In the memo, Hoover excoriated the Dallas Police Department for not having prevented Oswald’s killing by Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner. The FBI had warned the police that Oswald’s life was in danger, but nothing was done, he complained.
“Oswald having been killed today after our warnings to the Dallas Police Department was inexcusable,” Hoover dictated. “It will allow, I am afraid, a lot of civil rights people to raise a lot of hell because he was handcuffed and had no weapon. There are bound to be some elements of our society who will holler their heads off that his civil rights were violated — which they were.”
Typical CYA on the part of Hoover. He always put the public image of the FBI ahead of any other consideration.
Interesting that he was so concerned that the public be convinced that Oswald acted alone.
It was never in his job description to create public opinion, but that is what he seems to have taken most seriously for his entire career.
He must have read “Manufacturing Consent”.
He read the history of Elizabeth I, Queen of England...................
Sort of reminds me of the incident on Las Vegas: believe he acted alone, they were warned,blah, blah. One would think they could change the script after 50 years.
Was he saying Oswald should have been uncuffed and given a weapon?