My interviewing sessions were held as soon as possible, for memory does fade. There is, for example, a distinct difference in the quality of statements taken in the spring of 1964 and those of a year later. On the other hand, perspective does have its uses. The author’s interview with Mrs. Lyndon Johnson on June 15, 1964, is superior in many ways to the recollections which she set down immediately after her return from Dallas. The plausibility of witnesses has been weighed at each stage. Fortunately, the mass of circumstantial evidence makes corroboration or disproof possible on most points.
Of course, no one can ever root out the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. That is a game lawyers play. There is something touching about their naïve assumption that one gets the full story by putting a man under oath. In practice you get very little of it. Anxious not to perjure himself, the witness volunteers as little as possible. The President’s Commission on the Assassination was dominated by attorneys. The record shows it. Their depositions of minor witnesses were remarkably brief. The author, with his tape recorder or shorthand notebook, gets a great deal more chaff; but in the long run he harvests more wheat, too.
I. AUTHOR’S INTERVIEWS
Name Position at 12 Noon, Nov. 22, 1963 Date of Interview
Bess Abell Personal secretary to Mrs. Johnson 10.6.64
Nicole Alphand Wife of French Ambassador to U.S.A. 17.4.64
H. H. “Andy” Anderson Managing Director, Hotel Adolphus, Dallas 24.9.64
Dave Andres Dallas executive 26.9.64
Marvin Arrowsmith Associated Press editor, Washington 11.8.64
Hugh Auchincloss Stepfather of Mrs. Kennedy 21.5.64.
Mrs. Janet Auchincloss Mother of Mrs. Kennedy 21.5.64
Sergeant Joseph Ayres Air Force One Steward 9.6.64
John Bailey Chairman, Democratic National Committee 7.6.65
Russell Baker Correspondent, New York Times 15.4.64
Letitia Baldridge Former social secretary, the White House 25.5.64
George Ball Under Secretary of State 10.4.64
Charles Bartlett Washington correspondent 3.5.64
Martha Bartlett Friend of the Kennedy family 3.5.64
Robert Baskin Washington Bureau Chief, Dallas Morning News 15.5.64
Deputy Chief Charles Batchelor Dallas police officer (Assistant Chief) 23.9.64
Gerald A. Behn Head of White House Secret Service Detail 18.12.64
Carmine Bellino, CPA Washington attorney to the Kennedy family 5.6.64
1st Lt. Samuel R. Bird Officer, Company E, the Old Guard, 3rd Infantry 30.4.64
Capt. Walter R. Bishop Artillery officer, 3rd Infantry 30.4.64
Gerald S. Blaine Secret Service agent 12.5.65
Hale Boggs U.S. Congressman from Louisiana 14.5.64
Benjamin Bradlee Washington Bureau Chief, Newsweek Magazine 17.4.64
1.6.64
Toni Bradlee Friend of the Kennedy family 1.6.64
Henry Brandon Washington correspondent, London Sunday Times 12.4.65
Howard L. Brennan Pipefitter 23.9.64
David Brinkley NBC Television correspondent 28.5.64
Sir Denis W. Brogan British scholar 31.12.64
Jack S. Brooks U.S. Congressman from Texas 17.6.64
Mrs. Charlotte Brooks Congressman’s wife 17.6.64
Jerry Bruno Advance man, Democratic National Committee 1.12.64
12.4.64
17.12.64
Jack Bryant Rice Hotel catering manager 18.9.64
Art Buchwald Washington columnist 5.10.64
J. W. Bullion Dallas attorney 19.9.64
McGeorge Bundy Special Assistant to the President 9.4.64
2.6.64
George G. Burkley, M.D. Rear Admiral, USN; personal physician to the President 10.4.64
14.4.64
23.4.64
3.3.65
11.7.66
Earle Cabell Mayor of Dallas 1.6.65
Father Thomas Cain Superior of the Dominican Fathers, Roman Catholic University of Dallas 21.9.64
Christine Camp Secretary to Pierre Salinger 20.8.64
