Former Dallas detective famously photographed escorting Lee Harvey Oswald dies at 99

Leavelle almost made it to 100. a fall broke his hip and he didn't recover from the surgery.


Former Dallas detective famously photographed escorting Lee Harvey Oswald dies at 99

https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-da...023916101.html





just before ...





and the famous photo ...





By Bill Trott

Jim Leavelle, the Dallas police detective who handcuffed himself to Lee Harvey Oswald in a vain attempt to protect him two days after Oswald had assassinated President John Kennedy, died on Thursday at age 99, his daughter said.

Leavelle, who lived in the Dallas area, died in Colorado during a vacation, Karla Leavelle said by phone. He fell earlier in the week and broke his hip, surviving a subsequent medical operation but not the recovery, she said.

Leavelle became a part of history with Oswald and Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby as they were all captured in a dramatic photograph snapped as Ruby fatally shot Oswald on Nov. 24, 1963.

Leavelle, who as a young sailor had survived Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, was a 13-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department when he was put in charge of moving Oswald, a 24-year-old former Marine, from police headquarters to the county jail as the nation grieved for Kennedy.

Leavelle had no qualms about protecting the man accused of killing the president but before Leavelle could get him to his armored transport vehicle, Ruby fatally shot Oswald. The slaying was broadcast live to stunned television viewers.

"He died, didn't he?" Leavelle said of Oswald in a 2013 interview with NBC News. "So, I ... so yeah, I failed."

A Pulitzer Prize-winning photo by Bob Jackson of the Dallas Times Herald - snapped immediately after Ruby fired - captured the shock and drama of the moment.

Leavelle, dressed in a light colored suit and high-crowned hat, is seen arching backward with a stunned look focused on Ruby. His left hand - the one handcuffed to Oswald - is grasping the waistband of Oswald's pants. Oswald's face is contorted as he cringes from the gunshot while a hunched-over Ruby is seen from the back, his pistol still pointed at Oswald.

Police had received dozens of death threats against Oswald so Leavelle decided to carry two handguns that day instead of his usual one in case there was a shootout. As a further precaution, he not only handcuffed Oswald's wrists together, he handcuffed his left wrist to Oswald's right.

'NOBODY'S GONNA SHOOT AT ME'

"I said, 'Lee, if anybody shoots at you, I hope they're as good a shot as you are,'" Leavelle told the New York Daily News in 2013. "I meant that they would hit him and not me.

"And he said, 'Nobody's gonna shoot at me.' Famous last words."

Leavelle's mission was to guide Oswald past reporters and photographers so the world could see Oswald had not been injured in police custody. But as they went through the crowd in the basement of the police headquarters, up stepped Ruby, who was a familiar figure to many Dallas police officers. Leavelle said he spotted Ruby's .38-caliber handgun as he aimed it at Oswald.

"I didn't have time to do anything," Leavelle told Reuters in a 2002 interview. "I did try to pull him (Oswald) behind me. I had him by the belt as well. I turned to him and instead of pulling him behind me, I turned his body. Instead of that bullet hitting him dead center, it hit about 4 inches to the left of the navel."

After the shot, Leavelle used his free right hand to try to contain Ruby while other officers swarmed in. Leavelle rode in the ambulance with Oswald to Parkland Hospital - the same place Kennedy had been taken two days earlier and where Oswald died about two hours after the shooting.

The day after the Oswald killing, Leavelle transferred Ruby between facilities - this time in secret - and Ruby told him he feared someone would try to kill him, too.

In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, Leavelle said he told Ruby, "Jack, you didn't do any favors when you shot Oswald."

He said Ruby, who would die of cancer in 1967, replied: "All I wanted to be was a hero and it looks like I just messed things up."

Leavelle retired in 1975 and 50 years after the Kennedy and Oswald killings, the Dallas Police Department gave him a commendation and renamed its detective of the year award for him.

He was married to Taimi Leavelle for 73 years until her death in October 2014.


(Writing and reporting by Bill Trott; Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Diane Craft)

One of the Great Generation. God Bless Him

One of the Great Generation. God Bless Him Originally Posted by themystic

It's unfortunate that he wasn't "Great" along with them ... and I'm surprised he lived more than 2 months after that "photo op" escorting a man to his death to avoid a "trial"! He should have been fired the next day.

It's unfortunate that he wasn't "Great" along with them ... and I'm surprised he lived more than 2 months after that "photo op" escorting a man to his death to avoid a "trial"! He should have been fired the next day. Originally Posted by LexusLover

You're dismissed Counselor. You are a Hateful Bitter Man

Given Ruby's actions - it would have been almost impossible for Leavelle and the other officer to react in time to prevent the shooting of Oswald. Leavelle was doing his duty in protecting Oswald. An assassin willing to be caught/die is almost impossible to prevent.
IMHO
The Sixth floor museum in Dallas has two floors of memorabilia and history - It is well worth the price of admission. I have taken several groups - it is a very reverant, quiet place. One cannot see out of the sixth floor Oswald window - boxed in with plexiglass as it was that day in 1963 - but the window immediately above on the 7th floor is open to the public (not openable) and gives the view Oswald saw -- even to the x's on the street. Trees are bigger - but landscape is still the same.

Leavell's suit - the one he wore when Oswald was shot - is in the Museum.

Well worth a visit!


