks. Command Post listening out.
AF-1:Roger.
---
AF-1:This is AF-1, Andrews.
ANDREWS:Roger.
AF-1:Command Post, please.
ANDREWS:Roger, stand by, one, sir.
COMMAND POST: Command Post.
ANDREWS:I have AF-1 for a patch.
COMMAND POST: Bring him up.
ANDREWS:Stand by, please. [to AF-1] AF-1, Andrews, Command Post on line, give him a call, sir.
AF-1:Roger, Command Post, AF-1, landed 1738. Go ahead.
COMMAND POST: AF-1, understand. On the ground, 1738z. Command Post listening out.
AF-1:AF-1.
---
?:Liberty? [pause] Liberty?!
SIT. ROOM:This is White House, Situation Room, [two garbled syllables] SAM 86972. How read? Over.
SAM 86972:[garbled transmission, contains the words "my signal, Andy"]
?:SAM 86972, do you read? Over.
SAM 86972:[pause] White House?
CROWN:White House, on. [then, possibly in background, "OK."] Stand by.
SAM 86972:White House, this is SAM 86972, how read? Over.
CROWN:86972 I read you loud and clear, loud and clear.
SAM 86972:Roger, stand by one, please. We have another phone patch going on with [two garbled syllables] but we do have traffic for you, so hold on one moment, please.
CROWN:Roger, Roger, 86972.
SALINGER:[pause] White House Situation Room, this is Wayside. Do you read me? Over.
CROWN:This is White House, this is White House. I read you loud and clear, Wayside.
SALINGER:Can you give me latest information on President? Over.
CROWN:Do you want Situation Room, is that it, Roger?
SALINGER:Repeat that transmission, please.
CROWN:This is Crown -- This is Crown. Do you want Situation Room?
SALINGER:I want the Situation Room, that's affirmative.
CROWN:Roger, Roger. Getting them now. Standby please. [long pause] Wayside, Wayside, this is Crown. Situation Room is on. Go ahead.
SALINGER:Situation Room, this is Wayside. Do you read me? Over.
SIT. ROOM:This is Situation Room, I read you, go ahead.
SALINGER:Give me all available information on President. Over.
SIT. ROOM:All available information on President follows: "President John F. Kennedy and Governor Connally of Texas have been hit in the car in which they were riding. We do not know how serious the situation is." We have no information. Mr. Bromley Smith is back here in the Situation Room now. We are getting our information over the tickers. Over.
SALINGER:That is affirmative -- affirmative. Please listen hard -- this plane on which Secretary of State Rusk, other Cabinet Ministers headed for Japan is turning around and returning to Honolulu -- Will arrive there in approximately 2 hours. Over.
SIT. ROOM:This is Wayside, understand. [I think the person speaking in the Situation Room is flustered, and was meaning to say "This is Situation Room." This is not Wayside's voice, and sounds like the operator from the Situation Room.] Those departing Honolulu are turning around will be back there in 2 hours. Is that correct? Over.
SALINGER:That is affirmative -- affirmative. Will read all information and decide whether some of party should go directly to Dallas. Over.
SIT. ROOM:This is Situation Room. Say again, your last please.
SALINGER:We'll need to be kept advised so we can determine whether some members of this party should go directly to Dallas. Over.
SIT. ROOM:Roger. You wish information as to whether some members of that party should go to Dallas.
SALINGER:That's affirmative. Affirmative.
SIT. ROOM:Do you have anything else, Wayside?
SALINGER:No, any other information, please get ahold of us as fastly as possible.
SIT. ROOM:Alright. The AP is coming out now with a bulletin to the effect that they believe the President was hit in the head. That just came in. Over.
SALINGER:Hit in the head? Over.
SIT. ROOM:Roger, we will pass on any additional information we get from here to you.
SALINGER:That's Roger. We will be standing by for your call.
SIT. ROOM:Alright. Where are you, Wayside?
OPERATOR:Wayside is off the line, this is the radio operator, sir, and we are returning to Honolulu and should be back to Honolulu in about two hours. We'll be in the air for about two hours into Honolulu. And you contact us on the ground [remainder of the operator's remarks are unintelligible].
SIT. ROOM:I understand. This is-- Hold on the line there Wayside, we have more information coming up. [This is definitely the Situation Room. The speaker is obviously flustered due to the circumstances.] [pause] Wayside, Wayside. This is the Situation Room. I read from the AP bulletin--"Kennedy apparently shot in head. He fell face down in back seat of his car. Blood was on his head. Mrs. Kennedy cried, "oh no," and tried to hold up his head. Connally remained half-seated, slumped to the left. There was blood on his face and forehead. The President and the Governor were rushed to Parkland Hospital near the Dallas Trade Mart where Kennedy was to have made a speech." Over.
SALINGER:I read that. Over.
SIT. ROOM:This is Situation Room. I have nothing further for you now. I will contact if we get more.
SALINGER:Wayside, Roger and out.
---
AF-1:2600, Andrews, I'll be right up.
ANDREWS:OK, thank you.
AF-1:You're welcome.
ANDREWS:I want to keep this frequency open.
AF-1:Roger, sir. The frequency has been cleared.
ANDREWS:2600, [six garbled syllables].
AF-1:Roger.
---
ANDREWS:86972, Andrews. [Four garbled syllables]. I have a party who would like to speak to you. Stand by, one.
SAM 86972:Stand by.
ANDREWS:Yes, sir.
MURRAY JACKSON: Hello?
ANDREWS:I have 972. What is your name again, sir?
MURRAY JACKSON: Jackson, Mr. Jackson -- yes.
ANDREWS:OK, hold on one -- [to SAM 86972] 86972, 86972, Andrews. I have a Mr. Jackson -- a Mr. Jackson on, would you give him a call, sir, please?
SAM 86972:Mr. Jackson, this is SAM 86972. How read? Over.
MURRAY JACKSON: I read very well, '72. I'd like to talk to Colonel [name garbled]. Colonel [name garbled], please.
SAM 86972:[garbled] coming out right now. Hold on please.
MURRAY JACKSON: OK.
SAM 86972:Roger, this is Colonel [garbled name].
MURRAY JACKSON: Colonel [garbled name], this is Murray Jackson. The President of the United States has been shot and seriously wounded in Dallas, Texas. (Repeating) The President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, has been shot and seriously wounded in Dallas, Texas. Governor Connally was also shot at the same time. Would you please get this message to Secretary of State Rusk and I will standby. Over.
SAM 86972:Roger. We have already received that news. We have UPI on. We have turned around. We are returning to Hawaii. We are estimating Hawaii in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Will be on the ground in Hawaii in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Will be returning to Washington or Dallas, Texas. This is a decision we have to make yet. We have one other aircraft alerted to take some of the party to Dallas and we will be returning to Washington. Over.
MURRAY JACKSON: Thank you very much, Colonel [garbled name]. I will relay this to Mr. Ball right away. Over and out.
SAM 86972:The Secretary has talked to his office in Washington, I believe, and also Pierre Salinger has been in contact with the White House from the aircraft. Over.
MURRAY JACKSON: OK. Thank you very much. Over and out.
SAM 86972:Fine.
---
[Note that this transmission has some overlap with the one above between SAM 86972 and Murray Jackson.]
ANDREWS:[transmission garbled]
AF-1:2600, Andrews. Go ahead, sir.
ANDREWS:Loud and clear. A signal check, please.
AF-1:2600, Andrews. You're loud and clear here also, sir. Standing by this frequency.
ANDREWS:Roger, thank you.
COMMAND POST: Andrews [two garbled syllables], Airman Gilmore.
CROWN:Roger. Are you in contact with the party coming back from Tokyo? Go ahead.
ANDREWS:Yes, sir. We talk to Liberty [SAM 86972]. We [two garbled syllables] that aircraft.
CROWN:Could you connect me with Wayside?
ANDREWS:Stand by one, sir. [pause] Hello, sir?
CROWN:Yes, sir?
ANDREWS:There is a Mr. Jackson running a patch on the aircraft at this time. Would you like to listen in or would you like me to break the patch, sir?
CROWN:Can I wait, sir, please.
ANDREWS:Yes, sir. Standby. You are number two.
CROWN:Thank you.
ANDREWS:[after pause] 972, 86972, Andrews.
ANDREWS:Roger. Stand by, I have another one. [to Crown] Who is this, sir?
CROWN:This is the White House.
ANDREWS:Stand by, Crown. [pause] 86972, 86972, Andrews. I have Crown on. Would you give him a call, sir?
SAM 86972:This is 972, go ahead.
CROWN:Roger. This is Crown. We wish a contact with Wayside. Go ahead.
SAM 86972:Roger. Stand by for Wayside. [pause] Crown [three garbled syllables]
CROWN:Roger, go ahead.
SALINGER:Crown, this is Wayside. Go ahead.
ANDREWS:Roger. Stand by. [pause] Go ahead, please.
CROWN:Wayside, Wayside, this is Stranger. Do you read me? Over.
SALINGER:Stranger, this is Wayside. Go ahead.
STRANGER:Kilduff asked that all Cabinet members return to Washington immediately. Over.
SALINGER:Stranger, we have turned around and are headed for Honolulu. Where we have [garbled] Washington. Over.
STRANGER:Roger, Roger. Will they notify us at time of arrival and location? Over.
SALINGER:That's correct, sir. Have one question, Stranger. [garbled--official transcript implies the garbled words might be: "Should we make plans to go"] ...go to Dallas? Over.
STRANGER:Roger, Roger. We do not have any firm word from down there as to the exact status. But, I -- Pardon me, Wayside, but the Situation Room has to have you. Go ahead.
SALINGER:I read. Go ahead.
STRANGER:Wayside, this is Stranger. I'll get you that information as to Secretary when you arrive. Over.
SALINGER:Affirmative.
STRANGER:Wayside, stand by Situation Room.
SALINGER:Yeah.
STRANGER:[short pause] Go ahead, Wayside.
SALINGER:Situation Room, go ahead, this is Wayside.
SIT. ROOM:Alright, Wayside, I'll read you latest bulletin. "President Kennedy has been given blood transfusions today at Parkland Hospital in a effort to save his life after he and Governor John Connally of Texas were shot in an assassination attempt." Over the TV we have the information that the Governor has been moved to the operating room. The President is still in the emergency room at Parkland Hospital. Do you read me so far? Over.
SALINGER:I read you loud and clear, Situation.
SIT. ROOM:Wayside, this is Situation Room. Are you getting the press coverage or do you want us to continue to relay it to you? Over.
SALINGER:[long garbled response, the official transcript reads "Continue to relay."] Over.
SIT. ROOM:This is Situation Room, Roger. New subject: We will have information for you on whether to proceed to Dallas by the time you land at Honolulu. Over.
SALINGER:Affirmative, affirmative. Also tell us whether Secretary of State -- Secretary of State -- should also go to Dallas. Over.
