Abraham Zapruder never had the problem with his film that Orville Nix did, though both films have been studied by all official committees and both are considered evidence. Why is the original Zapruder film in the National Archives as federal evidence at the cost of sixteen million taxpayer dollars and the original Nix film still remains lost?
Luckily, there are people still today, trying to find the original Nix film as well as all the other missing evidence in the case. These people don’t make rush judgments. They don’t consider the case closed. They aren’t worried about their political careers. They believe that there is truth lying in wait out there to be found. They are the newer generation of researchers, experts and truth-seekers. One of them, Jefferson Morley, has sued the CIA to release information on several key witnesses.351 Another, Vince Palamara, has studied, researched and written acclaimed books regarding the Secret Service.352 Others, including author Roger Stone, have spent years finding the Lyndon Baines Johnson connection.353 Pat Speer offers his years of research freely on his website. None of these men proclaim to have solved the case; rather they offer their work to those willing to listen. They are the future of how history will be recorded in regards to the JFK assassination.
CHAPTER
TWENTY ONE
PRESENT DAY NIX FILM RESEARCH: THE JFK ASSASSINATION FORUM
“… what really counts is not the immediate act of courage or of valor, but those who bear the struggle day in and day out - not the sunshine patriots but those who are willing to stand for a long period of time.”
John F. Kennedy354
When I decided to write this book in 2013, I contacted some of my friends from the past who had been such a tremendous help to me after getting the copyright back from UPI in 1990. It probably wasn’t the wisest of timing, since the 50th anniversary of JFK’s death was the same year and all of these people were still well entrenched in the JFK community. Many friends, sadly, had passed away. But many were still supportive and encouraging, especially Josiah Thompson, Jim Marrs, David Lifton and the enigmatic Jones Harris. I received a lukewarm re-entry into the fray from Gary Mack of the Sixth Floor Museum but a glowing welcome back from David Lifton. David had been helpful to me during my appearance on the Geraldo show in 1991 even going so far as to send me a multiple page fax at the hotel where I was staying so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable as to what I should and should not talk about. I have never forgotten his kindness. He had nothing to gain by helping me and because of that, I will always consider him a friend. I spent much time discussing old times, and new, with Dave Perry. Robert Groden and Mark Lane never returned my calls. Gerald Posner and Mark Zaid were courteous, as were Bill Kelley, Donald Roberdeau, Trish Fleming, Zachary Zendro, Greg Burnham, Bernice Moore, Steve Barber, Jefferson Morley, Vince Palamara, Debra Conway, Clint Bradford, Pat Speer, and Dr. Larry Sabato. Clint Bradford has not only been supportive, but a huge help in helping me chase leads as to where the camera original may be found. I met and became friends with Buell Frazier and his lovely wife Betty; as well as Jim Bowles and his sweet wife Martha. Many delightful and enlightening hours were spent with Jones Harris. When I realized that this time around I would have to make new expert friends to ensure my facts were correct, I spent weeks investigating the newest and brightest researchers. There are many JFK Forums on the Internet, some more well-known than others. I have included footnotes from many of the articles cited on those forums. I read score after score of threads (thoughts) regarding not only the Nix film, but old and new theories. My criterion was simple: find research and opinion that could be documented and explained. After many weeks, I luckily found a bevy of researchers on the Internet at the JFK Assassination Forum.355
The Forum began in 2009 and is managed and maintained by Duncan MacRae, a stern but fair man from Scotland who spends much time with this site and its members. He has always answered my questions within a day and intelligently comments on the many debates that are ongoing. The site is dedicated to the debate and inquiry of the JFK assassination and contains a discussion section, but also a photographic/film section that is astounding in its findings. There is also a separate panel for discussions involving video and audio. Mr. MacRae doesn’t take a side when commenting on his forum and allows equal time to Warren Commission defenders, as well as conspiracy realists. It is quite the amalgamation of perception, personalities, and passion; three of the reasons I was drawn to it. His moderation of the site is democratic: he doesn’t impose censorship, disallow people who don’t agree on a topic point, or put limitations on anything but nonsense: he’s a first amendment moderator in that he adheres to “freedom of speech.” He also hosts a YouTube channel356 that is encyclopedic in its scope and wildly popular, as well as hosting the incomparable Robin Unger’s Photo Gallery of literally every key photograph any researcher could want, complete with credits and dates.357 Mr. Unger has spent much of his own money buying critical film prints from auctions and owners from all over the world at a considerable cost. He charges nothing for his research and asks nothing but credit for his photos. Robin’s photo gallery is like having a complete JFK museum of photographs online. MacRae realized early on, in this age of videos and the partial demise of news print, that having visual reminders of the JFK assassination would appeal not only to older generations, but newer ones as well. His site is cutting-edge, democratic, and a mother lode of information. With thousands of members from all over the world, there are many who feel the same as I about this treasure trove of JFK information.
