Living History with J. Walter Coughlin

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza presented an interview with J. Walter Coughlin, a U.S. Secret Service agent from 1961 to 1977. Coughlin served on the details of President Kennedy, President Johnson, and Vice President Hubert Humphrey. The program was moderated by Museum Associate Curator Stephen Fagin. This presentation took place at the Museum on May 3, 2014 as part of the 2014 Living History Series.
To see related films, photos, documents and oral histories from The Sixth Floor Museum's collection, visit our online collections database (emuseum.jfk.org). Or make a research appointment to explore the books, DVDs and other materials available in the Museum's Reading Room (www.jfk.org/go/reading-room).

Пікірлер: 130

  • @generalcancel
    @generalcancel4 жыл бұрын

    What a thoroughly engaging, erudite, and entertaining interview. Thank you.

  • @melaniehefner1098
    @melaniehefner10985 жыл бұрын

    Love this fellow! Gives me hope in America!

  • @BetweenStations77
    @BetweenStations7710 жыл бұрын

    I love all these living history interviews.

  • @billyhamilton2775

    @billyhamilton2775

    3 жыл бұрын

    7U

  • @billyhamilton2775

    @billyhamilton2775

    3 жыл бұрын

    Uuuuu

  • @billyhamilton2775

    @billyhamilton2775

    3 жыл бұрын

    Uuu

  • @billyhamilton2775

    @billyhamilton2775

    3 жыл бұрын

    Uuuuu\

  • @billyhamilton2775

    @billyhamilton2775

    3 жыл бұрын

    Uuuuu\u

  • @onthejazzin77
    @onthejazzin778 жыл бұрын

    The only Secret Service Agent I've listened to and actually believed 100%

  • @Jay-vr9ir

    @Jay-vr9ir

    3 жыл бұрын

    Unlike Clint Hill , Hill likes to claim see no evil and not our fault excuse . At least that is the impression I get from Mr Innocent , Clint Hill. I would like Clint Hill and Micheal Franzese to be in the same room in front of the cameras to have a sit down and talk about Nov22/63 .

  • @jenniferwise8515

    @jenniferwise8515

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Jay-vr9ir Hill is as full of BS as most of the secret service on 11 22

  • @MTGrad1
    @MTGrad110 жыл бұрын

    Really enjoyed this candid interview!

  • @poppynurse
    @poppynurse7 жыл бұрын

    Great interview, and even a Rat Pack story thrown in! He is well spoken and a good storyteller.

  • @leebest1a470
    @leebest1a4703 жыл бұрын

    Great interview !

  • @dpitd
    @dpitd3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this. Wonderful interview.

  • @paulsdancing5429
    @paulsdancing5429 Жыл бұрын

    Acceptable discussion, except for the agent's statement that all the shots were fired from one direction - behind. There are numerous shows with videos, where witnesses state that shots came from the 'grassy knoll' direction - opposite to behind. It is amazing how many people see the truth on the side that butter's their bread.

  • @MissPerriwinkle
    @MissPerriwinkle2 жыл бұрын

    very delightful , thanks

  • @VincePalamarasecretservicejfk
    @VincePalamarasecretservicejfk10 жыл бұрын

    I am glad to see that Walt says that JFK was very cooperative with the agents. Good interview

  • @akumar7366
    @akumar73662 жыл бұрын

    This is one impressive gentleman, very interesting interview .

  • @kris308100
    @kris3081002 жыл бұрын

    All shots from the back. Really?. So how do you explain everyone saying , including Clint Hill the hole in the back of his head?. That's an exit wound. So that had to come from the front. Plus the 2nd and 3rd shots virtually on top of one another. Impossible to reload that quick.

  • @davidmoser3535

    @davidmoser3535

    10 ай бұрын

    You got it all WRONG, pally.

  • @charleshmansfield5786
    @charleshmansfield57868 жыл бұрын

    Fine interview, and I agree with his conclusion.

  • @ninnerj6400
    @ninnerj64003 жыл бұрын

    I liked him. I feel his theory behind a conspiracy is very plausible.

