LBJ was behind JFK's assassination, upcoming book contends

Knight Ridder Newspapers ^ | Aug. 20, 2003 | HYE JEONG

[new cruelty]

GULFPORT, Miss. - (KRT) - The father of the White House press secretary claims in his upcoming book, "Blood, Money & Power: How L.B.J. Killed J.F.K.," that former President Lyndon B. Johnson was behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Barr McClellan, father of White House press secretary Scott McClellan and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan, is preparing for a Sept. 30 release of a 480-page book by Hannover House that offers photographs, copies of letters, insider interviews and details of fingerprints as proof that Edward A. Clark, the powerful head of Johnson's private and business legal team and a former ambassador to Australia, led the plan and cover-up for the 1963 assassination in Dallas.

Kennedy was shot and killed while throngs watched his motorcade travel through Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Vice President Johnson was sworn in as president shortly after on Air Force One.

"(Johnson) had the motive, opportunity and means," said McClellan, 63, who was a partner in an Austin law firm that served Johnson. The book, McClellan said in an exclusive interview at his Orange Grove home, is about "(Johnson's) role in the assassination. He was behind the assassination, how he was and how it all developed."

McClellan and his wife have lived in Gulfport since 1998, where his wife's family lives. McClellan consults for some businesses on the Coast and writes books.

McClellan said he includes information in the book that alludes to Johnson's role in the assassination. An example is a story that was told to him by the late Martin Harris, former managing partner at the law firm, as told to Harris by Clark.

McClellan writes in his book that in a 1961 meeting on Johnson's ranch outside Johnson City, Texas, Johnson gave Clark a document that may have helped the assassin:

"Johnson suddenly let Clark go. `That envelope in the car,' he said quietly, almost an afterthought, `is yours.' Stepping toward the car, he muttered, `Put it to good use.' He turned, putting his arms across Clark's shoulders, pulling him along, (and) the two walked toward the convertible.

"As they drove back to the ranch, Clark opened the envelope. It contained the policy manual for protection of the president."

Barry Bishop, senior shareholder of Clark's former law firm, defended the attorney.

McClellan's theory is "absurd," Bishop said over the phone. "Mr. Clark was a big supporter of Mr. Kennedy. The day that President Kennedy was assassinated, there was going to a be a dinner that evening in Texas. Mr. Clark was a co-sponsor of that dinner."

McClellan's book is just one of numerous conspiracy theory books that criticize the conclusion of the FBI's investigation of the assassination, that found that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman.

According to the Warren Commission's 1964 report, "Examination of the facts of the assassination itself revealed no indication that Oswald was aided in the planning or execution of his scheme."

But that hasn't stopped people from writing books that challenge the Warren Commission's findings. Other ideas about who was behind the assassination include U.S. intelligence agents, the Mafia, Nikita Khrushchev, the military-industrial complex and Cuban exiles.

So why should people believe McClellan? What makes his book different?

"The big beauty is, (readers) don't have to believe a word I say," McClellan said. "They can believe the fingerprint examiner. They can believe the exchange of memos and letters."

"The book is the evidence," said Cecile McClellan, McClellan's wife, who has edited much of the book. "When you read that book and look at those exhibits, and say, `Do I believe this?' There it is … It's like (McClellan is) a lawyer presenting this book to the jury. You make your own decision. He's putting it all out there."

The theory that Johnson was involved is "exceedingly unlikely," said John C. McAdams, who is an outspoken supporter of the Warren Commission's findings and teaches a course on the JFK assassination at Marquette University in Milwaukee. "What did he (McClellan) find in the documents, and what does it, in fact, indicate? If he's looking at all the documents everyone else is looking at, I would want to know which documents he's interpreting as L.B.J."

Eric Parkinson, president of Truman Press Inc., the parent company of Hannover House, said the book comes out at a good time.

"Now, 40 years later, it's appropriate that this additional information be brought to light. It (the book) will provide closure for a lot of people."

