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JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
Commentator Paul Duke turns discussion of the upcoming House Select Committee hearings on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to Carl Oglesby of the Assassination Information Bureau. Oglesby says that if the police officer audio tape does show gunfire from two directions, then it would put an end to the “no conspiracy” theory, unless there were somehow two lone assassins by chance. Oglesby says a new prima facie theory may lead to opening a new investigation by the Justice Department. Duke suggests that even if four shots were fired it does not prove there was a second gunman. Oglesby says if there is a short enough delay between shots three and four, then there is no way Lee Harvey Oswald’s Mannlicher-Carcano rifle could have fired shot four.
JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
Paul Duke asks Jeremiah O’Leary of the Washington Star if there is skepticism on the House Select Committee on Assassinations toward the new theory on the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, that four shots could have been fired from two different locations. O’Leary says yes and he also is skeptical. O’Leary says there is a quantum leap in proving three shots or four were fired, including a leap in deciding which shots came from the Grassy Knoll, if any at all. O’Leary says if there is proof of four shots coming from two directions, there is still no proof that the two men knew one another or that they conspired.
JFK campaign spots
JFK campaign spots/political advertising for the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy. Excerpt from Speech of Senator John F. Kennedy, Greater Houston Ministerial Association, Rice Hotel, Houston, TX September 12, 1960. "Finally, I believe in an America where religious intolerance will someday end - where all men and all churches are treated as equal - where every man has the same right to attend or not attend the church of his choice - where there is no Catholic vote, no anti-Catholic vote, no bloc voting of any kind - and where Catholics, Protestants and Jews, at both the lay and pastoral level, will refrain from those attitudes of disdain and division which have so often marred their works in the past, and promote instead the American ideal of brotherhood." ... "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 parishioners 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 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." ... This is the kind of America I believe in - and this is the kind I fought for in the South Pacific, and the kind my brother died for in Europe. No one suggested then that we might have a "divided loyalty," that we did "not believe in liberty" or that we belonged to a disloyal group that threatened the "freedoms for which our forefathers died." And in fact this is the kind of America for which our forefathers died - when they fled here to escape religious test oaths that denied office to members of less favored churches - when they fought for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom - and when they fought at the shrine I visited today, the Alamo. For side by side with Bowie and Crockett died McCafferty and Bailey and Carey - but no one knows whether they were Catholics or not. For there was no religious test at the Alamo." ... "If I should lose on the real issues, I shall return to my seat in the Senate, satisfied that I had tried my best and was fairly judged. But if this election is decided on the basis that 40 million Americans lost their chance of being President on the day they were baptized, then it is the whole Nation that will be the loser, in the eyes of Catholics and non-Catholics around the world, in the eyes of history, and in the eyes of our own people. ... For, without reservation, I can 'solemly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, so help me God.'"
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Michael Baden and Captain James J. Humes M.D.
Cornwell introduces exhibits 52, 53 & 302 (15:13:28) Shot changes to that of exhibits - they are images of head X-rays, Cornwell asks Humes to show the court the bullet's point of entry (15:13:34) Humes points to point of entry on skull X-ray and explains why he picked this point (15:15:00) Humes volunteers that he had the opportunity to examine the inside of JFK's skull: "there was one and only one wound of entrance" (15:16:50) Cornwell asks about the fragments of skull's consistency with the bullets point of entrance - Humes respond that they make sense yet bullet was so disturbed upon point of entry the fragments could have been anywhere (15:17:10) Cornwell confirms with Humes that when autopsy report authored Humes did not have photos or X-rays (15:18:10) Cornwell brings up discrepancy between autopsy report's location of entrance wound in skull and the new panel's diagnosis, Cornwell wants to know if this discrepancy is explainable - Humes can give no explanation (15:18:35) Cornwell asks various questions about the autopsy such as what did you do afterwards and about the actual writing of the report (15:19:45)
JFK Half-Dollar Coins at Fed Reserve of San Francisco
Master 1497 - Tape 2 MS young white man with shirt sleeves rolled up standing at coin machine at Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, pushing coins down short chute at the end of which is a money sack. MS money bags filled with coins stacked on cart. MS money bags on cart being pulled away. MSs federal reserve bank employees working in storage vault, ceiling high shelving units loaded with money bags. Money, money, money! MS old white male security guard standing mindful watch behind thick metal bars. Establishing shots of Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. MCU labeled Fed Reserve Bank of SF money sack on pile, tilt up as employee wheels loaded cart into processing room. MS bank employee placing sack on metal stand; CUs sack being opened, JFK half-dollar coins being poured out, fanned on table. Money, money, money!!! Panning h/a CU pile of half-dollar coins. Nice MS/CUs squeaky-clean white male bank employee sifting coins into sorting machine; CUs coins in machine. MSs black & white male employees working in money vault, using forklift to raise palette onto shelves. More CUs coins in sifting machine, coins being fanned out onto table & down chute; great ECU JFK half-dollar coins being pushed across screen.
