Finally, the identity of Prayer Man is revealed. Don't miss the truth about the three tramps. Previous Relevant Blog Posts Clash of the Cults My 2025 trip to Dallas. My Trip to Dallas My 2024 trip to Dallas. A Travesty in Dealey Plaza My 2023 trip to Dallas. The CIA's Dinner in Dallas   Our terrific dinner at El Fenix in Dallas. My Research Trip to NARA My 2023 trip to College Park. My Trip to New Orleans My JFK buddies and I visited New Orleans.

Elmer Gertz Here is a link to the Wills/Demaris book on Jack Ruby : You can read the Wills/Demaris excerpt on Nancy Perrin Rich here. An important excerpt: All of this tragedy might have been averted had Ruby yielded to his impulse to leave Dallas immediately after the death of Kennedy. He was persuaded by the family that he ought to remain in Dallas to take care of his sister Eva Grant, still recovering from surgery. This, incidentally, disposes of the theory that he was selected to be the silencer of Oswald. If he had gotten to his sister Eileen's home in Chicago, he could not have done in Oswald. Those who connect Ruby with a conspiracy do not explain this, or do they explain much else. Such is the nature of conspiracy nuts, demolished in this book and, I hope, in mine. Here is a link to Alan Adelson's book : Here is a segment from Adelson's book on Jim Garrison (pages 145-153) Here is a New York Times article on Ruby's last statement: New York Times, January 3 1967 And here is his last statement: Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Jack Ruby Jefferson Morley Responds to my Post on MK-Ultra and Jack Ruby And here is my reply. Did Dr. Louis Jolyon West Ask to Examine Jack Ruby in November 1963?   There is no evidence that Dr. West petitioned the court to examine Jack Ruby before his trial. Did the CIA use a MK-Ultra Psychiatrist to Interfere with Jack Ruby's Case?   There is absolutely no evidence that Dr. Louis Jolyon West interfered with Jack Ruby's case. Was Jack Ruby Injected with Cancer? Even Dr, Cyril Wecht says this is nonsense. Jim Garrison Interview on the Mike Wallace Show, September 1967 Some Garrison craziness on Jack Ruby. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Jack Ruby The motivations of Jack Ruby. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads by Claiming Jack Ruby was Signaled He was not signaled by a horn. Does this witness prove a Ruby-Oswald Connection? Is the proof we have all been looking for? Why do Conspiracy Theorists Still Believe Julia Ann Mercer? She thought Jack Ruby was the driver of a truck on Elm Street. Jim Garrison Does it Again - Claims Oswald and Ruby were Homosexuals... Garrison goes too far, and regrets it. Did Rose Cherami Ever Work for Jack Ruby? There is no evidence she worked at Ruby's club. Did a Piece of Paper with the Names of Jack Ruby and Lee Oswald Provide a Link to Rose Cherami? A conspiracy story that some people believed. Did Lee Harvey Oswald Use Jack Ruby As a Job Reference? James DiEugenio gets a story very wrong. Was There a Link Between Jack Ruby and David Ferrie? The short answer is no. Did Breck Wall order Jack Ruby to Kill Oswald? Another ridiculous Garrison story. Did a Cabbie take Oswald and Ferrie to Ruby's Nightclub? The short answer is no. Did Oswald and Ruby plan to buy a restaurant together? Oh, the stories people tell. Was Jack Ruby in Clinton with Clay Shaw and David Ferrie? One witness said that Ruby was in Clinton. Was Oswald's Alias a Code for a Jack Ruby Stripper? Garrison, the great code-breaker. Did Clay Shaw Pay Off Jack Ruby? For a while, Garrison believed this silly story. Did Garrison find proof that Ruby knew Oswald? The Clyde Limbough story.

Mort Sahl San Francisco Chronicle, November 9, 1967 Hat Tip: Bill Roe. Money Quote : Mr. Sahl isn't the last guy who will shore up a sagging career on Mr. Kennedy's bones. Messrs. Lane and Garrison are not the last who will try to make big men out of small men through the same squalid device. Sad. Here is the column on Mort Sahl that McCabe references : Money Quote : There are other press people Sahl takes exception to. "The ones in the press who ridicule the conspiracy theory, the columnists who call Garrison or myself insane -- I think some of them are in the pay of the CIA. I know that sounds paranoid, but I want you to chew on that for a while." Money Quote : Sahl talked on the FBI and CIA, pointing out that Garrison was being closely watched, that he, Sahl, had been tailed, and that both their phones were bugged. (Garrison and Sahl are in fairly close communication, and it was allegedly Sahl who convinced Hugh Hefner to undertake and publish the recent Playboy interview with Garrison.) Does Sahl fear for his safety in this cloak and dagger atmosphere? "No. They have other ways of killing you." Who are "they?" "Whoever made the original phone call from Washington to Hollywood telling people not to hire me. This way I'm paralyzed. It's more effective than murder. But I've refused to die." By the way, Garrison's offices were not bugged. San Francisco Examiner, October 29 1967 Money Quote : But if the Garrison thing doesn't come off, we're all going to lose in this sense -- we won't be living in the same country we were born in. If the neo-Nazis here find they've gotten away with the assassination, and that the government will ratify and countersign the lie, and will go along for reasons of their own, and everybody will compromise, and no one will speak up, what will that leave us?" Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Mort Sahl "I Know Who Killed JFK," Part Two Lane speaks at a Men's Business Club. "I Know Who Killed JFK," Part One Mort Sahl said he knew who killed JFK.

I hope all of my readers have a Happy and Merry Christmas! Here is a new fun video I made during my last trip to Dallas : Previous Relevant Blog Posts Clash of the Cults My 2025 trip to Dallas. My Trip to Dallas My 2024 trip to Dallas. A Travesty in Dealey Plaza My 2023 trip to Dallas. The CIA's Dinner in Dallas   Our terrific dinner at El Fenix in Dallas. My Research Trip to NARA My 2023 trip to College Park. My Trip to New Orleans My JFK buddies and I visited New Orleans.

