The Last Ride
Herskowitz, John Connally with Mickey
The Last Ride This is then-Texas Governor John Connally's recollection of the motorcade that was to take him, his wife Nellie, and President and Mrs. Kennedy from a wildly enthusiastic reception at...
...There will be a Houston Chronicle poll out tomorrow," I said, "which should give us some ideas...
...Nellie leaned sideways between the jump seats and said proudly, over the roar of the crowd: "You can't say now that Dallas doesn't love you, Mr...
...And then he turned his head slightly and said, "Jackie, take off your gloves...
...With an edge of sarcasm, he added, "He's probably a nice guy...
...He smiled and said, "I see them everywhere I go...
...when the President noticed, he said, in a low voice, "Take off your glasses, Jackie...
...Some of the schools had let out early and the girls were jumping in front of the limousine, creating pandemonium for the Secret Service agents...
...He would charm more of them at the luncheon—for which we were already late—and at the dinner that night in Austin...
...Copyright 1993 by John Connally with Mickey Herskowitz...
...See that sign, John...
...That doesn't surprise me," he said, and those were the last words we exchanged...
...Kennedy had managed to slip on her sunglasses...
...The people on the street were his...
...We passed a school and the children poured into the street, so excited they were shaking my hand, too...
...President," I said, "I think it will show me running a little ahead of you...
...I felt exuberant...
...Kennedy as the President...
...She may not have realized it, but you might as well put on a mask as dark sunglasses, which have the same effect of hiding one's face and emotions and making it useless to take part in a parade like this one...
...he asked...
...They were hanging out of the windows ten stories up, waving banners and signs...
...At that instant, the big dark blue car turned off Main Street and slowly negotiated the turn under the looming School Book Depository building, and dipped down the hill in the bright sunshine...
...I think it will show that you carry the state, but that it will be a close election...
...He was watching the crowd, waving at them steadily with a stiff forearm, his right hand moving only a few inches out from his face and back...
...From In History's Shadow, by John Connally with Mickey Her-skowitz...
...He had been pumped up by the reception and his political interest was quickening...
...The business community, whose help he would need in 1964, had found him sincere and unthreaten-ing...
...It was an incredible show, directed as much at Mrs...
...I kept hearing a rumble behind me—I was on the right side of the jump seat, in front of the President, and Nellie on the left side, in front of Jackie...
...Several minutes later, in perhaps a forgetful moment, she had slipped them back on, and I heard him say in exactly the same tone: "Take off the glasses, Jackie...
...The President looked hearty and confident...
...She had not campaigned with him since 1960, and was making her second appearance in public since the death of their infant son, Patrick, in August...
...It was a small movement and struck me as curiously formal, but I could see it was effective...
...As we neared the center of town, people were packing the sidewalks clear back to the buildings...
...At a point where the crowds and the noise slackened momentarily, he asked how I thought things were looking in Texas...
...I said that I had, and hoped he had not...
...He nudged my shoulder and motioned with his thumb...
...Oh...
...Over and over, he repeated himself to people who could not possibly hear him, but who could sense that he was answering them, and who knew that a contact had been made...
...How will it show you running...
...I believe it said, simply, "KENNEDY, GO HOME...
...He smiled and nodded...
...By now, Mrs...
...It sounded like a low monotone, and then I realized he was responding to the crowd, "Thank you, thank you, thank you...
...We saw only one negative sign...
...What is it going to show...
...I had the distinct feeling she was unbending, relaxing, learning to accept and enjoy this outpouring of affection...
...The crowds were going wild, swelling larger and larger...
...Kennedy from a wildly enthusiastic reception at Dallas' Love Field to a luncheon at the city's Trade Mart on November 22,1963...
...To be published by Hyperion in November...
...They were smiling, laughing, pointing, waving, shrieking...
Vol. 25 • January 1993 • No. 11
