Editing Single-bullet theory (section)

===Analysis based on Zapruder film and physical evidence===
Critics of the single-bullet thesis question not only the bullet's trajectory and relative lack of damage, but also the question of timing of hits to both the president and Connally. A single bullet would have passed through both men in less than 1/100 of a second, which means that a strike of both men by a single bullet would have happened too quickly to be caught on more than a single Zapruder frame (these were exposed at 1/18th second intervals). From the [[Zapruder film]] one can see Kennedy with his hands in front of his chest near his throat as he emerges from behind the sign at Zapruder frame 225.

According to one popular version of the single-bullet theory (promoted by [[Gerald Posner]] in his book, ''Case Closed''), the interval between frame 223 and 224 is the time the same projectile passes through both Kennedy and Connally's body. It is not obvious at this point (frame 224) whether Connally has, or has not, been hit; however, Connally, but not other limousine occupants, is newly blurred in frame 224 but not in frame 223. Connally himself, in analyzing the frame-by-frame Zapruder film, identified his own hit later, at about Zapruder frame 230, whereas Kennedy is certainly hit about Zapruder frame 224, a third of a second earlier. Beginning immediately after frame 224, Connally rapidly raises and then lowers both arms, then turns to his right toward the Zapruder camera, but it is not clear that he is turning to see what has happened to Kennedy.

Connally's cheeks then puff out, and his mouth opens. Many{{who|date=January 2023}} suggest that he is beginning to show the shock of the bullet. Others{{who|date=January 2023}} suggest that Connally is doing exactly what he said he did in reaction to hearing the first bullet: he said he realized an assassination was unfolding so he turned to see the President.<ref>Warren Commission Hearings, 4 H 132-133: http://www.history-matters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh4/html/WC_Vol4_0070b.htm</ref> It is at this point that some critics of the single-bullet theory believe Connally is actually hit by a second and separate bullet, and this is also what Connally himself believed, but only on the supposition that the first shot he heard was one that struck the president. (If the first shot missed the president, then Connally's memory of being hit later corresponds with the single-bullet theory.) Proponents of the single-bullet thesis argue that Connally is simply exhibiting a delayed pain reaction to having been hit by the same bullet that hit Kennedy, a third of a second earlier.

Some critics{{who|date=January 2023}} believe the puffing out of Connally's cheeks is simply physics at work, as the bullet collapses one of his lungs, forcing air into his mouth. Other critics believe that the puffing of Connally's cheeks result from him shouting, "Oh, no, no, no", which his wife, Nellie, said he shouted after the first shot but before the second shot.<ref>Warren Commission Hearings, 4 H 147: http://www.history-matters.com/archive/jfk/wc/wcvols/wh4/html/WC_Vol4_0078a.htm</ref> The premise that a collapsed lung would cause Connally's cheeks to puff out is dismissed by [[Michael Baden]], chief [[forensic pathology|forensic pathologist]] for the HSCA. "When the lung is punctured, as Connally's was, the air in the lung goes out into the chest cavity, not out of the mouth, so Connally's cheeks puffing out would have not been caused by air trying to escape."<ref>{{cite book|first=Vincent|last=Bugliosi|author-link=Vincent Bugliosi|title=[[Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy]]|publisher=[[W.W. Norton & Company]]|location=New York City|date=2007|isbn=978-0393045253|page=479}}</ref>

When an enhanced copy of the Zapruder film was released in 1998, many{{who|date=January 2023}} felt the delayed reaction theory was debunked. Others, particularly Posner,<ref>''Case Closed''{{full citation needed|date=December 2013}}</ref> noted that Connally's right lapel flips up at frame 224 (it hides the right part of his white collar in frame 224, which is far more clearly seen in both frames 223 and 225). In this same frame, as noted above, Connally suddenly becomes blurred with regard to the rest of the automobile (Connally is clear in frame 223). Frame 224 is precisely the best-posited frame of the impact of the bullet to Kennedy, who is still behind the sign at this point. Zapruder himself does not appear to jump until frame 227, blurring all contents of the automobile.

