John F. Kennedy
When a friend said, “you certainly cannot say that the people of Dallas haven’t given you a nice welcome, Mr. President,” JFK responded with his final words: “No, you certainly can’t.”
Turns out to be Mrs. Connally (Governor's wife) who said this to JFK. Here's where it comes from (Warren Commission, the words of Jacqueline Kennedy) as Mrs. Kennedy describes them driving away from a less populated area into that famous part of Dallas, very shortly before the event.
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Mrs. KENNEDY. Yes. It was rather scattered going in. Once there was a crowd of people with a sign saying something like "President Kennedy, please get out and shake our hands, our neighbors said you wouldn't."
Mr. RANKIN. Did you?
Mrs. KENNEDY. And he stopped and got out. That was, you know, like a little suburb and there were not many crowds. But then the crowds got bigger as you went in.
Mr. RANKIN. As you got into the main street of Dallas were there very large crowds on all the streets?
Mrs. KENNEDY. Yes.
Mr. RANKIN. And you waved to them and proceeded down the street with the motorcade?
Mrs. KENNEDY. Yes. And in the motorcade, you know, I usually would be waving mostly to the left side and he was waving mostly to the right, which is one reason you are not looking at each other very much. And it was terribly hot. Just blinding all of us.
Mr. RANKIN. Now, do you remember as you turned off of the main street onto Houston Street?
Mrs. KENNEDY. I don't know the name of the street.
Mr. RANKin. That is that one block before you get to the Depository Building.
Mrs. KENNEDY. Well, I remember whenever it was, Mrs. Connally said, "We will soon be there." We could see a tunnel in front of us. Everything was really slow then. And I remember thinking it would be so cool under that tunnel.
Mr. RANKIN. And then do you remember as you turned off of Houston onto Elm right by the Depository Building?
Mrs. KENNEDY. Well, I don't know the names of the streets, but I suppose right by the Depository is what you are talking about?
Mr. RANKIN. Yes; that is the street that sort of curves as you go down under the underpass.
Mr. KENNEDY. Yes; well, that is when she said to President Kennedy, "You certainly can't say that the people of Dallas haven't given you a nice welcome.
Mr. RANKIN. What did he say?
Mrs. KENNEDY. I think he said-I don't know if I remember it or I have read it, "No, you certainly can't," or something. And you know then the car was very slow and there weren't very many people around.
And then--do you want me to tell you what happened?
Mr. RANKIN. Yes; if you would, please.
Mrs. KENNEDY. You know, there is always noise in a motorcade and there are always motorcycles, besides us, a lot of them backfiring. So I was looking to the left. I guess there was a noise, but it didn't seem like any different noise really because there is so much noise, motorcycles and things. But then suddenly Governor Connally was yelling, "Oh, no, no, no."
Mr. RANKIN. Did he turn toward you?
Mrs. KENNEDY. No; I was looking this way, to the left, and I heard these terrible noises. You know. And my husband never made any sound. So I turned to the right. And all I remember is seeing my husband, he had this sort of quizzical look on his face, and his hand was up, it must have been his left hand. And just as I turned and looked at him, I could see a piece of his skull and I remember it was flesh colored. I remember thinking he just looked as if he had a slight headache. And I just remember seeing that. No blood or anything.
And then he sort of did this [indicating], put his hand to his forehead and fell in my lap.
And then I just remember falling on him and saying, "Oh, no, no, no," I mean, "Oh, my God, they have shot my husband." And "I love you, Jack," I remember I was shouting. And just being down in the car with his head in my lap. And it just seemed an eternity.
You know, then, there were pictures later on of me climbing out the back. But I don't remember that at all.
(Warren Commission)
