Mr. O'Donnell. I did not. I was looking at the crowd. And I frankly didn't look at the building, except when there were people in the windows. And as we made that turn, I had been standing—I remember I sat down. And as far as I was concerned, that was the end—we were then going to the luncheon—and I didn't notice any building at all.
Mr. Specter. Were you familiar with the identity of the specific plaza there, being known as Dealey Plaza?
Mr. O'Donnell. I was not. I afterward have reflected on it many times.
Mr. Specter. Tell us what occurred then as you made that turn away from the crowded downtown Dallas area and headed toward the plaza area.
Mr. O'Donnell. Well, I sat down. I remember saying to Dave Powers that it was a fantastic crowd. He agreed.
We turned. I remember the overpass. And then the shots occurred—which, at that time, I did not know were shots. My first impression was it was a firecracker. And then either somebody said, "He has been hit," or I noticed the slump—he had been waving out the right side of the car, and I noticed him slump over toward Mrs. Kennedy, and I realized then that they had been shots. But as fast as that realization occurred, I saw the third shot hit. It was such a perfect shot—I remember I blessed myself. I was rather convinced that was a fatal blow.
Mr. Specter. When you say you made a turn, which way did the motorcade turn?
Mr. O'Donnell. Turned to the left.
Mr. Specter. And approximately how far behind the Presidential vehicle was the followup car at that time?
Mr. O'Donnell. My guess would be 5 to 8 feet, the normal—when there are large crowds, pressing in on the side, they try to stay close. It was moving at a steady pace. The crowds were orderly. So he was at a normal—I would presume they were just about turning to step up the speed a little bit, because there would be no crowds from there.