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Writer's pictureFred Litwin

A Viewer's Guide to "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" and "JFK Revisited"

Updated: Mar 7, 2023



Over the past several months, I have shown in multiple blog posts how Oliver Stone's documentary series, JFK Revisited and JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers. In fact, despite months of work, there are still many more misleading segments that need to be addressed. It's no wonder that the fact checkers of Netflix nixed the airing of the films.


There is a choice between four hours of tendentious nonsense (JFK: Destiny Betrayed) and two hours (JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass). As a handy guide for viewers, here are all those posts in order of their appearance in JFK: Destiny Betrayed and JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, preceded by some general critiques.


Essays


He cannot imagine any sort of non-conspiratorial explanations for any of the suspicious pieces of evidence in his film.


Jim Garrison is AWOL in Oliver Stone's so-called documentary JFK: Destiny Betrayed.


An essay on the intellectual monstrosity of JFK: Destiny Betrayed.


A good review of JFK Revisited by historian Max Boot in the Washington Post.


There is something really obscene about Oliver Stone once again going after Clay Shaw.


Oliver Stone took to Twitter last weekend to bemoan the fact that the mainstream press is ignoring his so-called documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass.


Robert Kennedy, Jr. believes in a massive conspiracy regarding COVID-19 and the intelligence agencies.


Just when I thought conspiracy theorists couldn't get any crazier.


James Kirchick's terrific article on Oliver Stone and homosexuality.


An exchange of letters between James DiEugenio and Jeremy Gunn of the ARRB.


Oliver Stone makes the claim in his so-called documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, that the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) turned conspiracy theory into conspiracy fact. But is this really true?


The former Attorney General of Alabama, Bill Baxley, writes a letter about Oliver Stone.


Oliver Stone admits that the mainstream media is ignoring his cartoon.


A look at Oliver Stone's visit to Quebec City.


Isn't it time for an apology?


JFK: Destiny Betrayed


Episode 1


(11:49)

The evidence is clear - Robert Kennedy wanted Allen Dulles on the Warren Commission.


(23:05)

Did President Kennedy actually say that he was going to shatter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the wind?


(24:07)

"JFK Revisited" Misleads on Supposed CIA Support of the 1961 Coup Attempt in France Oliver Stone's so-called documentary claims the CIA supported the 1961 coup attempt against French President Charles de Gaulle in 1961. The only thing missing is evidence.


(24:59)

David Talbot claims that JFK told the French Ambassador that he was not in full control of his entire government. There is no evidence he ever said that.


(25:24)

JFK: Destiny Betrayed alleges the CIA was involved in an assassination plot against French President Charles de Gaulle. Scenes from a fictional film are used to buttress the allegation. The truth - the CIA had nothing to do with the supposed plot.


(28:10)

You won't learn everything you need to know about Connally's position on the shots from Oliver Stone's so-called documentary.


(47:57)

JFK: Destiny Betrayed needlessly, and unfairly, criticizes the Sixth Floor Museum.


(49:32)

JFK: Destiny Betrayed alleges that the testimony of Vickie Adams and Sandra Styles proves that Oswald was not on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. But there was a shooter on the sixth floor and they didn't see anyone going down the stairs. TSBD expert Jerry Dealey provides a simple explanation.



Episode 2


(4:01)

The preponderance of the evidence indicates JFK's throat wound was one of exit.


(8:38)

Gochenaur's writings don't back up his allegations in JFK Revisited.


(9:59)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, features Dr. Charles Crenshaw to bolster its claim that President Kennedy was shot from the front. Viewers are not informed of Dr. Crenshaw's credibility problems


(11:48)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers on the opinions of Parkland Hospital doctors and Bethesda witnesses regarding JFK's head wound.


(14:48)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers into thinking the Harper fragment was occipital bone that came from the back of Kennedy's head.


(35:30)

Have a look at Dr. Joseph Dolce's bad judgment


(38:40)

Oliver Stone tries to make it seem like Marina Porter has denied taking the backyard photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald.


(39:16)

"Stone/DiEugenio hatch another Bogus Mystery with Sinister Strap/Sling Mounts on Oswald's Rifle"


(40:41)

Oliver Stone once again raises the issue of the legitimacy of the backyard photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald.


