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Ruth Altshuler: They had one grand jury of 12 people: 11 men and me. We met from 8 to
12
for three months in October, November, and December. In November 22nd
were invited to the luncheon at the trademarks. So, about half of the grand jury was going
to go
to the luncheon so we broke up early to go. So my husband picked me up at the book depository
across the street and on the corner there, I was waiting for him. We go down the underpass
on
Hines Boulevard and go to the trademark. Well, there were a thousand people invited. It was
a civic affair so all thousand of us were seated and we were eating, and we waited,
and we
waited, and we waited, and nothing happened. And finally, about 50 press ran in just like
a herd
and about five -- and we thought, Finally, here they are, then they ran out then the
mayor not -
- mayor later -- but Erik Jonsson, the founder of Texas Instruments got up and he said, "I
have
terrible news to report. The president has been shot." And he didn't say he is dead.
I don't know
whether he knew it then or not but he said, "The president has been shot." And #[00:01:25]
Luther Holcomb who was going to give the benediction to come up and pray and with then will
be dismissed. So he did, and everyone was just stunned -- that's the only way to describe
it -- and
slowly, walked out to get into their cars. I remember walking by the head table, and
it was so
poignant and strong and everything. It was -- they had the presidential seal and had
yellow roses;
everybody used yellow roses of Texas for decorating for 40 years, then it had the fruit cocktail
in every place and then it was all over. So, when we went out and got in the car, by that
time, we
heard the president was shot and the women were weeping and the men were stunned and
it was
just -- you just got in your car and went home. I mean, what could you do? It was just
stunning
news.