So when it was determined that there was going to be a downtown parade, Mr. Lawson, of course, wanted to know which would be the best route to take him to the Trade Mart from Love Field.
So Mr. Lawson and I drove what I thought would be the best route and the most direct route to the Trade Mart, bearing in mind that there would be a parade through the downtown section.
So we drove that route. And then later on we had the police go with us, and we went over the same route.
There were some discussions as to one section, whether it would be better to get onto what we have known as the Central Expressway there, and come off of it into Main Street. But that was ruled out because of safety measures, going into the expressway, and it would only be for such a short distance.
Another thing, too, they wanted as many people as possible to see him, that would not have any opportunity to see him on the Central Expressway.
So the route that we chose was from Love Field approach to Mockingbird Lane, left on Mockingbird Lane to Lemmon, down Lemmon to Turtle, right on Turtle Creek to Cedar Springs, left on Cedar Springs to Harwood, right from Harwood on Main Street, continue down Main Street to Houston Street, and then make a right-hand turn to Elm Street and then under the underpass to Stemmons Expressway, which was the most direct route from there and the most rapid route to the Trade Mart.
Mr. Stern. Excuse me—you said right-hand turn to Elm. I think you mean left.
Mr. Sorrels. A right-hand turn on Houston—I am sorry—and a left-hand turn on Elm.
Now, Elm is one way going west in the direction which we would have gone, but that street is not the street that they use for parades.
Main Street is right through the heart of the city. It is the best choice for parades. It gives an opportunity for more people—tall buildings on the side of the street—and it is almost invariably—every parade that is had is on Main Street. The one in 1936, when President Roosevelt was there, was the same route in reverse, so to speak.