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| {{Short description|American Secret Service agent}} | |||
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| {{for multi|the Anglican bishop|William Greer (bishop)|the American politician from Maryland|William C. Greer|the president of Virginia Wesleyan College|William Thomas Greer Jr.}} | |||
| '''William Robert Greer''' (], ] - ], ]) was an agent of the ], best known for having driven President ]'s automobile in the motorcade through ] in ] on ], ], when ]. Greer was also involved in the aftermath of the assassination, including maintaining custody of the president's body and clothing<ref>President's Commission on The Assassination of President Kennedy, ''Investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy'', (United States Government, 1964), Volume II, p. 125</ref>. Despite the fatal delay on Elm Street<ref>Philip H. Mellanson, with Peter F. Stevens, ''The Secret Service: The Hidden History of an Enigmatic Agency,'' (Carroll & Graf, 2002), p. 74</ref>, Greer was neither reprimanded nor demoted. And although no court or official report has ever alleged wrongdoing on his part, published researchers continue to explore Greer's possible complicity in the assassination. | |||
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| {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}} | |||
| {{Infobox person | |||
| ⚫ | |name=William Greer | ||
| |image=JFK limousine.png | |||
| |alt= | |||
| ⚫ | |caption=The ] shortly before Kennedy's assassination. Greer is in the driver seat. Agent ] is in the front passenger seat. | ||
| |birth_name=William Robert Greer | |||
| |birth_date={{birth date|1909|9|22}} | |||
| |birth_place=], Ireland | |||
| |death_date={{death date and age|1985|2|23|1909|9|22}} | |||
| |death_place=], North Carolina, U.S. | |||
| |resting_place=Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesville | |||
| }} | |||
| '''William Robert Greer''' (September 22, 1909 – February 23, 1985) was an Irish-born agent of the ], best known as being the driver of President ]'s ] in the motorcade through ] in Dallas on November 22, 1963, when ]. | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| Greer was born on a farm in ], Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1929. He worked for over a decade as a ] and servant to several wealthy families, including the ] in Boston and a family in Dobbs Ferry, New York. During ], Greer enlisted in the ] and was assigned to the ] in May, 1944. After his discharge in 1945, he joined the ] on October 1 of that year.<ref name="Tyrone Times">{{cite news|title=Did Stewartstown native kill JFK?|url=http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/news/local/did-stewartstown-native-kill-jfk-1-1747006|access-date=January 17, 2013|newspaper=]|date=July 17, 2008|location=Dungannon, Northern Ireland|archive-date=July 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729173942/http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/news/local/did-stewartstown-native-kill-jfk-1-1747006|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013 it was publicly discovered that while in Ireland he had been a member of the Drumbonaway lodge of the ].<ref name=Newsletter>{{cite news |last1=Rainey |first1=Mark |title=JFK’s driver Bill Greer ‘harboured no anti-Catholic sentiments’ |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126080128/https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/jfk-s-driver-bill-greer-harboured-no-anti-catholic-sentiments-1-5702786 |work=] |date=23 November 2013}}</ref> | |||
| Greer was born on a farm in ], ], and emigrated to the United States in 1930. After working for over a decade as a ] and servant to several wealthy families in the Boston area, including the ], Greer enlisted in the ] in ], and then joined the ] on ], ]. | |||
| 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 the ] on March 9, 1964.<ref name="WCR-HII">{{cite book |title=Hearings Before the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Volume II |url=http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?absPageId=15601 |year=1964 |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=61, 112–132 |chapter=Testimony Of William Robert Greer, Special Agent, Secret Service |chapter-url=http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?absPageId=15720 |ref={{harvid|Hearings Before the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Volume II|1964}}}}</ref> Greer testified that he heard three shots, the first he thought was the ] of a motorcycle and so did not react. About three or four seconds later he heard a second shot which prompted him to turn around and as he did so he noticed Governor Connally was wounded. He describes the second and third shots as occurring "simultaneously, one behind the other".<ref>Warren Commission Hearings, Volume II, pp. 117-8</ref> According to Greer's nephew, Ken Torrens, when he asked Greer if he thought Oswald was guilty he replied "No comment".<ref name=Newsletter/> | |||
| Greer took a role close to Kennedy, and can be seen in several pictures with the Kennedy family. He chauffeured the president on many occasions, including the day of the assassination. Like all agents involved, he has been the target of much speculation and criticism for his actions on that day. He was interviewed by the ] after the assassination and testified before the ] regarding the incident. | |||
