JFK News and Updates - JFK Lancer Blog

Film declares Bush Sr involved in Kennedy assassination

2010-04-02T16:15:00.000-05:00

Film declares Bush Sr involved in Kennedy assassination

By Carol Forsloff.

One reviewer maintains a film indicating George H.W. Bush involvement in Kennedy assassination is one that raises questions in the light of present political discord, but the film itself might warrant a critical look.

Hankey's film, Dark Legacy, examines the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and makes the claim that George Herbert Walker Bush was involved by examining the former President's CIA relationships and where and what he was doing at the time of the assassination. Hankey is a former high school teacher from Southern California who has spent years researching his thesis, connecting the dots, and making his case, which one reviewer, Henry Eshelmann, maintains is compelling. Eshelmann observed yesterday Hankey has made a credible examination of the evidence in the film, calling it "spirited and well-documented."

This isn't the first time Hankey has put forth the film, and other reviewers declare "not so fast" to the notions he puts forth. For example, Seamus Coogan who writes for the CTKA, a group devoted to the study of the Kennedy assassination, maintains Hankey makes exorbitant claims about himself and his research and also distorts many facts. He writes this:

Where, when, and how did he "hang Kennedy's murder around Bush's neck"? Is JFK 2 evidence of this? Not on your life. The evidence would suggest that Hankey first got into his research around 1999, with the death of John Kennedy Jr. After that, around 2004, his video was cobbled together. Hankey seems to have had a mere 5-6 years of investigation under his belt before the film. But that's no excuse for 1.) The errors that riddle his work and 2.) His penchant for taking credit for things he did not achieve. 3.) His need to distort things both large and small.

Coogan's review is very detailed, and he quotes the assessments of other critics as he examines Hankey's film, which just yesterday has been touted again. His summary conclusion declares firmly that viewers need to look with a jaundiced eye upon many of Hankey's notions since they take away from serious investigations and mislead the public. He ends by saying, "There is nothing wrong with writing revisionist history. But if you choose to do so, you must be held to high standards of scholarship. "

CSI science could yield clues in MLK killing | Journey To Justice

2010-04-02T13:09:00.000-05:00

CSI science could yield clues in MLK killing

On April 2, 2010, In Justice, By Jerry Mitchell

Digital technology seen on the TV show CSI could help to identify still-unknown fingerprints collected by FBI agents in their investigation of the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., experts say.

“The FBI collected literally dozens of unidentified prints from a number of different ‘crime scenes’ connected to the King case and James Earl Ray,” said Stuart Wexler, co-author of the upcoming book, Seeking Armageddon: The Effort to Kill Martin Luther King Jr.

chapter12c:animania (www2)

2010-03-29T22:26:00.000-05:00

Excellent article on President Kennedy's posture and wounds by Pat Speer.

Chapter 12c: Animania

Searching for Truth in Dale Myers' House of Mirrors

!! omg blog !!: OMG, Erykah Badu takes it all off in "Window Seat" video

2010-03-29T17:25:00.000-05:00

Not safe for work.

The official video for Erykah Badu's new single "Window Seat" came out on Saturday and it's sparked a lot of chatter on Twitter and in the press. Badu shot it in a single-take, guerilla-style in Dallas' Dealey Plaza, the site of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. "Window Seat" opens with Erykah pulling up in a 1965 Lincoln Continental as a radio broadcast from 1963 describes the final moments leading up to the assassination. She then gets out of the car and walks toward Elm St. and the book depository, removes all of her clothes and collapses next to the grassy knoll.

FBI cracks open door to ‘special file room’ - The Boston Globe

2010-03-29T12:32:00.000-05:00

(AP file photo, 1977) The facade of the
J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building
in Washington in August 1977.

By Bryan Bender Globe Staff / March 29, 2010

“This was a system that allowed FBI officials to say we have searched our central records system and there is no record of illegal conduct’’ by the bureau, said Athan G. Theoharis, a former professor at Marquette University and a specialist on the reign of Hoover, who served as the agency’s first director, from 1924 to 1972, and who is known to have maintained his own files that he ordered destroyed after his death.

“It was a pretty efficient system Hoover devised,’’ Theoharis said. “If you can minimize who knew what the bureau is doing, you can minimize any legal action’’ against the bureau if it operated outside of the law.