(42:06)

Oliver Stone distorts the testimony about Oswald's palmprint on the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle.


(44:36)

JFK: Destiny Betrayed claims that the initials of Elmer Lee Todd are missing from CE 399. Steve Roe proves them wrong.


(47:56)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers on the bullet found at Parkland Hospital, CE399. They imply that Darrell Tomlinson, the maintenance employee who found the bullet, said that bullet he found didn't look like CE399. The truth is somewhat different.


(50:28)

Dr. Henry Lee makes a brief appearance in this episode. He is a problematic expert.


(52:43)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that Jack Ruby was signaled by car horns in the basement of the Dallas Police Department. The evidence clearly shows that there were many horns being sounded in the basement.


(53:30)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers on a memo written by Nicholas Katzenbach about investigating JFK's assassination.


(55:07)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers on the motivations of Jack Ruby.


Episode 3


Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, makes several outrageous allegations about Admiral George Burkley, JFK's personal physician as well as a slanderous accusation.


(1:33)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, misleads viewers into believing that JFK's doctor, Admiral George Burkley, said that there were multiple gunmen.


(1;33)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, misleads viewers on the context of discussions between Burkley's family and the ARRB regarding supposed papers in the possession of his lawyer.


(1:33)

Reckless charges are made against George Burkley with no evidence.


(1:33)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, greatly misleads viewers on Admiral George Burkley and his interactions with the HSCA.


(1:33)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary puts words in Burkley's mouth.


(6:22)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series JFK: Destiny Betrayed uses a variety of supposed witnesses to allege that the wound in the back of Kennedy's head was one of exit. Audrey Bell is one such witness and she doesn't have much credibility.


(6:52)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, tries to make the case that because Parkland Hospital doctors saw cerebellum extruding from Kennedy's head wound, that it indicated an exit wound.


(10:08)

JFK Revisited makes a big deal about the weight of JFK's brain and ignores a non-conspiratorial explanation.


(12:16)

Dr. Robert Kirschner's consultation with the ARRB explains a mystery in the documentary.


(15:09)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary makes it sound like the autopsy photographer said that he did not take the photos of JFK's brain that are in the current inventory,


(17:08)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary tries to make the case that a White House photographer took photos at the autopsy. The only problem is that there is no evidence he was actually there.


(19:30)

Did Saundra Spencer really develop a completely different set of autopsy photographs?


(20:59)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers into believing there are missing autopsy photographs. In the process, the autopsy photographer is appallingly quoted out of context.


(26:05)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that an extra bullet was found in JFK's limousine the evening of the assassination. This is just not true.


(27:49)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers by intimating that that there was a through-and-through hole in the windshield. This is simply not true.


(34:22)

While Gerald Ford edited some language in the Warren Report, he did not change the location of the back wound. Autopsy photographs show exactly the location of the back wound.


(34:45)

Did Gerald Ford really disclose to French President Valery Giscard D'Estaing that the JFK assassination was a conspiracy? Perhaps not.


(54:07)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, claims that General Curtis LeMay was ordered by General Zuckert to land at Andrews Air Force Base from his holiday in Canada, and that LeMay then decided to go to National Airport. That is not what happened.


(56:29)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that General Curtis LeMay was at JFK's autopsy.


(56:51)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that autopsy pathologists were told to fit the wounds to a presupposed conclusion.



Episode 4


(1:37)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, misleads viewers into believing that Otto Otepka uncovered evidence that Oswald was a fake defector.


(7:51)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, makes the erroneous claim that Lee Harvey Oswald was not paid for his last quarter of service in the U.S. Marines.


(10:14)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, erroneously claims that David Ferrie was an asset of the CIA and that he also flew missions for the CIA. This is simply not true.


(10:55)

JFK: Destiny Betrayed misleads viewers into believing that Oswald gave out handbills on the streets of New Orleans stamped with the 544 Camp Street address


(10:55)

An early use of the fake Oswald handbill.


(10:55)

A look at James DiEugenio's use of the fake Oswald handbill.


(10:55)

Journalist Jefferson Morley has also used the fake Oswald handbills.


(10:55)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary claims that Guy Banister gave Oswald a room at 544 Camp Street. The evidence does not support the allegation.


(13:22)

No, Clay Shaw was not a "contract agent."