Mark Lane Reuters release in various newspapers, March 31, 1967 "I Know Who Killed JFK," Part Two Lane speaks at a Men's Business Club. "I Know Who Killed JFK," Part One Mort Sahl said he knew who killed JFK. Mark Lane Said that Clay Shaw Was a "Powerful, Domestic Force in the Assassination." Lane speaks at the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Screen shot of JFK: Destiny Betrayed 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. Here is an excerpt from a transcript: (54:05 from episode 3) Oliver Stone : Can you tell us about the Air Force One tapes, and General Curtis LeMay? Douglas Horne : On the new version of the Air Force One tapes, the Clifton tape, it’s revealed that Colonel Dorman, General LeMay’s aide, is desperately trying to contact LeMay on the radio. Excerpt from tape : Colonel Dorman : [This is] Colonel Dorman, General LeMay's aide. Andrews : Right. Colonel Dorman : General LeMay is in a C-140. Andrews : Right Colonel Dorman : Last three numbers are "497," He's inbound, His code name is 'Grandson,' and I want to talk to him. Douglas Horne : A logbook was recovered by the ARRB from the Air Force command post at Andrews. And it was given to us by a civil servant named Chuck Holmes. And this logbook records in-flight conversations between a command post at Andrews and Air Force One as it's flying from Texas back to Washington. Excerpt from tape : Command Post : Air Force One, this is the Air Force Command Post. If possible, request the names of the passengers onboard, please. Douglas Horne : So, this logbook shows that General LeMay, at the time of the assassination, was in Canada. This is really interesting because his official biographer says he was hunting in Michigan, but we know that’s not true. He was in Toronto, for reasons unknown. Without his aide, Colonel Dorman, who went with him everywhere. This logbook reveals that he was ordered by [Air Force] Secretary Zuckert to land at Andrews Air Force Base because all the federal officials were going to meet the President’s body at Andrews Air Force [Base]. A transmission was made from LeMay’s plane back to this command post, and it says, General LeMay will not go to Andrews. General LeMay will go to DCA, National Airport. According to this log, his plane lands at 5:15 PM, well before the autopsy starts. Whoopi Goldberg : Very few people in the Pentagon had a worse relationship with Kennedy than Curtis LeMay. During the Missile Crisis he opposed Kennedy’s solution of a blockade. When Kennedy left the room after this conference, LeMay openly ridiculed him. LeMay was strongly against the Test Ban Treaty Kennedy was working on and signed in 1963. He wanted to escalate the Vietnam War, with both naval and air power, by carrying the war north. He advocated bombing North Vietnam back to the Stone Age, if need be, and was willing to use atomic weapons if the Chinese intervened. Screen shot of Clifton tape from JFK: Destiny Betrayed This is quite the allegation. Let's start with LeMay's flight back to the United States from Canada. JFK: Destiny Betrayed makes it sound suspicious that LeMay flew into National Airport instead of Andrews Air Force Base. The truth is that General LeMay was never ordered to fly into Andrew Air Force Base. Here is the sequence of events on November 22, 1963, as provided by Larry Haapanen: (all times are EST, you can access the Bill Kelly transcription of the Holmes logbook here ) 1:30 PM JFK is shot in Dallas. 2:20 PM 4197 Set-up to Dept to P/U Gen LeMay at Toronto, Canada (Holmes logbook) 2:46 PM Aircraft 4197 [C-140 jet] departs for Canada, ETA 3:46 PM (Holmes logbook) Between 2:50 - 3:00 PM Change LeMay P/U from Toronto to Wiarton (Holmes logbook) 3:05 PM Contacted 24197 to change destination to Wiarton (Holmes logbook) 3:47 PM Air Force One departs Love Field for Andrews AFB (Holmes logbook) 4:04 PM LeMay departs Wiarton: "24197 Gen. LeMay dept Wairton [sic] 1604 ETA DCA 1715, Driver & Aide at DCA ETA changed 17:10 Secy Zuckert will meet LeMay at ADW (notified acft) (Holmes logbook) ~4:15 PM Conversation between Gen. Clifton on AF-1 and SA Jerry Behn in DC. Behn : WATCHMAN, should the secretary of defense and others be at Andrews on your arrival? Clifton : No. I am about to -- no; negative. I am about to call the White House. President Johnson wants to meet [with] the White House staff; the leadership of Congress; and as many of the cabinet members as possible, at the White House [as] soon as we get there -- approximately 1830, 1830 [EST}. Over (page 34 of The Kennedy Assassination Tapes by Max Holland) [Apparently General Clifton makes call to White House, not on tapes] 4:30 PM At HQ, Military District of Washington, Major Rutherford informs CG [General Wehle] that Col. Connell, of General Clifton's office at WH, has called to say that he's had call from General Clifton directing that no DoD personnel meet AF-1 at Andrews, including the Chief of Staff. (After Action Report, 11/22/63, Military District of Washington, page 36 ) ~4:40 LeMay is half hour away from landing. LeMay's aide, Col. Dorman, attempts to place a call to LeMay's plane. Message is not disclosed, but apparently it needs to get through before LeMay is on the ground, as Dorman says, "But if you can't work him now, it's gonna be too late because he'll be on the ground in a half hour." (Douglas Horne transcript of AF-1 tapes) 5:00 PM "Gen LeMay will land DCA NOT ADW" (Holmes logbook) 5:12 PM LeMay arrives at DCA (National Airport) 48 minutes before AF-1 lands at Andrews The entry at 4:04 PM indicates that General LeMay was going to land at National Airport and then be driven to Andrews Air Force Base. There is no evidence that General LeMay was ever ordered to fly to Andrews. The expectation that he and others would meet at Andrews was changed at 4: 30 PM when General Clifton on Air Force 1 instructed the military in Washington to have no Department of Defense dignitaries present to greet the plane at Andrews. Douglas Horne alleges that the entry at 5:00 PM about General LeMay landing at National Airport is a change in destination. This is just not true. The previous logbook entry at 4:15 PM indicated that his ETA at National Airport was 5:15 PM. Perhaps the 5:00 PM transmission was just a response from his pilot about chatter about other people going to Andrews. Here is the page from the Military District of Washington After Action Report : This provides the evidence of a call from General Clifton on Air Force 1 to his own office in Washington stating that there should not be any high-ranking DoD personnel on hand to meet AF-1 at Andrews. That meant that only a small party was on hand to greet Air Force 1 - General Maxwell Taylor, Robert McNamara, and General Philip Wehle. JFK: Destiny Betrayed ultimately leads viewers to assume that LeMay landed at National to be closer to Bethesda Naval Hospital. In fact, it's only a bit closer to Bethesda . More importantly, National Airport is a substantially shorter drive to the Pentagon than Andrews. One would expect that LeMay would have gone there to confer with the other Chiefs. Here is an excerpt from the LeMay Oral History at the LBJ Library: (page 29) F : Where were you at the time of the assassination? L : I was in Washington at the time--the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. F : You were at work on that particular day? L : No, I was off some place, at the actual time of the assassination, I was called back. F : Yes, what was the situation that you found when you got back to Washington? Was there a little bit of tenseness or was it pretty well decided that Lee Harvey Oswald was just after one man? L : Well there wasn't much of a flap. Everybody was a little concerned that they didn't know what made the attack, the assassination, so they wanted everybody present for duty. That's the reason they were called back. What was LeMay doing in Canada? He told his biographers that he was hunting in Michigan. Here is his expense report for November 1963: You can see that LeMay took leave from November 14 -17, 1963. He flew in and out of Wurtsmith Air Force Base which is only about 40 miles from Rose City, Michigan where he typically went hunting. Larry Haapanen spoke to Air Force Colonel Aaron Burleson in 2001, who told him that LeMay was fishing in Canada on November 22, 1963. And he should know: Lawton Constitution, June 26, 1974 He served as "the Special Air Mission officer at Air Force Headquarters, a position involving coordination of transportation for the nation's highest ranking government and military officials." Note that LeMay's expense report was filed on November 21, 1963. The next expense report that LeMay filed was for December 1963. So, the evidence is pretty clear that LeMay was on leave when JFK was assassinated. So, LeMay wasn't away on secret business, and there was nothing nefarious about General LeMay landing at National Airport. Perhaps he wasn't quite the villain depicted in JFK: Destiny Betrayed . In fact, h ere is a more nuanced view of LeMay : (from Warren Kozak's T he Life and Wars of Curtis Lemay, page 313) Contrary to popular perception, LeMay never stepped outside the chain of command or even tried to advance his personal views. As he later wrote, “We in SAC were not saber-rattlers. We were not yelling for war and action in order to ‘flex the mighty muscles we had built.’ No stupidity of that sort. We wanted peace as much as anyone else wanted it.” However, he strongly disagreed with the policy that promised the Soviets that the U.S. would never use nuclear weapons first. He believed the entire purpose of having a nuclear arsenal was its threatened use, not its actual use. And by promising not to use it, what was the sense in even having it? Despite this view, however, he stuck to his job. Years after his retirement, he insisted to biographer Thomas Coffey that he never advocated preemptive war with the Soviets, saying, “I never discussed the problem with President Truman or with President Eisenhower. I never discussed it with General Vandenberg when he was Chief of Staff. I stuck to my job at Offutt and in the Command. I never discussed what we were going to do with the force we had or what he should do with it, or anything of that sort. Never discussed it with topside Brass, military or civilian.” What did Kennedy think of LeMay? Carl Kaysen was Deputy Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and here is an excerpt from his oral history interview with the JFK Library: However, James DiEugenio believes that General LeMay is at the heart of the conspiracy to assassinate President Kennedy : Had the writers and producers of JFK: Destiny Betrayed done a modicum of research, they would have realized that Douglas Horne's allegations were not supported by the facts. But no, they bought it hook, line and sinker. Thank You: Researcher Larry Haapanen provided the data and the links for the chronology of General Curtis LeMay. Paul Hoch provided valuable feedback on this post. Coming Up: In Part Two on General LeMay, I examine the allegation that he was at JFK's autopsy. Update Here are the actual page from the Air Force log book: Previous Relevant Blog Posts on JFK: Destiny Betrayed "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on JFK's Head Wound, Part Three 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on David Ferrie and the CIA 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Israel and Nuclear Weapons 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: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Dr. Charles Crenshaw 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 "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on the Harper Fragment 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 "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on JFK's Head Wound, Part Two 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on JFK's Head Wound, Part One 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Jack Ruby Oliver Stone's so-called documentary series, JFK: Destiny Betrayed , misleads viewers on the motivations of Jack Ruby. The Enabling of Oliver Stone An essay on the intellectual monstrosity of JFK: Destiny Betrayed . "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Otto Otepka 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads by Claiming Jack Ruby was Signaled 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Supposed Extra Bullet, Part Two 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Oswald's Income 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. Oliver Stone Disses the Sixth Floor Museum JFK: Destiny Betrayed needlessly, and unfairly, criticizes the Sixth Floor Museum. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Supposed Extra Bullet 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on CIA Involvement in Plot against de Gaulle 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. "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads on Allen Dulles and the Warren Commission The evidence is clear - Robert Kennedy wanted Allen Dulles on the Warren Commission. What Ever Happened to Jim Garrison? Jim Garrison is AWOL in Oliver Stone's so-called documentary JFK: Destiny Betrayed . Previous Relevant Blog Posts on JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass Oliver Stone Admits "JFK Revisited" is a Flop Oliver Stone is disappointed that no major movie or TV reviewers have commented on his so-called documentary. Oliver Stone Claims the Zapruder Film was Altered Yes, Oliver Stone is an alterationist. "Guilt by Orientation" - The CIA Strikes Again! James Kirchick's terrific article on Oliver Stone and homosexuality. Is the JFK assassination linked to 9/11 and Covid-19? Just when I thought conspiracy theorists couldn't get any crazier. Two Important Posts Debunk "JFK Revisited" Tracy Parnell debunks a series about JFK Revisited on the WhoWhatWhy website, and Andrew Jackson debunks the film on Quora. Both articles are well worth your time. "JFK Revisited" Misleads on the Autopsy Photographs of JFK, Part Two Did Saundra Spencer really develop a completely different set of autopsy photographs? "JFK Revisited" Misleads on Autopsy Photographs of JFK 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. Oliver Stone Pulls the Wool Over Joe Rogan's Eyes, Part Two Stone misspeaks on the Joe Rogan show about JFK's brain. Oliver Stone Pulls the Wool over Joe Rogan's Eyes Stone misspeaks on the Joe Rogan show and I present a challenge to conspiracy theorists. Jefferson Morley and "JFK Revisited" Tracy Parnell dissects Morley's article on JFK assassination documents and "JFK Revisited" "JFK Revisited" Misleads by Putting Words in Kennedy's Mouth, Part Two Did President Kennedy actually say that he was going to shatter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the wind? "JFK Revisited" Misleads by Putting Words in Kennedy's Mouth... 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" 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. Max Boot on Oliver Stone's Lies Max Boot: Oliver Stone just can't stop spreading lies about JFK's assassination. "JFK Revisited" Misleads on Valery Giscard D'Estaing Did Gerald Ford really disclose to French President Valery Giscard D'Estaing that the JFK assassination was a conspiracy? Perhaps not. "JFK Revisited" Star Believes in a Massive COVID Conspiracy Robert Kennedy, Jr. believes in a massive conspiracy regarding Covid and the intelligence agencies. "JFK Revisited" Misleads on Kennedy's Back Wound 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. "JFK Revisited" alleges Oswald was "placed" 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. "JFK Revisited" Misleads on JFK's Throat Wound The preponderance of the evidence indicates JFK's throat wound was one of exit. "JFK Revisited" Misleads on the Supposed Chicago Plot There is no evidence that there was actually a plot against JFK in Chicago. Was James Gochenaur a Credible Witness in "JFK Revisited"? Gochenaur's writings don't back up his allegations in JFK Revisited . "JFK Revisited" Misleads on Guy Banister 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. "JFK Revisited" Misleads on JFK's Brain, Again... Dr. Robert Kirschner's consultation with the ARRB explains a mystery in the documentary. "JFK Revisited" Misleads on the Weight of JFK's Brain JFK Revisited makes a big deal about the weight of JFK's brain and ignores a non-conspiratorial explanation. JFK Revisited Distorts John Stringer's Testimony 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, JFK Revisited Lays an Egg 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. Oliver Stone with "JFK Revisited" Crucifies Clay Shaw Once Again There is something really obscene about Oliver Stone once again going after Clay Shaw. JFK Revisited Doesn't Tell the Whole Truth about John Connally You won't learn everything you need to know about Connally's position on the shots from Oliver Stone's so-called documentary. JFK Revisited Uses Marina Porter to Mislead Viewers Oliver Stone tries to make it seem like Marina Porter has denied taking the backyard photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald. JFK Revisited: Were the Oswald Backyard Photographs Faked? Oliver Stone once again raises the issue of the legitimacy of the backyard photographs of Lee Harvey Oswald. JFK Revisited: Was Clay Shaw the elusive Clay Bertrand? This post debunks every witness that has ever claimed Shaw was Bertrand. Oliver Stone's Poverty of Imagination He cannot imagine any sort of non-conspiratorial explanations for any of the suspicious pieces of evidence in his film. Was Clay Shaw a "Contract Agent" for the CIA? No, Clay Shaw was not a "contract agent." Steve Roe Blog Posts on JFK Revisited & JFK: Destiny Betrayed Oswald's Marine Corps 3rd Quarter Pay False Mystery Oswald was paid by the Marine Corps, not ONI, CIA or any other Intelligence agency. Cartoonists Oliver Stone and James DiEugenio try to Dupe the Public about Dr. Malcolm Perry JFK: Destiny Betrayed doesn't tell the whole truth about Dr. Malcolm Perry. Oliver Stone's JFK: Destiny Betrayed Film Never Checked the Facts Steve Roe finds additional evidence that debunks the allegation in JFK: Destiny Betrayed that Oswald not paid by the Marines for the 3rd quarter of 1959. Oliver Stone Disses the Sixth Floor Museum Stone and DiEugenio falsely accuse the Sixth Floor Museum as openly promoting Oswald as the Assassin. Oliver Stone's JFK Revisited Screenwriter Reprimanded by ARRB in 1998 An exchange of letters between James DiEugenio and Jeremy Gunn of the ARRB. Is This How Real Documentaries Are Made? There is some 'interesting' editing in Oliver Stone's so-called documentary. JFK Revisited Screen Writer Crawfishes on Dallas to Chicago Airmail Overnight Delivery James DiEugenio changes his story on the Klein's money order. Debunking Another JFK Myth - Overnight Mail from Dallas to Chicago Conspiracy theorist James DiEugenio doesn't understand the history of the mail deliver in the United States. JFK Revisited : More Deception and Half-Truths The truth about Jack Ruby and the FBI. JFK Revisited : Again, Caught Creating False Mysteries "Stone/DiEugenio hatch another Bogus Mystery with Sinister Strap/Sling Mounts on Oswald's Rifle" JFK Revisited : Tripping on the Stairs Oliver Stone claims that Oswald could not have been in the sniper's nest on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Steve Roe exposes Stone's mistakes. Oliver Stone doubles-down on the Looney Frontal Shot to the President In an interview on RT [Russia Today], Oliver Stone says that the throat wound might have been made by a flechette. Oliver Stone - Deceptive Filmmaker? Steve Roe presents some examples of Oliver Stone's 'creative' abilities. A Look at the "JFK Revisited: Through The Looking Glass" Film by Oliver Stone Oliver Stone distorts the testimony about Oswald's palmprint on the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle.

