Gordon: JFK's death full of public misconceptions
By KATIE MILLER
News Writer
The Warren Commission misinformed the world about the truth surrounding JFK's assassination, according to Jack Gordon. 36 years ago on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed while campaigning in Dallas, TX.
"It is hard for me to believe that today is the 36th anniversary of JFK's death," said Gordon.
Gordon opened his presentation in Carroll Auditorium with background on the Kennedy's trip to Texas.
"This Texas trip was very well-planned. JFK had been asked to go to several cities in Texas," said Gordon. "The tour had been a success. Jackie was a visible part of this trip. It was her first public appearance since the loss of the Kennedys' baby."
It was unusual for JFK and Lyndon Johnson to be in a motorcade together as they were on the day of the assassination, said Gordon. "LBJ was from Texas; this was important in pulling the campaign together."
On the day of his assassination, JFK's car was not equipped with running boards or a bubble top. JFK did not want the secret service hovering over him.
Gordon showed his audience the Zapruder film, stressing the importance of watching JFK's movements, according to Gordon.
"It's important to realize when you look at this footage, you act as a witness to what happened in downtown Dallas," said Gordon.
Gordon emphasized that after the shots were fired at the President, the crowd focused their attention on the grassy knoll in front of the President's car rather than the Book Depository Building where Lee Harvey Oswald was spotted.
"The vast majority of people focused their attention on the railroad yard beyond the hill," said Gordon. "After the shootings, the rest of the motorcade continues the route as planned."
According to Gordon, when the Zapruder films are closely examined, what actually happens on tape disputes conclusions made by the Warren Commission.
"The Zapruder film was not viewed by the American public until 12 years after the assassination of JFK. The film was first shown on the Geraldo Rivera Goodnight America Show," said Gordon.
In the Zapruder film, after Kennedy is shot, Governor Connally (who was sitting in the front seat of the car Kennedy was shot in) has time to turn around and back before he himself is shot. This disputes the Warren Commission's idea that a bullet entered JFK's back, emerged through his Adam's apple, went through Connally's wrist, and then through his thigh said Gordon.
A slide from the Zapruder film reveals a man in a police uniform hiding behind the fence on the grassy knoll. When put into color, the man appears to be firing a weapon in the direction of JFK said Gordon. This blown-up picture was not revealed until the late 1980s.
"Following the shootings, you will see a stampede of people scaling the hill. Behind the hill they were met with plain-clothed men who identified themselves as Secret Service agents," said Gordon. "Yet, Secret Service agents do not identify themselves."
Gordon also noted that Lee Harvey Oswald was seen on the second floor of the Texas Book Depository 90 seconds after he supposedly shot Kennedy from the window of the sixth floor. Oswald was not out of breathe and he was drinking a Dr. Pepper that he had obtained from the cafeteria on the second floor of the Book Depository Building minutes before JFK's assassination.
Gordon emphasized that the Warren Commission covered up JFK's actual autopsies. "A key to understanding the Kennedy assassination is understanding the differences in autopsies."
Statements from nine emergency room doctors at Parkland Hospital in Dallas where JFK was immediately taken reported that the President had a large gaping wound on the back of his head. These doctors were the first ones to work on the President said Gordon.
"Portions of Mrs. Kennedy's descriptions were removed from Warren Commission statements. She described the back of his [JFK] head as `nothing there,'" said Gordon.
The Warren Commission denied that the back of JFK's head had an exit wound that would suggest a bullet hit JFK from the front. The emergency room staff at Parkland had also described the bullet wounds at JFK's Adam's apple as a small entry wound according to Gordon.
The Warren Commission had stated that the bullet that had entered JFK's back exited through his Adam's apple. The initial examination of JFK at Parkland Hospital had revealed no connection between JFK's back wound and neck wound according to Gordon.
Gordon received his bachelor's degree at Hamilton College, and his master's and doctorate at Indiana University-Bloomington. He is a well-known expert on the assassination.
and has appeared on NOVA, PBS and 20/20.
All News Stories for Tuesday, November 23, 1999