Speeches of JFK
A compilation of speeches made by John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Speeches of JFK
MSs of Senator JOHN F. KENNEDY speaking in West Virginia during Democratic primaries in 1960, commenting on his Catholicism. "There is no article of my faith that would in any way inhibit, I think it encourages, the meaning of my oath of office. And whether you vote for me or not because of my competence to be President, I am sure that here in this state of West Virginia that no one believes that I d be a candidate for the presidency if I didn t think I could meet my oath of office. Now you cannot tell me that the day I was born it was said I could never run for President because I wouldn t meet my oath of office. I came to the state of West Virginia, which has fewer numbers of my co-religionists than any state in the Union. I would not have come here if I didn t feel I was going to get complete opportunity to run for office as a fellow American in this state. I would not run for it, if in any way I didn t feel that I could do the job. So I come here today saying that I think that this is an issue Vote Kennedy May 10.
Speeches of JFK
President Harry Truman resigned as a delegate to the Democratic Presidential Nominating Convention. MCU reporter Last Wednesday former President Harry S Truman resigned as a delegate to Democratic Presidential nominating convention scheduled to begin in Los Angeles a week from Monday. Truman also announced he would not even attend the convention where he had been expected to lead the forces supporting the nomination of Senator Stuart Symington, a fellow Missourian. When Mr Truman dropped his bombshell, he promised he would hold a news conference later in the week clarifying his position. That moment is now at hand. MS Harry S Truman discussing his resignation. I have resigned as a delegate from Missouri to the Democratic National Convention. I did this because I have no desire what ever to be a party to proceedings that are taking on the aspects of a pre-arranged affair. A convention which is controlled in advance by one group & its candidate leaves the delegates no opportunity for a democratic choice and reduces the convention to a mockery. I ve always believed that the Democratic Party should stand for an open convention and should resist any bandwagon that thwarts or stifles the free and deliberative process of this great instrument of democracy. Don't mind that happening in the Republican convention, you understand. The democratic party must never be allowed to become a party of privilege, where a man of modest means or no means at all can not rise to a service in the nation. I m speaking up at this time, as I would hope that many of the delegates who have been stampeded or pressured into pre-convention commitments against their better judgments, and I know it first hand of such instances, I hope those delegates will have a chance to exercise further judgment. I want to make it clear that my disappointment at the manner in which some of the backers of Senator Joseph F. Kennedy have acted involves in no way, in my own mind the person or qualifications of the Senator himself. I think to a great extent, Senator Kennedy is victim of circumstances brought on by some of his over zealous backers which is unfortunate and unfair to him. Senator Kennedy has demonstrated ability, capacity and energy to play an important and continuing role in the party and in this government of ours. I ve always liked him personally and I still do. And because of this feeling, I want to say to him at this time, and I m going to quote a statement that I m making to Senator Kennedy, Senator, are you certain that you re quite ready to for the country or the country is ready for you, in the role of President in January 1961. I have no doubt about the political heights to which you are destined to rise, but I am deeply concerned and troubled about the situation we are up against in the world now and in the immediate future. That is why I hope that someone with the greatest possible maturity and experience would be available at this time. May I urge you to be patient. You will recall that I suggested to you at our meeting, that all personal ambitions be put aside
Speeches of JFK
A compilation of speeches made by John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Speeches of JFK
Dec 2, 1960, Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA. MS of Senator JOHN F. KENNEDY speaking at rally on campaign trail, 1960, where he verbally trashes the Republican party & Richard Nixon. "I run against a candidate who reminds me of the symbol of his Party. The circus elephant, his head full of ivory. A long memory and no vision and you have seen elephants being led around the circus ring, they grab the tail of the elephant in front of them. That was all right in 1952 and 1956, but there s no tail to grab this year, it s Mr. Nixon himself and I don t believe he will resecure an endorsement of the majority of citizens of this country." Shots on campaign trail. Cheering supporters.