Here are Gaeton Fonzi's notes from a discussion with Jim Garrison on June 28, 1976: The paragraph on Bill Turner is incredible. Garrison claims he was "deep cover." When Garrison tells Fonzi that "he even persuaded me to charge somebody and helped a guy who penetrated the office build up a totally false picture ..." he's talking about Bill Boxley who worked with Turner to finger Edgar Eugene Bradley as a conspirator in the JFK assassination. Garrison brings up Red Bird Airport. There are lots of conspiracy stories about Red Bird, including Tosh Plumlee's story that he flew into Red Bird on November 22nd to stop the assassination. Garrison talks about the supposed tap on his office phones. That story came from William Walter , who claimed that the FBI received a teletype warning about the assassination. That was complete nonsense and Walter was later convicted of mail fraud. Garrison is completely wrong about Clay Shaw being in Italy in 1961. And, of course, there is absolutely no evidence that Shaw was a "conduit for large sums of money to the Italian right-wing party." Garrison thought that anybody who left Reilly Coffee to work for the rocket industry at Michoud was suspect. There is a simple reason why people were leaving for Michoud -- well-paying jobs. Garrison then goes into the Julia Mercer story, and tells Fonzi: First of all, her actually recognizing Ruby as having driven the pickup truck that stopped at the grassy knoll. That helped to bring out the meaning of Ruby, which in turn brings in the CIA even more because then you're able to see Ruby as the man with Mafia origins but CIA background in the late 50s in regard to Cuba, so it illuminates the Agency involvement in the whole thing and so they had to conceal it. The only problem was that it could not have been Ruby in the pickup truck because he was at the offices of the Dallas Morning News . And, of course, the Julia Ann Mercer story leads to Larry Crafard . The page above is just insane. In the case of Crafard, he fits in so naturally as the young man getting out of the truck with the rifle case that, as a hypothetical postulate it's worth checking backwards on him, which I did, and he falls into place as the man whose job was as one of the killers. He absolutely fits in as the shooter of Tippit. Garrison is then upset that the Dallas police never paraded Crafard in a lineup for the Tippit witnesses. Garrison thinks that Crafard Is "a professional killer." And then Garrison tells Fonzi that "he's worth checking out to see whether he leads straight to the Agency as part of a member of a pool, for example, or whether he leads to the mob." For some reason, Garrison did not mention Crafard in his 1988 book, On the Trail of the Assassins. Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Larry Crafard Did Larry Crafard Impersonate Lee Harvey Oswald? Part Two The Laura Kittrell story. Chokeholds Uses a Fake Story Mort Sahl made up a quote about Larry Crafard that was used in the Chokeholds book. Did Larry Crafard Impersonate Lee Harvey Oswald? A ridiculous article alleges that Crafard impersonated Oswald. Jim Garrison Names the Grassy Knoll Gunman! Garrison told a journalist that Larry Crafard was a gunman on the grassy knoll.

Cartoon by Don Wright, Palm Beach Post, January 13, 1992 Previous Cartoons on this Blog Oliphant Cartoon of Jim Garrison This cartoon appeared after Clay Shaw's acquittal. Bull Sessions - L. A. Times Cartoon on the Shaw Trial A reference to Perry Russo's testimony. Which Fairy Tale Will it be Tonight? A cartoon from the Chicago Tribune about Oliver Stone's film JFK . If at first you don't succeed A cartoon from the Houston Chronicle  that I found in Clay Shaw's papers. Garrison's Investigation - "a smalltime circus sideshow"   A cartoon by Hugh Haynie who worked for the Louisville Courier-Journal . Jim Garrison Blows His Top   A cartoon from the Washington Evening Star. A Tremendous Paul Conrad Cartoon about Jim Garrison   From the Los Angeles Times . Clay Shaw writes Elmer Gertz about his Perjury Trial   The New Orleans States-Item makes a statement A New Orleans Look at Oliver Stone's JFK   Here is what people in New Orleans thought about Oliver Stone's film.

