Final_Judgment

482 The Battle of the Books [385]
[385]
AN OVERVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE
Accessories After the Fact by Sylvia Meagher is, in some ways, a
supplement to Rush to Judgment. This is a highly detailed examination of
the Warren Report that is a valuable exposition of all the flaws in the case
against Lee Harvey Oswald. This book will interest those who are fascinated
by ballistics, autopsy evidence, etc.
Six Seconds in Dallas by Josiah Thompson is a real tour de force. This
book is a fantastic analysis of the Zapruder film. Profusely illustrated, this
volume establishes that there were several assassins in Dealey Plaza beyond
any question and that the official autopsy evidence doesn't jibe with the
truth. This is a classic book. Those interested in the photographic evidence
should refer to Robert Groden's The Killing of a President.
James Fetzer's Assassination Science is the latest look at the scientific
evidence. (Fetzer by the way, refuses to acknowledge he knows anything
about Final Judgment although I sent him a copy and wrote him twice!)
In the area of books that consider the JFK assassination from a larger
overview, Crossfire, by Jim Marrs is probably the best. This book is flawed
largely because Marrs presents multiple theories, one on top of the other,
and does not really reach any firm conclusions. Those who think that they
will find the solution to the assassination in the book, more than likely,
will find themselves overwhelmed by the multiple theories.
Marrs never firmly establishes in the reader's mind that there can be
multiple interests working together to achieve the same goal. He seems to
treat the assassination in the context that either A did it or B did it or C did
it, never really suggesting a combination of elements were responsible.
Who Shot JFK? by Bob Callahan is an easy to read guide, broken down
into many interesting sidebars and delightfully illustrated with wonderful
cartoons that present a satirical touch to a very ponderous subject.
Conspiracy by Anthony Summers is an interesting treatment of the
JFK controversy up to and including the House Assassinations Committee
investigation in the late 1970's. My primary complaint against Summers is
that in his revised edition he fails to acknowledge the information that he
was provided by Gary Wean, the former Los Angeles detective who knew
about the Mickey Cohen-Israeli connection to JFK's famous affair with
Marilyn Monroe (and which I, of course, examine in Final Judgment).
Now Summers himself had also written a book on the life of Marilyn
Monroe (where he does mention Wean) but he leaves the reader with the idea
that the Kennedy family had a hand in her death, whether by accident or by
murder. Be that as it may, Summers' book is quite interesting. In his
revised edition Summers also falls flat by failing to give the French
Connection, which he mentions, the analysis it is certainly due.
Reasonable Doubt by Henry Hurt is another good overview. It has its
flaws but nothing substantial. It's probably worthwhile reading for serious
researchers. Likewise with Robert Sam Anson's They've Killed the
President which is an interesting book. But I hasten to add that I find
Anson's attack on Jim Garrison off the mark and reprehensible.