Douglas Caddy Posted Jun 13 2008, 04:21 PM
QUOTE(Thomas H. Purvis @ Jun 13 2008, 01:54 PM)
QUOTE(John Simkin @ Jun 13 2008, 11:40 AM)
A couple of years ago I posted this article by Doug Thompson, Is Deception the Best Way to Serve Your Country? (30th March, 2006) on my webpage on John Connally.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_do...ion_the_bes.htmDavid Lifton has emailed me and asked if I could find anymore information on this story. Please post your thoughts on the Forum:
I met John Connally on a TWA flight from Kansas City to Albuquerque earlier that year. The former governor of Texas, the man who took one of the bullets from the assassination that killed President John F. Kenney, was headed to Santa Fe to buy a house.
The meeting wasn't an accident. The flight originated in Washington and I sat in the front row of the coach cabin. During a stop in Kansas City, I saw Connally get on the plane and settle into a first class seat so I walked off the plane and upgraded to a first class seat right ahead of the governor. I not only wanted to meet the man who was with Kennedy on that day in Dallas in 1963 but, as the communications director for the re-election campaign of Congressman Manuel Lujan of New Mexico, I thought he might be willing to help out on what was a tough campaign.
When the plane was in the air, I introduced myself and said I was working on Lujan's campaign. Connally's face lit up and he invited me to move to the empty seat next to him.
"How is Manuel? Is there anything I can do to help?"
By the time we landed in Albuquerque, Connally had agreed to do a fundraiser for Lujan. A month later, he flew back into New Mexico where Amy and I picked him up for the fundraiser. Afterwards, we took him to dinner.
Connolly was both gracious and charming and told us many stories about Texas politics. As the evening wore on and the multiple bourbon and branch waters took their effect, he started talking about November 22, 1963, in Dallas.
"You know I was one of the ones who advised Kennedy to stay away from Texas," Connally said. "Lyndon (Johnson) was being a real asshole about the whole thing and insisted."
Connally's mood darkened as he talked about Dallas. When the bullet hit him, he said he felt like he had been kicked in the ribs and couldn't breathe. He spoke kindly of Jackie Kennedy and said he admired both her bravery and composure.
I had to ask. Did he think Lee Harvey Oswald fired the gun that killed Kennedy?
"Absolutely not," Connally said. "I do not, for one second, believe the conclusions of the Warren Commission."
So why not speak out?
"Because I love this country and we needed closure at the time. I will never speak out publicly about what I believe."
We took him back to catch a late flight to Texas. He shook my hand, kissed Amy on the cheek and walked up the ramp to the plane.
We saw Connally and his wife a couple of more times when they came to New Mexico but he sold his house a few years later as part of a bankruptcy settlement. He died in 1993 and, I believe, never spoke publicly about how he doubted the findings of the Warren Commission.
Connnally's note serves as yet another reminder that in our Democratic Republic, or what's left of it, few things are seldom as they seem. Like him, I never accepted the findings of the Warren Commission. Too many illogical conclusions.
John Kennedy's death, and the doubts that surround it to this day, marked the beginning of the end of America's idealism. The cynicism grew with the lies of Vietnam and the senseless deaths of too many thousands of young Americans in a war that never should have been fought. Doubts about the integrity of those we elect as our leaders festers today as this country finds itself embroiled in another senseless war based on too many lies.
John Connally felt he served his country best by concealing his doubts about the Warren Commission's whitewash but his silence may have contributed to the growing perception that our elected leaders can rewrite history to fit their political agendas.
Had Connally spoken out, as a high-ranking political figure with doubts about the "official" version of what happened, it might have sent a signal that Americans deserve the truth from their government, even when that truth hurts.
Perhaps the below "corrections" may serve to steer history into the correct direction.
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When the bullet hit him, he said he felt like he had been kicked in the ribs and couldn't breathe.
Which in itself fully clarifies that when he was yelling "My God they are going to kill us all"
http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/russ/testimony/conn_n.htmhe said, "My God, they are going to kill us all."
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Having observed a few persons take one through the chest, I have yet to see one who clearly stated anything like this.
Kinda makes one doubt that JBC was hit in the chest at this time.
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and as he recoiled to the right, just crumpled like a wounded animal to the right, he said, "My God, they are going to kill us all."
Nope! Don't think so!
Personally, I prefer Jackie's descriptive adjective: "squealing like a pig".
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"I do not, for one second, believe the conclusions of the Warren Commission."
Well! Since the WC fairy tale also includes THE SHOT THAT MISSED, and you are/were fully aware that there was no SHOT THAT MISSED, then it would be entirely understandable as to why you would not only not believe the WC, but you would also know that it was an intentional lie.-------Largely to CYA!
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John Connally felt he served his country best by concealing his doubts about the Warren Commission's whitewash[/b]
How about: John Connally felt that he served HIS INTERESTS BEST by concealing the facts of the assassination!
With of course the primary aid and assistance of his political criminal/crony, LBJ.
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[b]Had Connally spoken out, as a high-ranking political figure
Then, his "high-ranking" political career would have been instantly shot as well!
And history would have accurately recorded that in lieu of THE SHOT THAT MISSED, we would have THE GOVERNOR WHO DUCKED!--------Right into the line of fire for the third shot, I might add!
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but his silence may have contributed to the growing perception that our elected leaders can rewrite history to fit their political agendas.
In that regards, one just may want to check into what he and LBJ demonstratedly convinced people in Texas as to the "truth".
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Connnally's note serves as yet another reminder that in our Democratic Republic, or what's left of it, few things are seldom as they seem
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To many, this is of course quite accurate, and JBC was among the top in pulling the wool over the eyes of most americans.
However, there are a few of us who possess the ability to "look thru" the BS, and not suprisingly, things are in fact EXACTLY AS THEY SEEM.
Not long before he died, Connally relented and granted an interview to Robert Caro. LBJ had long been dead. Who knows what Connally told Caro about the assassination?
I first met Caro, who now is up in years also, in 1986 and when I asked him at a public meeting if he planned to discuss Mac Wallace in his LBJ biography, he grabbed the the lapels my suit and asked who I was and how he could talk to me further. I gave him my card but heard nothing more from him.
At this point late in his life I think Caro realizes that there is nothing to lose by telling what Connally and other LBJ cronies have confided in him about the assassination. His final book on LBJ may rewrite history.
Mr. Caddy,
It would be interesting if you could follow-up on your discussion from 20 years ago with Mr. Caro. I suspect Mr. Caro is familiar with the writings of Barr McClellan?
According to Wikipedia, Mr. Caro is 72 today, up in age perhaps, but not too far imo.