McClellan began working with Clark in 1966 and said he had no role in the conspiracy. But he did hear rumors about it.

"When I first started work there and was told that Clark was behind the assassination, I didn't believe it. It was, `This guy you really liked, John Kennedy - he was killed by the guy you're working for now.' I think I went into a bad case of denial."

McClellan said he learned of Clark's role several times, from Clark and others in the law firm, including while he was acting as Clark's lawyer. The case involved the 1969 application for Clark to drill an oil well and name it after himself.

At the time, McClellan said he asked Clark about the rumors he had been hearing. He said Clark talked in code, but he said, "He wanted the payoff for it. When you mention Dallas, you were talking about the assassination. We had a discussion about it. That's in the book, pretty much verbatim."

But why didn't McClellan go public with the information back then?

"When you get inside the attorney-client privilege, you find out a whole lot," McClellan said. "At the time I thought everything I learned was privileged. I've since found out that there's no privilege for lawyers who plan crimes," he said, referring to Clark.

McClellan said he left the law firm in 1982 because Clark wanted him to represent a company that would conflict with interests of McClellan's other clients. Then, he said, Clark sued him over a personal loan. McClellan counter-sued. Then the bank holding the loan sued.

"When I found out what they were going to do to me, I got mad. The gloves came off. I said, `Forget it. They're not going to get away with this anymore.'"

But it took years before McClellan was able to publish the book that he said supports his assassination theory.

Finally in 1994, the 14-year legal battle with the lawsuits ended with dismissals. By that time, Clark had been dead for two years.

McClellan said he was trying to get a book out in 1984, while Clark was alive. "He knew I was going public - from the affidavits in one of those three lawsuits," McClellan said. And he said a book agent he approached in 1984 told him to "do an investigation."

So he began.

"I wanted to be comfortable with what I knew," McClellan said. He said it took a long time to verify fingerprints with several experts and to find a publisher.

"A lot of it wouldn't have been available except that old Clark's records" were bequeathed to Southwestern University, McClellan said, making them available for research. Previously "they were stored in his private records. I'm sure if he had thought about it before he died, he would have probably thrown away a few."

McClellan had been writing bits and pieces of the book since he left the law firm. He logged numerous hours of research and 10 researchers helped him, he said.

Supporters and detractors have talked to McClellan about possible repercussions from the book, McClellan said, but he's not losing any sleep.

McClellan said he hasn't had any overt threats. He said people imply retributions, like suggesting that "I'm not going to make it in Austin. `You're going to be out of here.'"

McClellan said at least some in his family accept his work on the book.

"They said, `OK, I guess that's what Dad's doing now,'" McClellan said.

But he said he has not had the chance to ask sons Scott and Mark for their reactions.

"I assume that they know about it," McClellan said. "They know what I'm doing. They're not going to comment on it. The oldest, Mark, was then maybe 15 when I left the law firm."

When asked if he was concerned for the safety of his twin sons, Dudley, an Austin lawyer in private practice, and Bradley, a Texas state associate attorney general, McClellan said: "The Democrats are pretty much out of power, really, in the state of Texas. So as far as Republicans go, they're in good shape. My ex-wife (Carole Keeton Strayhorn) - she's the comptroller of the state of Texas. There's really none of this influence or anything like that."

[Shooter 2.5]

I don't know who your "experts" are but the only part of your post that I agree with is the part where the bystander at the overpass was hit by the missed shot.

Actually, I forgot to mention that it really wasn't three shots in 8.1. It's a load, fire, load, fire in 8.1.

The first shot starts the clock. Anyone with a little instruction can make those shots with Oswald's Carcano and has with other Carcanos.

[Austin Willard Wright]

It should be added that Oswald's brother (who was often his hunting partner) thought LHO was a good shot.

[Shooter 2.5]

I didn't know about that. Thanks.