When I joined this site, I tentatively introduced myself and explained I was doing research for the book I was writing about my grandfather. I was instantly welcomed and treated as if I were the one who shot the film: there was that much interest and kindness shown to me. Mr. MacRae welcomed me personally and quickly suggested many places for me to look, as well as making my initial introduction about trying to find my grandfather’s film a “sticky” topic; which means it would always stay on top of the recently discussed threads. As I swam slowly through the sea of information regarding Forrest Sorrels, Honest Joe’s, and of course my grandfather, Mr. MacRae always navigated when I began to falter and offered suggestions, ideas, and support. I will never be able to thank him enough for all the many questions he answered and advice he has given me in continuing my quest to find the camera original Nix film; a quest he has joined.
*****
NO ONE IN FIFTY YEARS HAD SEEN THAT EXCEPT RICK NEEDHAM. IT WAS A MEMORABLE DAY FOR ME AND FOR RICK TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT AN IMPETUS FOR OTHERS TO REALIZE THAT THINGS COULD STILL BE FOUND IN THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE FROM THE JFK ASSASSINATION.
Early on, I was introduced to the meticulous work of Rick Needham. Fortunately, when I first joined, he was working on researching and stabilizing a portion of the Robert Hughes film - the aftermath of the assassination. In it, he thought he had glimpsed at who he thought might be my grandfather, seen while shooting part of his assassination aftermath footage. Initially, I thought it wasn’t him. But I was wrong. In speaking with my father Orville Jr., and going over family pictures, we realized that Rick had found my grandfather while in the act of shooting his own aftermath footage of the assassination.358.
No one in fifty years had seen that except Rick Needham. It was a memorable day for me and for Rick to say the least, but an impetus for others to realize that things could still be found in the photographic evidence from the JFK assassination.
Rick then pointed me to the research he was doing on stabilizing a portion of the Nix film. What he had directed me towards was a re-posting that he had made in 2009. But in fact, Rick informed me that he had first begun stabilizing this portion of the Nix film way back in 1999 or 2000, and that he had first posted this back then on a JFK forum that was owned and operated by another JFK researcher, the late Rich Della Rosa. His quote:
“I have spent a great deal of my time studying the Nix film, for it offers the best view of the grassy knoll and stockade fence area of all the films taken that day.
