William Greer
Encyclopedia
William Robert Greer was an agent of the U.S. Secret Service, best known for having driven President John F. Kennedy
's automobile in the motorcade through Dealey Plaza
in Dallas on November 22, 1963, when the president was assassinated
.
, County Tyrone
, Ireland
, and emigrated to the United States
in 1929. After working for over a decade as a chauffeur
and servant to several wealthy families in the Boston area, including the Lodge family
, Greer enlisted in the U.S. Navy in World War II
, and then joined the United States Secret Service
on October 1, 1945.
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 testified before the Warren Commission regarding the incident.
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 eventually died of cancer
. Greer's son Richard told author Vince Palamara in 1991 that his father "had absolutely no survivor's guilt."
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. His testimony seems to deny that he turned to look directly at Kennedy during the shooting, although the Zapruder film
shows him doing so. 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, initiating a fatal delay, before accelerating the car out of the danger zone. As Roy Kellerman
told author William Manchester
, "Greer then looked in the back of the car. Maybe he didn't believe me."
No agents were reprimanded or disciplined for their actions during the shooting, but privately, Jacqueline Kennedy was bitterly critical of the agents' performance, Greer's in particular, comparing his efforts to those of "Maud Shaw" (the Kennedy children's nanny). Greer later delivered a heartfelt apology to her.
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's automobile in the motorcade through Dealey Plaza
Dealey Plaza
Dealey Plaza , in the historic West End district of downtown Dallas, Texas , is the location of the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963...
in Dallas on November 22, 1963, when the president was assassinated
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
.
History
Greer was born on a farm in StewartstownStewartstown, County Tyrone
Stewartstown is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, close to Lough Neagh and about from Cookstown, from Coalisland and from Dungannon. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 608 people.-History:...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1929. After working for over a decade as a chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
and servant to several wealthy families in the Boston area, including the Lodge family
Lodge family
The Lodge family was part of the Boston Brahmin, also known as the "first families of Boston," and a prominent political family.-History:The Boston Brahmin Lodge family primarily descended from the Cabot family. George Cabot had a granddaughter named Anna Cabot whose son Henry Cabot Lodge was a U.S...
, Greer enlisted in the U.S. Navy in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and then joined the United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
on October 1, 1945.
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 testified before the Warren Commission regarding the incident.
Greer retired on disability from the Secret Service in 1966 due to a stomach ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
that grew worse following the Kennedy assassination. In 1973 he relocated to Waynesville, North Carolina
Waynesville, North Carolina
Waynesville is a town in and the county seat of Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest town in Haywood County and the largest in Western North Carolina west of Asheville. Waynesville is located about or 50 km southwest of Asheville between the Great Smoky and Blue...
, where he eventually died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Greer's son Richard told author Vince Palamara in 1991 that his father "had absolutely no survivor's guilt."
Analysis and criticism
Some commentators have criticized Greer's actions during the assassination, noting that he did not accelerate the vehicle to get the president out of danger as soon as he could have. In the confusion after the first shot was fired, the limousine's brake lights can be seen coming on briefly, slowing the car to almost a walking pace. The vehicle accelerated several seconds later, but by then the fatal shot had been fired (since that time, Secret Service agents have been trained to accelerate rapidly out of the area if they even think they hear gunfire.)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. His testimony seems to deny that he turned to look directly at Kennedy during the shooting, although the Zapruder film
Zapruder film
The Zapruder film is a silent, color motion picture sequence shot by private citizen Abraham Zapruder with a home-movie camera, asU.S. President John F...
shows him doing so. Secret Service procedures in place at the time did not allow Greer to take action without orders from senior agent Roy Kellerman
Roy Kellerman
Roy Herman Kellerman was a U.S. Secret Service Agent assigned to protect President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated on November 22, 1963...
, 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, initiating a fatal delay, before accelerating the car out of the danger zone. As Roy Kellerman
Roy Kellerman
Roy Herman Kellerman was a U.S. Secret Service Agent assigned to protect President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated on November 22, 1963...
told author William Manchester
William Manchester
William Raymond Manchester was an American author, biographer, and historian from Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, notable as the bestselling author of 18 books that have been translated into over 20 languages...
, "Greer then looked in the back of the car. Maybe he didn't believe me."
No agents were reprimanded or disciplined for their actions during the shooting, but privately, Jacqueline Kennedy was bitterly critical of the agents' performance, Greer's in particular, comparing his efforts to those of "Maud Shaw" (the Kennedy children's nanny). Greer later delivered a heartfelt apology to her.