Sylvia Meagher wrote Harold Weisberg in September 1967 and enclosed some excerpts of an interview of Jim Garrison by Mike Wallace: Here is what Meagher wrote to Harold Weisberg about the interview: There is no shortage of Garrison craziness in the interview: "Marina Oswald had long since been taken over and controlled, literally, by elements of the White Russian community in Dallas; and there are individuals in the White Russian community in Dallas who are involved in the assassination." "Elements of the Dallas police are deeply involved in the assassination, and provably involved in the assassination.." "Now, I'm not saying a word here that we can't prove." "The only thing I have to say about that is that there are actually considerably more than seven men at Dealey Plaza. Seven is an inadequate description." Garrison is asked if this will come up at trial. He replies, "Dealey Plaza, yes. Not necessarily everything you have in mind, but the fact that there were a number of men at Dealey Plaza, including radio communications, use of transistor radios, to tell when the parade was coming, at what point it was turning, to signal when the guns were to be picked up, to indicate when the coast was clear -- the Dealey Plaza operation will now be part of the trial."

New Orleans States-Item, February 25, 1967 Garrison actually thought that Shaw would commit suicide. Here is an excerpt from "Garrison vs. Shaw: The Big Melodrama in New Orleans" by Hugh Aynesworth from the second of five articles written for The Pittsburgh Press, February 3 , 1969: Previous Relevant Blog Posts When Shaw was Arrested, What Serious Evidence did Garrison have that he Conspired to Kill JFK? Please take the challenge. In June 1970, Clay Shaw and Others Look Back... The Los Angeles. Times looks back at the trial. The Persecution of Clay Shaw A good overview of the Garrison prosecution of Shaw. Oliver Stone with "JFK Revisited" Crucifies Clay Shaw Once Again He just can't stop slandering Clay Shaw. Clay Shaw's Civil Rights Complaint Shaw's attorneys sent in a complaint to the Department of Justice Clay Shaw's Lawyers Faced an Unfair Fight! A memo from Irvin Dymond on Shaw's unfair fight. Guilt by Orientation A link to Jamie Kirchick's terrific article on Oliver Stones decades-long slander of Clay Shaw

Part one of five-part series in the Pittsburgh Press , February 2, 1969 Previous Relevant Blog Posts Did the FBI Bug Garrison's Offices? Hugh Aynesworth debunks William Walters. Was Jim Garrison Napoleon or Rasputin? A terrific cover of Westward with a story by Hugh Aynesworth Why do Conspiracy Theorists Still Believe Julia Ann Mercer? Hugh Aynesworth saw Jack Ruby at the offices of the Dallas Morning News on the morning of November 22, 1963. Jim Garrison Hoped Clay Shaw Would Commit Suicide Garrison thought Shaw was a weak man. He was wrong.

Money quote: The final irony of Shaw's two-year ordeal is that he will probably lose the jury trial now in progress and be convicted of conspiracy. It won't be because the Garrison case is any better than it ever was, but because of the spectacularly vague definition of conspiracy in Louisiana. Fortunately, Clay Shaw was not convicted. The point was the unfair fight that Clay Shaw faced in this trial. Here is a terrific memo written by Irvin Dymond, his trial attorney, on all the legal obstacles he faced. Here is a link to part one of this series.

Money quote: On and on it went. Aides and newsmen close to the investigation wondered aloud how Garrison could tell the mental cases from the sincere witnesses, the truthful from the imaginative. You can see this in the leads that Garrison sent to the House Selection Committee on Assassinations. They were an amalgam of rumor, gossip and imagination. None of Garrison's leads amounted to anything. Here is a link to part two of this series. Here is a link to part one of this series.

