The testimony of Dr. Paul Conrad Peters was taken at 4 p.m., on March
24, 1964, at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Arlen
Specter, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.
Mr. SPECTER. May the record show that Dr. Paul Peters is present,
having responded to a request to have his deposition taken in
connection with the investigation of the President's Commission on the
Assassination of President Kennedy, which is investigating all aspects
of the assassination, including the medical treatment of President
Kennedy at Parkland Memorial Hospital, and for the latter sequence of
events we have asked Dr. Peters to appear and testify what he knows, if
anything, concerning that medical attention.
With that statement of purpose in calling you, Dr. Peters, may I ask
you to rise and raise your right hand?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you give before the
President's Commission in this deposition proceeding will be the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Dr. PETERS. I do.
Mr. SPECTER. Now, will you state your full name for the record, please?
Dr. PETERS. Paul Conrad Peters.
Mr. SPECTER. And what is your profession, sir?
Dr. PETERS. Doctor of medicine.
Mr. SPECTER. And will you outline for me briefly your educational
background?
Dr. PETERS. I went to college at Indiana University in Bloomington,
Ind., and received an A.B. degree from Indiana University in 1950,
and received an M.D. degree from Indiana University in 1953. I took
my internship at the Philadelphia General Hospital, 1953 and 1954. I
took my residency in Urological Surgery at Indiana University from
1954 to 1957, and from 1957 to 1963 I was chief of Urology at U.S.A.F.
Hospital, Carswell, which is the largest hospital in SAC, and I was
regional consultant to the surgeon general in Urological surgery. Since
July 1963, I have been assistant professor of Urology at Southwestern
Medical School.
Mr. SPECTER. And are you board certified, Dr. Peters?
Dr. PETERS. I am certified by the American Board of Urology--1960.
Mr. SPECTER. Did you have occasion to render medical services to
President John Kennedy on November 22, 1963?
Dr. PETERS. Yes.
Mr. SPECTER. And would you outline briefly the circumstances relating
to your arriving on the scene where he was?
Dr. PETERS. As I just gave you a while ago?
Mr. SPECTER. Yes.
Dr. PETERS. I was in the adjacent portion of the hospital preparing
material for a lecture to the medical students and residents later in
the day, when I heard over the radio that the President had been shot
and there was a great deal of confusion at the time and the extent
of his injuries was not immediately broadcast over the radio, and I
thought, because of the description of the location of the tragedy he
would probably be brought to Parkland for care, and so I went to the
emergency room to see if I could render assistance.
Mr. SPECTER. And at about what time did you arrive at the emergency
room?
Dr. PETERS. Well, could I ask a question or two?
Mr. SPECTER. Sure.
Dr. PETERS. As I recall, he was shot about 12:35 our time; is that
correct?
Mr. SPECTER. I believe that's been fixed most precisely at 12:30, Dr.
Peters.
Dr. PETERS. So, I would estimate it was probably about 12:50 when I got
there, I really don't know for certain.
Mr. SPECTER. Whom did you find present, if anyone, when you arrived?
Dr. PETERS. When I arrived the following people I noted were present
in the room: Drs. Perry, Baxter, Ron Jones, and McClelland. The first
thing I noticed, of course, was that President Kennedy was on the
stretcher and that his feet were slightly elevated. He appeared to be
placed in a position in which we usually treat a patient who is in
shock, and I noticed that Dr. Perry and Dr. Baxter were present and
that they were working on his throat. I also noticed that Dr. Ron Jones
was present in the room. I took off my coat and asked what I could do
to help, and then saw it was President Kennedy. I really didn't know
it was President Kennedy until that time. Dr. Perry was there and he
and Dr. Baxter were doing the tracheotomy and we asked for a set of
tracheotomy tubes to try and get one of the appropriate size. I then
helped Dr. Baxter assemble the tracheotomy tube which he inserted into
the tracheotomy wound that he and Dr. Perry had created.
Mr. SPECTER. Were there any others present at that time, before you go
on as to what aid you rendered?