NorthJersey.com: Kennedy half dollar turns 46

2010-03-27T17:37:00.001-05:00

The John F. Kennedy half dollar was first issued on this date in 1964. Here is a brief history of this coin:
* Within days of Kennedy's assassination, on Nov. 22, 1963, the United States Mint received the first of many letters asking officials there to honor the deceased president with a coin.

Follow the headline link to read more.

Rosie O’Donnell Is Said to Be Preparing a TV Show - NYTimes.com

2010-03-26T15:06:00.000-05:00

LOS ANGELES — Rosie O’Donnell, a former star of daytime talk, is quietly preparing a return to television with two former Warner Brothers syndication executives.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday that Rory Kennedy would be the program’s executive producer. Through a spokesman, Ms. Kennedy, a filmmaker and a daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, declined to comment.

Matt Damon Feels The Pressure Playing A Kennedy

2010-03-22T20:19:00.001-05:00

Friday, March 12, 2010 10:24AM - By Krystal Clark

A couple of weeks ago it was revealed that our favorite blue-eyed, strawberry blond Matt Damon would star as one of the most influential men in American history. There were reports that the Oscar winning screenwriter and nominated actor had been tapped to play Robert F. Kennedy in a biopic. Since the announcement we haven’t heard much from the actor regarding the story but while he’s been out promoting his latest film Green Zone, he finally confirmed the casting and his fears about playing the politician.

Damon recently spoke about the pressure he feels taking on the role of Kennedy who was gunned down in 1968 just five years after his brother John. The upcoming biopic will be directed by Gary Ross who previously helmed the drama Seabiscuit, and the script will be written by Steven Knight. The actor confirmed that he would take on the title role in the film if he takes a shining to the screenplay.
With the prospect of playing a Kennedy comes great responsibility. RFK was a real person that many people today have memories of and whenever you take on someone like that it’s bound to be challenging. Damon knows that he can tackle the part but admits that there’s added pressure for him to do well since both he and Kennedy are Massachusetts natives.

“Well I don’t know that I can (play him well). It’s part of the challenge, but I’m pretty confident I could do it. It would be a lot of research and time put in. Where I come from, he’s a pretty important person and it’s a lot of responsibility … the script comes in in a few weeks and hopefully (it’s) a good script.”

Damon’s a great actor and in my opinion he was born to play this guy. He has the looks for it and the talent’s definitely there, we just need him to revamp his Bostonian accent from The Departed and we might be on to something. Lets cross our fingers that the script is good, because if it’s not this will be such a missed opportunity.

Source: Ace Showbiz

A Jackie Kennedy movie, courtesy of Steven Spielberg? | 24 Frames | Los Angeles Times

2010-03-22T20:15:00.000-05:00

Two iconic American names, Steven Spielberg and the late Jackie Kennedy Onassis, are linked together in a new project.

Spielberg is selling "Jackie," a hot script about the late First Lady that's making the rounds in Hollywood. Noah Oppenheim, the head of development at Reveille who's also a journalist, author and former producer at the "Today" show has written the script, which examines the days immediately following the assassination of John F. Kennedy from Jackie Kennedy's point-of-view. Spielberg is on board the project in a producerial capacity.

HBO is a lead contender to buy the script and would likely develop it as a film it could air on its network. Spielberg has a long relationship with HBO; the premium cable channel is currently airing the WWII epic "The Pacific," which Spielberg executive-produced.

The life and death of JFK have been frequently visited on television with projects such as the 1983 NBC miniseries "Kennedy," starring Martin Sheen. And three years ago, Emilio Estevez took on the aftermath of the events surrounding the RFK assassination at the Ambassador Hotel. A film from Jackie's point of view, however, would be more rare. More as it develops.

-- Steven Zeitchik, LA Times

Photo: Jackie Kennedy. Credit: LA Library

Vicki Kennedy Visited Ted's Grave On Day Of Health Care Passage

2010-03-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

Reflecting on the legislative achievement her late husband had spent his career pursuing, Vicki Kennedy on Monday expressed gratitude and paid tribute to the work of House Democrats in getting long-elusive health care reform legislation finally passed.

Appearing on CNN's 'John King, USA' (full interview tonight at 7PM ET), the widow of former Sen. Ted Kennedy pointed to the commitment made by President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi as particularly critical for reform's passage.

"I think that President Obama showed incredible determination and courage and focus when he continued this battle; and Speaker Pelosi to continue to rally the troops and the leaders in the House of Representatives showed incredible determination and focus and courage," Kennedy said. "And I think it is a real tribute to all the members of the House of Representatives as well. I think it is a real tribute to all of them and I am deeply, deeply, grateful, as I think are the American people."