SIT. ROOM:This is Situation Room. Will do. Get determination whether Secretary should also go to Dallas.
SALINGER:This is Wayside -- out.
SIT. ROOM:This is Situation Room -- out.
---
ANDREWS: [several garbled words] I'd like to talk to Wayside.
SAM 96972:Party is on line now, 972. Stand by. [pause] 86972, 86972, Andrews.
ANDREWS: 86972, Andrews. I have a party that would like to talk to Wayside. Would you give him a call, please?
SAM 86972:Roger. I'll get Wayside up front here. [pause] Wayside is coming out right now, sir.
SIT. ROOM:Alright, fine. There's no rush. I just talked to you here, this is the Situation Room. We'll -- eh -- stand by 'til Wayside gets out there. We're looking for confirmation of something here.
SALINGER:This is Wayside, Wayside. Here, now I'm on.
SIT. ROOM:Alright, Wayside. Just stand by for a moment please. We're getting some confirmation of something here. Please stay on the line. Over.
SALINGER:I'm on the line. I'm on the line. Standing by. Over.
SIT. ROOM:This is Situation Room. Please stay on the line, standing by.
SALINGER:Standing by. How do you read me? Over.
SIT. ROOM:I read you loud and clear. Nothings here now for you yet. [pause] Wayside, this is Situation Room. We have some conflicting reports now so were getting no confirmation. We will call you again. I have relayed your intentions and your present position to the front office. Your office has the word. We will call you again when we get confirmation. Over.
SALINGER:This is Wayside. Out.
---
ANDREWS: [garbled] check.
AF-1:2600s reading loud and clear, sir. Loud and clear.
SAM 86972:2600, Liberty, loud and clear. Will you try and notify if you close down. Go ahead.
AF-1:Roger, will do.
SAM 86972:Roger, Liberty.
---
[Note: There is some overlap on this traffic with the last traffic from Murray Jackson.] ANDREWS COMMAND POST: [garbled] Sgt. Gilmore.
MURRAY JACKSON: Gilmore, this is Murray Jackson again at State. Can you get me '72 again?
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Can you say again, sir, you're very, very weak.
MURRAY JACKSON: This is Murray Jackson at the State Department.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes sir!
MURRAY JACKSON: I talked to '72 a little while ago. Could you get me '72 on single [two garbled syllables] again?
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Mr. Jackson, be advised that '72 is in a patch with the Situation Room at the present time, sir. If you wish to stand by --
MURRAY JACKSON: Oh, that's alright -- they're talking to them now.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes sir. They're in a patch at the present time.
MURRAY JACKSON: Alright. Very good. Can you listen in on this?
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Not from this console, sir, no sir.
MURRAY JACKSON: I see. Well, what we want to tell the plane is that Under Secretary Ball requests that the Secretary and all the passengers return to directly Washington instead of going to Dallas.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes, sir. I believe they received that message, sir.
MURRAY JACKSON: Very good. Thank you.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Thank you very much, sir.
MURRAY JACKSON: Bye. [short pause] Oh! Hello!
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes, sir?
MURRAY JACKSON: One other thing -- the Secretary was supposed to call Mr. Ball when he gets on the ground in Honolulu.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: OK, sir. We'll relay that as soon as possible.
MURRAY JACKSON: Thank you very much.
---
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Andrews [two garbled syllables] Airman Gilmore.
MURRAY JACKSON: Airman Gilmore, this is Murray Jackson down at the State Department.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Yes, sir!
MURRAY JACKSON: The message I just gave you about Mr. Ball wanting the Secretary and all the passengers of the plane to return directly to Washington has now been confirmed by McGeorge Bundy, who has called and asked -- and also said that he thinks the plane and all its passengers should return immediately to Washington rather than Dallas.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Stand by, Lancer. [although it appears that Jackson is being referred to as Lancer, Lancer was the code name for President Kennedy]
MURRAY JACKSON: Roger.
---
[garbled exchange]
---
ANDREWS: 86972, 86972, Andrews.
SAM 86972:Roger [garbled].
ANDREWS:Roger, [2 garbled syllables]. I have a Mr. Jackson -- a Mr. Jackson on the line. Would you give him a call, sir?
SAM 86972:Mr. Jackson, '972, go ahead.
MURRAY JACKSON: '72, I read you well. I have a message from Under-Secretary Ball and from McGeorge Bundy at the White House. They requested that the Secretary of State and all passengers aboard the aircraft return to Washington, immediately. Over.
SAM 86972:Roger. The message is from Under Secretary Ball and Mr. Bundy who've apprised that the Secretary of State and all passengers return to Washington, immediately. Over.
MURRAY JACKSON: That is correct. Over and out.
SAM 86972:OK. Thank you, sir.
---
ANDREWS:Go ahead, please. The party is on.
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: I think they have another patch -- do you wish to break it? [garbled] Command Post.
SIT. ROOM:Em -- yeah, break it.
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: Yes, sir! [short pause] 86972, 86972, Andrews.
SAM 86972:972, go ahead.
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: Eh -- Roger, sir. I have Crown on, would you give them a call, sir?
SAM 86972: Crown, 972, go ahead.
SIT. ROOM:Eh -- this is Situation Room. Relay following to Wayside: "We have report quoting Mr. Kilduff in Dallas that the President is dead, that he died about 35 minutes ago." Do you have that? Over.
SAM 86972:The President is dead? Is that correct?
SIT. ROOM:That is correct. That is correct. New subject: Front office desires plane return Washington, with no stop Dallas. Over.
SAM 86972: Copied. Wayside copied all OK and we return direct to Washington with no stopping in Dallas. Roger. Over.
SIT. ROOM: This is Situation Room, out.
---
SAM 86972:Ah, Andrews, give me the Situation Room, please.
ANDREWS:972, Andrews, stand by one sec'.
CROWN:Crown on.
ANDREWS:Situation Room, please.
CROWN:Thank you.
SIT. ROOM:Yeah.
ANDREWS:Is this the Situation Room?
SIT. ROOM:Yes.
ANDREWS:This is Airman [garbled] I have 972 for another patch, sir.
SIT. ROOM:[to the side] 972, again. [pause] This is Situation Room.
ANDREWS:Stand by, sir.
SAM 86972:[garbled] 972, I read.
SIT. ROOM:This is Situation Room -- over.
SAM 86972:Situation Room, this is 972. Wayside would like to know the whereabouts of the Vice President. Over.
SIT. ROOM:Yes. [to the side] I think he wants to know where the Vice-President is in Dallas. [pause] Alright. [listening to instructions from within the room] [pause] Eh, for Wayside, from Situation Room; The Vice President is in the hospital building -- Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He is not injured. Repeat, not injured. Over.
SAM 86972:Copy. Copy. I'll call you back, man.
SIT. ROOM:Right.
---
AF-1:Andrews, this is 2600, ready to take off.
ANDREWS:2600, Roger, we're standing by.
SAM 86972:Liberty, standing by. [pause] Andrews, 972, SAM Command Room.
ANDREWS:Roger. Stand by for SAM Command.
SAM COMMAND: [pause] SAM Command Post, [garbled name].
ANDREWS:I have 972 for a patch.
SAM COMMAND: Roger, go ahead.
ANDREWS:86972, Andrews, SAM Commands on, go ahead, sir.
SAM 86972:SAM Command, 972, I'm, out here and we are returning direct to Washington. Our latest instruction were direct Washington from Hickham. Hickham is working up our flight plan and ground time, we'll give you ETA for Washington.
SAM COMMAND: Roger, Roger, '72. Can you give me your present ETA for Hickham?
SAM 86972:In about -- eh -- 45 minutes was the last one that I heard. Should be 2030z. I'll give you a more accurate one if you give me five minutes. [pause] Better -- Time 2030z -- over. SAM COMMAND: Roger, Roger and as far as you know right now, you're coming direct to Washington. Is that "affirm?"
SAM 86972:That is very true.
SAM COMMAND: Roger, '72, give us any changes that you have, sir.
SAM 86972:OK. Will do.
SAM COMMAND: [garble]
---
ANDREWS:2600 [skip in track of recording], sir.
AF-1:2600, you are loud and clear. Standing by.
ANDREWS:Andrews, 2600.
AF-1:Loud and clear, sir.
ANDREWS:Roger, and you are loud and clear. [pause] 2600, you copy my teletype?
AF-1:2600 did not [garble].
ANDREWS: OK, I guess he's too busy down there.
AF-1:Alright, sir.
ANDREWS:You might check and make sure you're getting it though.
AF-1:Roger. Stand by. [pause] 2600, Andrews, coming up.
ANDREWS:2600, check please?
AF-1:2600, Andrews, loud and clear. [pause] 2600, Andrews, loud and clear.
ANDREWS:Alright, sir. We'll be moving out pretty shortly.
AF-1:Roger, sir. We are standing by.
---
SAM 86972:[garble] 972.
ANDREWS:972, Andy. Go ahead, sir.
SAM 86972:OK. We're coming up here pretty close to -- eh -- Honolulu. We're landing. I don't know whether we'll be able to or not, but I'm going to try to keep this equipment up here on the ground or not. But I'm not certain I'll be able to do it. I understand 13 is pretty good out to Honolulu. Is that correct?
ANDREWS:This is Andrews. That's "affirm." [garbled] is getting read to take off. He's on 13. If you stand by one, I'll confer with Liberty and see what frequencies, in case you do drop out. What frequencies we have standing up on waiting for your call.
SAM 86972:OK. Do that, then and get them all set up 'cause I may not be able to keep it up down there on the ground.
ANDREWS:I understand [garble]. OK, Liberty.
SAM 86972:[garble]
ANDREWS:Yeah, we got 13 and 15 up right now, besides this one to you. I don't know if 13 is going to be all tied up or not. And what frequencies you can set up in case he has to drop out on ya. You'll have to know what frequencies we're listening on.
End Transcript Tape One -- Side One
Begin Transcript Tape One -- Side Two
SAM 86972: What frequencies do you think you could have set up in case we have to ground out on you -- you'll know what frequencies we're listening on.
ANDREWS: I'll be on 1815 and 13. And we can hold them on 18 for a while because we got [3 garbled syllables] up there.
SAM 86972: Right. You got another one? A little bit lower one, maybe?
ANDREWS: Oh, we'll drop down from 18 to 15 to 13.
SAM 86972: How 'bout triple one?
ANDREWS: We can do that also.
SAM 86972: Triple one lower?
ANDREWS: Ah -- all upper.
SAM 86972: OK. I'll be on 18, 13, 15 and triple one also. All uppers, right?
ANDREWS: Right.
SAM 86972: Except for this one, we're on lower.
ANDREWS: Go ahead.
SAM 86972: OK. 86972, Andrews.
ANDREWS: [three garbled syllables].
SAM 86972: Roger, Andrews is gonna be standing by -- and Liberty -- on triple one, upper; triple 176, upper; 15011, upper; 15011, upper; and this frequency -- 18027, lower, sir.
