Mr. Rankin. Chief, did you write me a letter for the Commission on April 22, in which you enclosed the statements of five of your agents in regard to President Kennedy's views about agents riding on the back of the car?
Mr. Rowley. Yes, sir.
Mr. Rankin. I will hand you Commission Exhibit No. 1025, and ask you if that is your transmittal letter with the statements attached.
(The document referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 1025 for identification.)
Mr. Rankin. Mr. Chairman, I offer in evidence Commission Exhibit No. 1025.
The Chairman. It may be admitted.
(The document heretofore marked for identification as Commission Exhibit No. 1025, was received in evidence.)
Mr. Rankin. Chief Rowley, I should like to have you state for the record, for the Commission, whether the action of President Kennedy in making these statements was understood by you or properly could have been understood by the agents as relieving them of any responsibility about the protection of the President.
Mr. Rowley. No; I would not so construe that, Mr. Rankin. The agents would respond regardless of what the President said if the situation indicated a potential danger. The facilities were available to them. They had the rear steps, they would be there as a part of the screen. And immediately in the event of any emergency they would have used them.
Mr. Rankin. Do you know why there was no one riding on the rear step at the time of the assassination?