Hat Tip: Bill Brown was responsible for much of the research in this post. James DiEugenio has written a four-part essay about ABC's documentary, "Truth and Lies: Who Killed JFK?", on his website . A large part of his first part is about Howard Brennan, the eyewitness who saw Oswald fire from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. DiEugenio's sources are as follows: Honest Answers by Vince Palamara. The Assassination Chronicles by Edward Jap Epstein. Breach of Trust by Gerald McKnight. Rush to Judgment by Mark Lane. No Case to Answer by Ian Griggs. DiEugenio only has one reference to a primary document. And guess which book is not mentioned at all? This one : Let's go through what DiEugenio writes about Brennan. It's a good exercise in how conspiracy factoids crowd out actual analysis. On Oliver Stone's Facebook post, DiEugenio writes : How do they place Oswald on the Sixth Floor? Through the testimony of Howard Brennan. This guy has been wrecked so many times, it’s not funny. And in Part One of his essay, DiEugenio writes: And here comes the deus ex machina of the program: they rely on Howard Brennan to convict Oswald. We are to believe that no one associated with the show was familiar with the fact that Brennan had been torn to shreds all the way from 1966 (Edward Epstein, Inquest) to 2021 (Vince Palamara, Honest Answers). What a way to write! Brennan "has been wrecked," and "torn to shreds." DiEugenio would have more credibility if he just noted that the Warren Commission did not base its conclusion that Oswald was a gunman based on Brennan's testimony. Although the record indicates that Brennan was an accurate observer, he declined to make a positive identification of Oswald when he first saw him in the police lineup. The Commission, therefore, does not base its conclusion concerning the identity of the assassin on Brennan's subsequent certain identification of Lee Harvey Oswald as the man he saw fire the rifle. Immediately after the assassination, however, Brennan described to the police the man he saw in the window and then identified Oswald as the person who most nearly resembled the man he saw. The Commission is satisfied that, at the least, Brennan saw a man in the window who closely resembled Lee Harvey Oswald and that Brennan believes the man he saw was in fact Lee Harvey Oswald. But DiEugenio has to go much further, and the only way he can do that is by quoting conspiracy factoids. In Epstein’s book, it was revealed that not even the Commission lawyers, e.g., Joe Ball, wanted to use Brennan. (The Assassination Chronicles, p. 143) As Ball noted, when the Commission did a reconstruction with Brennan, he had problems identifying a figure in the window. The reconstruction was staged on March 20, 1964. DiEugenio doesn't tell his readers that Brennan said both of his eyes were "sandblasted" in January of 1964 and that this is why his eyesight was not good in March . Ball also noted that Brennan stated that the shooter was standing while firing. He then stepped down out of sight. (McKnight, p. 109) Yet this was not possible since photographs showed the window was not open high enough to do that, unless the assassin was firing through glass, and there was no shattered glass found. So the Commission had to conclude that the sniper was kneeling. (Epstein, p. 144, Mark Lane, Rush to Judgment, p. 83) But if that was the case, then how could Brennan give a description of height and weight? Which is what the program says happened. This was actually explained in the Warren Report : Then there was the chain of evidence in the Brennan case. How did Brennan’s testimony originate, and then how was it passed on to the Dallas Police to be broadcast? Commission Chief Counsel J. Lee Rankin wanted the FBI to provide this chain. But Director J. Edgar Hoover would not commit to any. (Gerald McKnight, Breach of Trust, p. 109) Why? Because there was confusion about its origins. Brennan said that he gave his info to a policeman, neither identified nor called by the Commission, and he took him to Secret Service agent Forrest Sorrels. But the problem was that Sorrels was not in Dealey Plaza at that time, which was about ten minutes after the shooting. He did not arrive back there for about half an hour. (Lane, p. 86) There really is no mystery here, if DiEugenio would stop relying upon Mark Lane. It's true that Secret Service Agent Forrest Sorrels only got to the TSBD at about 12:55 PM, well after the description of Oswald was broadcast by Police Inspector Herbert Sawyer. Brennan talked to a policeman before he talked to Sorrels: Here is an excerpt from his Warren Commission testimony : That policeman was Welcome Eugene Barnett : Barnett then brought Brennan to Sawyer who put out the description on the police radio . As Connelly notes, Brennan failed to identify Oswald at the first line-up he attended. Consider what ABC left out. Brennan told the FBI on the 23rd that he still could not be sure it was Oswald. (Commission Document 5, p. 12) Yes, but here is what Brennan did say on the 23rd : One of the more ridiculous statements by DiEugenio is the notion that Brennan was not at a lineup after the assassination: But further, the late Ian Griggs surfaced fascinating information on this issue: namely, that he could not find Brennan’s name listed for any of the official line-ups. (No Case to Answer, pp. 85-90) Further, there were never more than four people in the lineups. But Brennan said there were six. Finally, Brennan could not recall if there was an African American among them. (Griggs, p. 91) This is Texas in 1963. In fact, Detective Will Fritz’s testimony on the matter suggests that Sorrels might have invented the line-up where Brennan made a positive ID after the fact. (ibid., p. 94) You would think that perhaps DiEugenio would check out Griggs' assertion. Sometimes the Dallas police used the term showup rather than lineup: And here is another document about the show-up : Finally, there is the following, as related by Vince Palamara. As noted above, Brennan told the FBI that he could not positively identify Oswald even after he had seen Oswald on TV. (Honest Answers, p. 186) Further, Brennan testified that he did not see the rifle discharge, or recoil or the muzzle flash. (ibid) It is unfortunate that DiEugenio has not read Howard Brennan's book. He spells out exactly why he did not positively identify Oswald (page 25): I was led into a darkened room with lights at one end. When we arrived, a group of several men, perhaps as many as seven, were led in and made to stand in line with numbers over them. As soon as I saw him, I think he was number two. I knew without any doubt whatsoever that they had captured the man whom I saw fired the shot that killed President Kennedy. I felt a surge of emotion, a sense of outrage at this young man who had literally thrown the whole world into chaos. As I was looking at each of the men in the lineup, I saw a face that I recognized. It was a Dallas Detective that I knew. He was perhaps the most well-known of all the Dallas Police and his picture had been in the papers many times. If he was there, that meant only one thing. My privacy had been breached. I felt sick and a little betrayed. I'd come to City Hall with the understanding that I would be dealing only with the F.B.I. and/or the Secret Service, not the Dallas Police. The officer walked over to me sticking out his hand to shake. He greeted me by name and I knew if he knew who I was and what my connection with the case was, then others must know. He asked me, "Does the second man from the left look most like the man you saw?" He was talking about Oswald and I knew what he wanted me to say. I felt even more angry and betrayed. I hadn't agreed to make an identification to local authorities. I knew that there were ways my identity could become known through the leaks in the police department and I didn't want any part of it. I knew that they had Oswald on enough charges that he wasn't going anyplace. He had been charged with resisting arrest and carrying a firearm without a permit. There was overwhelming evidence that he had killed Officer Tippett [sic] and so my identification in that moment wasn't absolutely necessary. If they needed me later, I knew I could identify him. I said brusquely, "He looks like the man, but I can't say for sure!" I needed some time to think. I turned to Mr. [Robert] Lish [FBI SA], who had detected my resentment and said, "Let's go back to the office. We have some talking to do." As we went, I commented that the man in the lineup wasn't dressed the same way the man in the window had been. "We forgot to tell you that he changed his clothes immediately after leaving the Depository," Lish said. When we reached the office, I responded angrily, "You promised me anonymity. You people haven't kept your word." Sorrels looked genuinely puzzled. "What do you mean?" "If this Detective knows who I am and what my connection with the assassination is, then it won't be long before everybody finds out." Sorrels tried to be reassuring. "We'll do everything we can to protect your identity, Mr. Brennan, but this isn't entirely our jurisdiction." I wasn't sure just what he meant, and said so. "There isn't anything we could do about it," Sorrels explained. "The law is clear that murder, even