?: OK, very good. Now keep in touch.
SAM 86972: Roger.
---
SAM 86972: 972, Andy, go ahead, sir.
ANDREWS: OK [five garbled syllables] and Air Force Command Post. [three garbles syllables] 137. Position 1399, arriving Honolulu [four garbled syllables] 2026z. ETD 2115z. Go ahead, sir. Over.
SAM 86972: 86972, Andy. Roger. Copied down and standing by, sir.
ANDREWS: OK. I won't be on this frequency, but I'll advise you when I'm leaving.
SAM 86972: Roger, sir.
---
AF-1: 2600.
ANDREWS: 2600, Andrews, loud and clear.
AF-1: Roger, give me Crown, please.
ANDREWS: Right, stand by.
CROWN: This is Crown.
ANDREWS: I've got 2600 for a patch.
CROWN: Roger.
ANDREWS: 2600, Andrews, Crown on, go ahead.
AF-1: Roger, Crown. 2600 would you get a patch with Jerry Behn, please?
CROWN: Roger, stand by. [pause] 2600, Duplex is on, go ahead.
AF-1: 'Kay. Stand by one. [pause -- from some unknown point, a voice says "OK" as no one responds, this could be background or cross talk.]
BEHN: Hello?
KELLERMAN: Jerry?
BEHN: Hello?
KELLERMAN: [garble] We're at the airport. [garble] 26,000.
BEHN: OK, go ahead.
KELLERMAN: We're waiting for the swearing-in at the plane before takeoff.
BEHN: Of the-- That's of Volunteer?
KELLERMAN: Roger.
BEHN: Say again, Roy, say again.
KELLERMAN: We're waiting for Judge to appear for swearing-in.
BEHN: That is for Volunteer, is that right?
KELLERMAN: Yes, we're having it done before we take-off, Jerry.
BEHN: Do you have any idea what Lace wants to do and Volunteer wants to do on their arrival here?
KELLERMAN: No, I will call you back. Suggest we have a 2 hour 15 minute flight into Andrews. We have a full plane, at least 40.
BEHN: OK, go ahead.
KELLERMAN: I'll have to call you again as to the [two garbled syllables]. Get a couple of men, rather the Volunteer boys to go over his car and so forth. We'll also need hers and several others.
BEHN: Let me know what Volunteer wants to do when they land--if they want to come in to Crown by helicopter?
KELLERMAN: Roger, I'll call you again.
BEHN: OK.
---
[Note: This next section begins with a lot of cross talk, I have begun where there recording clears]
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Would you repeat your estimated time of departure from Dallas? Over.
AF-1: Roger. It could be within the next ten minutes. Go ahead.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger. Would you give us a call when you're airborne and can you give us any additional information?
AF-1: Not at this time.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, thank you.
AF-1: Roger. Will call on take off.
--- [Note: This next call again starts with heavy static and cross talk. It can be determined that AF-1 is being patched through to the Air Force Command Post. I am starting from where the interference clears up.]
AF-1: Command Post, AF-1. How do you read?
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Loud and clear, go ahead sir.
AF-1: Left Dallas 2047z and [a long garbled section], Andrews.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: You have your block time down, sir?
AF-1: [the response is totally unintelligible, however, the official transcript says the reply was "Estimated time on the block Andrews 2305z."]
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: [garble] Do you have any passengers aboard?
AF-1: Roger. Full load, 40 plus.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: And...is...Mrs. Kennedy aboard?
AF-1: Affirmative.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Pardon?
AF-1: I'll call you back, Command Post.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Alright, sir.
---
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. I have SAM Command Post standing by, sir.
AF-1: Command Post, Air Force-1, go ahead.
ANDREWS: Stand by, one, sir.
?: [unintelligible sentence]
SAM COMMAND POST: Air Force, SAM Command Post.
AF-1: Go ahead.
SAM COMMAND POST: Roger, Roger [garble]
OPERATIONS: This is [garbled name] in Operations. We have request from the Chief of Staff's office to know if you have Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kennedy's body aboard?
AF-1: Stand by, one. [pause] OK. AF-1, affirmative on all of those questions. Over.
OPERATIONS: Roger, thank you very much. Out.
AF-1: AF-1, a signal check.
ANDREWS: AF-1, I read you loud and clear, sir.
?: [something edited from this point?]
ANDREWS: Loud and clear, Liberty.
?: [again, something seems to have been edited out.]
ANDREWS: AF-1, I have SAM Command Post standing by, sir.
AF-1: Alright, go ahead.
SAM COMMAND POST: 2600, 2600. SAM Command Post.
AF-1: SAM Command, AF-1. Go ahead, please.
SAM COMMAND POST: Roger, Roger, AF-1. Are you airborne at present? [repeating] Are you airborne at present?
AF-1: Affirmative. Airborne at 2047. 2047. Estimated time on the block Andrews 2305. Go ahead.
SAM COMMAND POST: Roger, Roger, understand. Departed at 2047. Estimated time of arrival at Andrews 2305, is that Charlie?
AF-1: That's Charlie.
SAM COMMAND POST: Roger, Roger. AF-1. SAM Command Post, clear.
---
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, go ahead.
ANDREWS: I have AF-1 standing by. Stand by, please. [pause] AF-1, Andrews. Go ahead, make your call, please.
AF-1: Command Post, AF-1.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Go ahead, AF-1. This is Command Post.
AF-1: OK. Departed 2047 and estimate block time Andrews 2305 and we're climbing out at slight over 290. Go ahead.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, understand. You stand by one, please.
AF-1: [two garbled syllables], go ahead.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: AF-1, this is the Air Force Command Post. If possible, request the names of the passengers on board, please.
AF-1: We have forty plus.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Forty people! Is that affirmative?
AF-1: Affirmative.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Can you tell me in regard to 1 and 2...the top people?
AF-1: Roger. The President is on board. The body is on board, and Mrs. Kennedy is on board.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Alright. Can you tell--affirm once again your take off time and your estimated time of arrival, Andrews?
AF-1: 2047 take off time. Andrews 2305.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger. Thank you. This is the Air Force Command Post, out.
---
BURKLEY: AF-1, get me Crown, please.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Roger. Stand by, sir. [pause]
BURKLEY: Crown?
ANDREWS: This is Airman [two syllable name garbled], stand by, please. [pause] AF-1, Andrews. Give them a call, please. [pause] AF-1, Andrews. Give them a call, please.
BURKLEY: Alright. [pause]
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Give Crown a call, please.
BURKLEY: Crown, AF-1.
CROWN: This is Crown. Go ahead.
BURKLEY: Need a patch with Surgeon General-Army, Heaton. Go ahead.
CROWN: Please repeat the message. Over.
BURKLEY: Andrews, we want a patch, want a patch with General Heaton, that's [spelling] H-E-A-T-O-N, he's the Surgeon General. Go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. That's General Heaton, the Surgeon General of the Army, over.
BURKLEY: That is correct.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Stand by. AF-1, Crown, stand by please, we a reaching the General now, over.
BURKLEY: Standing by.
COMMAND POST: Command Post, weather for 2600, please.
ANDREWS; OK, sir, first one. Stand by.
COMMAND POST: Roger.
ANDREWS: We are running a patch right now.
?: AF-1, AF-1, Andrews on 15. I'll copy, sir.
?: Yes, sir.
ANDREWS: You'll have to hold on one, sir. They're running a long patch with the White House right now, sir.
COMMAND POST: Rog, I'll hold.
ANDREWS: OK, sir.
---
[Note: Next follows a long garbled discussion of which radio frequencies are being used. This was not transcribed.]
---
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Can you patch me with AF-1, please?
ANDREWS: Who is this, please?
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: [two garbled syllables] Airman [one syllable garbled]
ANDREWS: Stand by, you'll be number three.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: OK. Alright.
---
ANDREWS: Right, sir, we'll call you back to Command Post.
COMMAND POST: Alright, fine.
ANDREWS: 'Cause this is taking quite a while. No sense you holding on the line, here.
COMMAND POST: OK.
ANDREWS: OK, sir. We'll be right back to you as soon as they get off.
COMMAND POST: Alright.
ANDREWS: Alright, sir.
COMMAND POST: Got a forecast for them.
ANDREWS: Say again?
COMMAND POST: I've got a landing forecast.
ANDREWS: OK, sir.
--- CROWN: AF-1, Crown. [pause] Hello?
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, give Crown a call, please.
CROWN: AF-1, this is Crown. Do you read? Over.
AF-1: Roger, Roger, Crown, AF-1. [pause] Hello?
CROWN: [pause] AF-1, this is Crown. You were cut out. General Heaton's at Walter Reed Hospital -- you'll have to stand by just a moment or else let me call you back when I get them on the line. It'll take about a minute to reach them. [pause] AF-1, Crown, do you Roger? Over.
AF-1: Crown, Roger. Try General Heaton and in the meantime try and get the Deputy Surgeon General. We will talk to either one. Go ahead.
CROWN: This is Crown, Roger. Will you stand by or do we call you back? Over.
AF-1: Roger, this is very important.
CROWN: Roger, I'll put an emergency on it. We'll get him as soon as possible.
AF-1: Stand by.
CROWN: Roger. Roger.
---
AF-1: AF-1, Andrews [two garbled syllables] standing by.
ANDREWS: Roger.
AF-1: [garble] you a call. I have another patch.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Roger.
AF-1: AF-1, go ahead.
CROWN: AF-1, Crown.
AF-1: Roger, stand by for a message.
BURKLEY: [after a short pause Dr. Burkley come on and is totally unintelligible. He may not have had key totally depressed]
CROWN: Dr. Burkley, this is Crown. You're cutting out. You're cutting out. You'll have to repeat, over.
BURKLEY: This is Dr. Burkley. I need to get in touch with General Heaton or General Heaton's Deputy.
CROWN: Dr. Burkley, this is Crown. We're working as fast as possible trying to get the call through for you. He's at Walter Reed. We're unable to locate. We're still searching, over.
BURKLEY: The General's Deputy might be over at the General's office over in the main Navy Building.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. If you'll stand by we'll try and reach him. [pause] [two garbled syllables--Burkley's code name, maybe] this is Crown, do you Roger? We'll try to reach each one of them if you stand by, please.
BURKLEY: Alright, Roger.
---
AF-1: This is AF-1 on 15.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Loud and clear sounding.
AF-1: OK, you gonna have another line into Crown?
ANDREWS: This is Andrews, Roger.
AF-1: OK, go ahead.
ANDREWS: Roger, stand by one.
?: [garble]
ANDREWS: Hi. Can you get me White House switchboard, please.
?: 10-4.
SIGNAL CORPS: Signal.
ANDREWS: Right, [three garbled syllables] still on?
?: Ground, I have AF-1 for a patch.
SIGNAL CORPS: Roger, Roger.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, Crown is on, go ahead, sir.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown, come in.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, Crown is on, go ahead, sir.