Connally's immediate reaction after frame 224, including a flinch in which he flexes both elbows and brings his hat up, is seen by some as an unconscious reaction to the strike (single frames of this reaction appear to show Connally unharmed, with hat held up in front of his chest, while Kennedy behind him has already clearly been hit). Others{{who|date=January 2023}} see this as Connally's reaction to the sound of the first shot. Immediately after the arm spasm, Connally begins a motion which drops his right shoulder and holds his right arm pinned to his right side, including a slow rolling motion toward this side. He also is seen to look over his right shoulder at Kennedy and shows an expression of pain only after turning his head back toward Zapruder's position around frame 275.

In the [[Oliver Stone]] movie ''[[JFK (film)|JFK]]'', Stone goes to great lengths to debunk the single-bullet theory, although some discrepancies exist between the narrative and the historical record. One example is when he shows Connally seated directly in front of Kennedy at the same height. In fact, Connally was seated in a jump seat the edge of which was {{convert|3|in|cm|round=0.5}} inboard and possibly {{convert|4|in|cm}} lower than Kennedy.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Forsyth|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-kennedy-connally-clothing/texas-governors-bloody-clothes-are-centerpiece-of-jfk-anniversary-idUKBRE99E16E20131015|title=Texas governor's bloody clothes are centerpiece of JFK anniversary|work=[[Reuters]]|date=October 15, 2013|access-date=January 2, 2023}}</ref>

The House Select Committee concluded that Connally could have been as much as {{convert|6|in|cm}} to the left of Kennedy. Moreover, Stone has Connally looking straight ahead. However, when Connally emerges from behind the freeway sign at Zapruder frames 222–223, he is clearly rotated significantly to his right. These points are of critical importance in assessing whether the bullet that passed through Kennedy could have caused Connally's injuries. Computer recreations showing accurate body positioning of the two men show that their injuries, if caused at Zapruder frame 224, fall on a line which emanates from a circle enclosing several windows on the sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository, and includes the window of the sniper's nest.

Connally continued to hold his hat after the single bullet struck and broke his right wrist. Critics contend this is not physically possible.<ref>{{cite web
 | last = McAdams
 | first = John
 | title = The JFK Assassination Single Bullet Theory
 | url = http://www.jfkassassination.net/sbt.htm
 | access-date =  October 17, 2007}}</ref> However, in the Zapruder film Connally continues to clutch the hat even after Kennedy's head wound, this being a point generally agreed to be after Connally had already been hit. In fact, Connally's wife, Nellie Connally, stated that he held on to his hat until he was put on a stretcher at Parkland Hospital.<ref>{{cite magazine
 | last = Patoski
 | first = Joe Nick
 | title = What They Saw Then: The Unedited Transcripts
 | magazine = [[Texas Monthly]]
 | url = http://www.texasmonthly.com/mag/1998/nov/extra/transcripts.3.html
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20001013092436/http://www.texasmonthly.com/mag/1998/nov/extra/transcripts.3.html
 | archive-date = October 13, 2000
| access-date =  October 17, 2007}}</ref> Thus, it is reasonably clear that Connally continued to hold the hat after being hit. Wrist fracture would not preclude ability to hold a light object such as a hat,<ref>{{cite book
  | first1 = Daniel K. 
  | last1 = Inouye
  | first2=Lawrence
  | last2=Elliott
  | title = Journey to Washington
  | url = https://archive.org/details/journeytowashing00inou
  | url-access = registration
  | publisher = [[Prentice-Hall]]
  |location=Hoboken, New Jersey
  | year = 1967
  | pages = [https://archive.org/details/journeytowashing00inou/page/151 151–152]
  | asin = B0006BQRQO}}</ref> and Connally's nerve damage was limited to a superficial branch of the radial nerve which served a sensory function only, and would not have interfered with his grip strength (nor was Connally's hand function in any way permanently harmed).