assassination, is a state offense and must be turned over to local officials for investigation and prosecution!" So it was out and I had to deal with it. No matter how hard they might try, it was only a matter of time before people would find out that the unidentified witness whose description had helped catch Oswald was really Howard Brennan. Suddenly, I didn't feel very good. I felt very vulnerable, exposed to naked light, and I didn't like it one bit. I knew I was going to be sorry that I ever decided to get involved. Brennan thought that others could be involved, and he feared for his safety. Afterwards Brennan was sitting with his wife in his kitchen (page 27): I was scared and wanted to get out. I didn't know who was out there in the night looking for me with the idea of doing the same thing Oswald had done to Kennedy. Maybe they already knew; maybe I had only a short time. If the F.B.I. had lost me once, maybe whoever was looking for me could get by them. They were, after all, only human. With all the precautions that had been taken to safeguard the life of the President, he had still been killed by a single assassin. It wouldn't be nearly so hard to get to me. And then DiEugenio add this ridiculous factoid: And then there is this: Brenan’s job supervisor said they took Brennan away for three weeks. He came back a nervous wreck. He would not talk about the assassination after that: “He was scared to death. They made him say what they wanted him to say.” (ibid., p. 187) I went to Palamara's book and found that his source was Crossfire by Jim Marrs. I then went to page 25 in Crossfire, and found the following: Brennan's job foreman, Sandy Speaker, told this author: They took [Brennan] off for about three weeks. I don't know if they were Secret Service or FBI, but they were federal people. He came back a nervous wreck and within a year his hair had turned snow white. He wouldn't talk about [the assassination] after that. He was scared to death. They made him say what they wanted him to say. Marrs talked to Speaker in 1987 and so this was 24 years after the fact. But was Sandy Speaker Brennan's foreman? I don't know. There is no mention of Sandy Speaker in Brennan's testimony or in his book. And Brennan didn't disappear for three weeks; he was moved to a different job to give him some privacy. Here is an excerpt from his book (pages 37-38): When I arrived at the main office, Claude Wesley George, one of my superiors, met me. He had a concerned look on his face and, even before he said a word, I knew that he knew. "Howard," he said, "I got a phone call from the F.B.I." "I'm not surprised," I responded. "What did they want?" I already knew the answer. "They told me everything, at least I think they did. They told me you are the only eyewitness to the assassination." Claude was keeping his voice low, so as not to attract attention from others who were nearby. He leaned close and said, "They said they want you to continue to be in their protective custody for a while as a precautionary measure. They asked me to take you off the Katy job and reassign you somewhere where they can give you better security." No matter how it was phrased, I was under "house arrest" as a material witness. My freedom was about to be restricted. I realized that it was for my own good, but it made me feel uncomfortable, nonetheless. "It's OK with me if you want me to work inside somewhere, Claude," I told him. "I'll do whatever you want." "For the time being, we want you to work in the tube, leading to the Republic Bank Building," Claude said. "This way they can give you better protection. Brennan was now working inside in a tunnel which ran from the Republic Bank Building to a parking building on Harwood and Pacific Streets. For a while, his life changed (page 39): The F.B.I. agents stationed themselves at each approach to my area of work and they were there all eight hours of my work day. If I took a break and went to another section, I could be sure that I was being followed. It was comforting and disconcerting at the same time. When I went to the bathroom, I always wondered if there was an F.B.I. agent in the next stall! After a while, in a few more days, I thought, this would become more or less a way of life for me. It was something I'd become accustomed to. In those days immediately following the assassination, there was a great fear that some international conspiracy was at work. If that were the case, I might still be in some danger. As the days passed, it would become more apparent that my life was no longer in any real danger and I began looking forward to the day when I could have my privacy back. What I didn't consider was that when the F.B.I. finally left me alone, my privacy would be invaded by other forces over which I had no control. Brennan's health was affected by the non-stop questioning he faced over what he had witnessed. His phone rang off the hook, even after he had two different unlisted phone numbers. Fellow workers and family members only wanted to talk about the assassination. He could not escape it and his health deteriorated. DiEugenio's last point centers on Brennan's reluctance to talk with the HSCA. Later on, Brennan refused to talk to the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) unless he was under subpoena. When the HSCA said they would do so, Brennan replied he would fight the subpoena. And if forced to appear, he would simply not say anything. In addition, he refused to sign any written statement. And even when offered immunity, he would not appear. (ibid., pp. 188-89) Brennan clearly did not want to appear before the HSCA because of his health. But, under the right circumstances, he would have testified. Palamara thinks all of this is insidious: (page 189) Oswald was dead almost fifteen years at that point, Howard -- what did you have to hide? Are these the actions of a truthful man? Brennan was a fraud and he knew it. Knowing that the HSCA might actually subject him to a real cross examination, he did not want anything like that to surface. Whether this was the fact that he was pressured into identifying Oswald, or that he pretended to have knowledge he never really possessed to begin with in order to gain attention, we will likely never know. Palamara then writes that Brennan "got his 'revenge': that silly 1987 book called Eyewitness to History. " This is scholarship? Is it any wonder that ABC did not rely upon voices like Palamara or DiEugenio? DiEugenio removed the humanity from Howard Brennan's story. It's quite a shame. Howard Brennan deserved better. Previous Relevant Links on James DiEugenio : James DiEugenio on Permindex: A Case Study, Part Three Was there a link between Ferenc Nagy and the OAS? James DiEugenio on Permindex: A Case Study, Part Two Information in a Time-Life memo originated from Paese Sera . James DiEugenio on Permindex: A Case Study A purported CIA memo is actually the notes of an HSCA researcher. The Sad Story of Ralph Yates DiEugenio repeats the story of Ralph Yates as told in James Douglass' s book JFK and the Unspeakable . Did Larry Crafard Impersonate Lee Harvey Oswald? DiEugenio misquotes a Warren Commission memo. James DiEugenio Refuses to Admit He Used Fake Handbills in "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" DiEugenio runs away from the evidence. James DiEugenio's Fanciful Tale about Hugh Aynesworth DiEugenio cites a Joan Mellen story about Aynesworth that has no documentation. The "Protector and Defender of the Garrison Faith" Strikes Again! James DiEugenio attacks another article about Oliver Stone. Was Oswald an Agent of the CIA?   James DiEugenio is unaware that an HSCA report on Oswald and the CIA was actually published. Was Oswald an Agent of the CIA, Part Two   Dan Hardway rebuts James DiEugenio. Just who does James DiEugenio work for?   Why does James DiEugenio write for one of the major agents of Russian disinformation? My So-Called Libel of James DiEugenio   Mr. DiEugenio thinks that I libeled him, but his accusations are all over the map. Anatomy of a James DiEugenio Citation   Was Lee Harvey Oswald at an anti-Castro training camp in the summer of 1963? Anatomy of a James DiEugenio Citation, Part Two   Was David Ferrie at an anti-Castro training camp in the summer of 1963? Anatomy of a James DiEugenio Citation, Part Three   James DiEugenio accepts a phony story as fact. Fact Checking James DiEugenio, Part Two   Bill Boxley was not a CIA plant. Fact Checking James DiEugenio   Clay Shaw was not Clay Bertrand. Fred Litwin's Follies!   A response to James DiEugenio about my writings. James DiEugenio's Lame Excuses for Fletcher Prouty   Prouty couldn't back up any of his allegations when he was interviewed by the ARRB. You wouldn't believe the lame excuse offered up by DiEugenio. James DiEugenio's Lame Excuse for Oliver Stone   Why does Oliver Stone support so many dictators? James DiEugenio Gets it all Wrong on Permindex/CMC   DiEugenio has no understanding of Permindex/CMC The Scholarship of James DiEugenio - A Case Study   DiEugenio gets it all wrong on the Mannlicher-Carcano The Scholarship of James DiEugenio, Part Two   The conclusion on the Mannlicher-Carcano The Scholarship of James DiEugenio   Over the past ten months, I have debunked every witness cited by DiEugenio regarding Clay Shaw and David Ferrie.

