"PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINES" VIDEO- A REVIEW
BY VINCENT M. PALAMARA


I cannot imagine finding a more comprehensive video
pertaining to the vehicles involved in presidential
transportation than that reviewed herein: Rick
Boudreau's "Presidential Limousines" video (1996).
Starting with FDR and ending with Clinton, this video
does a first-class job of detailing the type of
vehicles used by each president, along with pertinent
footage of each and every automobile. This is no "rush
job"- Boudreau really did his homework here, even
licensing footage from several presidential libraries
AND obtaining current video of these impressive cars as
they appear today at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn,
Michigan. For the purpose of this review, I shall
concentrate on the Kennedy years, which is of interest
to those reading this journal.

Mixing in a montage of beautiful color Cecil Stoughton
photos and official White House motion pictures from
the JFK Library, Boudreau documents the odyssey of what
was to become the most famous presidential limousine of
them all, the SSX100: the modified 1961 Lincoln stretch
limousine. Delivered to the White House on 6/14/61,
this vehicle originated from Ford and was modified by
Hess and Eisenhardt of Cincinnati, Ohio to meet the
requirements of both the Secret Service and President
Kennedy. Although JFK used standard Lincoln
convertibles on military bases, the SSX100 was normally
THE car he used in motorcades throughout the world.

Having been equipped with a siren, a two-way radio
system, and an adjustable rear seat mechanism, Boudreau
importantly notes the modifications made in 1962: a new
grill, new wheel covers, and, most important of all,
grab handles for the rear of the limousine for the
agents to use for protective purposes. Although the car
had retractable platforms on the SIDES of the car,
these were rarely used because they presented a safety
risk for both the public and the agents ( the
spectators could be injured by the metal jutting out of
the car on a low angle, while the agents did not have
much room to stand on these steps). Without a doubt,
the grab handles, coupled with the larger step area on
the rear of the limousine, provided the best protective
measures for the Secret Service. Finally, although the
car was originally painted midnight "Kennedy" blue by
JFK's request, the vehicle was soon after painted a
darker blue to match prior protocol of presidential
limousines (although Air Force One remained "Kennedy"
blue).


Both the SSX100 and one of the two 1956 Cadillac
convertibles used predominantly as the follow-up cars (
the "Queen Mary's") were always shipped together via a
military C-130 air transport plane, along with spare
parts and extra gasoline. After every major trip, the
limousine had to be repainted while scratches and dents
had to be repaired; this was due to the rush of
spectators who would approach the vehicle during
motorcades ( Interestingly, much of the information
about the SSX100 came from Sam Kinney, who is credited
at the end of the video. When I spoke to Mr. Boudreau
on 6/11/96, he told me of the help Kinney gave him, as
well. As the readers of this journal are probably
aware, Sam was of great assistance to me, as well,
having interviewed him at length three different times
between 1992 and 1994).

My only minor criticism is the short shrift given to
the events of 11/22/63- current video of Dealey Plaza
is depicted while Boudreau states that "several shots
were fired" at the president's car, without saying from
where those shots originated or by whom (one or more
persons). He does accurately note that "this was the
last occasion a serving president would ride in an open
car", although presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and
Reagan rode in limousines that did permit them to stand
up through a sun roof-like compartment for brief
periods of time; in fact, Nixon stood up through this
compartment in the modified SSX100 in January, 1969
during his first inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.-
the limousine was his favorite, according to former
agent Marty Venker!

In reference to these modifications, Boudreau does a
good job of going through the details of this overhaul
of the death car. Starting with a task force of 30
people, eventually reduced to 6 from the Secret
Service, the Army, Pittsburgh Plate Glass, and Hess and
Eisenhardt, it was decided that, rather than opt for a
brand new vehicle, the plan would be to modify the
current limousine (why anyone would want to ride in the
car that contained the assassinated president is beyond
me. This is tantamount to President [Andrew] Johnson
requesting to sit in Lincoln's chair from Ford's
Theatre, but I digress...). The car was returned to
Hess and Eisenhardt in Cincinnati on 12/12/63, not to
Michigan, as has been erroneously reported in the past.
Interestingly, in regard to this transfer of the
limousine back to Ohio, two different unidentified
callers to both the Jim Bohannon radio show (Nov. 1993)
and to the Larry King television program (Jan. 1992)
have reported that the limousine contained damage that
would greatly confound the "official" story of the
lone-gunman scenario; in fact, in the book
"JFK-Conspiracy of Silence", Carl Renas reported just
such damage to the car (pages 105-106)! Without
question, this was a moving crime scene that should
have been preserved and stored away, AT LEAST until the
Warren Commission could look at the car (for example,
we know about the many questions concerning the actual
condition of the windshield [2H89; CD80; St. Louis
Post-Dispatch, 12/1/63; etc.]).

After having been completely gutted, the limousine was
fitted with titanium armor plating, bulletproof glass,
a permanent bubbletop roof, and a 430V8 engine. The car
was returned to the White House in June 1964, three
years after its initial delivery. However, LBJ would
not use it until the (darker color) "Kennedy" blue was
painted over with jet black. The limousine would go on
to serve presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter before its
retirement in 1977 (although the five minute segment
about the SSX100 on the H Channel's "Secret Service"
special claimed it was 1978, I believe Boudreau is
correct. This is based off my conversations with Fred
Ciacelli, the proprietor of the traveling JFK Museum
and owner of two replica SSX100 limousines, made from
the ORIGINAL Hess and Eisenhardt blueprints. Ciacelli's
car has appeared in the movies "JFK", "Ruby", and "A
Woman Called Jackie", among others).

All in all, this is a fascinating and thorough piece of
work as presented in visual format. Although the JFK
assassination gets glossed over, the details of the
"death car"- before, during, and after Dallas- along
with the numerous still pictures and motion color films
(many of which were also used independently by this
reviewer), make for an entertaining and informative
video, as well as a relatively unique one. I recommend
the "Presidential Limousines" to all readers who share
some fascination about arguably the most beautiful and
famous vehicle of all time: the SSX100 1961 Lincoln
limousine.