AF-1: I want a call into Duples, please.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Locate him.
---
End Transcript Tape One -- Side Two
Begin Transcript Tape Two -- Side One
---
AF-1: Duplex, please.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Duplex is on the line. Go ahead.
KELLERMAN: [two garbled syllables, Kellerman's code name, maybe?] to Duplex. Jerry?
BEHN: Go ahead. Go ahead. This is Duplex.
KELLERMAN: Jerry, arriving Andrews 1605 -- 6:05, rather.
BEHN: That's affirmative. Have received. [there is a break in the recording at this point, indicating a probable edit in the recording] This is Duplex, this is Duplex.
KELLERMAN: Arrival Andrews, 6:05, stand by. [pause] An ambulance from Walter Reed furnished to transport body. Over.
BEHN: Arrangements have been made for a helicopter for the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. Over.
KELLERMAN: Stand by, Jerry. I'll have to get Burkley here.
BEHN: OK.
?: AF-1 [three garbled syllables], go ahead.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Duplex is on. Duplex is on, sir.
BURKLEY: Duplex is on. This is Doctor Burkley. What arrangements have been made in regard to the reception of the President? Over.
BEHN: Everybody aboard AF-1, everyone aboard AF-1 with the exception of the body, will be choppered to the south grounds. The body will be choppered to the Naval Medical Center at Bethesda. Over.
BURKLEY: The body will be choppered or will go by ambulance to the Naval Medical Center?
BEHN: Will be choppered -- will be choppered.
BURKLEY: I have called General Heaton and asked him to call me -- the District of Washington -- with regard to this. Would you call him and cancel the inference to go to Walter Reed? Haven't spoken to him. I didn't know these arrangements were already made.
BEHN: Say again. Say again, Doctor.
BURKLEY: His body is in a casket, you know, and will have to taken by ambulance and not by chopper.
BEHN: Alright, I'll tell Captain Shephard that. Did you say that--
BURKLEY: Jerry, will you be sure and get in contact with General Heaton?
---
BURKLEY: General Heaton, this is Admiral Burkley.
HEATON: Yes, Burkley.
BURKLEY: AF-1.
HEATON: Yes. [pause] I read you Admiral Burkley. [pause]
BURKLEY: Hold for a minute, please. General Clifton's here. [long pause]
CLIFTON: Eh--This is General Clifton.
BURKLEY: Yes, General Clifton.
[The tape has been edited at this point.]
CLIFTON: Two. We do not want a helicopter for Bethesda Medical Center we do want an ambulance and a ground return from Andrews to Walter Reed, and we want the regular post-mortem that has to be done by law under guard performed at Walter Reed. Is that clear? Over.
HEATON: That is clear, General Clifton. You want an ambulance and another limousine at Andrews and you want the regular post-mortem by law done at Walter Reed.
CLIFTON: That is correct. Hold on for a minute. Over.
BURKLEY: General, I'll hold on. [pause]
AF-1: AF-1.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, go ahead, sir.
AF-1: OK, I think a patch was cut on 13.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Still in progress. You give the ground party a call sir.
BURKLEY: Jerry? [NOTE: Neither General Clifton or General Heaton are named Jerry. The official transcript of this call has a note inserted at this point by the typist that says that Burkley may have thought he was speaking to Behn. Behn's first name is Jerry.]
CLIFTON or HEATON: Jerry who?
BURKLEY: What arrangements have you made?
HEATON: We have made no arrangements so far, but I will follow through on what you just told me--have an ambulance and a limousine at Andrews and arrangements in regards to post-mortem studies.
CLIFTON: Would you--General Heaton, would you kindly hold? Been some arrangements already been made--have to clear that before we make any further. [NOTE: The official transcript credits this remark to Admiral Burkley, that is not correct. This is clearly General Clifton's voice.]
SPEAKER UNKNOWN: A limousine and an ambulance at Andrews... [NOTE: This is spoken by none of the prior parties. It almost sounds as though it might be being spoken into a microphone that has been accidently opened, possibly by an Aide to General Heaton.]
AF-1: AF-1. Say again your last transmission.
SPEAKER UNKNOWN: [Again, the same unidentified voice. The words are now almost inaudible, as though they are being spoken under the breath of a person who is writing something down while in close proximity to an open microphone.]
CROWN: Hello, Andrews, this is Crown.
ANDREWS: Crown, go ahead.
CROWN: We have Captain Shephard here. Is also to -- I -- evidently who has made some arrangements on the -- funeral and so forth. He would like to get on and talk to AF-1 when General Heaton is finished. It might be possible for us to put him up on a conference, so that they could all make the arrangements together. I understand that Captain Shephard, the Naval Aide, has made some arrangements also. So you might explain that to AF-1 and that we can put him on a conference if they would like. [NOTE: This call from Crown seems to indicate that there might be two Captain Shephards, one of them being a Naval Aide, and it implies that these two Captains with the same name have been working together on the arrangements. The MDW also shows a Captain Shephard in their logs for November 22, 1963.]
___
CLIFTON: Go ahead, Duplex, this is Watchman.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Give your party a call.
CLIFTON: Duplex, Duplex, this is Watchman, over.
BEHN: Go ahead Watchman, this is Duplex. Over.
CLIFTON: Duplex, this is Watchman. I understand that you have arranged for a mortuary type ambulance to take President and Mrs. Kennedy to Bethesda. Is this correct? Over.
BEHN: Watchman, it has been arranged to helicopter -- helicopter the body to Bethesda. Over.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman. That's OK, if it isn't too dark. What about the First Lady? Over.
BEHN: Everybody else aboard -- everybody else aboard arrangements have been made to helicopter into the south grounds.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman. Are you sure that the helicopter operation will work? We have a very heavy casket. Over.
BEHN: According to Witness, yes.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman. Don't take a chance on that. Also have a mortuary-type ambulance standby in case the helicopter doesn't work.
BEHN: That's affirmative.
CLIFTON: Have more instructions in just a moment.
BEHN: That's affirmative. I received.
CLIFTON: Now, some other instruction: Listen carefully. We need a ramp -- a normal ramp -- put at the front of the aircraft on the right hand side just behind the pilot's cabin in the galley. We are going to take the First Lady off by that route. Over. Do you understand?
BEHN: I receive. Affirmative.
CLIFTON: Alright. Also, at the right rear -- no the left rear -- left rear of the aircraft where we usually dismount -- debark, we may need a fork-lift rather than a ramp if there is such a thing, 'cause its too awkward. Maybe a platform to walk out on and a fork-lift to put it on. Is that possible? Over.
BEHN: Say again. Say again, Watchman.
CLIFTON: Alright. I say again. The casket is in the rear compartments and we suggest because it is so heavy that we have a fork-lift -- fork-lift -- back there to remove the casket. If this is too awkward we can go along with a normal ramp and several men. Over.
BEHN: Affirmative. We will try for the fork-lift.
CLIFTON: Alright, next item, Duplex, next item. The press, according to Mr. Johnson, the press is to have its normal little theatre at Andrews Field. And he is going from there by helicopter to the White House. Over.
BEHN: Say again, Watchman. Say again, please. [pause] Watchman, this is Duplex. Say again.
CLIFTON: The normal fence for the press -- the normal little corral. And it'll have to be in the front of the aircraft, 'cause that's where the -- President Johnson will come off. OK?
BEHN: Watchman, this is Duplex. Will you say that all over again, please? You were breaking up.
CLIFTON: Duplex, this is Watchman. I say again. The right front ramp for Mrs. Kennedy. The left rear, if possible, a fork-lift for the casket. On the left front near the pilot, a normal ramp. The normal press arrangements. Got that? Over.
BEHN: Say again, Watchman, you're breaking--
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: I got that -- on the left front -- see I got that -- the normal press arrangements -- a ramp for President Johnson. On the left front, left front, right behind the pilot. [This is being said to Behn, as though the speaker is sitting next to him at his microphone.]
BEHN: [to the unidentified speaker] Alright.
CLIFTON: Did everybody get that clear? Over.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [to General Clifton] That is affirmative.
CLIFTON: 'Kay. Hold one, Kellerman would like to talk to you.
BEHN: Watchman, Watchman this is Duplex, stand by one. Are you there? [pause] Watchman, Watchman, this is Duplex.
CLIFTON: Duplex, this is Watchman, over. Go ahead.
BEHN: Watchman, should the Secretary of Defense and others be at Andrews on your arrival?
CLIFTON: No. I am about to -- no, negative. I am about to call the White House. President Johnson wants to have the White House Staff, the leadership of Congress and as many of the Cabinet members as possible at the White House at 1830 -- 1830. Over.
BEHN: Will you say that again, please. I got the -- [to the side, to the previous unidentified speaker who seems to be in the room with him.] Oh. You got it?
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [to Behn] Right. President Johnson is suppose to meet as many of Cabinet members as possible at the White House at approximately 1830.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman. You didn't get it all. The White House staff, the key members of the White House staff. Also the leadership of Congress. Also all Cabinet members available at the White House at 1830, over.
BEHN: That is affirmative, Watchman. That is affirmative.
CLIFTON: Read that to me. Over.
BEHN: All the leaders of Congress, as many Cabinet members as possible at the White House at 1830.
CLIFTON: And key members of the White House staff, that is Sorenson, Bundy, etc.
BEHN: That is correct.
CLIFTON: OK.
---
KELLERMAN: Can I speak to Duplex again?
BEHN: Go ahead, go ahead, Digest, this is Duplex.
KELLERMAN: [response broken up]
ANDREWS: [relaying Kellerman's message to Behn] Duplex, requesting helicopter transportation for President Johnson and party, sir.
BEHN: [to Andrews to relay to Kellerman] That is all laid on. Tell him everybody aboard will be choppered into the south grounds.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. [pause] AF-1, Andrews, request you change positions you have a bad mike here.
KELLERMAN: OK, how's this?
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, Roger. Go ahead with your traffic now sir.
KELLERMAN: Digest to Duplex, Roger. How's this?
BEHN: Go ahead Digest, this is Duplex.
KELLERMAN: Again I repeat. Have helicopter to transport President Johnson and party to the White House lawn, OK?
BEHN: That is affirmative.
KELLERMAN: Roger. OK, White House 102 and 405X for transportation to Navy hospital, OK?
BEHN: That is affirmative.
KELLERMAN: That's a Roger. Eh -- I am keeping -- I will join Hill and his party to the Navy Hospital. OK?
BEHN: Digest, this is Duplex. You accompany body aboard helicopter.
KELLERMAN: Roger. [pause] Request -- I was not able to get ahold of Payne [spelling is phonetic] and Bob Burke [spelling is phonetic].
BEHN: Go ahead. I received. [pause]
ANDREWS: [to Kellerman] AF-1, Andrews, go ahead, sir.
KELLERMAN: This is Digest, again, Duplex.
BEHN: Go ahead Digest, this is Duplex.
KELLERMAN: Payne and Burke [three garbled syllables].
