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JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Cyril H. Wecht (Part III)
Dodd asks about sequence of frames in the Zapruder film in regard to JFK's reaction to being shot, he then asks how if this judgment is not a hard science Wecht can disclaim the single bullet theory.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Cyril H. Wecht
*CONSPIRACY NOTE* Wecht tells the court tests were not done because people knew what the out come would be (15:40:40) Purdy asks if Wecht feels the single bullet theory concluded upon by the panel is demonstrably false - Wecht answers he wants to see only one bullet do this sort of damage and emerge in as pristine condition as it did (15:41:22) Purdy wants to know what disagreement Wecht has over the single bullet theory with regard to JFK's and Connally's position within the car - Wecht responds mens' physical position makes the bullet's path impossible (15:43:00) Photographic stills of the Zapruder film are placed on the easel and Wecht explains the photos - they are four progressive frames of the film - Wecht claims neither man physically appears to him to have been shot as early as the single bullet theorists claim. Wecht then emphasizes that between the first and second photos during which the car passes by a sign which obscures the passengers that only 9 tenths of a second have elapsed, this is a time period in which hardly any dramatic physical movement could have been possible (single bullet theorists believe it is possible within this obscured time that the men's position change and line up to allow for the bullet's unique path) (15:47:30) Purdy wants to know nature of wound that would cause JFK to react so fast - Wecht responds it is because bullet's entrance is near nerves (15:48:50) Purdy wants to know how certain Wecht is that men's position wasn't aligned behind the sign - Wecht responds there is no way between the photos of before and after sign the men could have changed their position to make the single bullet theory possible (15:49:46)
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Michael Baden (Part IV)
(14:02:25) Baden says he could not produce a replica of bullet 399 that would have done all the damage it is claimed to have done because he cannot reproduce the unique circumstances of its firing (14:02:40 Preyer asks if another bullet were found in JFK's car would it change the panel's findings - Baden responds no and in a long explanation says that JFK and Governor CONNALLY lined up in the car to make the path likely, "the bullet that struck the president had no other place to go" based on evidence, though it is possible that the bullet could have come from some where else (14:06:18) Representative SAMUEL L. DEVINE asks if there are any other criticisms that Baden has of the original autopsy - Baden answers that the Kennedy family's request to have the autopsy done outside of its original jurisdicition should not have been honored, nor should they received the evidence left over from the autopsy, he mentions that the leader of the autopsy Captain JAMES J. HUMES M.D. was a clinical pathologist and not a forensic pathologist and the two positions have significant procederual differences between them (14:13:00) Baden brings up the pressure factors working against the original autopsy panel, not only of having to work with the dead president but having to do so under the eyes of military supervisors
JFK Assassination Hearings - Larry Sturdivan (Conclusion)
Representative HAROLD S. SAWYER confirms that the actual bullet shot to JFK's head would have imparted no motion onto the head and then confirms that the goat test films were shown to reach the same conclusions he reached from watching them - that a bullet to the head imparts no motion to the head in the case of the dead goat and that in the case of live goat it demonstrated the neuro-muscular reaction of being shot in the head.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Robert Groden
New photographs are introduced, they are of a police parade of three men that Groden identifies as "the tramps", Groden explains that the tramps were three men who were arrested behind the book depository in a box car in connection with JFK's assassination, a report of their arrest was never written up so their identity remains a mystery, Groden speculates with others that two of them are Watergate henchmen: FRANK STURGIS and E. HOWARD HUNT, and if not Hunt this man has also been compared to FRED LEE CHRISTMAN, an ultra-righter and member of the Minutemen - a photographic comparison is exhibited in which the two tramps are compared to their suspected likenesses.
Speeches of JFK
MSs of Sen. JOHN F. KENNEDY talking with Vice President RICHARD NIXON at WBBM-TV studio before a televised debate in 1960; shots of TV screen relaying signal of JFK debating. MS of Mr. Kennedy delivering speech at campaign rally, quoting all the libelous things Richard Nixon has publicly said. "Can you imagine if this country elects a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate and elects Dick Nixon Republican President of the United States? And then Lyndon Johnson and Sam Raburn go over to meet with him as the leader of the Congress and sit down with Dick Nixon, who in 1952 said Adlai Stevenson had a degree from the "Cowardly College of Containment." In 1954, called Truman a traitor. In 1960, called me a liar. In 1960, called Lyndon an ignoramus. Lyndon says he called me one. No, I say he called Lyndon one. He called me rash, imprudent, reckless, naive and uninformed, but he called Lyndon an ignoramus. You think he s going to sit down and work with him? I don t care how many rescue squads they send to help Dick Nixon travel around the United States. I don t care if Cabot Lodge and Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater all prop him up and push him forward and I don t care if they add Dewey, Landon and Hoover to advise them how to win."
JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
House Select Committee on Assassinations hearing on the Assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Committee Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey continuing to discuss the acoustic analysis carried out on the Dallas Police audio transmission tape by the firm of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman (BBN). In actual firing tests conducted on behalf of the Dallas Police Department in Dealey Plaza during August 1978, Dr. James E. Barger set out to determine what the echo pattern looks like for two shooter locations; the Texas School Book Depository and the Grassy Knoll, with several target locations along the JFK motorcade route. Dr. Barger matched his 1978 Dealey Plaza environment tape with the 1963 audio tape, was able to arrive at several conclusions: the motorcycle whose radio transmitted the broadcast was apparently in Dealey Plaza; there was a 95 percent chance probability that two of the impulses were caused by gunshot; there was a 60-70 percent probability that there were three shots; there were indications of a fourth shot from the grassy knoll, put at a 50-50 probability.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Marina Porter/Oswald
(03:13:56) Shot opens to close up of MARINA PORTER testifying before the House Committee on Assassinations, she is asked by an unidentified committee member what were the circumstances of Porter's first meeting with GEORGE DEMORANSHEILD (?), Porter says she believes she met George at a Russian friend's house party - Porter is not sure if she met him with LEE HARVEY OSWALD, her former husband, and other details about their acquaintence but she does know that both Oswald and Porter liked George very much (03:16:03) Porter is asked why Oswald liked George - Porter describe George as a likeable, cheery fellow, she adds that she assumed George liked Oswald (03:16:37) Porter is asked if George and Oswald ever talked politics - Porter resonds yes and that they also talked about JFK but she cannot remember the details however (03:17:21) Porter says she believes the men spoke favorably of JFK and that George had known JACKIE KENNEDY before she married JFK and that he said she was a nice girl (03:17:48) Porter says she does not recall ever hearing Oswald speak badly about JFK or the KENNEDY family (03:18:09) Porter is asked about George's opinon of the Soviet Union - Porter responds that he was curious about life there and that George had lived there, maybe even was born there (03:18:40) Porter is asked about Oswald's return to the U.S. from the Soviet Union - Porter says he was happy to be back, Porter than explains that upon returning to the U.S. they stayed with Oswald's brother ROBERT OSWALD in Fort Worth Texas and that soon after Lee Oswald got a job, they moved out (03:19:21) Porter explains how Oswald was contacted by FBI shortly after returning to the U.S. and that he was angered by this contact - Porter is further questioned about this encounter and she gives what details of it she can remember, she at the time was in the kitchen in the house and the meeting took place outside, also at that time Porter did not speak much English (03:21:33) Porter is asked about the apartment that they moved to and lived in, did they live at this time with Oswald's mother - Porter answers yes, they lived with Oswald's mother (03:22:05) Shot switches suddenly to the back of the hearing room, people begin filing in a grand entrance and soon Marina Porter walks by, at this point the camera follows her to the front where it holds a distant view of the front of the hearings room (03:22:53) Shot suddenly switches to the committee and crowd from the back of the gallery, the hearings are already in progress and Porter is questioned by an unidentified committee member, the sound is pretty faint at this point, Porter's words are hard to make out - Porter is being asked if she ever met of any of Oswald's friends upon coming from the Soviet Union to Texas, if Oswald read Russian books in the Soviet Union, if Oswald ever discussed politics - the shot is not very steady, the camera person after a while decides to move up to the front of the gallery (03:25:00) Porter is asked if she ever heard Oswald speak with anyone about assassination - Porter answers no - Porter is then asked about Oswald's relationship to Russians around Fort Worth, Texas (03:25:46) Sudden shot change and skip in footage - the shot now is from a back corner of the