LBJ aides call JFK conspiracy doc a smear

AP | 11/19/03 | LYNN ELBER

[kattracks]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A television documentary claiming Lyndon B. Johnson helped plot the Kennedy assassination was condemned as an absurd smear by Johnson's family and former staff members.

A History Channel film that aired Monday alleges that then-Vice President Johnson and members of his staff were responsible for President Kennedy's 1963 killing, said LBJ Foundation Chairman Tom Johnson, no relation to the former president.

"I do not know of a greater injustice to the reputation of a former president — especially to be on The History Channel," Tom Johnson, who worked in the Johnson White House, said in an interview Tuesday.

He and Jack Valenti, another former Johnson staff member and current president of the Motion Picture Association of America, issued a joint statement on behalf of the Johnson family and others.

"Sadly, President Johnson and the staff members who are wrongly smeared by the conspiracy theorists are no longer alive to defend themselves," the statement said. "In televising this production, The History Channel has distorted history beyond recognition."

It was the second recent TV project about a former president to draw criticism. CBS yanked its November miniseries "The Reagans" after supporters of former President Reagan said it distorted his legacy while he suffers Alzheimer's disease.

The latest program aired as part of an umbrella series titled "The Men Who Killed Kennedy," a package of documentaries about various conspiracy theories regarding Kennedy's death, said channel spokeswoman Lynn Gardner.

The films in "The Men Who Killed Kennedy" series are from producer Nigel Turner and have aired before on cable TV, channel spokeswoman Gardner said. Monday's film, titled "The Guilty Men," was based in part on the book "Blood, Money & Power: How L.B.J. Killed J.F.K." by Barr McClellan, she said.

"The History Channel does not say that any of these theories are correct nor does not in any way say that the theory in this program is correct," the channel said in a statement. "We are, however, presenting a point of view that has been meticulously researched.

"By presenting different viewpoints we enable our viewers to decide to agree or disagree with them and to arrive at their own conclusions," the channel said.

Kennedy was shot in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. The Warren Commission concluded Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole assassin, but claims of more extensive plots continue to fascinate the public.

"I'm puzzled, bewildered, that a distinguished enterprise like the History Channel would put on the air such garbage, such ugliness," Valenti said in an interview. "It makes one sick."

Another former LBJ aide, journalist Bill Moyers, hadn't seen the program but called its premise "absurd." Liz Carpenter, who was press secretary to Lady Bird Johnson, called the program "outrageous."

Attorneys were being consulted but it was unknown if any legal action could be taken, Tom Johnson said.

The documentary was "exceptionally upsetting" to Johnson's widow, who recently suffered a stroke, and daughters Luci and Lynda, Tom Johnson said. President Johnson died in 1973.

The family did not try to block the program's broadcast as in the case of organized Republican efforts against CBS' "The Reagans," Tom Johnson said. The Reagan drama was shifted to cable channel Showtime and is showing Nov. 30.

"We left the decision on editorial content and accuracy up to the History Channel," Tom Johnson said.

[kattracks]

The family did not try to block the program's broadcast as in the case of organized Republican efforts against CBS' "The Reagans," Tom Johnson said.

Their mistake.

[GATOR NAVY]

Different situation. In this case, it would only the family protesting because nobody (even the Democrats) likes LBJ.

[ikka]

Truth is an absolute defense against slander and libel. That LBJ was a perverted, pimping, whore-for-money scam artist is well known. From there it is not too much of a stretch to infer murder.

[Adam-ondi-Ahman]

I watched that episode last night. Sure was convincing. They had on his mistress, who claimed that she believed LBJ ordered the hit on JFK.

[ladyinred]

Well excuse me, perhaps they might want to read the new book on that very subject, written by someone who is not a nut?
I was a practicing democrat for years, but even I who was a straight ticket voter didn't like LBJ!

[dfwgator]

LBJ did damage to this country that even Slick Willie could only dream about.

[azcap]

There will never be a lawsuit by LBJ's people. Lawsuits means findings, depositions, subpoenas, and lots of media. Even if he didn't have a thing to do with the assasination a lot of ugly stuff would come out.

[churchillbuff]

Were there some suspicious murders in Texas back in the late 40s?

[onyx]

If all Bill Moyers could muster is to call it "absurd" then there's more to it than I originally thought.

From there it is not too much of a stretch to infer murder.

Agreed, particularly because LBJ knew he was going to be dropped from the ticket.

[larry h]

There was an Agricultural Agent who was investigating
a grain scam carried out by Johnson crony Billie Sol Estes. This Ag agent was found shot 5 times with a bolt-action .22 calibur rifle. Death was ruled a "suicide"....

[yonif]

As long as they are putting other conspiracy theories on the screen, I have no problem having this thing on there as well.

I for one, do not believe that Johnson was responsible.

[Consort]

LBJ — Lyndon Baines / Lady Bird / Linda Bird / Lucy Baines / Little Beagle / Little Beagle, Jr. — Johnson

[XHogPilot]

"I do not know of a greater injustice to the reputation of a former president..."

LBJ was the original postmodern 'Rat, nothing more need be said.

[sharktrager]

Interesting that they don't make much of an argument about the alleged reason LBJ was involved, which was that he was likely headed to prison if the government investigation in to his man from the Senate, who was said to have orchestrated payoffs, went forward as Bobby Kennedy wanted.

[Finalapproach29er]

58,000 dead because of Johnson/McNamara.

[#3Fan]

This can't be compared to "The Reagans". "The Reagans" was a movie with admittedly made up scenes, this is a documentary with people giving eye-witness accounts.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Coke Stevens in a contested Senatorial election. Lyndon Johnson became U.S. Senator by a one vote margin.

Coke Stevens was the conservative senator from Texas.
He was very well liked.
L. Johnson was a fake from his first election.

[Prince Charles]

LBJ not only allegedly helped to whack JFK, but it is also beyond doubt that he kept shoving bodies into the meatgrinder known as Vietnam. That qualifies him to be one of the worst mass-murderers in American history.

[FranceForBushInAustin]

We saw a show on cable in Paris two weeks ago. People are starting to talk in Texas, people close to the case and old enough to clear their conscience, in particular Bob Estes.

The show traces the existence of a shadow figure in LBJ entourage, clearly a hitman. That guy most likely killed a prominent judge in Texas in 61, and his finger print was identify on the weapon next to Oswald. The other disturbing fact is the mortician who did reconstruct in a hurry JFK face. On the video, you can see clearly his face blown from the front, not from the back. His face had to be reconstructed to support the thesis of a single shooter from the Library. Right after finishing his job, his daughter recalls on camera how he took immedialtely his family to San Angelo to a motel. She recalled that once her dad saw on TV that Oswald was killed, they drove back, it was safe....

The thesis is that LBJ would have eliminated JFK for several reasons. First for power to become president, two for payback to years of financing by oil interest ( JFK was planning to cut $300M tax incentive to oil cartel) , and three because Bobby Kennedy was investigating LBJ for the Texas judge murder.

I guess it is just another theory with no conspiracy this time. What was the most fascinating was the LBJ business associate, Bob Estes, a prominent Texas businessman, talking openly how he stayed alive all these years by taping conversations.

[Dajjal]

MacBird bump