(14:03)

This post debunks every witness that has ever claimed Shaw was Bertrand


(22:03)

There is no evidence that there was actually a plot against JFK in Chicago.


(24:22)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary alleges that Oswald was "moved" to Dallas and "placed" in the Texas School Book Depository. This is totally ridiculous.


(25:06)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, alleges that there were plots to assassinate JFK in Chicago and Tampa in November of 1963. In addition, the documentary alleges that Thomas Vallee and Gilberto Policarpo Lopez were patsies-in-waiting in Chicago and Tampa respectively, who would have been arrested had the supposed plots succeeded. The only problems with this thesis is that there is no evidence that there was a plot in Chicago. And there is no evidence of a plot in Tampa as well.


(25:06)

Researcher Paul Hoch has uncovered evidence that significantly adds to our understanding of this story. It turns out that the Church Committee got an important fact wrong.


(41:19)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, makes it appear that Israel was about to use nuclear weapons in the 1973 Yom Kippur war. A key important fact was left out.



JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass


(26:16)

You won't learn everything you need to know about Connally's position on the shots from Oliver Stone's so-called documentary.


(28:45)

Oliver Stone tries to make it seem like Marina Porter has denied taking the backyard photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald.


(30:00)

"Stone/DiEugenio hatch another Bogus Mystery with Sinister Strap/Sling Mounts on Oswald's Rifle"


(30:57)

Oliver Stone once again raises the issue of the legitimacy of the backyard photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald.


(31:00)

Oliver Stone distorts the testimony about Oswald's palmprint on the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle.


(38:32)

The preponderance of the evidence indicates JFK's throat wound was one of exit.


(42:38)

Gochenaur's writings don't back up his allegations in JFK Revisited.


(53:05)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary makes it sound like the autopsy photographer said that he did not take the photos of JFK's brain that are in the current inventory,


(54:27)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary tries to make the case that a White House photographer took photos at the autopsy. The only problem is that there is no evidence he was actually there.


(56:42)

Did Saundra Spencer really develop a completely different set of autopsy photographs?


(57:37)

JFK Revisited makes a big deal about the weight of JFK's brain and ignores a non-conspiratorial explanation.


(59:03)

Dr. Robert Kirschner's consultation with the ARRB explains a mystery in the documentary.


(1:04:21)

While Gerald Ford edited some language in the Warren Report, he did not change the location of the back wound. Autopsy photographs show exactly the location of the back wound.


(1:05:54)

Did Gerald Ford really disclose to French President Valery Giscard D'Estaing that the JFK assassination was a conspiracy? Perhaps not.


(1:11:32)

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary claims that Guy Banister gave Oswald a room at 544 Camp Street. The evidence does not support the allegation.


(1:17:10)

This post debunks every witness that has ever claimed Shaw was Bertrand


(1:17:15)

No, Clay Shaw was not a "contract agent."


(1:23:31)

There is no evidence that there was actually a plot against JFK in Chicago.


1:25:55

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary alleges that Oswald was "moved" to Dallas and "placed" in the Texas School Book Depository. This is totally ridiculous.


1:33:33

"JFK Revisited" Misleads on Supposed CIA Support of the 1961 Coup Attempt in France Oliver Stone's so-called documentary claims the CIA supported the 1961 coup attempt against French President Charles de Gaulle in 1961. The only thing missing is evidence.


(1:33:33)

Did President Kennedy actually say that he was going to shatter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the wind?


1:34:58

David Talbot claims that JFK told the French Ambassador that he was not in full control of his entire government. There is no evidence he ever said that.



JFK Revisited

The Book of the Film


Steve Roe made a rude discovery when perusing the book of the film. James DiEugenio included a debunked allegation that Oswald's money order for his rifle could not have reaching Chicago in time.


A citation about the segment on David Ferrie in the book is quite something. It leads to a Colonel William Bishop, who was quite the fabulist. Using a ridiculous conspiracy book to prop up the JFK Revisited documentary is not a good look.

An analysis of the footnotes related to the anti-Castro training camp north of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans in the summer of 1963.


Paul Bleau is a so-called expert on plots against JFK and his interview in the book, JFK Revisited, is revealing.



JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass

Commentary Track on the Blu-Ray Disc




You can download the Source section to my book, Oliver Stone's Film-Flam:




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