gallery, the sound is still very faint (03:26:07) Again sudden shot change, now the shot is in front of Porter, she is sitting at the witness table with her translator, behind her at a table and behind her in the gallery are the press and other people - the sound if fuzzy - the camera cannot settle on a shot and meanwhile Porter is asked when she first saw Oswald's rifle if it had a scope on it - Porter answers she cannot recall, she is then asked several other questions about the scope and Oswald's ammunition, some of the answers to which are hard to make out because of the bad sound (03:28:10) Porter is asked about Oswald's handling of the rifle in the New Orleans apartment - Porter tells the committee Oswald would sit out on the porch with the rifle, she can give no other details as she did not stay out there with him and was told by him "to leave him alone" during these times - Porter is asked other questions about Oswald and the rifle all of which she answers that she can't recall - Meanwhile the sound has greatly improved and the shot has settled on a good close up of Porter (03:30:33) Porter is asked if Oswald ever went out with the rifle - Porter says that several times he would go out with the rifle under a long rain coat and tell her that he was going out target shooting, she tells the committee he would be gone for a few hours and that he would tell her that he was taking the bus to a shooting range (03:33:35) Porter is asked how Oswald was behaving the week before April 10, 1963 when Oswald was alleged to have shot at General EDMUND WALKER in Dallas - Porter says that she cannot remember exactly, it being so long ago, but that Oswald's personality was constantly chainging, sometimes he was reclusive, other times would be hostile towards her - further questioning is cut off as the tape flies into hyper-speed
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Michael Baden and Captain James J. Humes M.D.
Chair, Mr. STOKES, recognizes committee member FLOYD J. FITHIAN, Fithian wants to know if bullet fragments were left in Governor JOHN CONNALLY - Baden answers that it is questionable whether bullet hit Connally's rib or the cavity circle following bullet caused rib to break, however there were no fragments found in his chest (14:34:55) Fithian asks is fragments found in Connally's thigh or wrist - Baden responds a pin head sized fragment was seen in an X-ray of hip but not recovered but that a fragment was recovered from Conally's wrist (14:36:03) Baden tells the court fragments found could be accounted for as missing pieces of bullet 399 (14:38:00) Fithian asks about the claim that foreign material was found in JFK's brain (14:38:12) Exhibit of brain appears on the exhibit easel (14:38:47) Close up of brain exhibit with Baden using pointer to indicate where foreign material thought to be seen in photos and images of brain, an oblong blue discoloration, which he discounts as displaced blood vessels - X-rays of the brain detected no metal objects (14:39:20) Chair recognizes EDGAR to question Baden, he requests 3 exhibits be displayed (14:41:20) Shot returns to exhibit easels and Edgar asks if different reactions of JFK's chest and head to bullets fired from the same gun is a normal response - Baden answers yes, the head cavity is different from the chest cavity, hard tissue vs. soft tissue (14:42:00) Chair recongizes Representative HAROLD S. SAWYER to question Baden, Sawyers asks Baden if he noticed JFK move his hands to his throat before Connally had reacted at all and if this can be discounted - Baden answers that yes he notices the hands move but that there is no way to compare how people react to injury, JFK's spinal cord may have been shocked by the shot thus causing the quicker reaction (14:45:30)
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. James Barger & the Zapruder film
