Mr. Kantor.

Yes; that is right. And I had difficulty reaching Washington.

Mr. Griffin.

Let me interrupt you here. Did you have to go through a hospital operator?

Mr. Kantor.

I am just trying to remember. I don't think it was a pay phone, and I think my trouble ,was dialing and getting out. I made several attempts at it, as I recall, and finally got a Dallas long-distance operator, who put me through to Washington. I think .that is where the problem had been--just getting out. And I telephoned what I could to the Scripps-Howard office in Washington--that is, the little bit I had seen, and the comments I had gotten from Senator Yarborough.

Mr. Griffin.

Now, at the time you made this telephone call, what was your impression as to the condition of the President?

Mr. Kantor.

I had no idea, beyond the fact that I had seen the blood and that Senator Yarborough had told me that something very terrible had happened.
While on the phone, I discovered that I was immediately across the hall from a door which led from the emergency area. I saw Mrs. Johnson being led out, I believe, on the arm of a Secret Service man on one side and on the arm of Representative Jack Brooks, of Texas, on the other. And I saw a priest coming out of this area---out of this doorway.

Mr. Griffin.

Are you able to describe what was behind that door, other than it was an emergency door?

Mr. Kantor.

I attempted actually to go in before I got on the phone, and the Secret Service man who was stationed there told me I couldn't go in.

Mr. Griffin.

Did you later find out what was in that area?

Mr. Kantor.

NOt exactly. A few days later I got a description of what the emergency area was like inside. But I don't know exactly which part of it I was facing at the time I was on the telephone. I was dictating a story in to Jim Lucas of Scripps-Howard, and just describing things as I saw them unfold in the hallway at that point.

Mr. Griffin.

About how long did this telephone conversation with Mr. Lucas last?

Mr. Kantor.

Well, counting the time that it took me to get Washington, and my story dictated, I would say about 20 to 25 minutes.

Mr. Griffin.

When you make a long-distance telephone call to your home office, do you use a credit card, or is there some other indication used by the telephone company for billing purposes?

Mr. Kantor.

No; I just called direct.

Mr. Griffin.

Can you tell us the telephone number that you called in Washington?

Mr. Kantor.

Yes; I called District 7-7750.

Mr. Griffin.

Were there other Scripps-Howard representatives at Parkland Hospital at the time you made this call?

Mr. Kantor.

No; I was the only person on the trip for Scripps-Howard.

Mr. Griffin.

Did you ask for any particular person? Was it a station-to-station call?

Mr. Kantor.

It was a station-to-station call, and the switchboard operator gave me a man by the name of Charles Egger, who is managing editor of Scripps-Howard.

Mr. Griffin.

After you had completed that telephone call, what did you do?

Mr. Kantor.

I walked into the hall where I saw two Texas Congressmen who were on the trip, Representatives Henry Gonzalez and Albert Thomas, standing together. They were immobile, and they were standing against a wall. I asked them for whatever they could tell me. Henry Gonzalez appeared to be unable to speak. At least he did not speak. And Albert Thomas told me that a brain surgeon had been brought in for the President.
That was the first I knew that the President had been hit in the head. It was at that point, when Malcolm Kilduff, who was in charge of press arrangements for the White House on the trip, came behind me and just touched my back as he passed by, and he said, "Come with me, I have an announcement to make."

Mr. Griffin.

Where did you go?

Mr. Kantor.

I followed him out of the emergency door and on to the grass. He was accompanied by Merriman Smith, who was incessantly asking for what-