I do know that any WWII rifle is fully capable of shooting a four Inch/Minute group.

I'm starting to believe the scope mount was bent when it was hidden behind the boxes. I've looked at the location the rifle was found and it's completely surrounded by boxes. No one could have placed the rifle on the ground without bending over at least one box.

I don't think Oswald had the time to do that. He only had about two minutes to get to the break room.

This is only a guess but I think Oswald wasn't concerned how he placed the rifle on the ground.

If the rifle was left at the window, I would say the rifle was in the same condition from the time it was fired to the time it was found. Since it was found in another location on the ground, I think it may have been thrown there and the scope alignment problem happened at that time.

Today, we would have been able to find out. Murder weapons are carefully checked before they're even removed from the scene. Impact marks from the floor to the weapon are checked to see how the item was placed there. In the Carcano's case, police officers handled the rifle before it was checked which today would be inexcusable.

[Austin Willard Wright]

The info comes from an ABC news report around 1991 which had an screen interview with Oswald's brother, who believes his brother was guilty.

[Austin Willard Wright]

I still find the Ferrie/Bannister connection to be the most compelling conspiracy theory. Still, in the end, I don't buy it. The most persuasive theory is the most obvious one: Oswald acted alone.

[CMClay]

John F. Kerry was assasinated??

I thought he was looking a bit stiff lately, but jeez!

[Shooter 2.5]

From the interviews of the Russians and a firing range partner in the Marine Corps, Oswald was supposed to have been a poor shot. The Soldier said he just didn't care.

I think it depended on his motivation at the time. Some people don't care at that particular moment. You drag someone out to the range when it's cold, wet or dry and hot and some people's motivation goes away.

Oswald used to practice at night working the bolt and dryfiring according to Marina [Some of the brass that was found had multiple chamber markings] and he did go to the Trinity River bottoms to shoot. I think he was motivated at that time.

[ought-six]

"I don't know who your 'experts' are but the only part of your post that I agree with is the part where the bystander at the overpass was hit by the missed shot."

They are not "my" experts, since I did not hire them. The experts -- forensic and ballistics experts, as well as professional shooters -- were hired by several different sponsors, including government, law enforcement, military, and media networks. The ONLY "study" that holds to the Oswald as the lone shooter theory is the Warren Commission, and that has been debunked by virtually ervery other study. Moreover, in order to accept the Waaren Commission's conclusion, one must necessarily accept the "magic bullet" theory first posited by Arlen Specter. That theory has been so thoroughly discredited that no one even cites it anymore.

[Shooter 2.5]

If you think the "Single Bullet Theory" is wrong, I would love to hear exactly how it did happen, step by step.

Please include the following:
The position of the shooter[s].
The exact location of the wounds.
The approximate distance of the shots.
The number of shots.
The type of weapon used.
The caliber used.

[tpaine]

They are not "my" experts, since I did not hire them. The experts -- forensic and ballistics experts, as well as professional shooters -- were hired by several different sponsors, including government, law enforcement, military, and media networks. The ONLY "study" that holds to the Oswald as the lone shooter theory is the Warren Commission, and that has been debunked by virtually every other study. Moreover, in order to accept the Waaren Commission's conclusion, one must necessarily accept the "magic bullet" theory first posited by Arlen Specter. That theory has been so thoroughly discredited that no one even cites it anymore.
788 -06-

---

Well said, needs repeating bump...

The Reports theories are incredible, nor has anyone come up with credible explanations to fit ~all~ the facts.

-- Many of the 'players' in JFKs assassination remain unknown, & most likely will, forever.

[ought-six]

Easy. For your single bullet theory (Arlen Specter's "magic bullet" theory) to be valid, one would have to suspend the laws of physics. The "magic bullet" theory you so eagerly embrace necessitates that a 6.5mm bullet entered JFK's back, did a 60 degree upward turn through his upper torso, exited his throat, hung suspended in mid-air, then, seemingly taking on a deterimation all its own, decided to go after Connally, which required downward turn at a right oblique, hit Connally in the back, exited his back and smashed his wrist, and finally struck his leg. Whew! That's quite a bullet! Would I had such a missile when I go deer hunting, because with one shot I can take out the entire herd. Talk about economy!