(01:01:22) Opens at the end of an explanation by Dr. JAMES BARGER using a map of Dealey Plaza how he can identify soundwaves from a tape of the JFK assassination as belonging to each of four bullets fired (01:01:49) Representative CHRISTOPHER DODD confirms with Barger that in 1963 the same tests could have been conducted reaching the same results, Dodd then asks what evidence there is that the third recorded impulse was a rifle shot - Barger responds that the loudness of the impulse suggest this is what it was and also the interpretation of the soundwave that suggests there was a shockwave which preceded the impulse, as a supersonic rifle shot would produce (01:06:20) Dodd asks about the lack of shock waves preceding the first two impulses - Barger explains the motorcycle microphone at that point would not have been in position to have picked up these shockwaves (01:07:15) Dodd asks how Barger reached his original probability percentage of 50% chance that there was a forth shot - Barger gives a self-defined "long winded" explanation (01:14:20) Chairman LOUIS STOKES recognizes Representative FLOYD FITHIAN, Fithian quotes from Barger's earlier testimony in September that his probability factor of 50% could not be improved with further tests, Fithian wants to know how Barger has come to change his mind - Barger gives a long reponse which summed up was that he had not thought of the analytical method MARK WEISS came up with to work with Barger's data (01:20:15) Fithian asks what would critics find fault with in this conclusion that there was a forth shot - Barger explains that because there is a lack of data certain assumptions have to be made based on probability factors, this he says could be a source of criticism, but that there is no better way to do what he, Weiss and ERNEST ASCHKENASY did (01:24:11) Stokes recognizes Representative ROBERT EDGAR, Edgar asks after bumbling about with various numbers and statistics how Barger could be 95% sure there was a forth shot - Barger gives a long, mathematical explanation of how he came up with this probability percentage (01:30:55) Edgar and Barger further discuss probability rates, first they discuss doing "statistical validation" tests in which gun shots in similar enviroments would be fired and recorded and the soundwave results would be compared to Weiss and Aschkenasy's findings, next they discuss what effect wind and temperature would have had on the 95% probability rate in both Barger's tests and the conclusions of Weiss and Aschkenasy (01:36:04) Stokes recognizes Barger's opportunity to suppliment his testimony - Barger takes the time to thank his research assisstants and Chief Counsel Professor ROBERT BLAKEY for his scientific approach to the hearings (01:39:07) Stokes recognizes Blakey, Blakey gives a long summary/review of the scientific evidence thus far and all the different directions it points, in particular he explains the scientific conclusions regarding where and when the bullets were fired, their trajectories, how they caused the various injuries to the victims in the limosine and how many were responsible for the injuries, Blakey also talks about integrating the various scientific evidence, in particular the acoustic evidence with the Zapruder film, to help the committee reach a conclusion about the possibility of a shot coming from the grassy knoll and hitting JFK (01:52:20) Blakey segues to a showing of the Zapruder film with a recording of Dr. Barger's acoutic tests of gun shots in Dealey Plaza incorporated as a sound track, he explains there will be two versions of the film shown, one that synchs the possible grassy knoll shot to the explosion of JFK's head, and the other which synchs the last book depository shot to the explosion of JFK's head (01:55:35) Blakey warns sensitive viewers to turn away now (01:56:20) Lights out (01:56:45) Film rolls, the image is pretty grainy and dark, there are four takes of the actual assassination, the two different sound track scenarios each get played to both a long shot of the limosine and a close-up - none of the films are very impressive and the image is so poor and film so fast no drama is felt from the actions or gun shot sounds, also the camer shot cuts to the projector in the middle of one take (01:58:18) Lights on, Blakey returns to the podium and gives a summary of other testimony that was supposed to have been heard at the day's hearings but due to time limits now cannot be: first he says that Dr. MICHAEL BADEN speaker for the committee appointed forensic pathology panel would have testified that he stands by his findings that only one bullet hit JFK's head and that it came from behind, second, Blakey says that Michigan state police examined JFK's limosine in the motorcade, that is now in their possession, for bullet holes but they could find nothing, third, Blakey says the committee consulted its expert engineering consultant about whether or not it was possible for the bullet that hit JFK's head to have come from the book depository based on its trajectory, Blakey says the response was no, but his explanation is cut off by the end of the tape
Excerpt of JFK Inaugural Address: "Ask not..."
