Coincidence or Conspiracy?

[William Kelly]

Sometimes it is difficult to conceive of an event as simply a coincidence. It is easy in the JFK case to view events as part of or proof of a conspiracy when they might be only coincidences.

As proof that strange coincidences do happen, last night I switched from news coverage of the tragic bridge accident in Minneapolis to watch "CSI Miami". In the opening minutes, a large yacht crashed into a bridge in Miami, collapsing the bridge and sending cars crashing in to the water. The scenes looked just like the actual news scenes from Minneapolis. It was eerie.

So this just proves that odd coincidences can indeed occur.

Tim,

A better example is Michael Paine, sitting at lunch with a fellow Bell Hell worker, talking about the president being assassinated while the president being assassinated.

Now that's ESP.

And I'm sure his step-dad Art Young would agree.

BK

[William Kelly]

Sometimes it is difficult to conceive of an event as simply a coincidence. It is easy in the JFK case to view events as part of or proof of a conspiracy when they might be only coincidences.

As proof that strange coincidences do happen, last night I switched from news coverage of the tragic bridge accident in Minneapolis to watch "CSI Miami". In the opening minutes, a large yacht crashed into a bridge in Miami, collapsing the bridge and sending cars crashing in to the water. The scenes looked just like the actual news scenes from Minneapolis. It was eerie.

So this just proves that odd coincidences can indeed occur.

Tim,

A better example is Michael Paine, sitting at lunch with a fellow Bell Hell worker, talking about the president being assassinated while the president being assassinated.

Now that's ESP.

And I'm sure his step-dad Art Young would agree.

BK

[William O'Neil]

Sometimes it is difficult to conceive of an event as simply a coincidence. It is easy in the JFK case to view events as part of or proof of a conspiracy when they might be only coincidences.

As proof that strange coincidences do happen, last night I switched from news coverage of the tragic bridge accident in Minneapolis to watch "CSI Miami". In the opening minutes, a large yacht crashed into a bridge in Miami, collapsing the bridge and sending cars crashing in to the water. The scenes looked just like the actual news scenes from Minneapolis. It was eerie.

So this just proves that odd coincidences can indeed occur.

The case for conspiracies

As JFK proves, the theories are usually much more interesting than the truth.

By Meghan Daum

Los Angeles Times

August 4, 2007

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-...inion-rightrail

Since the May release of his 1,612-page book, "Reclaiming History," criminal prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi has been appearing on everything from C-Span to "The Colbert Report" telling the world that JFK's death had nothing to do with a government conspiracy. By most accounts, he's made a pretty airtight case.

Bugliosi, famous for prosecuting Charles Manson and for coauthoring the book about the case, "Helter Skelter," has spent 20 years examining just about every theory ever put forth about the assassination. "It's my view that it's impossible for any reasonable, rational person to read this book without being satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that Oswald killed Kennedy and acted alone," Bugliosi told the New York Times in May. Since then, overwhelmingly favorable reviews have suggested that the days of the grassy knoll-Mafia-missing bullets conspiracy theories might at last be over.

Despite the sense that Bugliosi's is the final word, for some people the simple explanation remains less compelling than the labyrinthine alternatives. It was notable that Tuesday, the print edition of the New York Times published a two-page ad, an "open letter" from one Paul Kuntzler, declaring that "President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was murdered by vice president London [sic] Baines Johnson in a widespread, incredibly complex and brilliantly planned conspiracy. . . ." The letter went on to implicate Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, Arlen Specter, the United States military, the Ford Motor Co., Life magazine and something Kuntzler called "big Oil of Midland, Texas," among many others.

Who is Kuntzler? Since he included his telephone number at the bottom of his letter, I called him to find out. As you might imagine, I learned more than can possibly fit in this space, but the basics are these: He's 65, a former exhibits and sales director of the National Science Teachers Assn. and once a prominent D.C.-based gay activist. He first became interested in the JFK assassination in 1991 after reading Jim Marrs' book, "Crossfire: The Plot that Killed Kennedy" (this was also, incidentally, the year of Oliver Stone's film "JFK," which Kuntzler calls "98% accurate").