Why look there for a shooter? Because so many of the witnesses feel a shot or shots came from there/that direction… myself included. So I will push on studying the film. If you choose to believe no one was behind the fence that day, that’s fine then. We are all entitled to our own opinions.”359
In his work, Rick Needham has found an image near the stockade fence…the same place Orville Nix maintained he thought the shots came from. Like Jones Harris, Rick Needham is tenacious and resolved to discover what the movement is that he sees in the Nix film. As he states in explaining a .gif he stabilized from the Nix film:
“Are we seeing a shooter quickly packing away a rifle… ready to flee the area while the confusion and chaos is just beginning to unfold as the witnesses’ attention is drawn towards the passing motorcade below him? The “cut outs” from each individual frame were slightly enhanced in brightness and contrast only before I constructed the animated gif. The real beauty of this animated gif is that the panning motion is eliminated, allowing the eye to detect which is almost impossible to see when watching the Nix film full frame and with the panning of the camera.” 360
In the animation, movement can be seen in the same area Orville Nix said the shots came from. Another member of the Forum, Craig Carvalho writes, “Rick was able to produce the animated picture without the distraction of the panning motion of the camera which allows the eye to remain focused on the movement behind the fence.”361
The photographic panel of the House Select Committee on Investigations examined the Nix Film. Though they basically agreed with ITEK’s findings, they did concede to something else. Because the ITEK report only studied the image Jones Harris saw, it didn’t take into consideration the rest of the grassy knoll area. The HSCA studied these areas captured in the Nix Film, especially one area near the darkened end of the retaining wall where the steps lead down to Elm St. The panel agreed to study it as there appeared to be movement there. Could this quick movement still be seen?
What is the movement Rick sees behind the fence in the Nix film? That he’s seen something without the advanced tools of a CIA fronted ITEK or a government funded photographic lab speaks volumes.362 Rick’s only agenda is to find the truth in the hard evidence. His work has been done on the same kind of computer any of us could use; the difference is, he doesn’t quit or give in to the naysayers. Could Rick have found the elusive “Hat Man” that Josiah Thompson wrote about in 1966?363 Rick states:
It should be noted this movement behind the fence is seen less than 5 seconds AFTER the fatal head shot (maybe more like 3-4 seconds)… and where many have approx. put a grassy knoll shooter. This is NOT in the Badge Man position.364
Duncan MacRae doesn’t see a person in Rick’s enhancements, but he does see Rick’s “object” as being a car wheel further back in the parking lot.365 The point is there are still ‘objects’ being found in films from fifty years ago. If we could find the original Nix film, what more could be found?
In tandem with Rick’s work, Martin Hinrichs from Germany has spent many hours reviewing and enhancing the Nix Film and sharing his findings on the JFK Assassination Forum. He is now in the process of time-stamping the Nix film: a huge undertaking that no one has ever done. He also believes he can see a figure, possibly two, on the knoll area, and he believes one of them could be a gunman. His current study is on Nix frames 50-60. His studies show movement above the retaining wall where the “Black Dog Man” stood. Hinrichs believes he sees the “Black Dog Man” behind the fence and believes this person to be either a signal or protection man for the assassin behind the fence. His beliefs are based not only on the work he and Mr. Needham have done, but on the testimony of Lee Bowers who saw two men behind the fence. This could be the same movement the HSCA saw. Their findings stated: “The enhanced Nix Film shows an object that can be construed as having a shape similar to that of a person.”366 This movement still remains unresolved. Could Martin Hinrichs be the person to solve it? Mr. Hinrichs states:
There is a bright static point in the location where maybe the cola bottle stands on the wall. As you can clearly see, there is a bright point moving towards this white point downwards. The frames are taken from Orville Nix showing this area a moments after the headshot. If you can’t get a logical explanation for this… please feel free to send this GIF to others who may be interested to watch it. This GIF is for free. You can post it on Facebook either if you like.
Again, nobody til today can conclude what it is, but it’s so important because it is hard photographic evidence. It is definitely out of the ordinary. It can even have something to do with the shooting. It’s not natural. It’s caused by human action. I’m very sure that this figure is responsible for the white moving dot seen in Nix frames 50-60. Maybe it was something he caused to distract from the loud shot from behind the fence. At that time, he must be on the way back into the parking lot to disappear forever.367
What is again notable in Hinrichs’s research, and in its sharing with the JFK Assassination Forum, is the atmosphere of collaboration. There are no agendas here, just a search for the truth. That these men are trying to find it in the Orville Nix film would make my grandfather so very proud. These men, and many others, no matter their viewpoint on the JFK assassination, are pure researchers. Chris Scally is also one of these men. His pain-staking work on the Zapruder film chronology has been referenced in many books, including this one. He has done much detailed and exacting research on the Nix film and I am happy to say this work is featured at the end of this book. They are not trying to get rich and not looking for fame; in fact many of them were reticent to have me applaud their help. They consider themselves true seekers of the truth, and they come from all over the world.
