dale carpenter kennedy Newly uncovered footage of President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade racing to the hospital after his assassination is set to hit the auction block later this month. This rare 8 mm film captures poignant and previously unseen moments of the frantic rush following the tragic events of November 22, 1963.
What the Footage Reveals
The film, which will be auctioned by RR Auction in Boston on September 28, begins with Dale Carpenter Sr. capturing the motorcade’s journey down Lemmon Avenue in Dallas. The footage then dramatically shifts to show the motorcade speeding down Interstate 35 after Kennedy was shot. The 10-second clip features Secret Service Agent Clint Hill, who famously leapt onto the back of the limousine, standing over Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy as they sped towards Parkland Memorial Hospital.
Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, described the footage as “remarkable” and noted that it vividly conveys the urgency of the situation. The color film provides a unique perspective, offering a raw look at the motorcade’s desperate race to save the president.
Historical Context and Impact
The assassination of JFK has been a subject of intense scrutiny and public interest for over six decades. The footage adds to the wealth of historical material about that day, complementing the famous Zapruder film, which captured the assassination itself. Historian and filmmaker Farris Rookstool III, who has viewed the film, believes it provides a “fresh look at the race to Parkland,” offering a more comprehensive view of the events immediately following the shooting.
The Discovery and Its Significance
James Gates, Carpenter’s grandson, discovered the footage years after his grandfather’s death. Initially unimpressed by the Lemmon Avenue portion, Gates was taken aback by the dramatic scenes from Interstate 35. His discovery of the footage and subsequent efforts to share it with Clint Hill and his co-author Lisa McCubbin Hill highlight the personal and historical significance of the film.
McCubbin Hill, who reviewed the footage, expressed the emotional weight of seeing the moment Hill described in his book. The footage adds a new dimension to historical accounts of the assassination, showcasing the chaotic and tragic moments that followed.
Auction Details and Future Use
The auction house has released still images from the film but will not publicly release the video until after the auction. This decision has sparked interest from historians and filmmakers who hope the footage will be preserved and utilized to further explore and understand the events of that fateful day.
Stephen Fagin, curator at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, noted that such discoveries are not uncommon, as new materials related to historical events frequently surface. The JFK assassination remains one of the most researched and documented events in American history, with new findings continuing to enrich our understanding.
The auction of this rare footage underscores the ongoing fascination with JFK’s assassination and the continuous quest to uncover and preserve historical artifacts related to one of the most pivotal moments in American history.
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