In 2004, Kuntzler's longtime partner, Stephen Miller, died of complications from AIDS and left him Miller Reporting Co., which had transcribed documents that Kuntzler believes are relevant to the assassination. Following the company's demise (Kuntzler referred to "millions in estate taxes"), he sold the building that housed it, using the money to pay off his credit card debts (including $25,000 he spent organizing an assassination panel discussion last year) and spent $186,000 on the New York Times ad. Altogether, Kuntzler estimates he's spent a quarter of a million dollars on what he calls "the last opportunity for the American public to have confirmation on what happened on Nov. 22, 1963."

"I don't have much money left," he added. "I expect that once the truth comes out, I'll go on a speaking tour. If not, I'll have to take out another mortgage on my house."

After I talked to Kuntzler, I called Bugliosi, who listed for me many of the same points he made on C-SPAN and "The Colbert Report," including his belief that the Stone film is "one continuous lie, [other than] he did have the correct date and the correct victim."

"I didn't read [Kuntzler's letter] carefully," Bugliosi told me. "But I went through it enough to see that he was regurgitating all the old hoary theories that even those in the mainstream community have rejected. He's not even reading mainstream conspiracy dogma."

We then spent some time talking about why, despite the conventional wisdom that the simplest explanation is usually the best explanation, the human mind seems so naturally drawn to the complexities and innuendoes of conspiracy theories. Bugliosi admitted that they are usually more interesting than the truth. In the case of President Kennedy, he said, they point to a kind of collective inability to accept that such a monumental, historical event could be caused by a single, ordinary person.

"It gives more meaning to his life and death," Bugliosi said, "to believe dark forces are responsible for his death. Jackie herself said we don't even have the satisfaction of him being killed for a cause."

That makes sense. But speaking of simple explanations, what about the fact that every once in a while a conspiracy theory comes along that has some truth to it? Take, for example, this particular moment in this particular nation. You don't have to believe in fake moon landings or even stolen elections to sense that we're experiencing one of the most secretive periods in recent political history. When it comes to the current state of things, smelling a rat isn't necessarily contingent on living in your mother's basement and wearing T-shirts that say things like "Inside Job!" It's simply a matter of paying attention.

Then again, there's such a thing as paying too much attention. "If you're a parent and your child gets interested in the JFK case, it's toxic," Bugliosi told me. "It's caused divorces, bankruptcies and suicides."

"My mother and my sisters received copies of the ad via FedEx," Kuntzler told me. "They knew how much I was spending. Well, actually, I haven't told my mother yet."

mdaum@latimescolumnists.com

Once again, people like Kuntzler who run around half-cocked, do more harm than good. The "government" would be proud.

Fools and their money......

[Tim Gratz]

Dear Mr. O'Neil:

Could not agree with you more.

As I said in another thread, the true believer in conspiracies could concoct a theory that there was method in Kuntzler's "madness", that the ad was designed to discredit the assassination research community, that Kuntzler himself is part of the post-assassination conspiracy.

Of course, I offer that theory with my tongue firmly implanted in my cheek but no question the ad casts the "assassination research community" in a very poor light indeed.

Think of the good purposes on which that $186,000 could have been spent!

[Ron Ecker]

Perhaps the most remarkable "coincidence" of all are the Rip Robertson and Lucien Conein lookalikes standing on the same street corner at Dealey Plaza moments before the assassination.

There are other lookalikes on the corner (Hemming, Lamppost Man), but two dead ringers among about a dozen bystanders in all are enough, particularly two CIA agents and especially two like Robertson and Conein (the former a Bay of Pigs vet, the latter fresh from Vietnam and the Diem assassination).

If I knew a statistician, I would get him or her to figure the odds against this "coincidence." Not that it couldn't happen, but I have grown to hate coincidences.

[Christopher Hall]

And isn't it coincidental that a mob-connected strip joint operator would be so driven by the notion of the First Lady having to testify at trial that he would essentially sacrifice his own life to stop it.

Similarly coincidental are his visit(s) to Cuba to see Santo and his feeling the need to go to Parkland Hospital after the hit.

