Newly Discovered JFK Motorcade Footage to Go Up for Auction

 Rare 8mm Film Captures Final Moments of President Kennedy’s Motorcade

Dallas, September 6, 2024— Newly discovered film footage of President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade speeding toward a Dallas hospital after his assassination will be auctioned later this month. The footage, which includes a rare glimpse of Secret Service Agent Clint Hill during the high-speed dash, will be offered by RR Auction in Boston on September 28.

Historical Significance

The 8mm film, captured by Dale Carpenter Sr., begins with images of the motorcade as it travels down Lemmon Avenue. The film transitions to scenes of the motorcade racing down Interstate 35 after Kennedy was shot, lasting approximately 10 seconds. The footage shows Agent Hill, who famously leaped onto the back of the limousine, and Jacqueline Kennedy’s pink suit as the car speeds toward Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Stephen Fagin, curator at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, noted that the discovery of such footage is not uncommon even after more than 60 years. “These films and photographs are often found in attics or garages, rediscovered by families,” Fagin said.

A Surprising Find

Carpenter’s grandson, James Gates, uncovered the film in a milk crate of family movies and was initially underwhelmed by the Lemmon Avenue footage. However, the Interstate 35 footage shocked him, particularly the sight of Agent Hill’s precarious position on the limousine.

Gates reached out to Hill and his co-author, Lisa McCubbin Hill, to show them the footage before making any decisions about its release. McCubbin Hill expressed that seeing the footage provided a powerful visual confirmation of Hill’s harrowing experience.

Experts Weigh In

Historian and filmmaker Farris Rook stool III, who has reviewed the footage, described it as offering a fresh perspective on the rush to Parkland Hospital. He hopes the footage will be used in future documentaries.

Fagin added that the assassination’s shocking nature often led people to retain related materials. This is exemplified by the 2002 discovery of photographs taken by Jay Skaggs, who had previously been an unidentified photographer at Dealey Plaza.

Continued Interest in JFK Assassination Materials

In December 2022, the National Archives released over 13,000 documents related to JFK’s assassination, though some records remain withheld. Experts argue that additional sensitive information might still be concealed.

The auction of Carpenter’s film marks another chapter in the ongoing interest and discovery of materials related to one of the most scrutinized events in American history.