Tubridy rushes to meet JFK book deadline - Around Town, Entertainment - Herald.ie

2010-03-17T01:56:00.000-05:00

RTE star Ryan Tubridy will launch his debut book on John F Kennedy to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the president's election.

Titled JFK In Ireland, the book is set to hit shelves on November 5.

The Late Late Show host is in the final stages of "the mopping-up process" for his eagerly awaited first book and has just four weeks left until his deadline to hand it over to publisher Harper Collins UK.

The father-of-two, who has been writing the book for the past 18 months and committed to the project long before he took over the Late Late Show gig last September, has spent much of his time researching it in the National Library.

The self-confessed young fogey described the book as "a close study of the shenanigans behind the scenes" at the time of the 1963 visit. "This book aims to present the public side of that whirlwind Kennedy visit in 1963 from those who may have stories, gifts, photos, video, memories or simply an opinion on it."

Carlyle Group co-founder named chairman of Kennedy Center board - washingtonpost.com

2010-03-17T01:46:00.000-05:00

Lingering budget woes cast shadow on JFK award

2010-03-17T01:45:00.000-05:00

Jeff Bushman on Blog Talk Radio

2010-03-12T12:59:00.000-06:00

Larry Hancock on Jeff Bushman radio show last night talking about his upcoming book on the MLK assassination. Listen hear.

Letters Capture American Grief After the Kennedy Assassination - NYTimes.com

2010-03-11T06:16:00.000-06:00

White House photo by Robert Kundsen

White House staff members and volunteers sorting through letters of condolence in December 1963. More than a million people wrote Jacqueline Kennedy after her husband's assassination.

By KATIE ZEZIMA

Published: March 8, 2010

New theory in MLK assassination

2010-03-10T13:30:00.000-06:00

At Jerry Mitchell's "Journey to Justice" blog, there's a post that says James Earl Ray knew about a KKK bounty on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that was worth $100,000. Which is leading some to wonder if Ray was actively trying to claim the money when he murdered the civil-rights leader.

File photo via AP

Posted by James Hart on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 06:45 AM | Permalink

Riverview man's letter to JFK's widow published in new book

2010-03-10T13:28:00.000-06:00

Riverview man's letter to JFK's widow published in new book

He defended an iconic assassin | AP Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

2010-03-10T13:26:00.000-06:00

He defended an iconic assassin | AP Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

New Book: Out in Front Preparing the Way for JFK and LBJ

2010-03-06T12:54:00.002-06:00

Out in Front
Preparing the Way for JFK and LBJ

Click on image to enlarge

Jeb Byrne - Author

Excelsior Editions

Price: $50.00
Hardcover - 144 pages

Release Date: February 2010

ISBN10: N/A
ISBN13: 978-1-4384-3145-1

Price: $17.95
Paperback - 144 pages

Release Date: February 2010

ISBN10: N/A
ISBN13: 978-1-4384-3144-4

Summary

Lively anecdotes retold by an advance man for presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

Imagine one’s first job assignment is arranging John F. Kennedy’s visit to Fort Worth, Texas on the morning of November 22, 1963. Lively and fascinating, Out in Front reveals Jeb Byrne’s experiences as an advance man for JFK and as the deputy director of the LBJ advance unit during the 1964 campaign. Byrne’s life experiences illuminate the work done behind the scenes of campaign stops and political appearances. His personal memoir exposes the duties, contemplations, and struggles of the advance man, all of which are hidden from the public eye.

“Most other studies of political campaigns have paid scant attention to the role of the largely anonymous corps of advance personnel and other essential, but unheralded, campaign workers.” — James B. Rhoads, former Archivist of the United States

“A remarkable history of the early days of the art of political advance. Jeb Byrne is a gifted writer who has recorded, with style and wit, the story of how the Kennedy and Johnson presidential campaigns developed the core element of presidential public appearances—political advance—which has now evolved into a sophisticated and expensive standard undertaking for all presidents. Everyone who reads this book will reach the same conclusion: Jeb Byrne is a fantastic writer.” — Harold C. Pachios, former Associate White House Press Secretary under LBJ

“Jeb Byrne has written a gem of a book about retail politicking. With humor, compassion, and insight, he reveals the world of political advance. Its denizens are neither supposed to be seen nor heard, but their handiwork is the stuff campaigns are made of.” — Max Holland, author of The Kennedy Assassination Tapes

“An excellent and interesting personal memoir of advance work.” — Sean Savage, author of JFK, LBJ, and the Democratic Party

Jeb Byrne joined the administration of President John F. Kennedy in 1961 in a public affairs position and was an advance man in Fort Worth on JFK’s last trip. He later served Lyndon Johnson as a principal advance man in LBJ’s 1964 campaign. A career civil servant in later years, Byrne’s last position was Director of the Federal Register, and he is now retired from the federal government.

