Did Abraham Bolden Try to Contact the Warren Commission?
- Fred Litwin
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
An important part of Abraham Bolden's story is that he tried to contact the Warren Commission to tell them about Secret Service deficiencies and the supposed plot against JFK in Chicago.
But did Bolden actually try to contact the Warren Commission?
In May 1964, Bolden held a press conference at his home in Chicago. Here is what he said about contacting the Warren Commission:
Bolden said that two weeks earlier, he had told another agent "I'm going before the Warren Commission and tell about the drinking and disappearance of the (Secret Service) agents from their posts while they were guarding President Kennedy in Hyannis Port."
Notice that he said nothing about a plot in Chicago. And Bolden did not identify that agent.
He also said he was going to appear before the Warren Commission:
However Abraham Bolden's story changed in his 2009 book, The Echo from Dealey Plaza: The true story of the first African American on the White House Secret Service detail and his quest for justice after the assassination of JFK: (page 72 of the Kindle edition)
When I'd arrived in Washington, D.C., on May 17, Agent McLeod and I had walked to a small coffee shop and had sandwiches. On the way back to the Willard Hotel, where we were staying, I decided to call the White House switchboard. I needed to contact J. Lee Rankin, counsel for the Warren Commission, but I didn't know how. I needed to let some member of the commission know that I was interested in giving testimony as to my observations and complaints about past Secret Service agent conduct.
This is the first mention in Bolden's book that he was interested in talking with the Warren Commission. He claims he didn't know how to reach the Warren Commission. Surely, he could have figured this out, no?
Later in his book, Bolden tells a story of a television journalist who visits him at his home to ask him about JFK: (page 102 in the Kindle edition)
“I can't let you in because my wife and children are asleep, and I wouldn't want to appear on television looking like this anyway,” I said, cutting him off. “I would like for you to tell me who brought up the Kennedy thing. Yeah, I talked to some agents about testifying before the Warren Commission. I want to know how you found out.”
Bolden then said he "talked to some agents about testifying before the Warren Commission."
I had made the decision to tell the truth so I could do my job. If not, I couldn’t live with myself. But in January of 1964, the Secret Service made a move that was wrong, in that there had been reports of people in the group of the assassins in Dallas who had Secret Service identification. The Secret Service Chief recalled all of the Secret Service agents’ identification, and they made new identification books. I had heard that that there was some truth to the fact that some people had obtained credentials and were part of the assassination team. So, I decided to take time off and pay my way to Washington, D.C., where the Warren Commission was meeting and tell them the truth.
Now Bolden says he "heard that there was some truth to the fact that some people had obtained credentials and were part of the assassination team." Wow, he never said that in 1964 and that is not in his book.
He also claims that he took time off to go to Washington which is not the story he tells in his book.
I find it curious that Bolden had about six months, before his arrest, to contact the Warren Commission. He did nothing. And now we are supposed to believe that he was arrested only after he decided to come forward. I think it is clear that Bolden only came forward after he was arrested, and that was to divert attention from his crime.
And so the Warren Commission wanted to hear from Bolden.
But if Bolden believed there was a plot against JFK in Chicago, wouldn't that be relevant information about Kennedy's assassination in Dallas?
Bolden never told the Warren Commission or the FBI about any supposed connections between Chicago and Dallas. He didn't tell the press about these connections in 1964. He didn't say one word about the Chicago plot until 1967.
What kind of patriot would decide to NOT tell the Warren Commission or the FBI about a prior plot against JFK, and then hide that knowledge for three years?
Previous Blog Posts on the supposed plot in Chicago
Yet another essay about the supposed plot.
Bolden testified before Anna Paulina Luna's task force and told yet another version of his Chicago plot story.
Was Vallee really a threat?
This document was supposedly destroyed by the Secret Service.
Chad Nagle tries to argue that there was a plot.
The HSCA did speak to Edwin Black. It was a memorable interview.
There is no evidence of a plot in Chicago against JFK.
Bolden's story about the supposed Chicago plot has changed over the years.
An examination of supposed other plots against JFK.
Bolden didn't say one word about a supposed plot against JFK in Chicago.
