NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
In television studio, program Moderator Paul Duke begins discussing the Church Committee’s report on political assassinations and related Senate hearings.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Program moderator Paul Duke introduces Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine. Fentress discusses how the U.S. Presidents will emerge from the Senate report and hearings, says the committee gave them the benefit of the doubt regarding their knowledge of political assassinations. Fentress brings up Cold War factors and “dealing with dead people." Fentress says he cannot conceive a situation in which U.S. Presidents were not aware, that they were motivated to take part in political assassination plots due to imperialism, rather than the Cold War.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Program moderator Paul Duke discusses the cautious and tentative tone of the report on political assassinations. Duke mentions Senators Walter Mondale and Barry Goldwater, speculates Senate Committee head Frank Church may have agreed to change the language of his report due to his own political ambitions. Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine weighs in on the tentative language of the report, says it avoids placing the majority of blame solely on Democrats or Republicans.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Moderator Paul Duke asks Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine if, after reading the report, he believes the CIA had a special unit for dealing with political assassination plots. Fentress says the report discusses a special executive action unit within the CIA.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Program moderator Paul Duke brings up the topic of assassinations and coups in Chile and possible involvement by National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger. Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine believes Kissinger was involved, brings up U.S. President Richard Nixon not wanting Salvador Allende to hold power in Chile. Duke brings up the assassination of Chilean General Rene Schneider, who was a believer of American-styled democracy. Duke says the U.S. Government has never learned from the consequences of its actions.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine discusses the power vacuums created by U.S.-backed political assassinations and coups. Fentress mentions the assassination of Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Trujillo. Moderator Paul Duke mentions the assassination of the Republic of the Congo leader Patrice Lumumba.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine says U.S. involvement in political assassinations was more influenced by imperialism rather than the Cold War. Program moderator Paul Duke asks if the U.S. is moving away from the idea it has the right to remove foreign leaders from power as it sees fit. Fentress says yes, in light of the publication of the Senate Committee report.