Speeches of JFK
A compilation of speeches made by John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Speeches of JFK
June 11, 1963 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY delivering a National address regarding the commission of the National Guard to ensure the enrollment of two African-American students into the University of Alabama. "Good evening my fellow citizens: This afternoon, following a series of threats and defiant statements, the presence of Alabama National Guardsmen was required on the University of Alabama to carry out the final and unequivocal order of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Alabama. That order called for the admission of two clearly qualified young Alabama residents who happened to have been born Negro. That they were admitted peacefully on the campus is due in good measure to the conduct of the students of the University of Alabama, who met their responsibilities in a constructive way. I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. And when Americans are sent to Vietnam or West Berlin, we do not ask for whites only. It ought to be possible, therefore, for American students of any color to attend any public institution they select without having to be backed up by troops."
Speeches of JFK
September 25, 1961 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY addressing the United Nations: "Every man, woman and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or by madness. The weapons of war must be abolished before they abolish us."
Speeches of JFK
May 25, 1961 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY delivering State of the Union speech to Joint Session of Congress: "...we are anxious to live in harmony with the Russian people, that we seek no conquests, no satellites, no riches, that we seek only the day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Finally, our greatest asset in this struggle is the American people, their willingness to pay the price for these programs, to understand and accept a long struggle, to share their resources with other less fortunate people, to meet the tax levels and close the tax loopholes I have requested, to exercise self-restraint instead of pushing up wages or prices, or over-producing certain crops, or spreading military secrets, or urging unessential expenditures or improper monopolies or harmful work stoppages, to serve in the Peace Corps or the Armed Services or the Federal Civil Service or the Congress, to strive for excellence in their schools, in their cities and in their physical fitness and that of their children, to take part in Civil Defense, to pay higher postal rates, and higher payroll taxes and higher teachers' salaries, in order to strengthen our society, to show friendship to students and visitors from other lands who visit us and go back in many cases to be the future leaders, with an image of America, and I want that image, and I know you do, to be affirmative and positive. And, finally, to practice democracy at home, in all States, with all races, to respect each other and to protect the Constitutional rights of all citizens. I have not asked for a single program which did not cause one or all Americans some inconvenience, or some hardship, or some sacrifice. But they have responded and you in the Congress have responded to your duty. And I feel confident in asking today for a similar response to these new and larger demands. It is heartening to know, as I journey abroad, that our country is united in its commitment to freedom and is ready to do its duty." Mr. Kennedy shakes hands with Vice-President LYNDON JOHNSON and the Speaker of the House before leaving rostrum.
Speeches of JFK
Use catalog # 429084 for complete speech. September 12, 1962 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY speaking at Rice University in Houston, Texas. "We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war. I do not say the we should or will go unprotected against the hostile misuse of space any more than we go unprotected against the hostile use of land or sea, but I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours. There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not only because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too."