Now as for shooters: Intense and thorough investigations (even the Church Commission in the 1970s) concluded that there was more than one shooter, with nearly all experts concluding that there were two behind the motorcade and one in front: one in the book depository to the right rear of the presidential limo; one in the records building directly behind the limo; and one in the bushes behind the picket fence on the grassy knoll to the right front of the limo. Types of weapons and calibers? That's hard to say, since there were never enough bullet fragments recovered to measure or examine in order to conclusively make that determination (not counting the 6.5 mm Mannlicher Carcano found in the book depository).

[Shooter 2.5]

The wound in Kennedy's back was 5 1/4 inches [14 centimeters] below his Mastoid Process[ bone behind the ear ] and an inch to the right of his spine. There's a autopsy picture that shows the wound and the ruler.

Jackets can shift and Kennedy's was bunched up when he was in the Motorcade. Look at the pictures of it.

Look at post 545 for a clear idea of the path of the bullet.

I don't think I want your seven magic bullets. They had a tendency of traveling two inches into a wound and then disappearing.

[aristeides]

I received my copy of Blood, Money & Power in the mail from amazon.com yesterday. I'm only 50 pages into it, and am not yet in a position to offer an opinion on the persuasiveness of the author's case. However, already in those 50 pages the author -- a Texas lawyer -- has made a persuasive case that, long before Clinton's administration, lawyers and politicians together were misusing the lawyer-client privilege to conceal and even plot crimes.

[new cruelty]

Interesting comments. Please let me know what you think when you get further into the book.

[paulklenk]

The 'Flight 800' threads really do get rather amusing if one's in the mood for an evening of fantasy.

WHADDYA MEAN? DO YOU MEAN TO SAY YOU TRUST A GOVERNMENT THAT LIES TO YOU? HAVEN'T YOU TALKED TO ALL THE WITNESSES? WHAT DO YOU THINK ALL THOSE FIREWORKS WERE? DON'T YOU THINK YOUR ATTITUDE IS DANGEROUS TO THIS COUNTRY?

[Repeat until spanked.]

/sarcasm

[Schwaeky]

><> HUH? LBJ was in the same parade with Kennedy in another >car. In fact, some witnesses said he was seen putting his >fingers in his ears just before the shot.



Wasn't he in fact in the 56 (approx) Cadillac open top limo behind Kennedy's Lincoln???

[Schwaeky]

>What's more amazing about the Inside the Beltway gossip >in '63 was...there was no Beltway! So, apparently, the >construction of the Beltway figures in to the cover-up in >some manner! The conspiracy deepens... ;>) Anybody >familiar with I-495 knows it must be part of some >nefarious plot...

yeah a plot to annoy the piss out of DC area drivers..

wait a min.. interstate hwy system was done under Ike....

[Colorado Doug]

Been there and done that, have splattered a few melons in my time, though I'm not an expert admittedly.

There are several theories, some say it very well could have been from the back based on pressure in the brain forcing him backwards after the shot, and others who claim part of the skull that was shattered was from the back, which would indicate a frontal hit. Looking at the film, I always thought it was from the front, and so do a lot of other people, many of them experts in the field.

Okay, enough speculation with melons, etc., I say we just get a couple of volunteers from Gitmo (promise that there are some virgins in it for them) and just recreate the event.

[js1138]

Shame. You need to get that post pulled before someone does it for you.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Don't know about that, but the Zapruder film blows a hole in the magic bullet theory as far as I'm concerned. And it's not even the fatal head shot as much as it is Connelly's reaction to the Kennedy's first hit. There isn't one.