| Greer retired on disability from the Secret Service in 1966 due to a stomach ] that grew worse following the Kennedy assassination.<ref> |
Greer retired on disability from the Secret Service in 1966 due to a stomach ] that grew worse following the Kennedy assassination.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kennedy Death Car Driver Is Retiring With His Memories|first=Alfred E.|last=Lewis|newspaper=]|date=July 2, 1966|page=A5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Article 1–No Title|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 28, 1985|page=C6}}</ref> In 1973 he relocated to ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wbtv.com/story/24015463/secret-service-agent-limo-driver-on-kennedy-assassination |title=Secret Service agent: I was in the front seat when Kennedy was assassinated |first=Steve |last=Ohnesorge |date=2013 |access-date=January 1, 2018 |publisher=Raycom Media |website=]}}</ref> where he later died of cancer. | ||
| ==Analysis and criticism== | |||
| ==Fatal delay== | |||
| Secret Service procedures in place at the time did not allow Greer to take action without orders from senior agent ], 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.<ref>], with Peter F. Stevens, ''The Secret Service: The Hidden History of an Enigmatic Agency,'' (Carroll & Graf, 2002), p. 74.</ref><ref>'']'' by William Manchester (Perennial Edition, 1988), page 160.</ref> | |||
| No agents were disciplined for their performance during the shooting, but privately, ] was bitterly critical of the agents' performance, Greer's in particular, comparing him to the Kennedy children's nanny.<ref>Mary Gallagher, ''My Life With Jacqueline Kennedy,'' McKay, 1969, pp. 343, 351</ref> Greer later "apologized" to her, in a distinctly menacing fashion, as William Manchester recounted in his semi-authorized account of the assassination: "Bill Greer, his face streaked with tears, took her head between his hands and squeezed until she thought he was going to squeeze her skull flat. He cried, 'Oh, Mrs. Kennedy, oh my God, oh my God. I didn’t mean to do it, I didn’t hear, I should have swerved (sic) the car, I couldn’t help it. Oh, Mrs. Kennedy, as soon as I saw it I swerved. If only I’d seen in time! Oh!' Then he released her head and put his arms around her and wept on her shoulder."<ref>William Manchester, ''The Death of a President,'' Harper & Row, 1967, p. 290.</ref> | |||
| Greer did not discuss slowing the car in his statement to the FBI on the night of the assassination, nor did he mention this aspect to the Warren Commission during the official investigation.<ref>President's Commission on The Assassination of President Kennedy, ''Investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy'', (United States Government, 1964), Volume II, pp. 112-132</ref> His testimony also seems to deny that he turned to look directly at Kennedy during the shooting, although the ] shows him doing this. Greer also testified that he turned to look back only once.<ref>President's Commission on The Assassination of President Kennedy, ''Investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy'', (United States Government, 1964), Volume II, p. 117</ref> However, in the Zapruder film, Greer looks back during frames 280-289 and again during frames 301-313, this time with his entire torso turned around. This second turn corresponds with the fatal delay just .05 seconds before the head shot. The film also shows that Greer rapidly accelerated the vehicle only after the fatal shot had been fired. | |||
| Greer later delivered a heartfelt, but confused, apology to ], seeming to claim that either he hadn't heard the shots or that he hadn't reacted in time.<ref>William Manchester, ''The Death of a President,'' Harper & Row, 1967, p. 290</ref> Privately, Mrs. Kennedy was bitterly critical of the agents' performance, Greer's in particular, comparing his efforts to those of "Maud Shaw" (the Kennedy childrens' nanny).<ref>Mary Gallagher, ''My Life With Jacqueline Kennedy,'' McKay, 1969, pp. 343, 351</ref> | |||
| The FBI interviewed Greer after the assassination and, although agents Kellerman and Behn were also interviewed, Greer's interview is unique in that his physical description is also recorded in the 11/27/63 FBI report.<ref> Please see: http://history-matters.com/archive/jfk/arrb/master_med_set/pdf/md152.pdf</ref> | |||
| ==Constant vigilance== | |||
| Greer's involvement in the events of November 22-23, 1963 was not limited to his usual duties as driver of the presidential limo. Rather than being relieved after an apparent breach of Secret Service procedure (his failure to accelerate the limo as described by agent Kellerman above), Greer told the ] that he and Kellerman were responsible for a "constant vigilance" over the president’s body<ref>House Select Committee on Assassinations, Interview of William R. Greer, Feb. 28, 1978, pp. 2, 8 (JFK Document 014059)</ref> until the conclusion of the official autopsy and preparations for burial.<ref>Vincent Palamara, ''Survivor's Guilt,'' Palamara, 2006 Chapter 8, pp. 9, 14</ref> | |||
| In images and films of the arrival of the president's body at ], Greer and Kellerman are seen lowering the president's casket.<ref>David S. Lifton, ''Best Evidence: Disguise and Deception in the Assassination of John F. Kennedy,'' (Macmillan, 1980), p. 243</ref> Greer is also seen ejecting the crew from the waiting ambulance, and climbing into the driver's seat. He drove the ambulance to ] for the autopsy, and later drove the ambulance containing the president's casket from Bethesda to the ]. | |||