[Thomas H. Purvis]

1. LHO had direct contact with Robert Ray McKeon

1A. Jack Ruby had direct contact with Robert Ray McKeon

A good prosecutor could turn McKeown's testimony into Swiss cheese. It's full of qualified statements, vague meanderings and half-remembered facts. Clearly McKeown spent time with criminals, but I found nothing believable in his testimony about Ruby and Oswald.

2. Jack Ruby visited an acquaintance (Lorenzo (Larry) Borenstein) at his art gallery at 519 Royal ST., New Orleans, LA, reportedly to buy a couple of art works.

2A. 520 Royal St. is the main office of WDSU Broadcasting Corp. (Formerly the "Royal St. Corporation)

2B. 521 Royal St. is the main office of what was the radio/tv headquarters of WDSU-TV.

This is an interesting coincidence but it does not cement a direct link between Ruby and Oswald. At best, it's indirect and in reality, it feels like a stretch to say there's a link at all.

P.P.S. Then of course, there is the "coincidence" of Ruby's close acquaintance Lewis McWillie and his encounter and fisticuffs (fist to nose) of a FPCC member in the Miami airport, and LHO's little "re-run" down in good ole New Orleans, LA.

These anecdotes surrounding the periphery of the JFK case never quite string together because they are most likely just disparate events, imo. That's why they just sit there, decade after decade, with researchers longing to find some key that will make them all make sense.

As much as I am fascinated by your research regarding LHO and his heritage, I do not agree with you on this one.

OK by me!

Probably merely another coincidence also that the band which played at Ruby's night club also stayed in a rental house just a couple of blocks from Ruth Paine's home on West 5th St.

As well as the facts of the relationship of Ruby's female acquaintance with the landlady who ran the boarding house where LHO moved to under the false name of O.H. Lee when he went to work at the TSDB.

I do believe that I am having difficulty in swallowing all of these "coincidences", and that represents merely an extremely minor few of them.

Wanna read about Ruby's import license to bring Carcano weapons into the country?

What about his testimony as a representative for Richard Nixon's staff, and his FBI memo, when called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Investigation.

And, one just may want to check up on exactly who Lorenzo (Larry) Borenstein was and exactly what connections that he had.

Just may suprise one!

[Tim Gratz]

Christopher Hall wrote:

Similarly coincidental are [Ruby's] visit(s) to Cuba to see Santo and his feeling the need to go to Parkland Hospital after the hit.

As we all know, the powers that be hushed up the report (received very shortly after Ruby killed Oswald) that Ruby had visited Trafficante in Trescornia.

Query whether any one on the WC was even aware of this report?

It might have "cracked the case" earlly on.

DC Cop Joe Shimon told Jack Anderson that it was Trafficante who had ordered Ruby to kill LHO.

Edited August 6, 2007 by Tim Gratz

[James Richards]

Tim,

Is that the same Joe Shimon who wasa n expert at wire taps, and who had done some eavesdropping on an Argentinian ambassador as well as some listening in for Senator Brewster during the early 1950's?

James

[Tim Gratz]

I think it is. Shimon is covered in Hougan's "Spooks" and I believe there were reports he accompanied Maheu in his March trip to Miami to deliver poison to Johnny Roselli.

Shimon may be due a thread of his own.

[Tim Gratz]

From an article in "American Mafia" magazine re the Cal-Nev Lodge:

When the news was announced that Sinatra was under investigation and would probably lose his casino license, very few people in Nevada rushed to his aid. There were a lot of people in Nevada who resented Sinatra, others despised him and very few people felt that he should have gotten a state gaming license in the first place, and the word around the capitol building in Reno was that Sinatra needed to be taught a lesson.

The lesson they taught him was to take away his license to operate a casino or hotel in Nevada, thus forcing him to sell not only his 50% in the Cal-Neva, but also his 9% interest in the Sands, about 3.5 million dollars worth of holdings in 1963.

