HSCA Record Number 180-10078-10465 Agency File Number 009414 Originator-HSCA From: Godfrey McHugh To: -- Date: 5/11/78 Pages: 5 Subjects: Motorcade Assassination Return of remains to D.C. LBJ JFK autopsy Release Date: 10/22/93 Contents: Report by HSCA investigator Mark Flanagan on telephone interview with McHugh. Document follows in full. KENNEDY SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS NAME Brigadier General Godfrey McHugh DATE 5-11-78 TIME ADDRESS 5241 Partridge Lane, N.W. PLACE Telephone interview Washington, D.C. Interview: I spoke to General McHugh by telephone on May 11, 1978 concerning his presence at the autopsy of President Kennedy. McHugh currently resides at 5241 Partridge Lane, N.W., Washington, D.C. His phone number is (202) 244-5241. At the time of the assassination McHugh served as the Air Force Military Aide of the President. As such, he regularly travelled with the President during official visits and commanded Air Force I. Consequently, McHugh accompanied the President's body back to Bethesda. McHugh stated that the purpose of the Texas trip was to provide "full exposure" of the President to the people of Dallas and thus politically "win" the Texans. Ordinarily McHugh rode in the Presidential limousine in the front seat. This was the first time he was instructed not to ride in the car so that all attention would be focused on the President to accentuate full exposure. McHugh recalled that during the motorcade he distinctly heard three shots in succession, as did John Clifton who was Interviewer Signature /s/ Mark Flanagan Typed Signature Mark Flanagan Date transcribed br 5-24-78 [end of page one] Brigadier General Godfrey McHugh Page 2. riding beside him. McHugh immediately scanned the area but did not discern any assassin or assassins. McHugh said that the shots originated from above and in the vicinity of the TSBD. After the Parkland doctors pronounced the President dead McHugh said that the Presidential Party received notice that the President's body was not to be removed from Texas. The Secret Service and the President's aides decided, however, that the President's body was in their custody and that they should remove it from Texas. McHugh assisted the Secret Service agents in removing the casket from the hospital. In the process McHugh recalled that the police and Mayor Cabal stopped them and informed them that they would be breaking the law if they removed the body. McHugh then told the Texas authorities that he didn't understand how he could be breaking the law when he was only following orders and then, together with the S.S. agents, proceeded to "politely push everything out of the way" and transport the body to Air Force I. Once the President's body, Jackie Kennedy, the Secret Service agents, McHugh and some others were aboard Air Force I, Ken O'Donnell told McHugh to take off for Washington. McHugh learned from the pilot, however, that Vice President Johnson had already assumed control of Air Force I and had ordered the plane to remain on the ground until further notice. This was to allow transfer of materials from Air Force II to I and to allow [end of page two] Brigadier General Godfrey McHugh Page 3. for the arrival of various persons for the swearing-in ceremony. During this time McHugh began looking for Johnson to discuss the situation. The pilot told McHugh that Johnson had already boarded Air Force I. McHugh had encountered difficulty in locating Johnson but finally discovered him alone "hiding in the toilet in the bedroom compartment and muttering, `Conspiracy, conspiracy, they're after all of us.'" McHugh then attempted to calm Johnson. During the flight to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington McHugh sat with Mrs. Kennedy next to the President's casket in the rear of Air Force I. McHugh said Mrs. Kennedy instructed McHugh "not to leave the body of the President" until it was finally prepared for burial. After arriving at Andrews McHugh said he rode with the President's body, Mrs. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy in an ambulance to the Bethesda Naval Hospital for the performance of an autopsy. McHugh remained with the body and witnessed the autopsy while the family members maintained vigil in a suite at the hospital. McHugh recalled that his first thought during the autopsy was how yellow the body appeared to be. He remembered that the autopsy doctors remarked that this was not unusual in this situation. McHugh did not ask for further elaboration. McHugh said the basic purpose of the autopsy was to deter- [end of page three] Brigadier General Godfrey McHugh Page 4. mine what exactly killed the President. He said Secret Service men were present as well as the three principal pathologists. During the autopsy no one was permitted to enter or leave. McHugh did not have specific recollection concerning the location of the wounds or the discussions among the doctors. McHugh did say that the pathologists recorded minute notes and that he recalled a wound to the throat. A primary concern was locating any fragments of lead. McHugh said that Bobby Kennedy and Ken O'Donnell frequently telephoned him during the autopsy from their suite. On all occasions RFK and O'Donnell only asked to speak with McHugh. McHugh said they inquired about the results, about why the autopsy was taking so much time, and about the need for speed and efficiency while still performing the required examinations. McHugh said he never stated or implied that the doctors should limit the autopsy in any manner but merely reminded them to work as efficiently and quickly as possible. McHugh said that even after he would inform RFK and O'Donnell that the autopsy would require several hours they would still frequently call to ask why it was taking so long and when it would be completed. McHugh recalled that O'Donnell and the Secret Service instructed that all procedures related to the body should be performed at Bethesda to reduce security risks. After preparations at Bethesda were complete, McHugh accompanied the body to the White House where it was placed [end of page four] Brigadier General Godfrey McHugh Page 5. in the East Room. McHugh stated that he formerly worked with Presidents Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower. After retiring from the military, Magnavox employed McHugh as a Vice President. McHugh is currently fully retired. [end of page five and end of document]