| Greer was also part of the Secret Service detail that forcibly removed the president's body from Parkland<ref> James Fetzer, with Ira David Wood III, ''Murder in Dealy Plaza'', (Catfeet Press, 2000), p. 96</ref>, barred FBI agents from entering the autopsy room prior to the autopsy in Bethesda<ref> David S. Lifton, ''Best Evidence: Disguise and Deception in the Assassination of John F. Kennedy,'' (Macmillan, 1980), p. 392</ref>, and destroyed an entire roll of negative film taken by the autopsy photographer.<ref>David S. Lifton, ''Best Evidence: Disguise and Deception in the Assassination of John F. Kennedy,'' (Macmillan, 1980), p. 637</ref> When contrasted with his fatal delay relating to Kennedy's death, Greer's constant vigilance in controlling prima facie evidence (that was legally under the jurisdiction of the Dallas authorities and the FBI) continues to fuel speculation of a role beyond merely "the driver".<ref>Vincent Palamara, ''Survivor's Guilt,'' Palamara, 2006 Chapter 8</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| <references/> | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * {{Find a Grave|17844947}} | |||
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| {{Assassination of John F. Kennedy}} | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 22:35, 10 November 2024
American Secret Service agent For the Anglican bishop, see William Greer (bishop). For the American politician from Maryland, see William C. Greer. For the president of Virginia Wesleyan College, see William Thomas Greer Jr.
| William Greer | |
|---|---|
 The Presidential limousine shortly before Kennedy's assassination. Greer is in the driver seat. Agent Roy Kellerman is in the front passenger seat. | |
| Born | William Robert Greer (1909-09-22)September 22, 1909 Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Ireland |
| Died | February 23, 1985(1985-02-23) (aged 75) Waynesville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Resting place | Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesville |
William Robert Greer (September 22, 1909 – February 23, 1985) was an Irish-born agent of the U.S. Secret Service, best known as being the driver of President John F. Kennedy's presidential limousine in the motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas on November 22, 1963, when the president was assassinated.
History
Greer was born on a farm in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1929. He worked for over a decade as a chauffeur and servant to several wealthy families, including the Lodge family in Boston and a family in Dobbs Ferry, New York. During World War II, Greer enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the presidential yacht in May, 1944. After his discharge in 1945, he joined the United States Secret Service on October 1 of that year. In 2013 it was publicly discovered that while in Ireland he had been a member of the Drumbonaway lodge of the Orange Order.
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 the Warren Commission on March 9, 1964. Greer testified that he heard three shots, the first he thought was the backfire of a motorcycle and so did not react. About three or four seconds later he heard a second shot which prompted him to turn around and as he did so he noticed Governor Connally was wounded. He describes the second and third shots as occurring "simultaneously, one behind the other". According to Greer's nephew, Ken Torrens, when he asked Greer if he thought Oswald was guilty he replied "No comment".
Greer retired on disability from the Secret Service in 1966 due to a stomach ulcer that grew worse following the Kennedy assassination. In 1973 he relocated to Waynesville, North Carolina, where he later 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 agent Roy 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.
No agents were disciplined for their performance during the shooting, but privately, Jackie Kennedy was bitterly critical of the agents' performance, Greer's in particular, comparing him to the Kennedy children's nanny. Greer later "apologized" to her, in a distinctly menacing fashion, as William Manchester recounted in his semi-authorized account of the assassination: "Bill Greer, his face streaked with tears, took her head between his hands and squeezed until she thought he was going to squeeze her skull flat. He cried, 'Oh, Mrs. Kennedy, oh my God, oh my God. I didn’t mean to do it, I didn’t hear, I should have swerved (sic) the car, I couldn’t help it. Oh, Mrs. Kennedy, as soon as I saw it I swerved. If only I’d seen in time! Oh!' Then he released her head and put his arms around her and wept on her shoulder."
References
- "Did Stewartstown native kill JFK?". Tyrone Times. Dungannon, Northern Ireland. July 17, 2008. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ^ Rainey, Mark (November 23, 2013). "JFK's driver Bill Greer 'harboured no anti-Catholic sentiments'". Belfast Newsletter.
- "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.
- Warren Commission Hearings, Volume II, pp. 117-8
- 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. Retrieved January 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 President by 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.