BEHN: Say again, Digest.
KELLERMAN: Payne and Burke were not notified.
BEHN: OK. [pause]
ANDREWS: [to Behn] Say again, sir.
BEHN: That is affirmative, Digest.
KELLERMAN: OK, Jerry, one more -- eh -- stand by. [pause] OK, one more. [three syllable garble] is on 6970.
BEHN: Right. [pause] Go ahead, Digest. [pause]
ANDREWS: [to Behn] Say again, sir.
BEHN: Go ahead, Digest.
KELLERMAN: Repeat: [transmission breaking up] 6970, OK?
BEHN: That's affirmative, I receive.
KELLERMAN: Do you have any questions? That's enough.
BEHN: Not at this moment, if we do, we'll call back.
KELLERMAN: That's a Roger. But, hold on. [pause]
ANDREWS: I've got Captain Shephard on the line.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Oh, is he?
ANDREWS: Yeah, he wants to talk to the aircraft.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Good.
KELLERMAN: Digest to Duplex, go ahead.
BEHN: Go ahead, Digest. This is Duplex.
KELLERMAN: Would you call Dr. John Walsh? In Washington? And advise him of our arrival?
BEHN: That is affirmative.
KELLERMAN: OK.
BEHN: Where does Lace want Dr. Walsh to meet her?
KELLERMAN: Dr. Walsh to meet her.
BEHN: Where? [pause]
ANDREWS: [to Behn] Say again, sir.
BEHN: Digest, this is Duplex. Where does Lace wish Dr. Walsh to meet her? [pause]
KELLERMAN: At the White House when we get there with her.
BEHN: That's affirmative.
KELLERMAN: Stand by. I don't have anything, but I think they want the line open here.
CROWN: Roger, Digest. This is Crown. I have Witness standing by.
KELLERMAN: [to the side] There's another call here.
CROWN: Digest? [pause] Digest, Digest, this is Crown. Come in. [pause] Digest, Digest, this is Crown. Come in.
ANDREWS: Stand by, Crown. AF-1, Andrews.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Dagger to Crown. Dagger to Crown.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Say again, go ahead, sir.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown. Come in.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: This is Dagger to Crown. I have traffic for Behn.
---
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Andrews [two garbled syllables] help you, sir?
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Sgt. Dorsey [phonetic spelling], Air Force Command Post. Air Force Weather is still waiting to bring up AF-1. We've been waiting now for 15 minutes, what's up?
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right, sir. We're running two patches at one time right now for the White House, and they're real busy, we can't get through to them. They're making arrangements to take the body off and everything else.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Let me patch in with Air Force Weather, so he'll know -- he'll know.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right. I already told them that earlier. [pause] Go 'head, sir.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Weather, here.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Hello, sir.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Yes, sir.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right, we're running two patches at one time right now, to AF-1 from the White House, and they're making arrangements for taking the casket and stuff off.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Rog'.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: And we can't get through to you. As soon as we can, we'll give you a call.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: OK. He needs that temperature before he gets there.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right, sir. We'll get-- They should be done pretty soon. They been at it quite a while now.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: OK, buddy.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Thank you, sir.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Right.
---
ANDREWS: Andrews, AF-1. Loud and clear. OK. Stand by and we'll have General Heaton come on this line as soon as the other patch clears.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Roger, sir. I have Command Post Weather and they've been standing by about fifteen minutes. They'd like to get a patch to you. Can we run it at this time, sir?
ANDREWS: Go 'head with them.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Roger, stand by one. [pause] Command Post?
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Rog.
ANDREWS COMMAND POST: Can you bring weather up? Can you bring weather up? I got AF-1.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Weathers on. Go ahead.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Weathers on, would you give them a call, sir?
AF-1: Weather, AF-1. Go ahead.
WEATHER: This is Command Post weather. Be advised of a severe weather area from forty miles west of Breedwood [phonetic], Mississippi to twenty miles west of Blysville [phonetic], Arkansas, extending one hundred and twenty miles -- 120 miles -- to the east. For tornados, tops 50,000 -- 50,000. Want you to be advised of that and I have a revised landing forecast, Andrews, if you're ready copy. Over.
AF-1: Stand by, one. I'll have to call you back on it.
WEATHER: Roger.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. How copy, sir?
AF-1: You be loud and clear, Andy.
[NOTE: the next six exchanges may be cross talk.]
?: This is [two garbled syllables], one second, please.
?: Liberty, how you read?
?: Roger, Liberty -- loud and clear [garbled sounds].
?: Roger, Roger. OK. Put me up to the -- correction, take this and relay it for me, then I'll want a patch.
ANDREWS: Liberty, Andrews. Meet me, land line.
AF-1: Liberty, AF-1.
ANDREWS: AF-1, this is Andrews, go ahead.
AF-1: Andrews, AF-1.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, go ahead, sir.
AF-1: OK. Will you tell Command Post and all people concerned that our log time has moved up to 2300z, go ahead.
ANDREWS: This is Andrews, Roger. Copied, will relay, sir.
AF-1: Roger, and pick up that weather warning from the Air Force Command Post and see if there's anything to it, please. We just got [unintelligible] that is important.
ANDREWS: Roger, stand by one. [pause--lots of cross talk at this point]
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, Major [a two syllable garbled name -- Bentruss?]
ANDREWS: Right. Can I have Weather, please?
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Just a minute, please.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Weather.
ANDREWS: Right, sir, I have AF-1. He's real busy and he wants to know how severe this weather warning is.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Its for tornados -- that's pretty severe.
ANDREWS: OK, hold on one.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Alright.
ANDREWS: AF-1, AF-1, Andrews.
AF-1: [response covered with cross talk]
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, loud and clear. I have Weather on. Weather's pretty important, would you give him a call, sir?
AF-1: Right -- Weather, AF-1. Go 'head now, please.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Alright. Be advised that these -- eh -- severe weather area is for tornados -- tornados is the severity. Radar reports top in the area at the present time 47 to 51,000. Over.
AF-1: Roger. And what area is this? I'm sorry, I didn't get it before.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: This is for an area forty miles west of Breedwood [phonetic], Mississippi to twenty miles west of Blysville [phonetic], Arkansas, and one hundred and twenty miles east of both of those portions. Its on your flight path. Over.
AF-1: And one hundred and twenty miles east of both of these location, is that correct?
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Right. You draw a line from -- eh -- Breedwood [phonetic] to Blysville [phonetic] and one hundred and twenty miles east of that line.
AF-1: Got that, OK.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Roger. Your new landing temperature, Andrews, 62 degrees -- 62 degrees. Over.
AF-1: 62.
AIR FORCE WEATHER: Weather, out.
AF-1: Thank you.
---
CROWN: AF-1, this is Crown, come in.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: This is Dagger on AF-1 to Crown.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. I have Freedom, I have Free -- pardon. I have Witness standing by for a patch. [pause]
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: We'll have Witness in one minute. Could we go ahead with traffic for Behn, Crown?
CROWN: Roger. You have someone else calling Behn. Is that a Roger?
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: That's a Roger. This is Dagger calling Behn, over.
CROWN: Stand by. [pause] Dagger, Duplex is on. Go ahead.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Dagger to Duplex. Message is from Volunteer and Victoria, relative to activities tonight.
BEHN: Go ahead, Dagger. This is Duplex.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: You are aware that we will go to [transmission momentarily broken] for meeting.
BEHN: That is affirmative. [short pause] Go ahead.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Volunteer will reside at Valley for an indefinite time. I repeat. Volunteer will reside at Valley for an indefinite time. Victoria requests that Venus will go to Valley with agent.
BEHN: Will you say again? Will you say again?
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [This is the same man as earlier who seems to be sitting at Crown with Behn.] Venus should go out to Valley with agent.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: That is a Roger. That is a Roger. Venus will go to Valley with agent. Victoria will go to Valley after first to Crown. Do you understand? Over.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [Again, the man with Behn.] Victoria will go to Valley after first going to Crown.
BEHN: OK. That's affirmative.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Do you also understand that for residential purposes Volunteer will reside at Valley?
BEHN: That is affirmative. [short pause] That is affirmative.
RUFUS YOUNGBLOOD: Alright. That is all the traffic I have at present.
BEHN: OK. OK.
---
AF-1: Will you give me a patch into Crown?
ANDREWS: Roger. Stand by, one. [pause]
CROWN: White House.
ANDREWS: Right. Stand by for AF-1.
CROWN: Roger.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Crown on.
AF-1: Crown, AF-1. This is a message from Wing to Slugger. Slugger is to meet aircraft as soon as possible. If he cannot do this he is to see Wing as soon as possible. As soon as possible. Go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Wing to Slugger. Meet aircraft as soon as possible, if this is impossible, see Wing as soon as possible. Go ahead.
AF-1: That is correct. Or contact him in anyway feasible.
CROWN: Roger. Roger. Crown understand. Any further? Go ahead.
AF-1: Negative. And I suspect that Slugger is back in Dallas.
CROWN: Roger. Roger.
---
CROWN: AF-1. AF-1. This is Crown. Come in.
AF-1: Request Victoria to cancel or -- the commercial telephone. That is Volunteer and Victoria's commercial telephone at Valley should be temporarily discontinued and security line should be put in [signal begins to break up, about five syllables are lost]. Do you understand, over?
CROWN: That's a Roger. Roger. Cancel commercial lines at Valley and install [eight garbled syllables might be "wonka circuits" repeated twice]. Is that a Roger?
AF-1: That is a Roger.
CROWN: Roger. Will do.
---
ANDREWS: Andrews, AF-1. Go ahead.
AF-1: OK. Get me Crown please.
ANDREWS: Roger. [pause]
CROWN: White House.
ANDREWS: Stand by, sir, AF-1.
CROWN: Roger.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Give Crown a call.
AF-1: Roger, AF-1. We'd like a patch with Winner and the patch is coming from Warrior. Go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Stand by.
KILDUFF: Crown, Crown, this is Warrior. How do you read, over.
CROWN: Warrior from Crown. You are loud and clear. I'm putting Winner on now, do you Roger?
KILDUFF: Crown, this is Warrior. I want Winner, I want Winner. Over.
CROWN: Warrior, Warrior, from Crown. Go ahead and transmit. Winner, Winner is on the line.
KILDUFF: Winner, Winner. This is Warrior. Do you read me? Over.
HATCHER: I hear you -- over.
KILDUFF: Winner, Winner, this is Warrior. Will you please advise Press that normal press coverage, including live TV, will be allowed at the Base. Volunteer -- repeat -- Volunteer will make statement on arrival. Will make statement on arrival. Did you read that? Over.
HATCHER: I read you clearly. Will you listen to my question? Is Mrs. Kennedy aboard AF-1?
KILDUFF: Winner, Winner, this is Warrior. That is a Roger. That is a Roger. Over.