Planet News Article, Jackson Hole Wy | Report and audio exclusive: The JFK tape | 3/2/2010

2010-03-04T21:45:00.000-06:00

President Kennedy visited Jackson Hole two months before his assassination. Nearly 47 years later, a radio recording surfaces.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - Before 1963, no American president had ever visited Grand Teton National Park. That changed when a DC-6 carrying President John F. Kennedy landed at Jackson Hole Airport on Sept. 25 of that year. He would be assassinated two months later.

Though many today still remember Kennedy’s visit, the occasion may come as news to a number of Jackson Hole residents. The moment is a footnote in American history.

But recently an audio tape has surfaced that brings JFK’s historic visit back to life. The recording contains Kennedy’s voice and documents his first impressions of Jackson Hole and the Tetons.

Letters to Jackie Book Signing @ The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza | www.pegasusnews.com | Dallas/Fort Worth

2010-03-04T14:34:00.000-06:00

Within 7 weeks of President John F. Kennedy's death in 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy received nearly 1 million condolence letters. Two years later, the volume of messages would nearly double. Written on elegant stationary, scraps of paper, in black ink or in pencil smudged by tears, the correspondence would remain essentially untouched for the next 46 years.

Now, noted historian and News Hour with Jim Lehrer commentator Ellen Fitzpatrick has selected approximately 250 of the letters for inclusion in Letters to Jackie, a remarkable human record that preserves the grief of a nation following the assassination of President JFK. This is the first book ever to examine the collection of letters, providing a fascinating perspective on what is arguably the most devastating event in 20th century America.

Fitzpatrick will be at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza for a free presentation and book signing event on March 11.

LAPD apologizes to Kennedy family for items in museum exhibit - BostonHerald.com

2010-03-03T20:24:00.000-06:00

LAPD apologizes to Kennedy family for items in museum exhibit - BostonHerald.com

Photograph of Ruby killing Oswald captured historic moment, defined a career | Dallas | ...

2010-03-02T12:18:00.000-06:00

Photograph of Ruby killing Oswald captured historic moment, defined a career

By DAVID CASSTEVENS

dcasstevens@star-telegram.com

During a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, a 3-year-old gazed up from her stroller at a black-and-white photograph picturing a dark-haired man in his late 20s. The portrait was taken almost a half-century ago, but the child recognized that face instantly.

"Grandpa!" Marianne Jackson cried.

Her gray-haired grandfather smiled in delighted surprise.

Yes, Bob Jackson said, that's me.

Through a child's eyes, the 75-year-old former newspaper photographer was reminded of the magic of the camera -- the power of a lens and the click of a shutter to freeze time and preserve it forever.

Jackson's award-winning career was defined in one captured fraction of a second.

The moment arrived on a Sunday, Nov. 24, 1963.

Robert Greenwald On Why TV Series Smearing Kennedys Should Be Stopped (VIDEO)

2010-02-28T23:39:00.000-06:00

On Sunday, filmmaker Robert Greenwald appeared on CNN's "Reliable Sources" to discuss his campaign against a proposed TV miniseries about the Kennedys, slated to appear on the History Channel.

The series is being produced by Joel Surnow, the creator of "24" and a supporter of George Bush, who Greenwald says "deliberately distorts historical fact" in order to smear the Kennedy family. "I don't care what your politics are," Greenwald says. "This is a below-the-belt trashing of a president of the United States -- not on policy, but character assassination."

Matt Damon set to play Bobby Kennedy in new RFK biopic - report

2010-02-26T12:49:00.000-06:00

BY Joe Dziemianowicz
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, February 24th 2010, 2:12 PM

Matt Damon (l.) is at the top of the list to play RFK in a new biopic based on Evan Thomas' biography, 'Robert F. Kennedy: His Life,' according to a report.