So often we think of the JFK assassination as an ‘American’ catastrophe. That is where we are wrong. JFK’s death was a worldwide event that affected everyone. People like Steve Barber, Jeff Shaw, Ray Mitcham, Calli Robertson, Jim Ostrowski, Jim Hess, Anthony Fratini, Bill Brown, Mark Dancer, Martin Weidmann, Matthew Scheufele, Denis Morrissette (who has a fantastic website),368 Robert Caprio, George Sawtelle, Anthony Marsh, Martin Mizzi, Jimmy Dace, John Mytton, Mike Orr, Herbert Blenner, Michael Daly, Chris Scally, Craig Carvalho, and Gert Kuiper have all taken the time to either support, suggest, or answer questions in my search for the camera original Nix film. They don’t all agree with the findings of the Warren Commission, but they do all agree that finding the Nix film is of the utmost importance.
*****
ROBIN UNGER’S EAGERNESS TO HELP ME FIND MY GRANDFATHER’S ORIGINAL CAMERA FILM RESULTED IN HIS SHARING MY QUEST WITH OTHER FORUMS AND RESEARCHERS.
LIKE A VERITABLE VIRTUAL ARMY, THANKS TO ROBIN, PEOPLE WHO FREQUENT THE JFK FORUMS NOW ARE AWARE THAT THE ORIGINAL IS MISSING.
Throughout my research, I often asked Robin Unger for help when it came to finding photos or looking for people or things in photos. My photographic eye sees the photograph; Robin’s photographic eye seems to have a photographic memory. He can remember things from every picture he’s examined, which is a testament to his research. Robin, even without my grandfather’s original film, tenaciously watched the Nix film frame by frame and found a splice in it at the very beginning.369 From which version, we don’t know as there are so many circulating today.
Robin Unger’s eagerness to help me find my Grandfather’s original camera film resulted in his sharing my quest with other forums and researchers. Like a veritable virtual army, thanks to Robin, people who frequent the JFK forums now are aware that the original is missing.
The ever charitable Robin Unger says, “For JFK Assassination Researchers like me, the NIX film is one of the MOST important historical films, covering the assassination of President Kennedy.”370
Martin Hinrichs says, “The Nix film is the Holy Grail of the assassination films.”371
Bruce Marshall, another researcher and friend I met on the JFK Assassination Forum has been a huge help to me. He has been a trusted business adviser, editor and more importan
tly, a friend. As he commented, “Finding the original Nix film would be one of the most important finds the research community could make. It is evidence and should have been treated as such.”372
Comments like these give me hope and ensure that my grandfather’s place in history will never be forgotten. It is imperative that we find the camera original Nix film. If we don’t, in Jim Marrs’ words, “there is little likelihood that the originators of the plot (to kill JFK) will ever be identified or brought to justice.”373 I have included pictures and descriptions of the work these men have done at the end of this book. I hope you find, as I have, the Nix film still has many secrets to tell.
Unfortunately, until we find the original Nix film, these secrets may never be revealed.
CHAPTER
TWENTY TWO
FIFTY QUESTIONS OF CONSPIRACY
“Let us not despair but act.
Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer.
Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past - let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
John F. Kennedy374
1. Where is the Nix film and who has it?
2. Why did the FBI keep the Nix camera for over five months and send it back in pieces?
3. Why has there been a delay and difficulty to get all the JFK files released since the passage of the JFK Record Act of 1992?
4. Why was Jean Hill warned to never speak of seeing Honest Joe’s Edsel?
The Missing JFK Assassination Film Page 21