G. Robert Blakey, R.I.P., (1936-2026)

Fred Litwin
4 hours ago
4 min read

It was sad to hear that G. Robert Blakey died last Friday at the age of 90. He will always be remembered for taking over the helm of the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) and having it focus on the science side of the case. The HSCA was in a shambles until he provided some clear leadership.

Don Edwards Writes Thomas Downing about Richard Sprague

While the HSCA went off track with the acoustics evidence, they also provided a clear scientific case for the guilt of Lee Harvey Oswald.

First generation researcher Paul Hoch understood the importance of the HSCA's work when he gave an important speech at the Second Annual Midwest Symposium on Assassination Politics in Chicago in 1993:

We could argue at length about the imperfections in the House Committee's work, and in the work of the National Academy of Sciences panel which rebutted the acoustics. As some of you know, I've done my share, particularly on the acoustics.

But the fact remains that the House Committee took a stab at the tests the critics wanted — not completely, and not perfectly, but we expected that any one of the tests would demolish the WC reconstruction — neutron activation analysis, trajectory analysis. And they didn't.

Many people seem to agree with John Judge, who has said that we know where the shots came from, they came from the Pentagon. I don't think we know nearly enough about Dealey Plaza to make a jump like that.

The single bullet theory is not a joke. Despite its well-known flaws, the Warren Commission/House Committee reconstruction may be in better shape than any other single detailed reconstruction. At least, it has to be taken seriously.

In September 2020, I sent Mr. Blakey a copy of my manuscript of On the Trail of Delusion -- Jim Garrison: The Great Accuser.

I then sent him an email asking him if he had read my manuscript. Here is the email he sent me along with a blurb:

No bother. I’ve read it. I was thinking highly of it until I got to the negatives on HSCA You did give Dick and me a positive comment when we said JG [Jim Garrison] was a “fraud."

I now think he is a case study of the down side on giving people like JG power in our society. He is also a case study at the local level, as DT is a case study at the national level. Both of them were/are sociopathic narcissists. I wonder if either of them ever had the ability to distinguish the truth you and I have on a daily basis and in finding facts in the evaluation of forensic matters. Life is not all about me, as I infer it is not all about you from your book. Despite misgivings, here is a blurb feel free to use:

Mr. Blakey was not happy that I had very briefly mentioned that the National Academy of Sciences had discredited the acoustics evidence. But I was delighted to get a blurb for the back cover:

"If you want to find the real story about the claims Jim Garrison made about the assassination of JFK, don't look to the movie by Oliver Stone, read Litwin's Delusion. Uniquely, he doesn't tell you what to believe, he gives you the evidence that speaks for itself."

After the publication of On the Trail of Delusion, conspiracy theorist James DiEugenio wrote a five-part series criticizing my books. I wrote a reply, and I sent it to Mr. Blakey.

Here is his reply:

Thanks for sending it to me. Good collection of nasty things to say about another person, each a violation of one of the classic Greek Fallacies (Ad Hoc). I may not read the rest of it. I have other valuable uses of my time. But send other similar things. Sometimes I like playing at reading examples of the decline of classic scholarship.

G. Robert Blakey rescued the HSCA from infighting and then competently ran the investigation. I salute him for his service.

Here is a link to an obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times, and an obituary from his law school.

Previous Relevant Blog Posts on the HSCA:

Don Edwards Writes Thomas Downing about Richard Sprague

Sprague wanted to use some pretty shady methods.

George Lardner on Mark Lane

Lane supported Don Edwards until he complained about the HSCA.

G. Robert Blakey on Mark Lane

Blakey knew that Lane misled the HSCA.

Did The HSCA Have a Confession Tape?

Jim Garrison thought the HSCA had a confession tape. They did, but it was a nonsense story peddled by Thomas Beckham.

Jim Garrison's Ridiculous Letter to the HSCA...