Capt. R. 0. Canada, Jr.,USN Director, Bethesda Naval Hospital 14.4.64
Pfc Arthur A. Carlson Leader of riderless horses, Fort Myer 30.4.64
Mrs. Elizabeth Carpenter Executive Assistant to the Vice President 10.6.64
28.5.65
Frank Carpenter United Nations press officer 21.8.64
Lt. Col. Bernard G. Carroll U.S. Army Post Engineer, Fort Myer 11.8.64
Cliff Carter Political adviser to the Vice President 23.7.64
Douglass Cater Washington Editor, The Reporter 29.5.64
George Christian Aide to the Governor of Texas 15.9.64
Sergeant Keith Clark Bugler, U.S. Army Band 20.5.64
Maj. Gen. Chester V. Clifton Military Aide to the President 21.4.64
21.8.64
22.1.65
28.5.65
John B. Connally, Jr. Governor of Texas 16.9.64
Mrs. John B. Connally, Jr. Wife of the Governor of Texas 30.9.64
Maj. Michael Cook, USAF Assistant Air Force Aide to the President 8.6.64
21.6.64
Paul Cretian Aide to the Director, CIA 8.10.64
Jesse E. Curry Chief of Dallas Police Department 25.9.64
Richard Cardinal Cushing Archbishop of Boston 13.7.64
Marilyn Dailey Dallas Junior High School student 3.8.65
Mrs. Rita Dallas Nurse to Joseph P. Kennedy 20.7.64
E. M. “Ted” Dealey Publisher of Dallas Morning News 25.9.64
Joe Dealey Editor of Dallas Morning News 25.9.64
C. DeLoach Assistant to the Director, FBI 8.10.64
C. Douglas Dillon Secretary of the Treasury 14.8.64
William O. Douglas Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court 2.4.64
Joan Douglas Wife of Justice Douglas 3.4.64
Otto Druhe Chief chef, Hotel Texas 19.9.64
Sergeant Robert Dugger, Jr. Patrol officer, Dallas Police Force 22.9.64
Angier Biddle Duke Chief of Protocol, State Department 8.4.64
3.6.64
Robin Duke Wife of Angier Duke; friend of Mrs. Kennedy’s 16.11.64
Ralph Dungan Special Assistant to the President 15.4.64
Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th President of the United States 27.8.64
Sgt. 1st Class Allen J. Eldredge Wreath bearer, 3rd Infantry 30.4.64
Dr. Joseph T. English Chief Psychiatrist, Medical Program, Peace Corps 18.8.64
Paul B. Fay, Jr. Acting Secretary of the Navy 5.5.64
Marie Fehmer Secretary to the Vice President 11.6.64
Charles E. Fincklin Maître d’Hôtel, the White House 14.8.64
Ronald B. Fischer Clerk, Auditor’s Office, Dallas County Building 23.9.64
Bob Foster Secret Service agent 18.11.64
Henry H. “Joe” Fowler Acting Secretary of the Treasury 26.6.64
Wesley Frazier Fellow worker of Lee Oswald 21.9.64
J. W. “Will” Fritz Chief of Dallas Homicide Squad 25.9.64
J. William Fulbright U.S. Senator from Arkansas 15.6.65
John Kenneth Calbraith Former Ambassador to India 11.7.64
Mrs. Mary Gallagher Personal secretary to Mrs. John F. Kennedy 2.4.64
23.4.64
2.5.64
15.5.64
10.6.64
6.8.64
Ann Gargan Cousin of President Kennedy 20.7.64
Joseph Gargan Cousin of President Kennedy 20.7.64
Joseph H. Gawler Washington undertaker 18.5.64
1.6.64
16.6.64
19.5.65
Master Sergeant Joseph D. Giordano, USA Baggage master to the President 2.6.64
5.2.65
25.5.65
Lt. Col. Thurman A. Glasgow Information Officer, Brooks Air Force Base 17.9.64
Arthur J. Goldberg Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court 24.6.64
Irving L. Goldberg Dallas attorney 24.9.64
Henry Gonzalez U.S. Congress
man from Texas 25.6.64
Richard N. Goodwin Secretary General of the International Peace Corps Secretariat 4.5.64
Dean Gorham Director of the Texas Municipal Retirement System 15.9.64
A. C. Greene Editor, Dallas Times Herald editorial page 25.9.64
22.9.64
Jim Greenfield Assistant Secretary of State 1.4.64
Bill Greer Secret Service agent 19.11.64
Edwin O. Guthman Special Assistant to the Attorney General 3.5.64
10.6.64
24.3.65