Pittsburgh Press, February 5, 1969 Money quote: Mr. Garrison has said publicly many times that all his witnesses must pass tests involving polygraphs, truth serum and hypnosis. "There's no margin for error this way," he explained. Russo, however, totally failed two polygraph tests, given by two different operators. Bundy, likewise, flunked the polygraph, and at least three of Mr. Garrison's closest assistants begged that he not be put on the stand. Here are some relevant blog posts about the lie detector tests: Perry Russo's First Lie Detector Test... It did not go well. Vernon Bundy's Lie Detector Test Garrison was told he wasn't telling the truth but he still put him on the stand. Jim Garrison Takes The Stand... Garrison is actually cross-examined on the stand regarding lie detector tests. Lt. Edward O'Donnell Testifies about Perry Russo's Lie Detector Test... O'Donnell administered a polygraph test on Perry Russo and he testified about what happened. Here are links to the rest of the Hugh Aynesworth Series: Here is a link to part three of this series. Here is a link to part two of this series. Here is a link to part one of this series.

Pittsburgh Press, February 6, 1969 Money quote: At least a dozen witnesses -- none of whom came forward in the first three years after the assassination -- have placed Shaw with Ferrie, Oswald with Shaw or all three. Why Didn't Garrison's Witnesses Come Forward Before 1967? Stephen Roy, in his unpublished biography of David Ferrie, Perfect Villain: David Ferrie and the JFK Mystery , wrote: "The 1963 Ferrie investigation was as notable for what did emerge as for what did not emerge in 1963. In terms of later allegations specifically connecting Ferrie to an assassination conspiracy, Perry Raymond Russo and Charles I. Spiesel did not come forward. In terms of later allegations of a 1963 relationship between Ferrie and Oswald, Delphine Points Roberts, David Frankin Lewis Jr., William George Gaudet, Thomas Edward Beckham, Raymond Broshears, Ronald LeVore Lewis, Judyth Vary Baker, Van Burns, Joseph Samuel Newbrough and the Clinton/Jackson witnesses did not come forward. The name Clay Shaw did not emerge in 1963, so a long list of people alleging a relationship between Ferrie and Shaw did not come forward. In short, all that emerged in 1963 were Jack S. Martin and a few people alleging that Oswald and Ferrie may have served in the Civil Air Patrol at the same time, eight years before the assassination." Previous Parts of the Aynesworth Series on Garrison Here is a link to part four of the series. Here is a link to part three of this series. Here is a link to part two of this series. Here is a link to part one of this series.

Washington Evening Star, February 23, 1969 Money quote: As Edward Jay Epstein puts it: "A demagogue who demonstrates a willingness to alter elements of a story when it serves his purpose may temporarily excite public opinion, but he can never establish his version of the event as the truth." Previous Relevant Blog Posts Sylvia Meagher's Reaction to the Verdict in the Shaw Trial This blog post has Sylvia Meagher's review of Paris Flammonde's The Kennedy Conspiracy .

Patricia Lambert is the author of the indispensable False Witness: The Real Story of Jim Garrison's Investigation and Oliver Stone's Film JFK . I have been fortunate to have been allowed on two occasions to examine her papers at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas. Here is a paragraph from a memo she wrote to herself on Oliver Stone: These words just ring true. I see it every single day on Facebook where I am routinely insulted by people who have no interest in reading my posts. Every week people ask me who I am working for. Don't forget to check out the nastiness of James DiEugenio .

