Category: Assassinations

Murdering McKinley: The Making of Theodore Roosevelt’s America – Eric Rauchway

On By Genyc79In American History, AssassinationsLeave a comment

On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley (1843-1901) arrived in Buffalo, New York for a Pan-American Exposition. As he made his way through the crowd, a young man stepped forward with a revolver hidden from sight. Once in front of the commander-in-chief, the assailant Leon F. Czolgosz (1873-1901) raised the firearm and squeezed the trigger, mortally wounding McKinley who died on September 14, 1901. The assassin was apprehended by the authorities and became the number one public enemy. But to everyone’s surprise, he was forthright in his reasons for the shooting and showed no signs of psychosis or evidence of being part of any conspiracy to murder the president. The investigation should have been an open and shut case, but it was not. In fact, the murder of William McKinley set off a series of events that changed the United States.  Author Eric Rauchway examines the assassination and the fallout which ensued in its wake.

Following Czolgosz’s arrest and confession to intentionally murdering McKinley, he does receive legal counsel. However, while the criminal justice system turned its wheels, America soon realized that it had a new president by the name of Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), who would transform America in ways that can still be felt today. The shooting is one part of the narrative with the author also focusing on Roosevelt’s administration and the changes in America. Interestingly, efforts to link the murderer to a foreign conspiracy of anarchists determined to destroy America come up short but highlight the fact that immigration has always been a hotbed issue in the United States. But I did take note of a statement by the assassin regarding his view of Republicans which sent chills down my spine because today, more than one hundred twenty-three years later, similar sentiments about the Republican party persist. And there is the issue of race which centers around the heroic actions of James B. “Jim” Parker (1857-1907), an African American migrant from the South who had fled Jim Crow to live in the North.

The Czolgosz family story is reviewed as well, with statements included from family members who provide background information on their infamous sibling. As I read, I could not find any evidence that the killer had any type of psychological impairment. His defense team was not easily convinced he was sane, and their position opens the discussion about the insanity defense and when it should apply. Until the very end, Czolgosz never changes his story as the trail of the assassin is followed and examined. In Washington, D.C., Roosevelt is busy remaking America into his vision for the future.

Students of American history will appreciate the discussion regarding Roosevelt’s rise and departure from office. His presidency is fascinating but not without its controversies. However, his policies remain examples of “progressive” politics. And this earned him supporters as well as enemies, and one of them attempted to execute a repeat of McKinley’s murder with Roosevelt, the intended victim. The surreal story is contained within, and Roosevelt’s actions following the attempted murder left me speechless. Theodore’s star continued to rise, but his decline was also lurking in the distance. And the succession of the presidency by William H. Taft (1857-1930) eventually guaranteed that Roosevelt would never again claim the fame he once had as president. But “Teddy” was far from done and launched the Progressive Party to gallantly return to Washington. In hindsight we know that things did not turn out as he had hoped but he had already cemented his legacy in American history.

Leon Czolgosz was eventually convicted and sentenced to death, but events post-mortem left me shocked. The disdain for the assassin is understandable, but the animus towards his remains is disturbing. Czolgosz never wavered from his statements as to why he shot McKinley. Whether he was mentally impaired remains to be proven but I do think we will ever see anything to the contrary. He was remorseless and prepared to accept his fate but, in the end, shooting the president did not accomplish any goals he had intended to complete. It did however, pave the way for one of the America’s most memorable presidents. This book is well-researched and well- written, and the author balances the narrative to provide a thorough discussion of the crime, the assassin’s story, Roosvelt’s ascent, and the aftermath as America went through growing pains. If you are interested in the assassination of William McKinley and a transformative period in American history, Rauchway’s book is a good place to start.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000RQ4FTE
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hill and Wang; First edition (April 15, 2007)

The Death of a President: November 20 – November 25, 1963 – William Manchester

On By Genyc79In Assassinations, JFK3 Comments

20220227_145712On November 25, 1963, my mother prepared to celebrate her birthday, but everyone knew there would be little joy that day. While my mother prepared herself for that day, officials in Washington were making the final adjustments to the funeral of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963). In Texas, the family of Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963) also made their adjustments to his funeral after he was shot and killed while in Dallas Police custody by nightclub owner Jack Rubenstein (1911-1967), known more commonly as Jack Ruby. Over the years, my mother has spoken about that day and has always said that it was the saddest birthday she can recall. The sorrow and tear-streaked faces of those around him are images that have been permanently embedded into my father’s memories that are still intact six decades later. Kennedy’s murder will continue to serve as a topic of debate but what is rarely discussed are his reasons for visiting Dallas and the warnings, he received not to travel to a city known for right-wing activity. Author William Manchester (1922-2004) was asked to author a book covering the Dallas trip from start to finish by former first lady Jacqueline (“Jackie”) Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994). And this account is a thorough explanation the five days in which America experienced the death of a president.

