November 22, 1963: was Jackie Kennedy sitting to the left or right of her husband in the car in Dallas?

In the presidential limousine traveling through Dealey Plaza, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was seated to President John F. Kennedy's left. This specific arrangement was not accidental but a matter of standard protocol. The person of highest rank or honor, in this case the President, would typically occupy the position on the right side of the vehicle. This placed him closer to the curb and the welcoming crowds that had lined the streets of Dallas to see him.

The back of the open-topped 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible was a focal point for the world's cameras. Seated in the jump seats directly in front of the First Couple were Texas Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie. The Governor sat in front of the President, and Mrs. Connally sat in front of Mrs. Kennedy. This entire seating arrangement is clearly visible in the historical photographs and film footage from the motorcade.

This placement became a critical detail in the tragic events that followed. Mrs. Kennedy's position to the President's left is central to the harrowing images of the assassination's immediate aftermath, including her desperate attempt to crawl onto the trunk of the car. It is a detail that has been permanently etched into the historical record of that fateful day.