MS President JOHN F. KENNEDY (John Fitzgerald Kennedy, JFK, John Kennedy) delivering Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961: "And the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Applause. "My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are--"
JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
House Select Committee on Assassinations Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey introduces JFK exhibit F-361 into the record at hearing on the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, presents enlarged aerial photo of Dealey Plaza. Pointer stick outlines the President's motorcade route on Elm St., points out the Texas School Book Depository and the Grassy Knoll. Blakey discusses the Warren Commission’s acknowledgement that testimony on the number of shots fired did vary, with the consensus was three shots, but some witnesses heard two, while others heard four. Witnesses also testified in varying degrees to the time span of the shots, the general estimate being 5-6 seconds. FBI tests indicated Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle could not be fired in less than 2.25-2.3 seconds. For the Warren Commission to conclude that only one assassin was involved there had to be a specific time span between shots. The Warren Commission heard testimony that shots came from directions other than the depository building, but were persuaded this testimony should not be credited due to the difficulty of accurate perception and non-supportive physical evidence. U.S. Representative Samuel L. Devine (R-OH) looks over his notes while Blakey speaks.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Cyril H. Wecht (Part III)
Wecht says it is not his responsibility to uphold the findings of the Warren Commission investigation which he found "extremely superficial and sloppy", Wecht mentions another exhibit he didn't get to talk about which diagrams bullet passing through JFK's neck which he says would show the bullet should have flown out and beyond the car.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Robert Groden
"CONTAINS ZAPRUDER FILM CONTENT, REQUIRES PERMISSION* Groden explains the two main players in the conspiracy possibilities of the photographs: JOSEPH MILTERE (?) and the UMBRELLA MAN - the Umbrella man is the first one to be discussed, an exhibit of four sequential images of him as the motorcade passes by are shown and his reactions are explained and analyzed by Groden who finds him very suspicious, Groden mentions that this man was never identified. Groden gives the story of the possible conspirator Joseph Miltere who he describes as an ultra-right winger that had contact with an FBI informant, with this informant he shared plans to assassinate JFK via a shot from a rifle in an office building and including a patsy to take the fall, Groden goes on to say that there is a crowd photograph from Dealey Plaza which shows a man that looks a lot like Miltere.
JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
House Select Committee on Assassinations Committee Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey introduces JFK exhibit F-648, the Warren Commission testimony of U.S President John F. Kennedy assassination witness S.M. Holland, who saw sign of a shot coming from a group of trees on the Grassy Knoll. Holland was standing on the overpass above Elm St. Holland indicated he heard four shots; after the first shot Holland saw Texas Governor John Connally turn around, then heard another report. Holland said the first two shots sounded like they came from the upper part of the street, the third shot was not as loud as the other shots. Holland said there was a report and a puff of smoke 6-8 feet above the ground right out from under some trees (in the Grassy Knoll); Holland said the sound wasn’t as loud as previous shots. Warren Commission Counsel Samuel A. Stern asked Holland if he had any doubts about hearing a fourth shot; Holland had no doubt about hearing a fourth shot and seeing a puff of smoke. Holland commented on the activity after the shooting, one of the motorcycle police officers in the motorcade threw his bike down and ran towards the grassy knoll.
JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
Paul Duke outlines the day at the House Select Committee hearings on the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, says a rather long opening statement will be made by Committee Chief Consul G. Robert Blakey, who will give background to the proceedings. Committee Chairman U.S. Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) seated at table with other Committee members; Duke (VO) says the hearings will begin soon, and the he House Select Committee on Assassinations has seven Democrats and three Republicans. Duke says the Zapruder Film will be shown at some point in the day’s proceedings, accompanied by a simulation of the shooting, reenacted in Dallas by Committee staff. Jeremiah O’Leary of the Washington Star says the reenactment might be the most dramatic part of the day; an investigative officer told him that when the soundtrack is played over the Zapruder Film, it will “boggle” your mind. Duke and O’Leary discuss the movements of Jacqueline Kennedy, President Kennedy, and Texas Governor John Connally in the presidential car at the time of the shooting. Crowded hearing room, Duke (VO) stresses the sensitivity of the hearings and the tragedy of the JFK assassination. Sounds of Committee speaking among themselves. Duke (VO) says the start of the hearings has been delayed. Chairman Stokes and U.S. Representative Samuel L. Devine (R-OH) talking with adult Caucasian female staff member.
JFK Visits Fleet, 6/5/63
Shaky panning LS missile hitting ocean. LS U.S. naval cadet officers dressed in khaki uniforms standing at attention at gallery, pan right to President JOHN F. KENNEDY getting out of open convertible with naval officers, walking to podium; nice panning MS President John F. Kennedy ascending stairs to the tune of "Hail to the Chief." TLS U.S. Navy sailors standing at attention. Panning MS President Kennedy reviewing sailors, shaking hands with officers in dress uniforms. LSs missiles streaking across sky, one headed for the ocean. TLS President Kennedy and U.S. Navy admirals seated on reviewing stand, watching naval events; JFK wears sunglasses. TLS Marine One helicopter coming in for landing on naval aircraft carrier. MS President Kennedy (still wearing sunglasses) walking from Marine One, shaking hands with assembled naval admirals. LS three U.S. naval destroyers sailing in ocean. LS three jet fighters firing missiles, hitting successfully aerial target. MS JFK (still wearing sunglasses) sitting slouched in chair, watching simulated warfare. TLS/LS missile boat (says Preble on aft, but this is certainly NOT the USS Preble) firing high-speed missiles. TLS Marine One helicopter warming up on tarmac, Secret Service men ambling about. Panning LS Marine One and two other Marine helicopters warming up on tarmac, crowd watching on. MS crowd (including one young white man in Army uniform winding small 16mm home movie camera) watching. TLS Marine One lifting off. Panning MS young Caucasian & African-American women wearing commencement caps & gowns waving goodbye, shielding their faces from wind; pan left & right to crowd scattering while copter entourage departs.