  • @aaronpaterson1615
    @aaronpaterson16153 жыл бұрын

    Well spoken man who grew up in an orphanage

  • @jerrymarshall2095
    @jerrymarshall20955 жыл бұрын

    That was great.im down with the mob theory.this guy is incredible.

  • @edcorrigan3156
    @edcorrigan315611 ай бұрын

    Know anything about "The Cellar" Mr. Coughlin?

  • @skippy3860
    @skippy38605 жыл бұрын

    James Garfield was assassinated in 1881, not 1896, but still a good interview.

  • @federico.iglesias.ferrara
    @federico.iglesias.ferrara2 жыл бұрын

    WoW ... BRAVO .... Great man, a true heroe

  • @randyharris3175
    @randyharris31754 жыл бұрын

    Shots high right folks

  • @akumar7366
    @akumar73662 жыл бұрын

    I wish this gentleman was on duty on the day , not that history would be different but you never know .

  • @rds333
    @rds3335 ай бұрын

    It's a well-known fact that the Secret Service agents who were present during the Kennedy administration, were constantly drinking on the job, engaged in prostitutes, and unable to perform their duties. Even when these events are reported to the upper management of the Secret Service, it largely was ignored. So it seems, this is a common practice. Also, during this time, it has been known of conversations about agents who will not protect the president because they didn't like Kennedy's view on civil rights. After the assassination, the Secret Service had their part in the cover-up. They failed, and now they are trying to cover up their own embarrassment and hide the facts of their actions the night before. It's no wonder why AB left the White House detail after his 30 day trial.

  • @76reliant
    @76reliant4 жыл бұрын

    Garfield was shot and killed by Guiteau in 1881 not 1896...

  • @sandyisrael910
    @sandyisrael9104 жыл бұрын

    would like to talk to Agent Coughlin

  • @edcorrigan3156
    @edcorrigan315611 ай бұрын

    Anyone who now thinks all shots came from behind are flat earthers. Get real.

  • @timothydrumm2846
    @timothydrumm284610 ай бұрын

    Somehow...nobody in the Secret Service of FBI...was aware that final Limo left turn toward the overpass...put JFK in a hyper slow moving SITTING DUCK...position!

  • @ckom0007
    @ckom00074 жыл бұрын

    “...they think they should just be handed stuff...-Could you tell us what you really think?

  • @donalgoan5083
    @donalgoan50834 ай бұрын

    there was at least 4 shots. Headshot, magic bullet, curb shot at overpass, car windshield shot.

  • @aaronpaterson1615
    @aaronpaterson16153 жыл бұрын

    With regards George Hickey tasked as a sniper with the AR-15 he should not have been given that job as his normal duties were assigned to the garage not manning a machine gun. No I don't believe Hickey did anything wrong.

  • @a.andrechisholm8528

    @a.andrechisholm8528

    Жыл бұрын

    You're correct Officer Hickey was a uniform secret service officer. He was qualified for the M16, but the secret service agents had hangovers after partying at the Jack Ruby's Carousel club. What's pretty interesting drinking and clubbing for free. Knowing there's a high profile assignment the next morning. Also, eleven agents assigned to the Kennedy detail had been given permission for reassignment. It was a protest of not wanting to work with the first Black secret service agent that the President. Plus the Secret Service White House supervisor decided to take a vacation. The trip should've been canceled

  • @irish89055
    @irish890552 жыл бұрын

    Wexford....not Glen Ora

  • @KarenDegenhart
    @KarenDegenhart2 жыл бұрын

    Books by Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann out now add a lot of credibility to his mob connection theory.

  • @n.y.c.freddy
    @n.y.c.freddy3 жыл бұрын

    N.Y.C. FREDDY: COMMENT: 'YES'! ( Just to state: ) 'J'. Walter Coughlin~~! (GREAT~!) The comment as stated: ( By YOU! ) *U.S. President, ** GERALD FORD~! JUST GREAT! (Quick .. but GREAT!) Thank YOU! ( So many PEOPLE - just Don't KNOW~!) **Peace ...