Speeches of JFK
June 26, 1963 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY delivering the "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" speech in West Berlin. "Two thousand years ago. Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was "civis Romanus sum." Today, in the world of freedom the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner." I appreciate my interpreter translating my German. There are many people in the world who really don t understand, or say they don t, what is the great issue between the Free World and the Communist World. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that Communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it s true that Communism is an evil system but it permits us to make economic progress. Lass' sie nach Berlin kommen. Let them come to Berlin. Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in. To prevent them from leaving us. You live in a defended island of freedom, but your life is part of the main. So let me ask you as I close to lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today to the hopes of tomorrow. Beyond the freedom merely of this city of Berlin or your country of Germany to the advance of freedom everywhere. Beyond the wall to the day of peace with justice. Beyond yourselves and ourselves to all Mankind. Freedom is indivisible and when one man is enslaved, all are not free. And when all are free, them we can look forward to that day and this city will be joined as one and this country and this great continent of Europe in a peaceful and hopeful globe. When that day finally comes, as it will, the people of West Berlin can take sober satisfaction in the fact they were in the front lines for almost two decades. All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man I take pride in the word Ich bin ein Berliner. Good C/As throughout of West Berliners in audience, listening, taking pictures, etc.
Speeches of JFK
October 22, 1962 Excerpts of President JOHN F. KENNEDY addressing the Nation on the Cuban Missile Crisis. "This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet Military buildup on the island of Cuba. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere." Edit. "Only last Thursday, as evidence of this rapid offensive buildup was already in my hand, Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko told me in my office that he was instructed to make it clear once again, as he said his government had already done, that Soviet assistance to Cuba, and I quote, pursued solely the purpose of contributing to the the defense capabilities of Cuba, that, and I quote him, training by Soviet specialists of Cuban nationals in handling defensive armaments was by no means offensive, and if it were otherwise. Mr. Gromyko went on, the Soviet Government would never become involved in rendering such assistance. That statement also was false." Edit. "Acting, therefore, in the defense of our own security and of the entire Western Hemisphere, and under the authority entrusted to me by the Constitution as endorsed by the resolution of the Congress, I have directed that the following initial steps be taken immediately: First: To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba from whatever nation or port will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back." Edit. "It shall be the policy of this Nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union." Edit. "I call upon Chairman Khrushchev to halt and eliminate this clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace and to stable relations between our two nations. I call upon him further to abandon this course of world domination, and to join in an historic effort to end the perilous arms race and to transform the history of man." Edit. "Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right- -not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved."
JFK Assassination Hearings - E. Aschkenasy & Mark Weiss (Part III)
(01:34:20) Stokes recognizes Representative SAMUEL DEVINE , Devine asks about the differences between Bargers test and conclusions and those of Weiss and Aschkenasy - Weiss explains how their conclusions were merely a progression from Barger's (01:37:00) Devine asks about the different sounds of gun shot blips on a version of the tape of the JFK assassination and then asks whether or not Weiss could know the trajectory or target of the bullet - Weiss responds he has not heard the tape that Devine references nor can he tell the committee where the knoll shot would have been aimed (01:39:15) Weiss answers a local paper's editorial charge that acoustics is an arcane science (01:39:49) Stokes recognizes Delegate WALTER FAUNTROY who confirms with Weiss that the noise he identified as coming from the grassy knoll could not have been an engine back-fire, Stokes then asks Weiss if he could say if the shot fired from the knoll came from a pistol - Weiss responds that all he knows is that the shot was super-sonic and that as far as he knows pistols do not fire at such high velocities (01:42:25) Fauntroy asks the committee itself, what information they have about a person who supposedly was on the grassy knoll, claimed he was a secret service agent and flashed identification - Blakey responds that a police officer on the knoll encountered such a person but that the person was not identified and no more information was available about him (01:44:08) Stokes recognizes Representative CHRISTOPHER DODD, Dodd asks if any of the techniques used by Aschkenasy and Weiss and Barger were not available 15 years ago - Weiss responds no other than an inconsequential test of Barger's (01:45:50) Dodd and Weiss discuss and discount the possibilities of what other noises could have caused the sound wave pattern that has been identified as the knoll gun shot (01:47:38) Dodd, Weiss and Aschkenasy have a long discussion about the sound of a bell which is heard on the police tape - Weiss and Aschkenasy say it most likely came from another radio at another location sharing the transmission band, the two men then go on though to explain why this still does not allow for the possibility that the sound waves they identified as gun shots could have come from anywhere other than Dealey Plaza (01:55:06) Representative FLOYD FITHIAN confirms with Weiss and Aschkenasy that they entered their analysis without preconceptions about what they would find and that they had no outside influences pushing them in any particular direction, Fithian then asks the two men about the use of acoustical analysis in criminal cases - they both say that the use of the science in criminal cases is new but the science itself is old and always abides by the same rules regardless of the context of its application (02:01:40) Fithian wants to differentiate between Barger's tests and those of Aschkenasy and Weiss - Aschkenasy's response is cut short by the end of the tape
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. Michael Baden and Captain James J. Humes M.D.