Speeches of JFK - 1960 Democratic National Convention.
Newsreel regarding the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, CA: TLS people marching outside the LA Memorial Sports Arena (Memorial Coliseum); shots of delegates on floor; MSs delegates holding pro-LBJ (Lyndon Baines Johnson) placards on floor; MS Minnesota Governor ORVILLE L. FREEMAN nominating Senator John F. Kennedy; MSs pro-JFK delegates on floor, holding placards and such; MS Senator EUGENE MCCARTHY nominating Adlai Stevenson; MSs pro-Stevenson delegates holding placards; MS of ELEANOR ROOSEVELT standing at podium, waving to crowd; shots of delegates voting, Wyoming clinching deciding vote; MS of Sen. JOHN F. KENNEDY descending steps to make acceptance speech.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Michael Baden (Part IV)
(13:55:45) Baden: "It's a search for an answer that doesn't exist" - Baden explains that it is the usual practice of forensic pathologists to deal only with the evidence and not conduct experiments to recreate the impossible (13:56:15) Preyer asks if it's possible that bullet 399 could have emerged in such good shape after causing as much damage as the single bullet theory suggests - Baden says yes and gives a long explanation why, this includes him talking about his experience with coming across bullets fired in New York City crime, bullets not designed as strongly but still emerge in good shape, he then goes on to trace the bullet's path through its victims and points out there are no points where significant damage to the bullet can be expected (14:01:20) Baden explains why a bullet to JFK's skull would be deformed significantly in comparison to bullet 399
Speeches of JFK
Sept, 12, 1960 Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. JFK says there are greater issues than that of his Catholic faith, calling attention to the spread of communism around the world (especially in Cuba), the mistreatment of American officials in former allied countries, domestic poverty, the elderly, our slow progress into the space race, etc. C/A shots of Mr. Kennedy, accompanied by wife JACQUELINE KENNEDY, on campaign trail. MSs of men speaking at a meeting of Southern ministers, "Please understand that this is not a political rally. This is a meeting of the Association of ministers. And we rely upon your sense for good order, proper respect for the nominee to the highest office of our land, and good Christain behavior generally." Another gentleman, "Contrary to common propaganda, the South is not a hotbed of religious or racial intolerance. There are many honest minds that are raising honest questions. Many Catholics differ with us on many questions that are relevant to the wellfare of our country. The fact that the Senator is with us tonight is to concede that a religious issues does exist. It is because there are many serious minds, decently raising questions that we have invited the speaker of the evening. It is for that same reason that we have allowed this meeting to be broadcast. To that end, I would like to introduce at this time, the Senator from MAssachuetts and the Democratic canidate for the President of teh United States, Senator John F Kennedy." JFK assumes podium to deliver speech, "Reverend Meza, Reverend Reck, I'm grateful for your generous invitation to speak my views. While the so-called religious issue is necessarily and properly the chief topic here tonight, I want to emphasize from the outset that I believe that we have far more critical issues in the 1960 campaign; the spread of Communist influence, until it now festers 90 miles off the coast of Florida, the humiliating treatment of our President and Vice President by those who no longer respect our power, the hungry children I saw in West Virginia, the old people who cannot pay their doctor bills, the families forced to give up their farms, an America with too many slums, with too few schools, and too late to the moon and outer space. These are the real issues which should decide this campaign. And they are not religious issues, for war and hunger and ignorance and despair know no religious barriers. But because I am a Catholic, and no Catholic has ever been elected President, the real issues in this campaign have been obscured--perhaps deliberately, in some quarters less responsible than this. So it is apparently necessary for me to state once again--not what kind of church I believe in, for that should be important only to me, but what kind of America I believe in. I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishoners for whom to vote, where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him. I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish, where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source, where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all. For while this year it may be a Catholic against whom the finger of suspicion is pointed, in other years it has been, and may someday be again, a Jew or a Quaker or a Unitarian or a Baptist. It was Virginia's harassment of Baptist preachers, for example, that helped lead to Jefferson's statute of religious freedom. Today I may be the victim, but tomorrow it may be you, until the whole fabric of our harmonious society is ripped apart at a time of great national peril."