Like the child star gone bad in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? , Jim Garrison was the reformist District Attorney gone kooky, and Oliver Stone is the famous director who went down the rabbit hole. Modern day Baby Janes, they are irredeemably linked, although it does look like Oliver Stone is trying to break free. His so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed , has three scenes from the film JFK. All of them showcase actor Kevin Costner without telling the audience that he's playing Jim Garrison. Screen shot from episode 2 of JFK: Destiny Betrayed. A conversation between Kevin Costner and Donald Sutherland about why Kennedy had to be killed. Likewise, he assumes that the audience knows it's fiction, or (even worse) doesn't care if they think it is real. In fact, JFK: Destiny Betrayed is the film that dare not speak Garrison's name. It's all the more remarkable since Oliver Stone's two-hour documentary is titled JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass . Revisited, you say? But how can you revisit JFK without even mentioning Jim Garrison? In fact, JFK: Destiny Betrayed, does mention Jim Garrison once and that is in episode 4: (12:35) Whoopi Goldberg : One of the places Oswald leafletted in front of was Clay Shaw's International Trade Mart. Shaw, who was arrested by New Orleans D.A. Jim Garrison on charges that he was part of the conspiracy to kill President Kennedy, always denied he was associated with the CIA. Nowhere in the film does it even say that Clay Shaw was tried and was acquitted of conspiracy. This is an astounding error of omission, because Stone makes a big deal out of the fact that Lee Harvey Oswald never had his day in court. And Clay Shaw was only a domestic contact of the CIA like many other businessmen. Nor does the film mention what Judge Herbert Christenberry said in 1971 after three days of hearings regarding Garrison's perjury charges against Shaw. He found that Garrison “undertook his baseless investigation with the specific intent to deprive Shaw of his rights under the First, Fifth and Fourteenth amendments ... the only conclusion that can be drawn from Garrison’s actions is that he intentionally used the arrest for his own purposes, with complete disregard for the rights of Clay Shaw.” Perhaps the firestorm over JFK tempered Stone's enthusiasm for Garrison. Back in late 1991, gay rights groups were horrified at reports of what was in the script. Los Angeles Times, December 6, 1991 Stone told them to watch the film and then decide. They did and they weren't impressed. The Advocate, one of the major gay magazines, ran a huge feature on the film and on Jim Garrison . From the front cover of The Advocate. One small quibble - they weren't 'pinkos.' A few months later, Oliver Stone sat down for an interview with The Advocate and said this: Back in 1991 it was primarily gays who objected to JFK's homophobic content. Times have changed, and referring to Clay Shaw's homosexuality would upset most decent people. Perhaps Oliver Stone has realized that Jim Garrison is toxic. Perhaps he finally understands that people believe his investigation into the JFK assassination was not just a sham, but that his prosecution of Clay Shaw was, as the New York Times put it, "One of the most disgraceful chapters in the history of American jurisprudence." Reporter Jed Horne from the New Orleans Times-Picayune told The Advocate: You want to know what people in New Orleans think of this JFK thing? They think Oliver Stone is a sucker. Garrison is considered a kook, a local joke. That Stone would come in and seek to beautify this guy is just one more instance of the gullibility of the national media and their complete inability to fathom a place like New Orleans. But perhaps not. Most likely, Oliver Stone is probably tired of defending Jim Garrison and wants to move the debate to more fertile ground. It looks like Oliver Stone has abandoned JFK to the weeds.