Hat Tip: Joe Alesi. In 2019, Stephen Fagin, the Curator of the Sixth Floor Museum, conducted an oral history interview with Gail Cronauer, the actor who played Janet Williams, aka Ruth Paine, in Oliver Stone's JFK . Here is an excerpt from a transcript: (38:00) Gail Cronauer : Now there was a very definite point of view that Stone had about it, which affected what we did, all right. So do it this way. So there's a little TV interview that's being formed. So it's this way. So it's, you know, all, like she has a secret. So, I mean, he very much felt that Ruth Paine, aka Janet Williams, was part of the conspiracy. The whole, the fact that she spoke Russian, and was involved with people in the Russian speaking community. If you look at the film, there are moments when I'm looking at Lee and Marina where it's like, there's something going on here. Stephen Fagin : So you were directed to act conspiratorial? Gail Cronauer : Oh, like I I know something that I'm not telling you. Most, no, most definitely, Stone also told Tommy Lee Jones to play Clay Shaw as a fascist. Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Oliver Stone's JFK Oliver Stone Throws a Hissy Fit Stone is unhappy with a recent ABC documentary. Stanley Karnow on Oliver Stone's "JFK" Stone gets an anecdote all wrong. Chicago Tribune  on Oliver Stone's JFK A particularly good review that notices the homosexual angle of JFK . The New Yorker Reviews Oliver Stone's "JFK" Another excellent review. Oliver Stone Gets Away with Nonsense At an event in Dallas, Stone says that someone gave orders to Allen Dulles and James Angleton to kill JFK. Is this the Oliver Stone Contract for the Ricky White Story? Stone was interested in the White story. Daniel Patrick Moynihan on Oliver Stone's 'JFK' A very good opinion piece published in the Washington Post . The Second Coming of Jim Garrison An important article from The Atlantic  by Edward Jay Epstein on Oliver Stone's JFK . David Wrone on Oliver Stone's "JFK" Wrone was a friend of Harold Weisberg's and was also very critical of JFK . Oliver Stone says his "battles continue with the truth" More inane comments on the JFK assassination. Oliver Stone Claims He is Not a Conspiracy Theorist An excerpt from an interview with Chris Wallace. Oliver Stone's Hijacking of History   A good opinion piece from the Boston Globe . Harold Weisberg writes Oliver Stone   Two letters from Weisberg to Stone. Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In Reviews "JFK"   A good review of Stone's JFK . Paul Hoch and Josiah Thompson on Oliver Stone's "JFK"   Two JFK researchers watch Stone's JFK . Washington Post on the 30th Anniversary of Oliver Stone's "JFK"   An interesting look back. Harold Weisberg and Tom Wicker   Wicker reviews JFK  for the New York Times  and Weisberg responds. Boston Phoenix  said Oliver Stone's JFK was "sadly homophobic"   Even this counterculture newspaper knew the truth about JFK. David Lifton Writes to Oliver Stone   David Lifton gave me permission to post this letter. Gary Cornwell on Jim Garrison and Oliver Stone   The Deputy Chief Counsel of the HSCA offers up some opinions. When Tommy Lee Jones met Jim Garrison...   Garrison instructed Tommy Lee Jones on how to play Clay Shaw. Is Oliver Stone's film, JFK , Homophobic?   The Advocate  writes about Oliver Stone and Jim Garrison. I've Been Blocked by Oliver Stone!   This post has a large Robert Sam Anson article on the film JFK  from Esquire  magazine. A New Orleans Look at Oliver Stone's JFK   Pershing Gervais, Garrison's first chief investigator, and reporter Rosemary James report back on the film JFK . George Lardner's internal Washington Post  Memo about Oliver Stone   Lardner writes a memo to his editors about Oliver Stone. .

Here is a note that Jim Garrison sent to Gaeton Fonzi: For some strang e reason, Jim Garrison believed that he was on to something. Here is what Thornley said about his height to the Warren Commission: Only Jim Garrison could feel that this exchange was suspicious. Here is what he wrote in his book, On the Trail of the Assassins : (page 73) One of the reasons I had developed an interest in Thornley was that I suspected he could have been the man who used the name "Oswald" at the Bolton Ford Company in January, 1961. He had to have been one of the few men in the world who was in New Orleans around the time, who knew Lee Oswald, and who knew Oswald was in Russia. In addition, Thornley bore a striking resemblance to Oswald. There were of approximately the same height and slight build, both brown-haired and had similar facial features. I recalled Thornley's testimony concerning their respective heights. Warren Commission counsel Albert Jenner had asked how tall Lee Oswald was. Here is the colloquy that resulted: MR. THORNLEY: I would say he was about five-five maybe. I don't know. MR. JENNER: How tall are you? MR. THORNLEY: I am five ten. MR. JENNER: Was he shorter than you? MR. THORNLEY: Yes. But Oswald had been the taller of the two! Why, then, had Thornley described his friend Lee as six inches shorter than he really was? Was Thornley, perhaps, fearful that someone might believe that he had been the young man who acted out the role of Lee Oswald in the early 1960s ... at Bolton Ford in New Orleans ... then in Dallas ... and then in New Orleans ... and then in Mexico ... and then in Dallas, again? This is all completely insane. Of course, Oswald was shorter than Thornley. He was actually 5'9". This is all a complete red herring. Thornley, when asked about height, at first said 5'5" and then added that he didn't know. Any sane person would have stopped right there. But not Jim Garrison. Garrison discussed this further with the HSCA. Here is an excerpt from the transcript: (23:54) Jim Garrison : But one of the most significant lies is Thornley’s description of Oswald’s height in his Warren Commission testimony. And this is very significant. They’re both close to 5’11”, to make that point. But, it is almost impossible for a person who is 5’11” to think of another person who is 5’11” as being six inches shorter than him, needless to say. Yet in his description before the Warren Commission, he has Oswald as small as five feet five. He’s asked by Jenner, was Oswald shorter than you? Oh, yes. Well, I suggest that that is clearly an attempt to disassociate himself from something and what will he be disassociating from himself from here? From possible identification as the second Oswald. That, if he were for example, that would be his chief concern, having to surface and testify. He wouldn’t want that possibility to arise. Anyway, I compare their heights by ... Cliff, do you have this, and I won’t have to go through the whole thing. Okay, I just scan some of the things. HSCA [25:25]: I don’t think we have that I have this one, but I don’t really have that one. Jim Garrison : In cases like this, I’ll just summarize but I’ve given exact citations one after the other. So, in order to show you I’m not speculating that Oswald was 5’11”. One record after the other shows that he’s 5’11”. Then somewhere along the line back in the 60s, in the preparation for questioning him before the grand jury, we had sent for his driving license in California. And we learned from the driving license that he’s 5’11”. So, from the driving license of Kerry Thornley, we learned that he’s approximately 5”11” and 150 pounds, and from the different Marine examinations and passport documents and so forth. Lee Oswald, we learned, he is approximately five feet eleven and 150 pounds. About as too close, about as close as two different people can be. Here is Thornley's driver's license: Several minutes later, Garrison was again trying to convince the HSCA that something was very suspicious: (32:29) Jim Garrison : But the point is, if you had played a systematic role in setting him up, now you’re testifying before the Presidential Commission, that’s looking into the murder of the president, and the subsequent removal of his alleged assassin, Oswald. If they suddenly asked you, well Cliff, how tall are you? And you say 5’11”, and then suppose they said, how tall was Oswald? What do you think, in terms of probability, what do you think you would probably reply? Would you say, oh he was only exactly the same height I was ... do you really think so? Huh? You know you wouldn’t. HSCA : Well, that’s debatable because ... Jim Garrison : You would either make him to be 6’3” or 5’5”. HSCA : The reason I say that, I'll tell you why I say that. They know. Jim Garrison : Remember he’s allowed to give an impression. They’re not going to, it’s not like he’s a doctor, who measured him and he’s going to be held to account for getting the wrong height. HSCA : Right, but like I’m egotistical to the point that I would like to be as accurate as possible. Just for myself. Jim Garrison : Are you suggesting ... HSCA : Excuse me, I