TM-' One of the Great Generation. God Bless Him'

For Once - i agree!
May Mr. Leavelle rest in peace.

The Poll is a stupid idea - and non-contributory to the political forum in any sort of debate. It is just personal namecalling. Should be deleted from site, IMHO!

Given Ruby's actions - it would have been almost impossible for Leavelle and the other officer to react in time to prevent the shooting of Oswald. Leavelle was doing his duty in protecting Oswald. An assassin willing to be caught/die is almost impossible to prevent.
IMHO
The Sixth floor museum in Dallas has two floors of memorabilia and history - It is well worth the price of admission. I have taken several groups - it is a very reverant, quiet place. One cannot see out of the sixth floor Oswald window - boxed in with plexiglass as it was that day in 1963 - but the window immediately above on the 7th floor is open to the public (not openable) and gives the view Oswald saw -- even to the x's on the street. Trees are bigger - but landscape is still the same.

Leavell's suit - the one he wore when Oswald was shot - is in the Museum.

Well worth a visit!


TM-' One of the Great Generation. God Bless Him'

For Once - i agree!
May Mr. Leavelle rest in peace.

The Poll is a stupid idea - and non-contributory to the political forum in any sort of debate. It is just personal namecalling. Should be deleted from site, IMHO! Originally Posted by oeb11

in todays environment, the news media, the hangers on, ruby etc, never ever would have gotten within 100 yards of such a transfer

Given Ruby's actions - it would have been almost impossible for Leavelle and the other officer to react in time to prevent the shooting of Oswald. Leavelle was doing his duty in protecting Oswald. An assassin willing to be caught/die is almost impossible to prevent.
IMHO Originally Posted by oeb11

Yes, this is true in practice.

And I don't think any of us is actually privy to the decisions being made at the time.

But I have also always questioned why Oswald was taken on a route where he would encounter anyone in the way it ended up happening. It's specifically called out that Ruby was then taken such as not to encounter anyone. Having all the threats in place against Oswald, why not the same precautions from the beginning.

Leavell may or may not have had a say in that and I don't want to besmirch his reputation in any way. He was probably following orders did his best. But in the end he self admitted to failure in the protection of his charge.

To me, still a brave officer to be essentially "chained" to Oswald for whatever happened.

But we may never know full details of the whole event.

EL - good thoughts
For - TWK - thanks for a very nice opening Post.

Given Ruby's actions - it would have been almost impossible for Leavelle and the other officer to react in time to prevent the shooting of Oswald. Leavelle was doing his duty in protecting Oswald. An assassin willing to be caught/die is almost impossible to prevent. Originally Posted by oeb11

You are wrong! Period. Your statement begs the question ....


WTF was Ruby, the onlookers, and/or the press doing there in the first place when a high-priority-risk prison is being moved.

No one there was doing their "duty" ... they were parading him to his execution without due process. Not a commendable bade of courage.

And I don't think any of us is actually privy to the decisions being made at the time.

But I have also always questioned why Oswald was taken on a route where he would encounter anyone in the way it ended up happening. It's specifically called out that Ruby was then taken such as not to encounter anyone. Having all the threats in place against Oswald, why not the same precautions from the beginning.

Leavell may or may not have had a say in that and I don't want to besmirch his reputation in any way. He was probably following orders did his best. But in the end he self admitted to failure in the protection of his charge.

To me, still a brave officer to be essentially "chained" to Oswald for whatever happened.

But we may never know full details of the whole event. Originally Posted by eccielover

Were you born yet? MysteriousNoMore wasn't!

But he knows ALL ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!

FYI: A "detective" does not guard a high priority prisoner, then or now! (With his fucking coat buttoned? To hide his beer gut?)

Oswald was "offered" up to the shooter who was allowed to be present in a severe, intentional breach of security. The entire charade from beginning to end, which includes the "investigation" was junior league..... if not tether ball league!

Dallas and the Service showed their asses.

.... and "they" still do that shit on TV today .... show prisoners being walked out the front door in plain view of the public!!!!

That shit in Dallas was for PUBLICITY AND KILLING OSWALD! A public execution ... of the #1 witness in the assassination.

Here's the mindset that starts those events ...

You are wrong! Period. Your statement begs the question ....


WTF was Ruby, the onlookers, and/or the press doing there in the first place when a high-priority-risk prison is being moved.

No one there was doing their "duty" ... they were parading him to his execution without due process. Not a commendable bade of courage. Originally Posted by LexusLover

Bitter Old Man. Thank you for sharing

in todays environment, the news media, the hangers on, ruby etc, never ever would have gotten within 100 yards of such a transfer Originally Posted by nevergaveitathought

Back then as well ....

.... this was a twofer .... kill Oswald and have a photo op~!!!!

You're dismissed ... You are a Hateful Bitter Man Originally Posted by themystic

Junior, your diaper needs changing. You're stinking up the forum, again.

I thought by now you and Lucetta would already be in the room you reserved! Guess he's not fond of dirty diapers either.

I remember watching this live with my Dad. It really shook him up to see a man get shot.

just before ...




Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

.. I'm surprised he lived more than 2 months after that "photo op" escorting a man to his death to avoid a "trial"! He should have been fired the next day. Originally Posted by LexusLover

Damn, I grew up in Dallas and this is the first time I've ever seen the "gun drawn" picture. The escorts look smitten by the cameras! Where are the uniforms?