Howdy ConspiracyNut23,

The memo in which Gerald Ford got the authors of the Warren Commission Report to change their wording was obtained by the Assassination Records Review Board in the mid-1990s. I have not seen the original memo, which I suppose still is in the ARRB file or more likely in the National Archives. I relied on media stories, two of which are an article by George Lardner Jr. in The Washington Post of July 3, 1997 and an Associated Press story that same day in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. These stories appeared in 1997 but the ARRB obtained it much earlier. I have copies of the news articles but, unfortunately, I don’t know how to get them into this posting. Ford responded to media queries concerning this memo by saying he was only trying to clarify the location of JFK’s back wound.

I still say forget all the pronouncements concerning this wound (both pro and con) and simply look at the official autopsy report which clearly states the back wound was at the level of the third thoracic vertebrae which is below the shoulder blades.
There are plenty of interesting things to see in the Muchmore, Nix and Bronson films but nothing that probably would sway anyone committed to a version of the assassination. The Nix film is interesting because one can clearly see the brake lights on JFK’s limousine come on about the first shot and remain on until after the fatal head shot. Also there are those who claim to see flashes of light (gunshots?) on the Grassy Knoll at the time of the shooting. But since there has been no in-depth and honest investigation, these issues are just grist for the conspiracy mill.

As to the Gary Wean story, I have no idea if all he claims is true or not. But it certainly fits with much of the information I have developed over the years. Both plane crashes that killed Audie Murphy and Sen. John Tower are highly suspicious. I was friends with Tower and knew that he was working on a book to expose things when he died. His book manuscript was never found. Overall, Wean’s story seem largely on track.

I tend to agree that several intel operations were being conducted at the time of the JFK assassination. It seems like Dealey Plaza was crawling with operatives of the anti-Castro Cubans, the CIA, the military, the Soviet KGB and the Israeli Mossad. I think everyone wanted to see how this operation came off. It was sloppy and mistakes were made. While I am not totally convinced that Oswald thought he was involved in some fake assassination attempt – a pretty bizarre scenario – I do think he knew something was in the air and had been told some cover story. Attorney Carroll Jarnagin told me how he overheard Ruby and Oswald talking in Ruby’s Carousel Club on Oct. 4, 1963. He said Ruby was trying to convince Lee to become involved in a plot to shoot Texas Gov. John Connally but Lee was rightly suspicious of this plan.

Here is some evidence that makes me think Oswald never fired a shot that day – (1) Voice Stress Analysis showed he was telling the truth when he said, “I didn’t shoot anybody. I’m just a patsy!” (2) the paraffin test on Oswald showed nitrates on both hands but no gunpowder and no powder or nitrates on his face. If he had fired that loose-bolted Mannlicher Carcano, his face would have been peppered with both powder and nitrates, especially since the only way anyone could have fired that surplus rifle in six seconds was to never take it down from the face. (3) Oswald correctly identified two book depository employees as eating lunch about the time of the assassination in the building’s downstairs lunchroom, exactly where Oswald’s jacket and order clipboard were later found. How could he know these men were there unless he himself was there to see them and how did his jacket and clipboard get there unless he brought them there?

Aubrey Rike, the ambulance driver who was on hand at Parkland Hospital and ended up driving JFK’s body back to Love Field told me that minutes before the assassination, he had answered an emergency call to a location by the book depository building. He picked up a man apparently suffering an epileptic seizure and rushed him to Parkland, which is why he and his ambulance were there when JFK was brought in. He said the man he picked up refused treatment and left the hospital. Several people in Dealey Plaza later told me about the commotion caused by the arrival of the ambulance and the flashing red lights. Interestingly enough, Rike said there had been four or so hoax calls to that same location in the two week preceding the assassination. He speculated that someone was timing the arrival of an ambulance and that the ambulance might have provided a diversion to distract anyone from seeing assassins move into position.

Jim Marrs

ADDENDUM to ConspiracyNut23,

As to who ordered the Secret Service to "stand down" on Nov. 22, 1963, here what I know for certain --- it was not Lee Harvey Oswald!

Jim Marrs

Howdy KilgoreTrout,

Here’s what could explain Oswald’s seeming nonchalance when arrested by the Dallas Police.

As a paid government intelligence agent, he assumed he would be given protection by his employers. He also felt no guilt because, based on the best hard evidence, he had not shot anyone. When arrested, he continually pled for legal assistance, even trying to contact an attorney who was known for defending government whistleblowers.

Since there reportedly were no notes taken or recordings of Oswald’s statements while in custody we may never know, but I suspect a conversation along these lines took place between Oswald and Dallas Police Capt. Will Fritz:

FRITZ: Did you shoot the President?
LEE: No, sir, I didn’t shoot anybody.
FRITZ: We have your picture here with the murder weapons.
LEE: That’s my face but not my body. It is a superimposition, a faked photo. Just wait until I can talk to the FBI. They’ll set you straight.
FRITZ: We have talked to the FBI. They say this is a genuine photo and you are guilty.
LEE: Oh &#i#@!

Jim Marrs

Thank you Mr Marrs

I am not very up on these things, I'm English so often struggle to understand the US way of doing things, but perhaps you can help me.
I realise you do not know who ordered the stand down of the Secret Service escort, but who would have the authority to do that? I believe that it was Kennedy himself who requested the 'glass bubble' to be removed (correct me if I am wrong)...but who in their right mind would under those circumstances let the escort go too.

From the clip that ConspiracyNut23 posted, it is obvious that the men themselves were not happy with this situation which indicates to me that whoever it was had absolute authority to make those men stand down without argument. Would McGeorge Bundy as National Security Advisor have had that kind of authority or am I looking too far up the chain?

Originally posted by Jim Marrs
Interestingly enough, Rike said there had been four or so hoax calls to that same location in the two week preceding the assassination. He speculated that someone was timing the arrival of an ambulance and that the ambulance might have provided a diversion to distract anyone from seeing assassins move into position.

This is highly interesting, thank you for sharing it with us, sometimes its these little things that add dimension.

Originally posted by Jim Marrs
As a paid government intelligence agent, he assumed he would be given protection by his employers. He also felt no guilt because, based on the best hard evidence, he had not shot anyone. When arrested, he continually pled for legal assistance, even trying to contact an attorney who was known for defending government whistleblowers.

Wasn't the lawyer in question not really active on that scene anymore though, I was reading the transcript of everything that Oswald is said to have said from his arrest to his death on the Mae Brussell site (I've linked to it in my first post), and it seems to me, more along the lines that he is trying to send a message to someone. This may sound strange, but it is almost as though he was told to use that name and something would 'happen', he repeats it almost like a mantra, over and over...as though he is expecting some sort of response. Perhaps that response was Ruby???? Also, he constantly complains about not being given legal representation, but only requests this particular lawyer - who is not local and he has no prior contact with...I find something very odd about this, but I'm not sure why. Do you know whether he was offered a court appointed counsel at anytime?

Originally posted by Jim Marrs
Since there reportedly were no notes taken or recordings of Oswald’s statements while in custody we may never know

I am sure that I have seen a typed statement, I remember because I felt that it wouldn't stand up in court (not that that was in the end necessary) because the interviewing officer presumed guilt. I'll have a look and see if I can dig it up.