Some conspiracy theorists claim that Jim Garrison never brought up Clay Shaw's sexuality. Well, here's an interesting letter sent to Garrison with a lead. You can see Garrison's notation on the first page: NOTE: This was an anonymous call-in for the police recording phone. However, the details are quite specific. Subjects mentioned may have info re SHAW or FERRIE -- or re their relationship. Should be checked out. JG On the top of the page he writes "CONFIRMED LEAD - for follow-up." You can also see a notation, "8/1/77." Did Garrison review this in 1977 and was he perhaps thinking of sending this to the HSCA? It's hard to tell. I have no idea what happened with this lead. I hope that Mr. Solieau did not lose his job. How many other leads like this reached Garrison's office? How many gay people were targeted throughout the investigation? Previous Relevant Blog Posts Guilt by Orientation Jamie Kirchick has just published an important article on Oliver Stone, his so-called documentary J FK Revisited , and "his three-decade slander of an innocent man—one who, not coincidentally, happened to be gay." Boston Phoenix said Oliver Stone's JFK was "sadly homophobic" Even the Boston Phoenix realized that JFK was homophobic. Jim Garrison's Homosexual Shakedown Operation The FBI was warned in 1967 that Garrison might be running a shakedown operation of homosexuals in New Orleans. James Phelan and Mark Lane Discuss Garrison's Homosexual Conspiracy A partial transcript of a conversation between Mark Lane and James Phelan. Why was Elmer Renfroe Scared of Jim Garrison? Elmer Renfroe was a gay man who lived in the French Quarter in New Orleans and once, while drunk, told stories to a confidential informant of Aaron Kohn, head of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Garrison Mentions a Homosexual Plot to Yet Another Journalist Garrison talked about a homosexual plot to kill JFK with Max Lerner. A Rave Review of Alecia Long's "Cruising for Conspirators" Alecia Long's book, Cruising for Conspirators: How a New Orleans DA Prosecuted the Kennedy Assassination as a Sex Crime, is required reading. Jim Garrison Feigns Indignation at the Mention of Clay Shaw's Homosexuality Garrison gets upset for all the wrong reasons. Did a Homosexual Conspiracy Kill JFK? Confidential Magazine in 1968 ran a series, written by a part-time Garrison staffer, about a homosexual conspiracy. Jim Garrison's Pressure on the Gay Community of New Orleans The gay community felt a lot of pressure from Garrison. Is Oliver Stone's film, JFK, Homophobic? I am not the first person to talk about the film's homophobia. Here is an article from The Advocate - a major LGBT publication - from early 1992. Jim Garrison's Strangest Lead - The Fag Ball Garrison's strangest lead was the "Mardi Gras Ball Caper." In February 1962, over ninety people were arrested at a "fag ball" during Mardi Gras. The party was described as "extremely lewd," and several people were naked. The QUICK Magazine Series Was The QUICK Article About a Homosexual Conspiracy Written By Jim Garrison? (Part One) An article, supposedly written by Jim Garrison, appeared in the German press, which theorized that a homosexual conspiracy was behind the JFK assassination. Was The QUICK Article About a Homosexual Conspiracy Written by Jim Garrison? (Part Two Did Jim Garrison write the QUICK article? Was the QUICK Article about a Homosexual Conspiracy Written by Jim Garrison? (Part Three ) Further clues about the QUICK article. Jim Garrison Does it Again - Claims Oswald and Ruby were Homosexuals... In another article, Garrison claims that Oswald and Ruby were homosexuals. Did Lawrence Schiller Write the QUICK Article? Some evidence points to Schiller. Did Nerin Gun Write the QUICK Article? Some evidence points to Gun. Final Thoughts on the QUICK Article An overview of the evidence that Garrison believed a homosexual plot killed JFK.