  • @ligayabarlow5077
    @ligayabarlow50773 жыл бұрын

    He says "pushing Jackie back in the accelerating car it felt like she weighed 2,000 lbs and to this day he doesn't remember doing it..." Well, if he doesn't remember doing it, how does he remember how much he felt she weighed? 🙄

  • @larrylindsey1497

    @larrylindsey1497

    2 жыл бұрын

    Physics and the G force calculations.

  • @JMC786

    @JMC786

    2 жыл бұрын

    Idiotic comment

  • @louf7178

    @louf7178

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@larrylindsey1497 Looks like they used about a 13g factor - a bit over estimated IMO.

  • @rweaver912
    @rweaver912 Жыл бұрын

    Hickey accidentally shot him. He was already hit by Oswald. It was an accident. But Hickey hit him.

  • @easttxpeckerwood
    @easttxpeckerwood10 жыл бұрын

    Classic--------- when asked about a conspiracy I see my FBI friend over there waiting to see what im going to say..... Don't worry my friend this is my view not Yours..........

  • @Doug41160
    @Doug411603 жыл бұрын

    Garfield was assassinated in 1881.

  • @waltonwarrior7428
    @waltonwarrior74284 жыл бұрын

    Interesting interview, but I'll never be convinced that "all" the shots came from the upper right...TSBD. The head shot was from the grassy knoll.

  • @zz424

    @zz424

    4 жыл бұрын

    there were 2 people in the window below the sniper window. they said they heard all three shots from above and the shells fall on the floor. other witnesses saw the shooter in the window and said the took 3 shots.

  • @randyharris3175

    @randyharris3175

    4 жыл бұрын

    Well i dont know what to say believe what you want

  • @zz424

    @zz424

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@randyharris3175 u r saying two people in the window below didn't hear the shots 2 feet above them? Really? The vibration of the shots caused loose paint chips to fall in their hair. 3 shell casings were found on 6th floor. I suppose you can believe what YOU want but then some people have a screw loose too.

  • @randyharris3175

    @randyharris3175

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@zz424 i did not say that

  • @corn_pop6082

    @corn_pop6082

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@zz424 Learn to read, please.

  • @chizswizz3580
    @chizswizz35802 жыл бұрын

    This guy is great until he starts to talk about the assassination. It was Billy Hargis, the patrolman riding to the left rear of the limousine that was spattered with blood and brain matter not Bill Greer. The limousine slowed to a halt during the head shot. That's the only reason Clint Hill was able to catch the Limo. Either he's misinformed or just another company man.

  • @Cangelo629

    @Cangelo629

    2 жыл бұрын

    Everyone in the car came in contact with blood and brain matter I've talked to or had the opportunity to hear it directly from several occupants in the car.

  • @chizswizz3580

    @chizswizz3580

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Cangelo629 Hargis was hit with such force that he thought he had been shot.

