But the followup car conked out. The crowds were surging around the President's car. We had two men next to the President's car. I left the followup car immediately, from my experience, and jumped on the step, to the right rear of the President, and held onto the handgrip, and was there. And then when the man came back, I relieved him and took my position on the side—until, for a distance of a mile or two, until such time as the followup car got underway, and the other people came up. But you had to stay with the President under those circumstances.
So those are the different things that occur in a given situation.
The Chairman. Chief, as I understand this, President Kennedy did not give any general instructions to the agents never to ride on his car. It was only in specific circumstances where for one reason or another he did not want them on there at that particular time.
Mr. Rowley. No President will tell the Secret Service what they can or cannot do.
(At this point, Representative Boggs withdrew from the hearing room.)
Mr. Rowley. Sometimes it might be as a political man or individual he might think this might not look good in a given situation. But that does not mean per se that he doesn't want you on there. And I don't think anyone with commonsense interprets it as such.
The Chairman. Yes.
Mr. Rowley. I think there are certain things that you have to allow the man who is operating as a politician, and not as head of state. I mean this makes a difference in your operation.
Mr. Rankin. Chief Rowley, did you give us a report of the activities in protecting the President at and around Parkland Hospital?
Mr. Rowley. Yes, sir.