A few days ago, I posted a telephone message that was left for Jim Garrison with a lead involving people who were homosexuals. Here is another letter: Here is a transcript of the letter: Dear Mr. Garrison, The below named man checked into a hotel where I work as night cashier. He talked in the coffee bar for perhaps an hour about what a rotten deal you gave Mr. Ferrie, verbally berated you and your attempt to shed some light on the Kennedy killing, and said several times, quite knowledgably, that "sure I'm sure Oswald wasn't alone, but Garrison is barking up the wrong tree." Mr. Miller, the man I'm writing about, was "touring the West Coast in search of antiques," but when I mentioned the show/place here in the Northwest for 18th century furnishings, he shrugged it off as unimportant (people have come from all over the world to see the furnishings of the Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon. He went on to say that he was planning to go to london [sic] immediately upon his return to the East coast. He said that he was NOT an antique dealer professionally. Mr. Miller is about medium height (5'11"), sparse sandy hair (fairly long), and is graceful in speech and carriage almost to the point of being effeminate. He spoke as if he and Mr. Ferrie were on first name terms . One of the staff commented on his almost TOTAL lack of masculinity and wondered aloud if he might be avoiding New Orleans or La. for any reason ... the man said several times that he would certainly like to live in New Orleans ("It's such a beautiful city") and yet his reg. card, filled out in his own hand, lists him as a resident. This letter is not to reflect upon the character of our guests. I make no suggestions or claims. I just thought I'd drop you a note to say that I think you are carrying on a splendid attempt at finding out the truth about the Kennedy killing. If it comes to nothing, Mr. Garrison, we here in the Northwest (I've heard this from guests a hundred times) will at least applaud your attempt to determine the truth ... something I don't feel that can be said about the Warren Commission report. Thank you for your time. Very truly yours, Robert M. Hudson You can see Jim Garrison's notation at the top right: Re: Ferrie Re: Shaw To: Archives For: Lead files (Copy to: IVON, for name charts and address check) Interestingly, Shaw was not mentioned in the letter at all. But I guess it was relevant to him because all gays must know each other, right? I don't know what happened with this supposed lead. Was Mr. Miller yet another gay person investigated by Garrison? Was he harassed because of his "TOTAL lack of masculinity"? We'll probably never know. But this was just the type of letter to pique Garrison's interest. Previous Relevant Blog Posts A Letter to Jim Garrison Some conspiracy theorists claim that Jim Garrison never brought up Clay Shaw's sexuality. Well, here's an interesting letter sent to Garrison with a lead. Guilt by Orientation Jamie Kirchick has just published an important article on Oliver Stone, his so-called documentary J FK Revisited , and "his three-decade slander of an innocent man—one who, not coincidentally, happened to be gay." Boston Phoenix said Oliver Stone's JFK was "sadly homophobic" Even the Boston Phoenix realized that JFK was homophobic. Jim Garrison's Homosexual Shakedown Operation The FBI was warned in 1967 that Garrison might be running a shakedown operation of homosexuals in New Orleans. James Phelan and Mark Lane Discuss Garrison's Homosexual Conspiracy A partial transcript of a conversation between Mark Lane and James Phelan. Why was Elmer Renfroe Scared of Jim Garrison? Elmer Renfroe was a gay man who lived in the French Quarter in New Orleans and once, while drunk, told stories to a confidential informant of Aaron Kohn, head of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Garrison Mentions a Homosexual Plot to Yet Another Journalist Garrison talked about a homosexual plot to kill JFK with Max Lerner. A Rave Review of Alecia Long's "Cruising for Conspirators" Alecia Long's book, Cruising for Conspirators: How a New Orleans DA Prosecuted the Kennedy Assassination as a Sex Crime, is required reading. Jim Garrison Feigns Indignation at the Mention of Clay Shaw's Homosexuality Garrison gets upset for all the wrong reasons. Did a Homosexual Conspiracy Kill JFK? Confidential Magazine in 1968 ran a series, written by a part-time Garrison staffer, about a homosexual conspiracy. Jim Garrison's Pressure on the Gay Community of New Orleans The gay community felt a lot of pressure from Garrison. Is Oliver Stone's film, JFK, Homophobic? I am not the first person to talk about the film's homophobia. Here is an article from The Advocate - a major LGBT publication - from early 1992. Jim Garrison's Strangest Lead - The Fag Ball Garrison's strangest lead was the "Mardi Gras Ball Caper." In February 1962, over ninety people were arrested at a "fag ball" during Mardi Gras. The party was described as "extremely lewd," and several people were naked. The QUICK Magazine Series Was The QUICK Article About a Homosexual Conspiracy Written By Jim Garrison? (Part One) An article, supposedly written by Jim Garrison, appeared in the German press, which theorized that a homosexual conspiracy was behind the JFK assassination. Was The QUICK Article About a Homosexual Conspiracy Written by Jim Garrison? (Part Two Did Jim Garrison write the QUICK article? Was the QUICK Article about a Homosexual Conspiracy Written by Jim Garrison? (Part Three ) Further clues about the QUICK article. Jim Garrison Does it Again - Claims Oswald and Ruby were Homosexuals... In another article, Garrison claims that Oswald and Ruby were homosexuals. Did Lawrence Schiller Write the QUICK Article? Some evidence points to Schiller. Did Nerin Gun Write the QUICK Article? Some evidence points to Gun. Final Thoughts on the QUICK Article An overview of the evidence that Garrison believed a homosexual plot killed JFK.