  • @michaelknight247

    @michaelknight247

    2 жыл бұрын

    I caught that also... Bill Greer stops the car exactly at the infamous umbrella man.... waits till he is shot then leaves in the hurry Coughlin talks about. Visit Dallas before you make up lies. All the hundreds of witness mention the "slower to almost a stop. " it's the first thing the Newman said on air that day!Also the Zapruder film shows this. Clint has a huge lie of a story and they all stuck to it. It's odd a guy that could have been a hero lies about obvious facts that he has gotten to see on the Zapruder film. Clint will die saying "only two shots were fired" When you can see with your own eyes when Connolly was shot and the two massive throat then head jfk. Not mentioned is being shot in the back also..just like Connolly says in his own interview and I believe it. Connolly was hit twice., Jfk atleast twice, a curb, and a gunshot hole in the front windshield . Witness said 3-5. Not one witness said less the 3. It's in the museum. They have interviewed them later... Incidentally he refers to the good old days...Jesus Christ the night before the JFK the secret service were drinking at a local bar...and you even mention the mob relationships that came and went into the White House back then my god get perspective your time was ridiculous. He did however say 3 things anyone that studies this will examine. 1)M. Monroe died when "od" and rat pack great was with her theory she was carrying a Kennedy baby. 2nd Oswald left his house when a cop car with two men honked outside. Seconds later an officer was shot dead and TWO men ran from the scene. Says witness. It's a lie they tell that it's one as even in the warren report it shows two different bullet casings at the scene. All the witness describe a man matching Jack Ruby not Oswald. Bald, cubby, middle age (it's in the warren report people need to read it) as so briefly referred to in this interview most people overlook that huge fact. So he does know the truth even if he doesn't speak it. It's also funny how he mentions the media being friendly with them. This is true it took generations before news started calling politicians for their descriptive lies. In Vietnam the US bomb a villages killing all the "friendly" woman and children. Maybe that got these Vietnamese a little pissed off and no longer as confident of their Allie's. They also went into Cambodia against congresses wishes. 3) liars point out there lies without being asked. A lot of lies in this interview. "Up to the right".... dumbass there is video of them running to the grassy knoll. If your gonna lie atleast look at the Zapruder film before you repeat obvious lies. At the first shot the follow up car agents are laughing (big smiles on there faces) and two agents are looking at the downward as if at the pavement. Remember a bullet did miss and hit a curb. At no time are they looking behind them to the right. That's just another lie to coverup their lies they told in 63. No secret service man is gonna admit there mistake nor the truth because Clint hills lies will be there agreed apon pinky swear hand on the Bible story until death. It's unfortunate because hills accounts are obviously lies proven by multiple video, multiple pictures and almost a hundred eye witness and facts that contradict Hills story. In Hills defense he was having Romantic ties with Mrs Kennedy. A "Jackie" slips out in this interview. He knows he was supposed to say Mrs Kennedy but these agents didn't care for Jack and loved Jackie..neither did Johnson hence they murdered him and all JFKs big name mistresses. Clint later leaves his wife and moves in with Jackie in New York only to be dumped by Jackie later. Also he mentions Dr kings assassination ...This was a black and white issue. Pure racism in the south now and then...hence he knows why people hate Obama, and unfortunately among other things in the Dallas papers "Wanted for Treason" was printed. Integration wasn't going over well would be an understatement. It's interesting what he eludes to. Bottom line As he states all the secret service people are Eisenhower soldiers. Kennedy was allowed to be president as long as he followed Eisenhower and the higher general orders. He didn't at the bay of pigs Eisenhower no longer trusted him and he was the only one that could stop the cia from getting rid of Kennedy earlier. Kennedy is dead because the cia wanted him dead, Eisenhower signed off and the secret service lead him to his known death trap. The Dallas police were entrusted to follow orders and the mob was there to make sure loose ends were taken care of. Ruby was in the police station 11/22/63 Incidentally so was Ruth Paine and a beaten up Wesley Frazier. Incidentally no one ever looked up at Oswald. If done like the warren commission states Oswald, rifle etc would easily been seen before the first shot and there was a lot of time to locate him between shots. No one did. It took a long time before they even decided to go in the building behind (Texas school book) them. Fun fact school books usually delivered before the school year starts it's September when Frazier was hire and October when Oswald was hired other questionable employees and other riffles including the supervisor brought in on 11/21/63. Fun fact this guy hates democrats... watch his other interviews.. Fun fact this guy hated Kennedy Little did he know all the rest would be worse. I highly recommend everyone to watch and listen to Dallas 11/22/63 news the whole days news. A lot of true facts are given early. Newman family interview etc....by 11/23 it nothing but lies. All the stories change. Even our most trusted say he was was shot and his head went forward (seriously the balls on these reporters to lie at that level) when the Zapruder film came out they all got exposed for those blatant lies. Unneeded lies if there wasn't a cover-up. Unneeded if there wasn't a conspiracy, unneeded if we just understood the powers of the John Birch society and our lawless Bureaus FBI and the Prescott Bush CIA. Please don't trust me. It's all on films you can watch and listen yourself. It's very rewarding to listen to the first reporting and then the cover ups. The umbrella man's cover up cracks me up. Did people in 1963 really believe "it was a reference to a thesis paper JFK wrote in college". That's the reason for the umbrella ...... look it up! Facts are fun😀

  • @jimbo16720
    @jimbo167206 жыл бұрын

    The guy is full of it. Clint caught the car because it stopped. Clint also didn't even touch Mrs Kennedy to help her back into the seat she did it herself after grabbing part of JFK's head off the trunk. He reached to help her but never made it.