Sawyer asks if Baden observed that not only did Connally not react but continued to hold his hat with the same hand that had the wrist shattered and "does this disturb you at all" - Baden answers yes he noticed this but persons can be injured and not know it, that Connally was holding his hat when injured is "not unusual" (14:47:24) Sawyer wants to know if this fact about the hat in combination with Connally's testimony disuades Baden from beleiving in the single bullet theory - Baden responds he does not rely on eye witnesses (14:48:00) "It is our opinion that one bullet and only one bullet went through Governor Connally" - Baden repeats this statement ending with "the back of the president", he goes on: "Taking all factors into consideration it is also our opinion that it is the same bullet that went through the president and the governor, because there is no evidence for another bullet" (14:51:00) Baden says it is possible that there could have been a second bullet, there just is no evidence to support it (14:52:10) Chair recognizes Baden's right to suppliment his testimony - Baden takes the time to thank the rest of the panel he represents for their contributions (14:52:50) Chair calls Professor ROBERT BLAKEY to announce the next witness, Blakey calls Captain JAMES J. HUMES M.D. and lists his credentials (Humes conducted autopsy on JFK) - Humes is sworn in (14:55:50) Chair recognizes Deputy Chief Council GARY T. CORNWELL who asks what Humes responsibilities were as director of the Naval Medical School - Humes lists responsibilities (14:56:05)
JFK Assassination Hearings - Robert Groden (Conclusion)
(03:39:52) Opening shot of hearings room with people milling about an empty-chaired gallery, hearings host SANDFORD UNGAR is in the midst of voicing over a summary of the afternoon's testimony of ROBERT GRODEN, shot very quickly switches to him (03:41:30) Ungar introduces his panel PAUL HOCH of the Assassination Information Bureau and JEREMIAH O'LEARY of the Washington Star who discuss Groden's testimony and concluded it is a fair representation of the diverse criticisms of the Warren Commission (03:49:35) Ungar closes out the coverage (03:49:44) DO NOT USE PBS funding credit
JFK Assassination Hearings - The Weapons Experts Panel (Part II)
(14:29:29) Opens to shot of JOHN S. BATES testifying before the House Select Committee, talking about bullet comparisons, he says that after microscopic examination of the bullets supposedly test fired by the FBI out of the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle, identified as the one used by alleged assassin LEE HARVEY OSWALD, and examination of the bullets fired by this panel out of the same rifle the panel concluded the bullets could not be matched up as being fired from the same weopon, Bates adds this is not a surprise (14:32:30) Bates lists reasons why the above mentioned bullets do not match up (14:34:07) Bates is questioned by Committee Counsel JAMES E. MACDONALD as to the findings of bullet comparisons between the infamous bullet 399 and another bullet test fired by the FBI - Bates reports that these bullets matched up as coming from the same gun (14:36:00) MacDonald introduces a bunch of exhibits, they are all the bullet fragments recoverd from the limosine, JFK and Governor JOHN CONNALLY, MacDonald's questioning then turns to ANDREW M. NEWQUIST (14:37:30) Newquist goes to the exhibit easels to explain the examination of the fragments involved in the assassination, on the easels are blown up photographic images of the fragments, Newquist upon inquiry by MacDonald identifies two of the fragments as being traceable to Oswald's rifle, he explains that he identified them by comparing them to a bullet fired from the rifle by the FBI and matching up under microscopic magnification distinguished scarrings on both bullet and fragment - there are blown up photographic images of the microscopic comparison (14:43:45) New exhibits introduced by MacDonald, these are a blown up photographic image of a bullet fragment and the actual fragment itself of a bullet fired at General EDMUND WALKER, MacDonald explains that