HATCHER: Alright. The other thing is I'm setting up a press section on the south lawn about 50 yards from position of helicop -- of Helicopter #1. Will that meet with Mrs. Kennedy's and the President's approval?
KILDUFF: Winner, they are not returning to the House. They are not returning to the House. For your information, they're going someplace else. I don't want to go in on the radio on this one -- so there will be an arrival there, but it will be Volunteer. It will be Volunteer. Over.
HATCHER: Thank you. I will hold that information and we can say something after you arrive. Eh -- let's see -- hold it just a second. Let me look through my list of questions. Is it true that the body of President Kennedy will go to Bethesda Naval Hospital?
KILDUFF: That is a Roger. That is a Roger, but we are not saying that yet. Over.
HATCHER: Well, we've -- we've already said it. So, I -- eh -- but we should've checked with you before doing it, but -- I don't think it makes too much difference. It takes a lot of -- you know -- we should know it. It takes a lot -- eh -- off of us by doing it. I was in error, over.
KILDUFF: So far as that press area on the south lawn -- there is no objection to that -- there is no objection to that.
HATCHER: Should that be live -- will we permit live cov -- yes. You told me that. OK. Anything else?
KILDUFF: Would you repeat that?
HATCHER: Anything else that I should know?
KILDUFF: Wait a minute -- you're breaking. But let me think about that for just a second, would you, please?
HATCHER: 'Kay.
KILDUFF: Eh -- yes. The pool on this aircraft is Chuck Roberts and Smith. We lost Bell somewhere along the line. We don't have AP aboard, but I have given them the statement of Volunteer on the death, which he will make at the airport. Over.
HATCHER: Oh. I understand you. OK. Over and out.
KILDUFF: Wait! Don't go out on me yet, because -- are you still there, Winner?
HATCHER: Yes I am. I'm here.
KILDUFF: I think we're going to tell the press that on arrival -- eh -- hold on. Oh. Just a minute. I've got Clifton here and he's trying to give me something. Hold on. [pause] Winner, Winner, this is Warrior. Eh -- the -- eh -- the -- eh -- you can announce that on arrival -- on arrival -- he will meet with -- eh -- at the White House [pause] Eh -- later -- he will meet with the leadership -- with the leadership. Did you read that? Over.
HATCHER: Yes, I did read that.
KILDUFF: Wait a minute. You're breaking badly -- I can not read.
HATCHER: Yes, yes. I understand and I will announce.
KILDUFF: 'Kay, very good, Winner. Now wait a minute. Now there's one other part I'm getting from Clifton now that I want to relay to you. Hold on -- they said that on arrival at the House that the President will meet with McNamara and Bundy. Also, if Rusk is in town, he'll meet with Rusk [Hatcher tries to interrupt here and continues to try for a few seconds], but I think he's in the Far East, so it will probably be Ball. Eh -- and after -- about a half hour after that meeting is over, we will meet with -- eh -- eh -- the Congressional leadership at -- eh -- wait a minute. I'm getting a time on that now. He'll meet with the leadership at 8:00 -- 8:00. Did you read that? Over.
HATCHER: I -- eh -- I read. Now is that bipartisan leadership or Democratic leadership?
KILDUFF: That is wholly bipartisan. Wholly bipartisan. Over.
HATCHER: I understand you.
KILDUFF: Hold one and let me check any further information here. Is that -- Do you mind holding, Andy?
HATCHER: No. Go right ahead. [pause]
KILDUFF: I have nothing more at this time. I assume you will be available if I can reach you. If I need to feed you more information -- eh -- as it develops, or whatever you call it. Over.
HATCHER: Yes. Over and out.
---
CROWN: AF-1, this is Crown.
KILDUFF: This is Warrior to Crown -- Warrior to Crown. Are you reading? Over.
CROWN: Warrior, Warrior, this is Crown. Loud and clear, loud and clear.
KILDUFF: Crown, hold one for a transmission from Witness -- for a transmission from Witness. Over. [could Kilduff have meant Watchman?]
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Would also like to confirm at this time -- the request from AF-1 --
CLIFTON: Crown, this is Watchman. Over.
CROWN: This is Crown. Go ahead, Watchman.
CLIFTON: [response is unintelligible]
CROWN: AF-1 from Crown. You were broken -- you were broken. Say again.
CLIFTON: Crown, this is Watchman. Please get Mr. Bundy on the line, over.
CROWN: Roger, Roger, stand by, stand by. Crown -- your party on this end is on, go 'head and transmit to him.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman, Crown, please monitor. Max...Mr. Johnson...Secretary McNamara at 6:30 at the White House. If Mr. Rusk is in town...to Mr. Rusk. If he is not in town, then we do not want -- negative -- do not want -- an acting secretary. Over. [the recording is very poor at this point, I've transcribed what I could pick out. The official transcript gives no clue what the missing words are.]
BUNDY: Correct. We are -- will you tell him that -- a -- the acting Cabinet will be at the airport to greet him. He can bring McNamara and me in his chopper to the White House. Over.
CLIFTON: That is correct. That is alright. He will do that. Now, take another message. Over.
BUNDY: Yep.
CLIFTON: Secondly, I told Jerry Behn about a White House Staff meeting.
BUNDY: Yep.
CLIFTON: There will be no -- negative -- there will be no White House Staff meeting tonight. It will be tomorrow.
BUNDY: Correct. I have you. I have it. Wait. Let me repeat your message, right -- over.
CLIFTON: Go ahead.
BUNDY: First that the President wishes to meet with SecDef and me at the White House on return from Andrews. Second, that there will be no other meeting this evening. There will be a White House Staff meeting on call tomorrow. Over.
CLIFTON: No, that is not correct. He wants to meet with the leadership about 7:30 -- leadership about 7:30, over.
BUNDY: Right. Does he wish us to arrange that? Over.
CLIFTON: He wants you to arrange that. Two meetings tonight--McNamara and Bundy --
BUNDY: Yep.
CLIFTON: -- and the leadership about 7:30.
BUNDY: Does he mean the Democratic leadership only? Over.
CLIFTON: Bipartisan Leadership and I'll give you some names. Over.
BUNDY: Right, over.
CLIFTON: The Speaker of the House --
BUNDY: Yea.
CLIFTON: Carl Albert --
BUNDY: Carl Albert.
CLIFTON: Hale Boggs --
BUNDY: Yea.
CLIFTON: Leslie Arens --
BUNDY: Hold on. Say that one again.
CLIFTON: Leslie Arens.
BUNDY: Arens -- yea.
CLIFTON: Are you listening? Over.
BUNDY: I have -- will you take what I have from me, over, and then we can go on.
CLIFTON: Let's see. Over.
BUNDY: I have the Speaker, Carl Albert, Hale Boggs, Leslie Arens. Over.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman and that is correct. I will now continue with the Senate. Over.
BUNDY: Right. Over.
CLIFTON: Mansfield.
BUNDY: Right.
CLIFTON: Humphrey.
BUNDY: Yea.
CLIFTON: Smathers.
BUNDY: Yea.
CLIFTON: [two syllables garbled]
BUNDY: Wait. Wait a moment. I have the first three. Over. [pause] Repeat. Over.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman. [the transmission breaks at this point]
ANDREWS: Sir, stand by, please.
BUNDY: Yea.
CLIFTON: Andy? [Clifton is calling to Hatcher, but Andrews thinks he wants them]
ANDREWS: Roger.
CLIFTON: Crown, this is Angel. Crown, this is Angel.
CROWN: Crown, Angel.
CLIFTON: This is Angel. Would you -- I broke down with Mr. Bundy would you take the Senate list for me? Over.
CROWN: I have Mansfield, Humphrey, Smathers. Over.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman. In addition to Mansfield, Humphrey and Smathers; Dirksen, Kuchel, Hickenlooper.
CROWN: Dirksen, Kuchel and Hickenlooper. Over.
CLIFTON: That is correct. For about 7:30. Over.
CROWN: 7:30 at the White House? Over.
CLIFTON: 7:30 in the Cabinet Room. Over.
CROWN: Tell the President that the Cabinet Room is under rearrangement, but the Oval Room will be ready. Over.
CLIFTON: The Oval Room it will be. No, you mean the Fish Room?
CROWN: I mean both the Fish Room and the President's Study, and we will try to have the Cabinet Room, but that's a detail -- we can work that out. Over.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman. He does not want to go into the Mansion or in the Oval Room or the President's Study or the President's Office.
CROWN: Correct.
CLIFTON: If the Cabinet Room isn't ready, then have it in the Fish Room. Over.
CROWN: Right. I have you -- I understand. Always in the west wing. Over.
CLIFTON: That is correct. Over.
CROWN: I have nothing further. Over.
CLIFTON: This is Watchman. Now please tell Duplex about the changes, so we don't confuse it. Duplex is Jerry Behn. Over.
CROWN: Right. I will.
CLIFTON: See you in a little while. Over.
CROWN: OK.
---
CROWN: AF-1, this is Crown.
KILDUFF: This is Warrior to Crown. Warrior to Crown. Crown, are you reading? Over.
CROWN: Warrior, Warrior, this is Crown. Loud and clear -- loud and clear.
KILDUFF: Crown, hold one for a transmission from Witness. [Again, it is possible that Kilduff meant to say "Watchman."]
WATCHMAN: This is Watchman. Over.
[There is lots of cross talk at this point]
AF-1: AF-1, Andrews. Give me another line to Crown, please.
ANDREWS: Roger, sir.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, this is Sgt. Phillips [phonetic], sir.
ANDREWS: This is Andrews [two garbled syllables]. Would you get me Crown, please?
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Give you who, sir? [pause] Hello, Andrews?
ANDREWS: Yes?
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Who'd you wanna give a call?
ANDREWS: Crown -- eh -- White House.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Just a moment.
CROWN: White House.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, stand by for AF-1.
CROWN: Roger.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Crown on, go ahead.
KILDUFF: Warrior. How you read, over?
CROWN: AF-1, this is Crown. You are loud and clear, go ahead.
KILDUFF: White House -- eh -- Crown, this is Warrior. Will you get me another patch to Winner? Another patch to Winner? Over.
CROWN: Roger. Stand by. [pause]
ANDREWS: Are you still standing by for Crown?
KILDUFF: Andrews, Andrews, this is AF-1 -- eh -- do I have that -- do I have that patch with Crown? Over.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. We're still standing by for Winner through Crown.
KILDUFF: Would you repeat?
ANDREWS: Roger, we are still standing by for Winner. We are still standing by for Winner.
KILDUFF: That's a Roger.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews.
KILDUFF: Eh -- Crown, Crown, this is Warrior. Over.
ANDREWS: Warrior, Andrews. Stand by. Winner is still in another patch. Winner is still in another patch. I have a message for radio operator on AF-1.
KILDUFF: Eh -- Crown, Crown. Eh -- eh -- who is he running a patch with? Over.
CROWN: 201. [strange sound on line, transmission may have broken]
?: Hello, Andrews?
ANDREWS: Eh -- yes.