"I talked to Sam (Giancana) the next day," said Joe Shimon, a Washington, D.C. Police officer assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency, "and he told me that Sinatra had cost him over $465,000 on Cal-Neva. He said, "That bastard and his big mouth. All he had to do was to keep quiet let, the attorneys handle it, apologize and get a thirty to sixty day suspension . . . but no, Frank has to get on the phone with that damn big mouth of his and now we've lost the whole damn place. He never forgave him. He washed Frank right out of his books."

[Emphasis supplied]

*************************

So apparently Joe and Sam were on a first-name basis.

Edited August 6, 2007 by Tim Gratz

[William Kelly]

From an article in "American Mafia" magazine re the Cal-Nev Lodge:

When the news was announced that Sinatra was under investigation and would probably lose his casino license, very few people in Nevada rushed to his aid. There were a lot of people in Nevada who resented Sinatra, others despised him and very few people felt that he should have gotten a state gaming license in the first place, and the word around the capitol building in Reno was that Sinatra needed to be taught a lesson.

The lesson they taught him was to take away his license to operate a casino or hotel in Nevada, thus forcing him to sell not only his 50% in the Cal-Neva, but also his 9% interest in the Sands, about 3.5 million dollars worth of holdings in 1963.

"I talked to Sam (Giancana) the next day," said Joe Shimon, a Washington, D.C. Police officer assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency, "and he told me that Sinatra had cost him over $465,000 on Cal-Neva. He said, "That bastard and his big mouth. All he had to do was to keep quiet let, the attorneys handle it, apologize and get a thirty to sixty day suspension . . . but no, Frank has to get on the phone with that damn big mouth of his and now we've lost the whole damn place. He never forgave him. He washed Frank right out of his books."

[Emphasis supplied]

*************************

So apparently Joe and Sam were on a first-name basis.

I don't think the Cal-Neva Lodge/casino was that important to Sam or Sinatra. It was just a place they owned they could go to get away from the Chicago racketts or just hang out with their friends.

Sam & Sinatra's other partner in the deal, who is mentioned in Sly Hersh's Dark Side, bought his percentage from Joe Kennedy, and Sinatra's pal Skinny D'Amato, from the Atlantic City's 500 Club, was the casino manager. D'Amato was also the guy, according to Hersh, who helped swing the W. Virginia primary to JFK with the help of the National Sheriff's Assocation.

So is this all a coincidence or a conspiracy Tim?

And Tim, since you started all this, will you please respond to my question as to whether the fact Michael Paine was talking about political assassination with a co-worker at lunch at the very moment of the assassination - was ESP or possible foreknowledge of events?

BK

BK

[Pat Speer]

Re: Shimon. Shimon and Maheu were "private detectives" which in the sixties meant they were illegal eavesdroppers. From what I can gather, EVERYONE from the Kennedys to Hughes to the CIA used these guys. My concern for a long time has been that Maheu and Shimon took Sam G's contract on Kennedy, and then blackmailed the CIA into covering it all up. In the early 60's the public had little notion that the CIA was illegally spying on them, and, coming close on the heels of the BOP, such a revelation would almost certainly have led to its dissolution. If one follows this concern to its conclusion, one might gather that, with the 70's the CIA figured out exactly what happened, and who was involved, and cut a deal with Santos to get rid of Hoffa, Sam, and Johnny.

[Mark Stapleton]

And, one just may want to check up on exactly who Lorenzo (Larry) Borenstein was and exactly what connections that he had.

Just may suprise one!

Thomas,

What connections did he have?

All I could find was a reference to Borenstein in this article from some years back in Fair Play magazine, which claims he was related to Trotsky (?):

http://spot.acorn.net/jfkplace/09/fp.back_...er2.html#N_233_

[Thomas H. Purvis]

And, one just may want to check up on exactly who Lorenzo (Larry) Borenstein was and exactly what connections that he had.

Just may suprise one!

Thomas,

What connections did he have?

All I could find was a reference to Borenstein in this article from some years back in Fair Play magazine, which claims he was related to Trotsky (?):

http://spot.acorn.net/jfkplace/09/fp.back_...er2.html#N_233_

LARRY BORENSTEIN 21 Mar 1919 Jan 1981 70130 (New Orleans, Orleans, LA) (none specified) 395-01-6062 Wisconsin