it is believed the bullet was fired by Oswald in an assassination attempt in April 1963 - From the fragment Newquist is able to tell the committee the bullet is of the same class as the other bullets fired from the rifle but the panel cannot conclude that it was definately fired from the same rifle (14:48:00) MacDonald introduces exhibits, they are the handgun believed to have been used by Oswald to shoot Officer TIPIT (?) later on the day of JFK's assassination, the cartridges found at the scene of the crime, cartridges the current panel test fired from the same gun, and blown up photographic images of the gun and the cartridges - MONTY C. LUTZ confirms the identity of the all materials and using the photographs explains how the panel concluded that the two sets of cartridges match up as being fired from the same gun, again this involves microscopic images comparing the markings on the different cartridges (14:53:45) DONALD E. CHAMPAGNE is given a new exhibit, the hand gun used by JACK RUBY to kill Oswald - Champagne upon request identifies the gun and describes its particulars (14:56:00) MacDonald asks LUTZ what kind of gun it was that Oswald had used to kill Officer Tipit - Lutz responds that it is a 38 special but that it has been modified to chamber a different type of ammunition (14:56:38) Committee Chairman LOUIS STOKES calls a five minute recess because committee members are participating in a House vote (14:57:02) Hearings host SANDFORD UNGAR voices over a summary of the testimony thus far, shot soon switches to him and his panel Professor JACOB COHEN of Brandeis University and DAVID LIFTON, Warren Commission critic, the two of whom get into a vigorous debate over the conspiracy aspect of the committee's procedings (15:06:43) The committee returns and the hearing is called back into session, acting Chairman RICHARDSON PREYER recognizes Representative EDGAR to question the witnesses, Edgar has Lutz and Champagne come out from behind the table at which their seated in front of the committee so that they can demonstrate the exhibit weopons (15:08:25) Lutz describes the rifle magazine for Edgar using the actual Mannlicher-Carcano rifle to illustrate his description - Edgar confirms that the magazine is not removeable and then asks how the rifle is loaded - Lutz describes this process, again using the actual rifle to illustrate his description (15:11:30) Edgar asks about the functioning of the rifle clip - Lutz explains how it functions in detail (15:12:55) Edgar asks for a desciption of the bolt action with consideration of the fact that three shots were supposedly fired in a brief period of time - Lutz does this, again using the rifle as illustration, shows off some nifty fast bolt action (15:14:25) Edgar confirms that the follower within the rifle magazine will only scar the bottom bullet in a clip - Lutz answers yes - Edgar has several other questions about the magazine and clip which Lutz and Champagne answer (15:17:13) Edgar asks questions about the scope - Lutz answers them again illustrating his answers with the actual rifle (15:19:44) Edgar asks Lutz to demonstrate the rifle, targeting something with the scope and then the iron sites - Lutz crouches down in a firing stance and takes aim at the movie screen - Edgar asks if in conclusion from this demonstration it is likely that when firing quickly one would use the iron sites - Lutz says he would (15:22:15) Edgar asks if guns emit smoke that is discernable to the human eye (witnesses claim they saw smoke coming from the grassy knoll) - Lutz and Bates answer yes, some smoke descriptions are given (15:25:10) Edgar asks for a description of the single and double action firings of the Oswald hand gun - Lutz demonstrates on the actual handgun (15:27:24) Edgar asks if the bullets found in Officer Tipit matched the test fired bullets of the panel - Lutz answers that the class of bullet was the same but they could not exactly match them up as coming from the same gun, Lutz explains why they couldn't match them up exactly (15:29:27) Edgar asks about the two stage trigger on the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle - Lutz explains what it is and that it is common in military issue rifles (15:31:02) Edgar asks about extractor markings on the cartridges found in the Texas book depository - Champagne's answer is cut off