  • @toddjones5795

    @toddjones5795

    5 жыл бұрын

    If you think that car stopped you need to have your eyes checked.

  • @terribleTed-ln6cm

    @terribleTed-ln6cm

    5 жыл бұрын

    The car stopped ?. ..what an idiot.

  • @jdunn101ify

    @jdunn101ify

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@toddjones5795 Eye witnesses standing next to it said it slowed almost to a stop, one of the pictures at the time shows the car brake lights on at the time of the head shot

  • @donbartels153

    @donbartels153

    3 жыл бұрын

    Good catch. I bet they did not stop the car when they had Jim Ryan trying to catch it in the reenactment.

  • @plw6825

    @plw6825

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@terribleTed-ln6cm the car did stop the film was doctored according to a film analyst that saw the original copy.

  • @AKRING30
    @AKRING302 жыл бұрын

    seems like nice guy but for a guy who had 51 years to check out what happened he has a short viewpoint. mob was a cog but alot more going on here mr agent it calls all your skills into question my god if he misses this a elephant in room how blind is he

  • @randyharris3175
    @randyharris31754 жыл бұрын

    He lost me at the end with that bulkshit theory about the mob so that would have meant the mob got oswald to do it i cant buy that and hearing all the people who knew ruby talk said he was not part of the mob

  • @bradrook3919

    @bradrook3919

    Жыл бұрын

    I agree...with that...or some wanna be mobster named James Files...lets see...Greer turning around and shooting him..or anyone with an AR accidentally shooting him or the most laughable theory that C-399 was used to inflict 7 total wounds and in nearly pristine condition...or any Grassy Knoll believers...how in the world do you shoot from there have the bullet enter his right temple then exit his right rear occipital...do the trajectories folks...the bullet would have had to turn 90 degrees....in his head! Com'on...b.s. I sooner believe the single bullet fairytale than that..

  • @ligayabarlow5077
    @ligayabarlow50773 жыл бұрын

    Clint Hill was able to get there so quickly because he saw JFK grab his throat? Not according to the Zapruder film, which doesn't have him reacting to that shot by immediately running to the car. He adds lanely that even an experiment featuring a 4 munute miler college athlete couldn't match Hill's speed! 😆

  • @jansmiths8629
    @jansmiths86298 жыл бұрын

    no credibility after he says all shots came from Tex sch. dep. no way leroy.

  • @Tsnore

    @Tsnore

    7 жыл бұрын

    Did Jesus walk on da water dude?

  • @randyharris3175

    @randyharris3175

    4 жыл бұрын

    How could you possibly know where those shots came from you only believe the conspiracy kooks he backed up what he said with info about where the blood was in the car

  • @iluatldm

    @iluatldm

    3 жыл бұрын

    You were there were you Jan. Personally I'll go with the testimony of the majority of the people that were.

  • @jimbo16720
    @jimbo167208 жыл бұрын

    Lots of problems with this...Clint Hill never touched Jackie to get her back into the car.

  • @randyharris3175

    @randyharris3175

    4 жыл бұрын

    Of course youre going to find something

  • @Cangelo629

    @Cangelo629

    2 жыл бұрын

    Your incorrect Clint Hill absolutely grab her wrist and pushed back into the back seat its on film and photos 📸.

  • @jimbo16720

    @jimbo16720

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Cangelo629 Clint Hill admitted he never touched her. She got on the trunk to get a piece of Kennedy's skull and was returning to her seat when Hill got on the car. Watch a film and stop it when you think he touched her.

  • @Cangelo629

    @Cangelo629

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@jimbo16720 Clint Hill even says when he gives his talks that he pushed her back into the limousine she was in shock and he acknowledged that she was going after a piece of the President head.

  • @marclemire1414
    @marclemire14143 жыл бұрын

    The pseudo official lying is disgusting.

  • @zz424
    @zz4244 жыл бұрын

    jfk had no respect for the office of the president.