think that Jim’s point is that if Thornley was in fact impersonating Oswald, I know he was trying, what would his reaction be, if someone asked him to describe Oswald? And he would like to give an answer that was 180 degrees from the truth. The truth, in fact, would be well Oswald was about my height, he looks something like me. HSCA : Yeah, I get it. Jim Garrison : He can’t even suggest that for this reason, from his point of view. Remember, the vulnerability, what he’s talking about is not a stolen car case. He doesn’t even one person, one person, one person to be aroused by the suggestion that goes, my God, this is the murderer of President Kennedy, and the subsequent butchery of Oswald is, no matter what his ego, cause if I’m asking, he’s got to disassociate at this point, from the second Oswald role he played. Does any of this make any sense? Here is a Garrison investigation mem o on the "Heights of the Oswalds." Update Thornley wrote a letter to Sylvia Meagher on October 14, 1968 and he commented about the obsession with Oswald's height : Previous Blog Posts Regarding Garrison-HSCA Interviews Exclusive: Jim Garrison Tells the HSCA that Kerry Thornley Impersonated Lee Harvey Oswald... Garrison tells the HSCA all sorts of stories about Kerry Thornley Exclusive: Jim Garrison tells the HSCA that Fred Crisman was one of the Three Tramps Yes, Garrison believed that Fred Crisman was one of the tramps. Exclusive: Garrison Tells the HSCA about Guy Banister Garrison only has one witness that places Oswald in Banister's office and even he is not too sure about his credibility. Exclusive: Jim Garrison Interviewed by the HSCA Garrison tells the HSCA that Kerry Thornley might be the body in the backyard photographs. Other Kerry Thornley Blog Posts Gaeton Fonzi Channels Jim Garrison... Why was Kerry Thornley arrested in 1962? Kerry Thornley on Oswald right after Assassination The first writings from Thornley on November 27, 1963, about Oswald. Was Lee Harvey Oswald a Man of the Right? Jim Garrison was convinced that Thornley was the only Marine to describe Oswald's left-wing politics. Kerry Thornley Writes Sylvia Meagher Sylvia Meagher was a big supporter of Kerry Thornley and here is some of their correspondence. Was Kerry Thornley the Second Oswald? Garrison writes a memo to the HSCA alleging that Thornley was the second Oswald. Was Thornley the Second Oswald? Yes, Again An interview with another prisoner is more evidence to Jim Garrison that Thornley is the second Oswald. Reverend Raymond Broshears Makes a Startling Revelation! Was Kerry Thornley gay?

Edward Jay Epstein wrote this for the April 20, 1969 edition of the New York Times Magazine . His conclusion was wrong - Garrison was not the final chapter and there was a new investigation. Money Quote : Like Lane, each of the critics claimed to have access to at least part of Garrison's "secret evidence," and on this basis they warned the public that the Johnson Administration would face dire consequences if Garrison were ever allowed to bring his evidence to court. For his part, Garrison paid homage to the critics and their theories in most of his own appearances and sought to confirm the validity of their speculations by incorporating them into his case. When Garrison was challenged to reveal the grounds for his allegations, he would characteristically reply, as he did on the Johnny Carson show, "I am not allowed, as an attorney, to come up with evidence until the case comes to trial." The mysterious "secret evidence" never materialized in court and these critics of the Warren Commission, who had claimed access to it, were left holding the bag. Money Quote : That these magazines accepted Garrison's claims on blind faith leads one to wonder whether the Warren Report was not similarly rejected in blind contempt for the President who succeeded Kennedy, for reasons more political than evidentiary. In any case, by appearing virtually empty-handed at the trial, Garrison exposed a bluff larger than his own; he left many critics who were instrumental in discrediting the Warren Report looking like something less than the disinterested factfinders they pretended to be. And in view of the discredit he brought them, it is not particularly surprising that now some disgruntled critics have even advanced the theory that Garrison was himself a C.I.A agent provocateur. Surely there was among many critics a measure of gullibility at the least, of outright dishonesty at the most. But not everyone who registered reservations about the Warren Commission's methods and conclusions rallied to Garrison's defense. To consider the validity of doubts still lingering in the minds of those critics of the commission who also openly and categorically dissociated themselves from Jim Garrison and his cause, to ask what questions about the assassination of President still do remain unanswered, it is worthwhile to recall the history of the controversy and its nature as a historical problem. Epstein refers to a Playboy Magazine memo about Garrison's interview. You can see the entire memo at the bottom of this post. Money Quote : Much of the rhetoric on the talk shows and in magazine interviews was not designed to enlighten the public. Mark Lane made a practice of introducing pseudoscientific evidence, such as paraffin tests (misinterpreted to "prove" Oswald's innocence), which could only confuse audiences not versed in the nuances of forensic science. Jim Garrison characteristically dwelt on missing evidence, which was being kept "secret" by the Government but of which he miraculously seemed to know the contents. For example, noting that four frames of the famous film of the assassination taken by the spectator Abraham Zapruder -- numbers 208-211 -- were missing from the frame-by-frame reproduction of the film in the testimony and evidence published by the Warren Commission, Garrison claimed in his Playboy interview that these missing frames "revealed signs of stress appearing suddenly on the back of a street sign" and these "signs of stress may well have been caused by the impact of a stray bullet on the sign." But the "missing" frames into which Garrison glibly read stray bullets, while missing from the Warren Report volumes, are not missing from a copy of the film held by Life Magazine, which bought the film, and these frames, which were published after the Playboy interview, show no signs of "stress" or stray bullets. Money Quote : When it was shown that the Warren Commission had conducted a less than exhaustive investigation, a great many people assumed that a new investigation, not predisposed to the single-assassin theory, would uncover new evidence. Garrison, however, assisted initially by Life magazine and later by many critics of the Warren Report, searched for two years without finding any relevant new evidence of a conspiracy. At present there are no leads outstanding, nor is there any substantial evidence that I know of that indicates there was more than one rifleman firing. It is, of course, possible that new evidence may yet develop to challenge the single-assassin theory. The lesson that Garrison has made abundantly clear is that the credibility of evidence cannot be divorced from the credibility of the investigator who presents it. Since there seems to be little prospect of a new investigation in the near future, and many of the critics have been discredited as investigators by the New Orleans episode, it appears likely that Garrison may be the final chapter in the Assassination Controversy. Of course, Epstein was wrong -- Garrison was not the final chapter and there was a second investigation. The HSCA also found that Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots and that one of them hit JFK in the head. And lest people berate me for not indicating that the HSCA thought that JFK was "probably" killed by a conspiracy -- that was based on the acoustics evidence which has been discredited. See Michael O'Dell's website for more information on the acoustic evidence. Nick Nalli's review of Josiah Thompson's Last Second in Dallas also has some important information on the acoustics. And the recommendations of the HSCA were passed to the Department of Justice. Few people cite their response. Here is the Playboy Magazine memo that Epstein refers to in his text above: (he quoted point four on the second page of this document) Garrison hoodwinked Playboy . He told them of some of his secret evidence, but of course nothing panned out. Garrison's Playboy Interview - What Couldn't Be Printed Garrison told Eric Norden, Playboy's interviewer, secret information that could not be printed. Garrison's Playboy Interview - More Secret Information Garrison wrote a memo to Playboy with background information. And here a link to a blog post about why Garrison held a preliminary hearing . Update Josiah Thompson responds to Epstein's article: