have the top up or down on the car, because there was still an occasional drop of rain. However, a few minutes elapsed, and it appeared the weather would stay good for the drive to the airport. So he left, to the best of my recollection--I feel sure of this--in an open car to the airport from the hotel.

Mr. Adams.

While we are on that subject, just to digress for a moment, what was his attitude toward riding in open cars?
Mr. O'BRIEN. It was certainly his preference. He had always expressed a view that in our democracy a President should, whenever possible, be exposed to the people. And I think, also, he felt the people should be exposed to him. He always wanted to have the closest possible contact with people. And in that context his preference certainly at all times was an open car.

Mr. Adams.

And these preferences were expressed to you personally?
Mr. O'BRIEN. Not in the context of this particular situation.

Mr. Adams.

No; I mean through the years.
Mr. O'BRIEN. But certainly we were totally aware of his desires in that area. And this had, of course, been his position not only in the United States but in trips outside the country.

Mr. Adams.

Did he have--did he ever happen to express any particular view to you about motorcades, in terms of security?
Mr. O'BRIEN. No; I cannot recall any discussion I had with him in that regard.

Mr. Adams.

Generally speaking, what was his position as expressed to you about security?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I cannot recall any specific conversation in that area. There may have been. But certainly it was not of sufficient substance to be of any importance.

Mr. Adams.

More specifically, did you ever discuss with him the possibility of assassination?
Mr. O'BRIEN. No; I did not.

Mr. Adams.

Did you ever discuss it with Mrs. Kennedy?
Mr. O'BRIEN. No; I did not.

Mr. Adams.

Well, I took you off the track there. We will come back to Fort Worth, now, if we may.
When we left we were discussing his concluding his talk and going out to the airport in Fort Worth.
Mr. O'BRIEN. Yes; there were, as I recall it, some bands en route. There was a great deal of excitement, enthusiasm. The weather had cleared. And it was a thoroughly pleasant trip out to the airport. The President obviously enjoyed it.
When we arrived at Air Force I, he commented that that certainly had been a very interesting and pleasant morning.

Mr. Adams.

And you went with him on Air Force I?
Mr. O'BRIEN. That is correct.

Mr. Adams.

To Dallas--arriving late in the morning?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I would estimate our arrival time at Dallas perhaps around 11:45. I know that we anticipated the motorcade through the streets of Dallas at the noon hour.

Mr. Adams.

Did you yourself have anything to do with the planning of that motorcade?
Mr. O'BRIEN. No; I did not.

Mr. Adams.

Do you-----
Mr. O'BRIEN. With the exception of insuring the inclusion in the motorcade of the Members of Congress and Senator Yarborough, that they be properly handled so that they would be included in open cars in the motorcade.

Mr. Adams.

And it was part of your responsibility to see that--what cars they got into and all those arrangements?
Mr. O'BRIEN. I would not say specifically that. They would have their car assignments. But for the most part, it was, if anything went wrong in the arrangements at some point, I would then be able to have a staff man correct it. So I would keep a close eye on the congressional people traveling with the President on a trip of that nature to be sure that they were well taken care of.

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