Pink Pillbox Hat History
Research by Brandon Wolf
Fall/Winter 1961
- The hat is made to coordinate with Jackie's Chanel designed pink suit using the same raspberry pink Linton Tweeds fabric with a dark navy blue trim
March 26, 1962
November 22, 1963 (9 am to 8 pm)
- Jackie Kennedy places the pink pillbox on her hair
- Jackie enters the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce breakfast, wearing the pillbox hat
- President and Mrs. Kennedy leave Ft. Worth from Carswell AFB, via Air Force One
- President and Mrs. Kennedy arrive at Dallas Love Field, via Air Force One
- The Kennedys and the Connallys enter the Presidential limousine, and begin the motorcade through Dallas
- Jackie's vibrant pink hat is easily spotted by the crowds
- The Presidential limousine turns from Main Street onto Houston Street
- The Presidential limousine turns from Houston Street onto Elm Street
- President Kennedy is assassinated - Jackie's hat is spattered with blood and brain matter
- Jackie yanks the hat from her head, as the limousine rushes to Parkland Hospital
- President Kennedy is taken to Trauma Room 1 in Parkland Hospital
- Agent Paul Landis puts the hardtop on the limousine and picks up the pillbox hat lying on the floor of the limo
- Agent Landis gives the hat to ‘someone at Parkland’
- The hat is put into a large bag and given to Agent Clint Hill
- Agent Hill gives the bag to Mary Gallagher (Jackie's secretary)
- President Kennedy is pronounced dead
- Jackie leaves Parkland with her husband’s body, in a hearse
- Jackie and Mary Gallagher climb the steps to Air Force One
- Mary Gallagher gives the bag to Dick Giordano, JFK’s luggage master
- Dick Giordano gives the bag to Boots Miller, who holds it until Air Force One arrives in Washington
- Dick Giordano takes the bag to a White House Police officer, with instructions to give it to Agent Hill
- The unnamed White House Police officer gives the bag to Agent Bob Foster who has just returned from Janet Auchincloss’ home, bringing Maud Shaw and John Jr. and Caroline with him
- Agent Foster walks into the Map Room and looks in the bag and recognizes the pillbox hat
- Agent Foster tells an unnamed White House Police office that he is not Agent Hill - he is very angry at being mistaken for Agent Hill
- Last known location of the pillbox hat is in the White House Map Room after 8 pm, no further information on its movement is public knowledge