JFK Assassination Hearings - H.B. McClain and Dr. James Barger
Chairman LOUIS STOKES recognizes Representative CHRISTOPHER DODD, Dodd asks how McClain can identify himself in the blown up photographs of the JFK motorcade taken from a film of the motorcade - McClain says he can identify himself by the way he is sitting on the motorcycle - Dodd and Delegate WALTER FAUNTROY joke playfully with McClain about how he sits that he can distinguish himself 15 years later in a photograph.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Michael Baden (Part III)
Preyer wants to know if it's possible that there could have been two entry wounds in JFK's head - Baden responds that the panel has concluded there is only one point of entry at the back of the head (11:40:31) Preyer wants to know why one of the Parkland Hospital surgery doctors, Dr. Shaw, testified against the single bullet theory to the Warren Commission - Baden says he based his contestation not on medical findings but on the testimony of the Connally couple (11:41:38) Chairman Stokes calls a recess for an "important" vote on the House floor (11:43:51) Hearing host SANDFORD UNGAR voice repeats chair's decision to recess and shot switches to him, he sums up the day's testimony so far and introduces his panel: DAVID LIFTON, Warren Commission Critic, and JEREMIAH O'LEAR of the Washington Star who discuss the testimony (11:44:21) Ungar closes out the program (11:58:10)
Speeches of JFK
A CBS news reporters sitting in the Hotel Roosevelt in NYC talks to camera about impending JFK press conference in rebuttal to a statement made by former President Harry S. Truman asking for his withdrawal from the Presidential race. We re in the ballroom of the Hotel Roosevelt in New York City, waiting for some real 4th of July political fireworks to get going here in this otherwise sedate chamber. We re waiting for Senator John F Kennedy of Massachusetts to come, and in a news conference suddenly called, answer President Harry S Truman who on Friday tried very hard to torpedo Senator Kennedy s front running candidacy. Mrs. Jacqueline Kenney has already come in, the Senator is on his way down. The Senator has timed his entrance very well, coming in almost on the dot. He has come down from his summer home at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts . Senator John F. Kennedy enters, takes podium, begins speech, Last Saturday one of our most dedicated and courageous Presidents gave the nation his views on the forthcoming Democratic Convention. In as much as Mr. Truman s remarks were directed at me I m taking this opportunity to respond to his statement. First, Mr. Truman suggested that I step aside as a candidate in 1960. In response let me say, I do not intend to step aside at anyone s request. I was the only candidate to risk my chances in all the primaries. The only one to visit every state. I have encountered and survived every kind of hazard and opposition and I do not intend to withdraw my name now on the eve of the convention. Secondly, Mr. Truman asserted that the convention would be controlled or prearranged. In response let me say to the extent that I have anything to do with it, it will be an open convention. As every convention of our broadly based party is open. Even though our candidate has been selected on the first ballot in every single convention but one since 1932, including the 1948 convention, which nominated Mr. Truman. To me an open convention means one reflecting the free will of delegates, freely elected and contested primaries and in state conventions. But based on my observations of him in 1952 and in 1956 and last Saturday, Mr. Truman regards an open convention as one which studies all the candidates, reviews their records and then takes his advise.
