Posted on 11/22/2003 8:21:43 PM PST by Destro
Sat, November 22, 2003
'Peg link to JFK murder?
Eerie chat in airport
By TAMMY MARLOWE, STAFF REPORTER
Did a group of men involved in a plot to kill U.S. President John F. Kennedy sit in a cocktail lounge at the Winnipeg International Airport and openly discuss their concerns about a growing knowledge of the conspiracy? The late Richard Giesbrecht, a local businessman, thought so. His discussions with the FBI about the conversation he overheard has made "The Winnipeg Airport Incident" a perplexing mystery.
On Nov. 22, 1963, President Kennedy was shot in the head as he rode in the back seat of an open convertible with his wife, Jacqueline, through the streets of Dallas, Texas.
Though Lee Harvey Oswald was fingered as the man behind the sniper's rifle, many people believed some pieces of the puzzle surrounding Kennedy's death didn't quite fit together -- and the discrepancies spurred the debate that remains hot today.
INCREDIBLE TALE
Giesbrecht's former lawyer, Harry Backlin, said it's not hard for him to remember the day nearly 40 years ago when his client came to him with the incredible Winnipeg airport tale.
"It's still fresh in my mind as to what happened," Backlin said recently from his home in Prince George, B.C. "I can see him sitting in front of me and his facial expressions as he told the story to me. It would be no different if somebody would come in and tell you, 'Look, I just saw a murder take place.' "
Giesbrecht was sitting in the Winnipeg airport's Horizon Room lounge on Feb. 13, 1964, when he began listening to a couple of guys in the next booth chat about the testimony of the late Oswald's wife, Marina, at the Warren Commission.
Giesbrecht later identified one of the men as David Ferrie -- who had connections to the Mafia and who some conspiracy theorists credit for organizing the initial plan to assassinate Kennedy. Giesbrecht said he heard the group say they had more cash at their disposal than ever before and that they planned to meet in Kansas City next month.
JFK researcher Peter Whitmey said Giesbrecht became worried after he heard the men say the Warren Commission wouldn't stop investigating the president's murder -- even if it was decided Oswald acted alone. Giesbrecht quickly left the airport and went to Backlin with what he'd overheard.
"His eyes were bulging -- they were wide open -- and his hands were going as he told the story," Backlin said. "To me, I was like, 'Holy Christ, what the hell am I getting myself into?' "
Backlin said he has never doubted the story told by his client and friend.
But he admitted the pair didn't know what to do with the controversial information. They considered not ever telling anyone about what they'd discussed.
Finally, the men decided to alert authorities and Backlin penned a letter to John Morris, then-U.S. Consul General in Winnipeg. He also contacted RCMP officials, who sent him to the FBI's field office in Minneapolis.
Agents interviewed Giesbrecht and Backlin, and sent a six-page report of the evidence to the Warren Commission.
But it ended there. Whitmey said Giesbrecht was supposed to testify at the trial of alleged JFK conspirator Clay Shaw, but backed out after receiving a threat against his family. Giesbrecht didn't speak of the incident after the 1960s and his three children have never publicly discussed the issue.
I hate Ted as much as the next guy. But in fairness, in 1963 Ted was torn between entering California real estate and trying to buy an NFL franchise, which was a passion of his at the time. And skiing an awful lot out West. Only after John's murder did the family press him into running for office.
And yes I agree JFK and the modern Democrats are as different as can be imagined. JFK's assasination was truly a tragedy for America in that it replaced a true-believing tax-cutter and cold warrior with a egomaniacal wanna-be FDR who ushered in the most profound leftward shift in our society in history--and against which we are STILL fighting.
Isn't it sad that the mafia is successful at killing american politial figures, but were unsuccessful at killing Castro?
Yeah, it's a story alright, like 'Hansel and Gretel' or 'The Lion King'. In other words...TOTAL FICTION, corroborated by NO ONE who was actually THERE.
To me, having been at several funerals of tragically-killed people, this photo seems to merely capture the moment of breaking tension at such deeply mournful and numbing occasions when everyone slips off the knife-edge for a moment to collect themselves. In most cases it is a humorous comment, a wink, a noise or burp, a pat on the back, etc. But of course, Bart McClellan knows better, doesn't he. And of course it is merely a coincidence that he is releasing his book at the major anniversary of the murder--right?
The CIA was pretty unsuccessful too, in case you didn't notice. But you also ignore the fact that Castro has been the major conduit for cocaine importation into the U.S. since around 1970..in partnership with a very flexible Mafia. Why should they want to kill him?
Exactly. And Ted had NO political views in 1963. He had MANY views on whether the Colts were better than the Giants. And whether Aspen was better than Vail. His "politics" have nothing to do with true belief (like the dementedly idealistic RFK) and everything to do with self-interest.
My 'education' began in about September or October of 1964. The top guy in the group confessed to running 'The Fair Play for Cuba Committee' in New Orleans. Wheels within wheels . . . . yada yada yada.
Well actually Ted Kennedy was elected to the Senate in November 1962, one year before JFK's assassination.
That photo appeared in the media at the time of the assassination, and I remember people remarking on how Johnson and his wife could not help smiling.
Note something else: Just how did it come to happen that Jackie Kennedy stood next to Johnson while he was being sworn in?
I'll bet anything Johnson maneuvered her next to him to lend legitimacy to his acceding to the presidency.
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