William Greer
William Greer | |
|---|---|
 ThePresidential limousineshortly before Kennedy's assassination. Greer is in the driver seat. AgentRoy Kellermanis in the front passenger seat. | |
| Born | William Robert Greer September 22, 1909 Stewartstown, County Tyrone,Ireland |
| Died | February 23, 1985(aged 75) Waynesville,North Carolina, U.S. |
| Resting place | Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesville |
William Robert Greer(September 22, 1909 – February 23, 1985) was an agent of theU.S. Secret Service,best known as being the driver of PresidentJohn F. Kennedy'spresidential limousinein the motorcade throughDealey Plazain Dallas on November 22, 1963, whenthe president was assassinated.
History
Greer was born on a farm inStewartstown, County Tyrone,Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1929. He worked for over a decade as achauffeurand servant to several wealthy families, including theLodge familyin Boston and a family in Dobbs Ferry, New York. DuringWorld War II,Greer enlisted in theU.S. Navyand was assigned to thepresidential yachtin May, 1944. After his discharge in 1945, he joined theUnited States Secret Serviceon October 1 of that year.[1]
Greer's duties brought him into close contact with Kennedy, and he can be seen in several pictures with the Kennedy family. He chauffeured the president on many occasions, including in Dallas. As with all agents involved, there has much speculation about, and criticism of, his actions on that day. Greer testified before theWarren Commissionon March 9, 1964.[2]
Greer retired on disability from the Secret Service in 1966 due to a stomachulcerthat grew worse following the Kennedy assassination.[3][4]In 1973 he relocated toWaynesville, North Carolina,[5]where he died of cancer.
Analysis and criticism
Secret Service procedures in place at the time did not allow Greer to take action without orders from senior agentRoy Kellerman,who sat to Greer's right. Kellerman has stated that he shouted, "Let's get out of line, we've been hit," but that Greer apparently turned to look at Kennedy before accelerating the car.[6][7]
No agents were disciplined for their performance during the shooting, but privately,Jackie Kennedywas bitterly critical of the agents' performance, Greer's in particular, comparing him to the Kennedy children's nanny.[8]Greer later apologized to her.[specify][9]
References
- ^"Did Stewartstown native kill JFK?".Tyrone Times.Dungannon, Northern Ireland. July 17, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon July 29, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 17,2013.
- ^"Testimony Of William Robert Greer, Special Agent, Secret Service".Hearings Before the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Volume II.Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1964. pp. 61, 112–132.
- ^Lewis, Alfred E. (July 2, 1966). "Kennedy Death Car Driver Is Retiring With His Memories".The Washington Post.p. A5.
- ^"Article 1–No Title".The Washington Post.February 28, 1985. p. C6.
- ^Ohnesorge, Steve (2013)."Secret Service agent: I was in the front seat when Kennedy was assassinated".WBTV.Raycom Media.RetrievedJanuary 1,2018.
- ^Philip H. Melanson,with Peter F. Stevens,The Secret Service: The Hidden History of an Enigmatic Agency,(Carroll & Graf, 2002), p. 74.
- ^The Death of a Presidentby William Manchester (Perennial Edition, 1988), page 160.
- ^Mary Gallagher,My Life With Jacqueline Kennedy,McKay, 1969, pp. 343, 351
- ^William Manchester,The Death of a President,Harper & Row, 1967, p. 290.