JFK Assassination Hearings - Dr. James Barger
(02:01:38) Opens to Dr. JAMES BARGER concluding a statement that he helped MARK WEISS and ERNEST ASCHKENASY formulate the analytical approach they applied to his test data to conclude if there was a forth shot from the grassy knoll and that he has reviewed and agreed with their methods of analysis and their findings (02:02:10) Wolf asks Barger to explain the discrepancy between his statement in September testimony that there was a 50/50 chance that there was a forth shot and Aschkenasy and Weiss' testimony that they can be 95% sure there was forth shot - Barger gives a long explanation that because Weiss and Aschkenasy could determine the actual location of motorcycle this dramatically increased their accuracy, he also explains some other technical factors (02:07:47) Committee Vice Chairman RICHARDSON PREYER discusses with Barger his work on the Kent State case - Barger says through accoustical analysis and tests he was able to locate the locations of three of the shooters - Preyer and Representative SAMUEL DEVINE want to know how the jury in the case was told to receive Barger's testimony, as fact or speculation - Barger cannot remember this (02:12:52) Preyer recognizes Delegate WALTER FAUNTROY, Fauntroy and Barger discuss shockwaves, Fauntroy wants to know why all the shots on the police tape soundwave don't have shockwaves and how Barger, Weiss and Aschkenasy can be certain that what they see in the soundwaves is actually a shockwave - at the end of Barger's long response an exibit of the Dallas police tape soundwave is displayed (02:20:33) Preyer recognizes Devine, Devine asks about the temperature during Bargers tests in Dealey Plaza - Barger gives another long response and tells the committee what it was and how Weiss and Aschkenasy factored this into their analysis (02:24:45) Devine and Barger discuss the noise of the motorcycle recorded on the tape, how loud it would have been and if it corresponds approriately to the positioning and movement of McClain's motorcycle (02:30:10) Committee Chairman LOUIS STOKES recognizes Representative CHRISTOPHER DODD, Dodd first confirms his understanding of the correlation coefficient between the Dallas police tape soundwaves and the test soundwaves, Dodd then asks why the first shot identified on the tape does not have a shock wave but the second one does - Barger uses an exhibit of a map of Dealey plaza to explain why, his explanation is cut short by the end of the tape
Speeches from JFK Library
Speeches of John F. Kennedy, President of the United States. State of the Union Address.
JFK Assassination HSCA Hearings
House Select Committee on Assassinations Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey makes opening statements at hearing on the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, discusses verdict of the Warren Commission and original finding that three shots were fired from the same rifle at the Texas School book depository. Blakey says the Warren Commission findings must be revisited if the time span between shots was too short to have been fired from the same rifle or if one or more of the shots were fired from a different direction; if either of these two situations occurred it must be considered that there may have been a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy. The Warren Commission was persuaded that there were at least two to three shots fired at the most, each fired from the Texas School Book Depository. Blakey’s notes on podium as he continues to speak. The Warren Commission considered a variety of evidence, including medical and ballistics data, as well as witness testimony, and maintained that the time span between the shots was either 4.8 to 5.6 seconds or 7.8 to 7.9 seconds; the difference between these two figures depended on which of the three shots the Warren Commission believed was a miss.