?: You're still connected with White House.
ANDREWS: Roger. Could you ring them again for me?
?: Ring them again?
ANDREWS: Yes.
KILDUFF: Warrior, Warrior.
CROWN: Crown.
ANDREWS: Crown, give them another call.
CROWN: Warrior, Warrior, this is Crown.
KILDUFF: Go ahead, Crown.
CROWN: Warrior, we are having some difficulty in locating -- eh -- Winner. Would you stand by, please?
KILDUFF: That's a Roger, Crown. This is Warrior.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews.
---
End Transcript Tape Two -- Side One
Begin Transcript Tape Two -- Side Two
---
CROWN: Warrior, this is Crown. We are having some difficulty in locating Winner. Would you stand by, please?
KILDUFF: That's a Roger, Crown. This is Warrior.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. [pause] Andrews.
AF-1: Andrews, AF-1.
ANDREWS: Roger, sir. Could you give me a quick check on 9?
AF-1: I'll just have to [covered?].
ANDREWS: Roger, sir. Standing by this end.
AF-1: How 'bout bringing that 13 through Liberty [two garbled syllables] on the [one garbled syllable] and come back with it.
ANDREWS: Eh--
SAM 86972: This is Liberty. Roger. Stand by.
AF-1: OK. And also, Andrews, how 'bout relaying our new block time of 2305z -- 2305 -- to Air Force Command Post and all concerned. Go ahead.
ANDREWS: Roger, sir. Copied -- will do.
CROWN: This is Crown, come in. [The tape has been edited at this point. There is nothing further on this side of the tape.]
---
End Transcript Tape Two -- Side Two
Begin Transcript Tape Three -- Side One
---
AF-1: AF-1, a check.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Loud and clear.
AF-1: Gimme Crown, please. In a hurry.
ANDREWS: Roger. Stand by.
CROWN: Hello, Andrews?
ANDREWS: Roger, is this Crown?
CROWN: Roger.
ANDREWS: OK, stand by, AF-1. [to AF-1] AF-1, Andrews, give Crown a call.
AF-1: Break Crown, AF-1. Volunteer requesting a patch with Mrs. Rose Kennedy as soon as possible. Go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, understand. Volunteer wants a patch with Mrs. Rose as soon as possible.
AF-1: Mrs. Rose Kennedy, Roger.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. I'll work on that right away and also while I'm working on that could we have a confirmation, a confirmation, on earlier transmission from AF-1, stating that the commercial telephone service, I say again, commercial telephone service for the Johnson residence should be discontinued with a direct line to -- eh -- White House. Do you Roger that?
AF-1: Stand by, one. We'll have to check it out.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. While you're checking that out, I'll work on the telephone call to Mrs. Rose Kennedy for Volunteer. Stand by.
AF-1: How 'bout this 13 with Liberty?
ANDREWS: They're standing by. Do you want to call now, sir?
AF-1: OK. We'll switch now to 13.
ANDREWS: Roger.
---
AF-1: That is affirmative. That is affirmative, confirmation on your request, go ahead.
CROWN: White House, Roger. That is affirmative, affirmative?
AF-1: Affirmative. You have it correct.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Stand by, stand by for the other party.
ANDREWS: [relaying to AF-1] The party Rogered for your message. And they are standing -- and they advise you to stand by for your party.
AF-1: Eh -- I do -- I have a patch into Crown, and I do not want it broken.
ANDREWS: Sir, you are still in patch with Crown.
AF-1: OK. [pause -- to Crown] AF-1, are you still on?
CROWN: Roger, Roger, please stand by.
AF-1: Roger, standing by.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1, please stand by, we have Mrs. Rose Kennedy.
AF-1: Stand by.
CROWN: AF-1, have you got your party? Go ahead.
AF-1: Stand by one, please. [pause] Do you have her standing by?
CROWN: Roger, Roger. I'm going to put Mrs. Rose Kennedy on the line now.
AF-1: OK, Crown. We're coming on now.
CROWN: Roger, Roger.
ROSE KENNEDY: Hello? Hello? Hello? Hello?
CROWN: Just a-- Just a moment, Mrs. Kennedy.
AF-1: Just one moment now, please. Mrs. Kennedy, are you on?
ROSE KENNEDY: Hello?
AF-1: Stand by one, now, please.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1, AF-1 from Crown, come in.
AF-1: Crown, this is AF-1, do you read us, over?
CROWN: I'm reading you loud and clear. I have Mrs. Kennedy standing by. Are you ready with Volunteer? Go ahead.
AF-1: Yes, we are ready. Can you put her on and I'll turn her over to him. Over.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. She's coming on now. [pause] AF-1 from Crown, Mrs. Kennedy on -- go ahead, please.
AF-1: Hello Mrs. Kennedy, hello Mrs. Kenn--
ROSE KENNEDY: Yes?
AF-1: --edy. We are talking from--
ROSE KENNEDY: Yes?
AF-1: --the airplane. Can you hear us alright? Over.
ROSE KENNEDY: [to the side] Thank-you. [to AF-1] Hello?
AF-1: Yes, Mrs. Kennedy. I have Mr. Johnson for you here.
ROSE KENNEDY: Yes, thank you.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Mrs. Kennedy?
ROSE KENNEDY: Yes?
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Mrs.--
ROSE KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I wish to God there was something that I could do, and I wanted to tell you that we were grieving with you.
ROSE KENNEDY: Yes. Well, thank you, Mist-- thank you very much -- Thank you very much. I know. I know you loved Jack, and he loved you.
MRS. JOHNSON: Mrs. Kennedy, we feel like we've just had a--
ROSE KENNEDY: Yes. Alright.
MRS. JOHNSON: We -- eh -- we got (five unintelligible syllables) had your son as long as you did.
ROSE KENNEDY: Yes. Eh -- thank you, Lady Bird. Thank you very much. Good bye.
MRS. JOHNSON: [three garbled syllables -- maybe "Love and _____"?]
ROSE KENNEDY: Thank you very much. Good bye. Good bye. Good bye. [through the three "good bye"s it sounds as though Mrs. Johnson might be trying to talk at the same time, but is being cut out by Mrs. Kennedy.]
---
KILDUFF: Crown, Crown, this is Warrior. I think that patch is over. Is that a Roger? Over.
CROWN: That is a Roger, Warrior, that is a Roger. Mrs. Kennedy has hung up. Go 'head.
KILDUFF: Crown, now would you give me that patch to -- eh -- Walter Jenkins in President Johnson's Office? Over.
CROWN: Roger, stand by one.
KILDUFF: And -- eh -- Crown, get somebody to come up on the Charlie set?, please.
SAM 86972: Liberty, Andrews, AF-1. Are you on 9?
ANDREWS: Roger, sir, you are loud and clear. I still have [three garbles syllables] standing by for Warrior.
SAM 86972: OK, eh, bring him up on 9, please.
ANDREWS: Eh, Roger, sir. Stand by one. Eh, Crown, go ahead and give AF-1 a call now.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown, come in.
AF-1: Eh, Crown-- [transmission broken]
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Crown is on, go ahead. [pause] AF-1, AF-1, Andrews. Crown is on, would you give him a call, please.
KILDUFF: Crown, this is Warrior, this is Warrior. Do you read me? Over.
CROWN: Roger, Warrior, this is Crown. Stand by, stand by for Winner. Go 'head.
KILDUFF: That's a Roger, Crown. You are loud and clear. [long pause]
CROWN: Warrior, Warrior, Winner is on, go ahead.
KILDUFF: Winner, this is Warrior, do you read me? Over.
HATCHER: I read you.
KILDUFF: Winner -- that, eh, meeting -- that first meeting will be Bundy and McNamara only. The President will meet with Rusk when he returns, even though its probably going to be a different -- will be a different -- eh, will be a different meeting.
HATCHER: I read you.
KILDUFF: Did you read that, Winner?
HATCHER: Yes, yes.
KILDUFF: Crown, Crown, this is Warrior, do you read me? Over.
HATCHER: Yes I do, Warrior. I read you.
KILDUFF: Andy would you flash back the board. I need Crown back again. I need Crown back again. Over.
HATCHER: Yes, over and out. And I'll flash the board.
ANDREWS: Crown. [long pause] Crown?
CROWN: Roger.
ANDREWS: Roger, eh, give AF-1 a call please.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown, come in. [pause] AF-1, AF-1, this is Crown, come in.
KILDUFF: Crown, Crown, this is Warrior. Do you read me? Over.
CROWN: Eh, Warrior, this is Crown, Roger. You are [two unclear syllables]. Go ahead.
KILDUFF: Will you get me a patch with Walter Jenkins in President Johnson's Office. Over.
CROWN: Roger, Warrior, stand by.
KILDUFF: Kill this call -- kill this call. I think that we are overlapping on another call. Over.
CROWN: Roger.
---
KILDUFF: Warrior, I mean, Crown -- this is Warrior is AF-1. Go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. On your request for Jenkins, he is on route to Andrews. On route to your destination. Go ahead.
KILDUFF: That's a Roger, Crown. I'll pass that word on.
---
AF-1: Alright, AF-1. Volunteer would like a patch to the Governor Connally. The current Governor Connally of Texas -- eh -- Mrs. Connally. That's the Governor's wife, go ahead.
ANDREWS: Volunteer would like a patch with Mrs. Connally, Governor Connally's wife. Do you -- Is that a Roger?
AF-1: That's a Roger.
ANDREWS: Roger, Roger, stand by one.
AF-1: Still standing by for the Connally call.
ANDREWS: Eh, Roger, Roger. We have Dallas on the line and they are trying to contact her now. Stand by, please.
AF-1: Roger, Roger, standing by.
---
CROWN: [beginning of call cut off by editing] ...from Crown, come in.
SAM 86972: Air Force Liberty, loud and clear. 47. Do you have a receiver [one garbled syllable], sir?
CROWN: Roger, Roger, that's right. Stand by one. Crown to AF-1.
CROWN: [a different Crown operator] AF-1 from Crown. The Connally residence in Dallas is on the line -- is on the line and Mrs. Connally is available to speak with Mr. Johnson if he can get to the phone patch, go ahead.
AF-1: Roger. He wants specifically to speak with her. Go ahead.
CROWN: Roger. Stand by, just a moment. [pause] AF-1, AF-1, from Crown. Would you put Volunteer on please? Mrs. Connally is on the line, standing by for his call.
AF-1: AF-1.
MRS. JOHNSON: (To Mrs. Connally) Nellie? [pause] Can you hear me? [pause] Heard some reassuring news over the TV. We are up in the plane, yet, but the surgeon, speaking about John sounded so reassuring. How about it?
MRS. CONNALLY: That report is true. That was the surgeon that just got done operating on him. John is going to be alright, we are almost certain, unless something unforeseen --
MRS. JOHNSON: Wait a minute, Nellie. I can't hear you too well. [two to four broken syllables lost]
ANDREWS: Eh, Mrs. Johnson--
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Nellie, can you hear me?