Milton Gwirtzman Assistant to Senator Edward M. Kennedy 8.6.64
15.5.64
David Hackett Executive Director, the President’s Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Crime 21.5.64
Joseph Hagan Assistant to Joseph H. Gawler 18.5.64
Oliver S. Hallett, USN Assistant Naval Aide, the White House 23.4.64
Mrs. Joan Hallett Wife of Commander Hallett 23.4.64
The Most Rev. Philip N. Hannan Auxiliary Bishop of Washington 25.6.64
25.5.65
Lt. Col. Lewis Hanson Presidential aircraft copilot 7.6.65
Warren G. Harding Treasurer, Dallas County 8.10.64
Averell Harriman Under Secretary of State 27.5.64
Mrs. Marie Heintz Staff member, Walter Reed Hospital 28.8.64
Clinton J. Hill Secret Service agent 18.11.64
20.5.65
Jacqueline Hirsch French teacher, White House School 23.4.64
Fred Holborn Assistant to the President 9.4.64
8.9.64
The Rev. William A. Holmes Pastor, Northaven Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas 8.10.64
Wesley Hooper Rice Hotel executive 18.9.64
J. Edgar Hoover Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation 4.6.64
James Patrick Hosty, Jr. FBI agent 24.9.64
Father Oscar Huber Dallas priest 26.8.64
20.9.64
Judge Sarah T. Hughes Federal District Judge 19.9.64
Hubert H. Humphrey U.S. Senator from Minnesota 16.3.65
H. L. Hunt Dallas oilman 25.9.64
Hurchel Jacks Texas State Highway Patrolman 20.9.64
Lern Johns Secret Service agent 19.11.64
Mrs. J. Lee Johnson III Wife of Fort Worth civic leader 19.9.64
Lyndon Baines Johnson* Vice President of the U.S. 24.6.65
Mrs. Lyndon Baines Johnson Wife of the Vice President 15.6.64
U. Alexis Johnson Deputy Under Secretary of State 2.6.64
3.6.64
Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Deputy Attorney General 5.6.64
Roy Kellerman Secret Service agent 17.11.64
12.5.65
Thomas J. Kelley Inspector, U.S. Secret Service 9.10.64
Bernard F. Kelly Detective, D.C. Police Department Homicide Squad 9.6.65
Edward M. Kennedy U.S. Senator 14.4.64
Ethel Kennedy Wife of the Attorney General 17.4.64
Joan Kennedy Wife of Senator Kennedy 23.4.64
Mrs. John F. Kennedy The First Lady 7.4.64
4.5.64
7.5.64
8.5.64
20.7.64
Robert F. Kennedy Attorney General of the U.S. 14.5.64
12.1.65
Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy Mother of President Kennedy 19.7.64
Malcolm Kilduff Assistant Press Secretary to the President 2.5.64
19.5.65
Sam Kinney Secret Service agent 19.2.65
Jack Krueger Managing Editor, Dallas Morning News 23.9.64
Steve Landregan Assistant Administrator, Parkland Memorial Hospital 21.9.64
Mrs. Peter Lawford Sister of President Kennedy 20.7.64
21.7.64
James Lehrer Reporter, Dallas Times Herald 23.9.64
8.10.64
3.6.65
7.6.65
8.6.65
Hal Lewis Managing Editor, Dallas Times Herald 24.9.64
Mrs. Evelyn Lincoln Personal secretary to President Kennedy 3.4.64
4.4.64
15.4.64
15.5.64
Walter Lippmann Washington columnist 10.10.64
Billy Nolan Lovelady Fellow worker of Lee Oswald 21.9.64
Irving Lowens Chief, Music Division, Library of Congress 5.8.64
Robert MacNeil Newscaster, NBC 15.6.65
John McCone Director, Central Intelligence Agency 10.4.64
John W. McCormack Speaker of the House of Representatives 14.5.64
Father Hiomas McGraw Catholic Chaplain, Arlington National Cemetery 1.9.64
Mary McGrory Columnist, Washington Star 9.8.64
Brig. Gen. Godfrey McHugh Air Force Aide to the President 6.5.64
Mrs. M. K. McHugh Secretary to the Chief Justice 22.4.64
Mrs. Robert “Candy” McMurrey Sister of Joan Kennedy 10.6.64
Col. George J. McNally, Commanding Officer, the White House 26.5.64
U.S. Signal Corps Communications Agency 8.6.64
5.10.64
4.2.65
Jack McNally Staff Assistant to the President 15.5.64
Robert S. McNamara Secretary of Defense 25.5.64