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Cyril H. Wecht (Part IV)
Dr. CYRIL H. WECHT, dissenting forensic pathologist, responds to question put forth by Representative HAROLD S. SAWYER that he does not believe bullet 399 cause all the wounds received by Governor JOHN CONNALLY (17:34:31) Sawyers asks Wecht what happened to the bullet that hit Connally - Wecht does not know but points out the sloppiness of the original investigation (17:35:20) Sawyer asks how Connally could have held hat after being shot in the same wrist - Wecht says he doesn't know but doesn't believe Connally to be shot at this point - both men agree it seems unreasonable that hat could have been held on to (17:35:55) Representative RICHARDSON PREYER, taken over at the chair (apparently many members of the committee have left to take a vote on the House floor), asks if Wecht did in fact say the other members of the panel were unwilling to conduct bullet firing tests because they new what the results would be - Wecht confirms he did say this and explains that he thinks the panel was reluctant to do the tests in light of the ones done in 1964 which showed how hard, if not impossible, it would be to produce a bullet in as good shape as 399 - Preyer asks how other "eminent" panel members could not conduct tests if they are as professional as they claim - Wecht suggests they are biased and goes on to explain how easy it would be to conduct tests (17:38:25) Preyer says listening to the day's testimony has helped him realize the limits of common sense, as common sense would dictate that a bullet could not do all the things that bullet 399 supposedly did, however he adds common sense also tells us "the earth is flat" (17:41:15) Representative DODD asks Wecht about Dr. MICHAEL BADEN's claim that in tests there would be a difference between a bullet's path through live and dead tissue - Wecht responds this not true with bones, summarizes Warren Commission's experiments in 1964 (17:42:08) Representative Floyd J. Fithian asks if the angle of trajectory was determined by the bullet's path through JFK and if it is possible that were JFK leaning forward when the bullet hit if this would allow for the bullet to then be in line to pass through Connally - Wecht responds that JFK would have to lean very far forward for this to work and that from the Zapruder film we can see that he is no where near this position, he also adds that the horizontal trajectories also do not line up (17:44:08) Representative ROBERT W. EDGAR confirms that Wecht stated he wanted to access to JFK's brain and that he had criticized the committee for not getting the brain, he then confirms that Wecht is aware of all the steps that the committee has taken to secure the brain and asks what Wecht would he have done had he been in charge - Wecht gives a long response which includes criticisms of other forensic pathologists of him for wanting access to the brain, and why he considers it so important to the investigation, in part he mentions because of the "ridiculous" autopsy that was performed (17:46:12) Edgar asks Professor C. ROBERT BLAKEY to give a summary for the record of the steps the committee has taken to get the brain (17:50:05) Blakey at the podium gives a summary of the brain's movement from hand to hand after the assassination as far as the committee could figure it out, at a point they can no longer figure out where the brain went and after deposing all the people in the chain have turned up nothing other then the suggestion that ROBERT KENNEDY had it destoyed - Blakey asks Wecht if he can suggest any further leads (17:50:14) Chairman STOKES (who has returned from the vote) asks Wecht if he is a ballistics expert - Wecht responds no - Stokes asks if most the past cases the Wecht has diagnosed involved hand gun wounds rather than rifle wounds - Wecht responds yes (17:53:41) Delegate WALTER FAUNTROY confirms Wecht believes another bullet, other than 399 did the damage to Connally, and could this other bullet have done all the damage - Wecht responds that he does belieive there was another bullet involved and that it is possible it did all the damage (17:55:25) Fauntroy asks what sort of test does Wecht invision to see if a bullet could have shattered Connally's wrist and then lodged in his thigh - Wecht explains it would only take a human cadaver - The two men come to an agreement on where the bullet was fired from and how it hit and passed through the wrist (17:56:54) Fauntroy asks for an explanation of the test that Wecht would conduct to test single bullet theory - Wecht gives a detailed description of the tests and what he would be looking for in the results which is mainly to see that one bullet could break both a rib and a wrist bone and emerge in such good shape (17:58:26) Fauntroy points out the extreme difficulty of exactly recreating the situation, it would take a very accurate shot and set up - Wecht responds that only bones are really needed in the test and that accuracy is not an issue with a professional marksman (18:01:08) Sawyer confirms Wecht's suggestion that Connally's wounds could have been from fragments of bullet that hit JFK's head and then exposes this as an impossibility, as according to the Zapruder film Connally has reacted to being shot before JFK's head was hit - Wecht is very visibly embarrassed and stumbles to save himself (18:02:35) Chairman Stokes recognizes Wecht's opportunity to suppliment his testimony (18:04:01) Wecht thanks members of the committee, especially Professor Blakey who let him testify, and goes on to say that he is sorry this sort of investigation was not carried out in '63 or '64 and that there is much still to be explained about what happened (18:04:18)