The Mighty Bob Tanenbaum Strikes Out, Part Two

Here is a link to Part One of my review of Robert Tanenbaum's new book, That Day in Dallas.

What is perhaps more interesting than what was is in Tanenbaum's book is what he left out or has decided not to mention.

The most glaring omission concerns Beverly Oliver.

Back in 1977, Tanenbaum was singing the praises of Oliver at an Executive Session of the HSCA:

At the end of May 1977, the HSCA released a preliminary report which included this paragraph:

This caught the eye of several Warren Commission critics including Paul Hoch who sent this letter to Representative Christopher Dodd:

Here is the enclosure from Forgive My Grief IV:

Here is the enclosure from Cover-Up:

Hoch had this to say in one of his newsletters:

Here is one news report on the story:

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, April 10, 1977

And the story was covered in the New York Times:

There is no mention of Beverly Oliver in Tanenbaum's book. Not one word.

I wonder why.

There is also no mention in his book of a film he claimed he viewed while at the HSCA:

Probe Magazine, Volume 3, #5, Interview of Bob Tanenbaum by Jim DiEugenio

Tanenbaum claimed that Lee Harvey Oswald, Guy Banister, and David Phillips were in this supposed film. But alas, there is no mention of this film in his book.

And Tanenbaum claimed to have seen some documents that have since vanished:

Probe Magazine, Volume 3, #5, Interview of Bob Tanenbaum by Jim DiEugenio

There is no mention of these supposed documents in Tanenbaum's book.

And there is no evidence that the CIA (or the FBI) was monitoring or harassing Garrison's witnesses.

I really don't know why Robert Tanenbaum wrote this book. He adds nothing to our understanding of the case, and his arguments for conspiracy are jejune. Perhaps some people will be impressed by his former title -- former prosecutor and Deputy Counsel of the HSCA -- and thus has some important wisdom on the case.

Unfortunately not.

The sneer is gone from Tanenbaum's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;

He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.

And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,

And now the air is shattered by the force of Tanenbaum's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,

And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;

But there is no joy in Conspiracy Land - mighty Tanenbaum has struck out.