John Macy Chairman, U.S. Civil Service Commission 15.6.64
Sgt. William Malcolm Firing Party Commander, 3rd Infantry 30.4.64
Senator Mike Mansfield Majority Leader, U.S. Senate 27.5.64
Dean F. Markham Executive Director, U.S. Narcotic Commission 24.6.64
Harry Martin Houston caterer 18.9.64
Mrs. Paul Mellon Friend of Mrs. Kennedy’s 19.6.64
John Metzler Superintendent, Arlington National 30.4.64
Cemetery 10.8.64
21.6.65
7.7.65
George D. Miller, USA, Specialist 7th Grade Assistant to Master Sergeant Giordano 2.6.64
Lt. Col. Paul C. Miller (Retired) Ceremonies Officer, Military District of Washington 30.4.64
Robert Morgenthau U.S. Attorney, New York 1.6.64
Bill D. Moyers Deputy Director, Peace Corps 8.6.65
Daniel P. Moynihan Assistant Secretary of Labor 22.5.64
23.11.64
27.3.66
Seaman Apprentice Ed Nemuth Flag bearer, Naval Ceremonial Company, Naval Air Station, Anacostia 18.5.64
Angela Novello Personal secretary to the Attorney General 15.5.64
Lawrence F. O’Brien Special Assistant to the President 4.5.64
4.6.64
P. Kenneth O’Donnell Special Assistant to the President 4.5.64
4.6.64
6.8.64
23.11.64
John J. “Muggsy” O’Leary Secret Service agent 10.11.64
Vernon B. Oneal Dallas undertaker 25.9.64
Mary Ann Orlando Secretary to Sargent Shriver 12.8.64
Sir David Ormsby-Gore British Ambassador to the U.S. 6.5.64
Marguerite Oswald Mother of Lee Oswald 26.8.64
18.9.64
Robert Oswald Brother of Lee Oswald 5.11.64
Michael Paine Acquaintance of the Oswalds 20.9.64
13.1.65
Mrs. Ruth Paine Friend of Marina Oswald 20.9.64
Providentia Parades Mrs. Kennedy’s maid 24.4.64
Max Peck Manager of Rice Hotel, Houston 18.9.64
Henry Peters Drum Major, U.S. Marine Band 21.8.64
Burrill Peterson Inspector, U.S. Secret Service 9.10.64
17.11.64
18.11.64
5.2.65
Philip Potter Correspondent, Baltimore Sun 26.3.64
David Powers Assistant to President Kennedy 8.4.64
10.8.64
21.10.64
17.3.65
24.5.65
Walter I. “Bill” Pozen Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior 28.4.64
Elizabeth Pozen Wife of Walter I. Pozen 28.4.64
Charles Jack Price Administrator of Parkland Hospital 21.9.64
22.2.65
Prince Stanislaus Radziwill Brother-in-law of Mrs. Kennedy 11.6.64
Timothy J. Reardon, Jr. Special Assistant to the President 4.6.64
George Reedy Assistant to the Vice President 23.6.64
Harold Reis Attorney, Department of Justice 23.4.65
Richard L. Riedel Press Liaison Officer, U.S. Senate 10.8.64
Charles Roberts Newsweek correspondent 9.6.65
Earlene Roberts Oswald’s landlady 23.9.64
Emory P. Roberts Secret Service agent 4.12.64
26.4.65
Mr. Rodriguez Aide to Congressman Gonzalez 16.9.64
Mrs. Lillian Rogers Secretary to Abraham Zapruder 21.9.64
Dr. Earl Rose Dallas County Medical Examiner 21.9.64
Barney Ross Member, President’s Commission on Juvenile Delinquency 9.6.64
James J. Rowley Chief, U.S. Secret Service 1.5.64
Dean Rusk Secretary of State 6.4.64
Peter Saccu Catering Manager, Hotel Texas, Fort Worth 18.9.64
Pierre Salinger Press Secretary to the President 20.8.64
H. Barefoot Sanders, Jr. U.S. Attorney, Dallas 22.9.64
26.9.64
27.5.65
James Sasser Director, White House household budget 14.5.65
1st Lt. Donald W. Sawtelle Honor Guard Commander, 3rd Infantry 30.4.64
Herbert Sawyer Inspector, Dallas Police Department 23.9.64
24.9.64
Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Special Assistant to the President 29.5.64
John Schoellkopf Reporter, Dallas Times Herald 20.5.65
27.5.65
Brig. Gen. Robert L. Schulz, USA (Retired) Executive Assistant to President Eisenhower 27.8.64
Sgt. Thomas M. Setterberg Commander, Caisson Detail, Fort Myer 30.4.64
The Death of a President Page 97