MRS. CONNALLY: Yes.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Listen, Darling, I know that -- that everything's going to be all right. Is it?
MRS. CONNALLY: Its going to be alright.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: God bless you, Darling.
MRS. CONNALLY: The same to you.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Give him a hug and kiss for me.
MRS. CONNALLY: Good luck.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Good bye.
MRS. CONNALLY: Good bye.
[Throughout this call is the sound of a television set in the background. There are the voices of commentators, sometimes raising their voices to be heard over the sounds of a crowd. It is impossible to discern anything identifying what is being watched. The Lyndon Johnson Library in Austin, Texas has placed the time of this call at 4:30 PM.]
---
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews -- go ahead, Crown.
AF-1: Roger, we have another nickel on the return from you -- or is that down the line?
ANDREWS: I believe that's down the line, sir. But Crown is on, give them a call.
AF-1: [garbled response]
CROWN: AF-1, Crown, go ahead.
AF-1: Roger, that completes us for now.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. If you could stand by, AF-1, if you could stand by, we have several people that would like to talk to you. Can you stand by?
AF-1: Roger -- go ahead.
CROWN: Eh, Roger. [pause--unintelligible voices in background] AF-1?
AF-1: Roger, AF-1, go ahead.
CROWN: Stand by one.
AF-1: Roger.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post.
AF-1: Go ahead, Command Post, AF-1.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: 373 departed at 2141z.
AF-1: [very heavy static on line -- AF-1's response not intelligible.]
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, what is complete [garbled]. AF-1, did you copy?
AF-1: Roger. And who is this information to go to? Go ahead.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Say again?
AF-1: Roger. Who is this information to be passed to. Go ahead.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: AF-1, AF-1, this is Air Force Command Post, over.
AF-1: Command Post, AF-1. I read you loud and clear. I understand 373 departed at 2141, who did you wish to notify about this. Go ahead.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Didn't you request the time of departure on this aircraft -- the one with the Presidential cars on board?
AF-1: Roger. We'll pass that. I don't know where it goes now. Thank you.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger.
---
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Go ahead.
AF-1: OK. Would you call SAM Command Post and have them -- to -- eh -- request two -- eh four Air Police meet the airplane. We want two in the front of the airplane and two in the rear. Go ahead.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Understand you are requesting two staff cars -- two -- eh -- staff cars with Air Police. Two in the front and two in the rear. Is that correct?
AF-1: Negative on the cars -- just the Air Police. We want security guards. We want four of them. Two at each door of the airplane. Go ahead. ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, Roger. Will advise SAM.
AF-1: Roger. Thank you.
---
CROWN: Roger, Roger. AF-1, AF-1 from Crown. [pause] AF-1, AF-1, AF-1 from Crown. Come in.
AF-1: Crown, AF-1. Go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Stand by for a patch from Tanker, Tanker.
AF-1: Roger.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1, AF-1 from Crown. Come in.
AF-1: AF-1, Crown, go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Stand by for a patch from Tanker, Tanker.
AF-1: Roger.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1. Tanker on the line. Go ahead, Tanker.
COOK: Hello Angel, hello Angel. May I speak with Watchman or Tiger. Watchman or Tiger. Over.
AF-1: Roger. Watchman is busy at the present time on another circuit. Stand by for Tiger.
COOK: Standing by for Tiger.
SWINDAL: Tiger -- how do you read. Over.
COOK: Five by five, Tiger. Five by five. I have been informed from Dallas that is was desired that the aircraft be parked in an isolated spot when you arrive here. However, Watchman had a long discussion with Behn and nothing about that was mentioned. And the present plan on the ground here is to spot you in the regular place unless Watchman says now that this is not desired. Over.
SWINDAL: I believe that they are parking in the regular place, Tanker. Where did you get that information from down in Dallas? Over.
COOK: It was from the USAF Command Post agent there and I understood from him that you had told him to do this. Over.
SWINDAL: We told you to look into that, and in the excitement to see if the family had ordered it done. We were going to discuss it in flight.
COOK: I see.
SWINDAL: Go ahead with the present plan and park in the regular place. And I asked [garbled name] to get in touch with you and pass some instructions to him. And we need steps in the right front of the aircraft, the press box will be on the left of the aircraft, and President Johnson will deplane at the front of the aircraft. And we need a fork-lift at the rear of the aircraft. Lace will deplane on the right front. Over.
COOK: Understand, Tiger. Understand those instructions. They have all been carried out. We will continue with the plan to spot you in the regular place. There will be a ramp left front, a ramp right front, a fork-lift left rear, the Press area left front. Over.
SWINDAL: [garble] We'll keep in touch.
COOK: Roger. Thank you and out.
---
ANDREWS: Crown?
CROWN: [garble] that patch give AF-1 a call any time you want.
ANDREWS: Eh, Roger.
CROWN: AF-1, AF-1, AF-1 from Crown.
AF-1: Crown, AF-1, go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Could you pass this to Wing. Pass this to Wing. That on his message to Slugger. Message to Slugger. Slugger was still in Dallas, still in Dallas and has been advised to contact Wing as soon as he possibly can.
AF-1: Roger. AF-1 copy. Will pass.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Crown out for now. Do you have anything further AF-1?
AF-1: Roger, stand by one. We'll have another patch from Warrior.
---
ANDREWS: Crown?
CROWN: Crown on.
ANDREWS: Yes, give AF-1 a call.
CROWN: AF-1, Crown. Go ahead.
AF-1: OK, I need Capital 4-3121 extension 493. I'll talk to anyone there.
CROWN: Say again? It was Capital 4-3291 extension 493?
AF-1: That's 4-3121 extension 493.
CROWN: Roger, Roger. Understand. Anyone in particular there?
AF-1: Roger. Anyone at that number.
CROWN: Roger. Stand by. [pause] AF-1, AF-1 from Crown. Was that extension 493?
AF-1: That is affirmative. Congressman Thomas' office.
CROWN: Say again the Congressman's name, as they say they have no such extension.
AF-1: Congressman Thomas. Tango -- Hotel -- Oscar -- Mike -- Alva -- [garbled -- probably the equivalent for "S"]
CROWN: Roger, Roger, stand by. [pause] Congressman Thomas' office on the line.
AF-1: Roger. This is the airplane. The Congressman is requesting that you place his door keys under the doormat of his residence. Go ahead.
CONGRESSMAN THOMAS' OFFICE: Oh. OK. Hello?
AF-1: Hello, did you hear me?
CONGRESSMAN THOMAS' OFFICE: There will be someone at his residence.
AF-1: I understand the house will be open. And someone will be in the residence. Is that correct? [pause] Hello? I understand that the house will be occupied. That someone will be home. Is that right?
CROWN: AF-1, this is Crown, that is a Roger. She said that there will be someone at the residence.
AF-1: OK. Fine, Crown. Thank you very much.
CROWN: Roger. Crown out. ---
AF-1: Andrews. Would you check on the current temperature there when you get a moment?
ANDREWS: Roger.
AF-1: The last message I got was query as to whether Volunteer was aboard. Go ahead.
ANDREWS: Roger. Just a moment. [pause -- to the side] What is the temperature here at Andrews?
ANDREWS WEATHER: The present temperature is 64 degrees.
ANDREWS: OK. What will the forecast be about 2300?
ANDREWS WEATHER: 2300?
ANDREWS: Yea.
ANDREWS WEATHER: Local?
ANDREWS: Zulu time.
ANDREWS WEATHER: Oh. Zulu?
ANDREWS: Yea.
ANDREWS WEATHER: Let's see that'd be -- oh -- make that 62.
ANDREWS: 60 degrees? Thank you very much.
ANDREWS WEATHER: 62!
ANDREWS: 62.
ANDREWS WEATHER: Yea.
ANDREWS: Yea, got it.
---
[a short, garbled, static and cross talk covered exchange has not been transcribed.]
---
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews.
AF-1: AF-1, go ahead.
ANDREWS: Eh, Roger. Present temperature is 64 degrees. 2300 forecast is 62 degrees.
AF-1: Roger. Thank you.
ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
---
AF-1: This is AF-1. Would you get me the Command Post, please?
ANDREWS: Roger, sir.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, Sgt. Phillips [phonetic], sir.
ANDREWS: Roger, Andrews [two garbled syllables], I have AF-1 for a patch.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger, stand by.
ANDREWS: Roger.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Go ahead.
ANDREWS: Roger, stand by for AF-1. AF-1, Andrews. Command Post on. Go ahead.
AF-1: Roger, Command Post, AF-1. We checked earlier with 2242, presently descending. Estimated block time remains 2305. Go ahead.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger. AF-1, Command Post, out.
---
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. I have Crown on. Give them a call, please.
AF-1: Break Crown, AF-1. Go ahead.
CROWN: Roger, AF-1, stand by. [to the side] Go ahead. [to AF-1] Stand by, he's on the other -- he's on the [cherry pin?] right now.
?: Its very important.
CROWN: Who's calling, please?
?: [three garbled syllables -- a name?] ...in Dallas.
CROWN: OK. Stand by one. [long pause]
AF-1: This is AF-1. Warrior advises unable to speak with you at the present time and asks you to please call White House in about thirty minutes. Go ahead.
?: That's a Roger. Out.
AF-1: Roger.
---
AF-1: Andrews, AF-1.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews, go ahead.
AF-1: Roger. Would you give me SAM Command Post. please?
ANDREWS: Yes sir.
SAM COMMAND POST: SAM Command Post, Sgt. [Brent?].
ANDREWS: Roger, Andrews [two garbled syllables] I have AF-1 for a patch.
SAM COMMAND POST: OK, go ahead.
ANDREWS: Roger. [to AF-1] AF-1, Andrews. SAM Command Post on, go ahead.
AF-1: Roger. Do you have an ETA on the C-130 with the vehicles?
SAM COMMAND POST: Negative, sir. Haven't heard a thing from 'em, sir. Over.
AF-1: OK. Alright, thank you.
SAM COMMAND POST: We'll check it out.
---
ANDREWS: Air Force Command Post, please.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Air Force Command Post, Sgt. Phillips [phonetic], sir.
ANDREWS: Roger, this is [two garbled syllables], I have AF-1 for a patch.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger. Stand by for AF-1.
ANDREWS: Go 'head, Andrews. AF-1.
AF-1: Roger, Command Post. AF-1 landed Andrews at 2300.
AIR FORCE COMMAND POST: Roger. Air Force Command Post, out.
AF-1: Andrews, make it 04, please.
ANDREWS: AF-1, Andrews. Roger. On the blocks at 04. Have a good day, sir.
AF-1: OK, thank you.
---
End Transcript Tape 3 -- Side 1
End Transcript of Radio Traffic 22 November 63
---
[Tapes were purchased by Randolph Robertson, M.D. from the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and transcribed by Kathlee A. Cunningham in August, 1993.]