Manchester’s book is not an examination of the crime itself but focuses on the Kennedy party as it left Washington and somberly returned home with a fallen leader. Regarding the assassination, Manchester subscribes to the lone gunman theory but keeps Oswald’s story to a minimum. The book keeps its focus on Kennedy and what was left of his administration after the events in Dealey Plaza. To say that there was mass confusion after Kennedy’s murder would be an understatement. Frankly, all hell broke loose, and no one seemed sure of the procedure during a situation that called for instant responses. Shock consumed everyone but as we see in the book, few should have been surprised. Manchester did a thorough job of capturing the political turmoil as Kennedy sought to diffuse an inter-party battle between Senator Ralph Yarborough (1903-1996) (D-TX) and Texas Governor John Connally (1917-1993). A successful intervention by Kennedy would have paved the way for the presentation of a united Democrat front heading into the 1964 election. But those plans died with Kennedy on November 22, and I am sure that following the assassination, Yarborough must have realized how close he came to being gunned down had the squabble not resulted in him being forced to ride with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973). The past comes to life through the author’s masterful storytelling in which the main characters assume their positions in a tragedy we know is unfolding.

Because the book is a re-creation of the past, there does exist the possibility that certain dialogue may have been added and/or changed. Manchester did conduct extensive research for the book, and it is my belief that the book is correct. However, it should be noted that Jackie did not approve of the first manuscript and asked Manchester to amend it. The completed manuscript that resulted in this book is admirable, but I did notice things that struck me as odd. The murder of Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit (1924-1963) receives little attention in the story and is mentioned in passing. I also found statements from the author regarding Oswald’s alleged guilt to be slightly misleading. Assassination researchers will notice these things instantly. In Manchester’s defense, the book was not intended to be a critique of the crime or the Warren Commission. His assignment was to cover the Kennedy group from start to finish and in that regard he succeeded. But to be fair to the historical record, I belief assertions that Oswald was guilty are open to debate as there are still things about his life that remain a mystery.

After chaos breaks out in Dealey Plaza, the scene shifts to Parkland Hospital. Again, Manchester captures the atmosphere perfectly and supplies a thorough discussion of the panic that ensued following the shooting. Despite first reports, those closest to Kennedy knew the head wound was fatal. However, doctors did what they could before pronouncing him dead. Following the official declaration of death, the book produces a somber feeling as the group must take the body home and prepare for a funeral. The new Commander-In-Chief, Lyndon Johnson, comes across quite differently to what he has been portrayed as elsewhere. Grief consumed the presidential party and as we see in the book, each person managed it differently. This is another area where the book excels. The names of aides and officials will be familiar to readers but here they are parts of the story that do not produce an uplifting conclusion. I can only imagine the thoughts they had as the realization that Kennedy had just been murdered settled in. After making a rough departure from Parkland Hospital and Love Field, Air Force One is soon airborne and on its way back to the nation’s capital. But the story is far from over.

After arriving in Maryland, an autopsy is ordered, and Manchester re-tells the story of the arrival from Dallas. He does not discuss forensic aspects of the autopsy in detail but keeps the focus on the new widowed Jackie and the task of burying Kennedy. At this part of the story, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968) becomes more of a presence as he aides his sister-in-law with the challenging task of saying goodbye to Jack. Readers interested in the funeral preparations and decisions that produced what was seen on television will appreciate this section. There is no joy to be found but what can be appreciated are the painstaking decisions and tasks executed by those who loved the late president. The impact of Kennedy’s death cannot be understated, and Manchester again captures the public sentiment and worldwide sadness in the wake of the assassination. The book’s inevitable conclusion slowly approaches as the funeral procession marches towards Arlington National Cemetery. The events seen on television screens are explained as a backdrop before Manchester closes the discussion.

Although I did find misstatements in the book, I still enjoyed reading it. Manchester brilliantly chronicled the Texas trip and the devastating fallout. Conspiracy theorists and researchers will know the story inside and out but for others who are not familiar with the Kennedy murder, this book is a reliable source of information about the reasons for the trip, the mood behind-the-scenes and the extraordinary effort needed to bring Kennedy home and restore order to Washington. There are things about the assassination we may never learn but Manchester’s work is a crucial part in keeping the historical record intact.

ISBN-10:‎ 0316370711
ISBN-13:‎ 978-0316370714

Into The Nightmare: My Search For The Killers Of President John F. Kennedy and Officer J.D. Tippitt-Joseph McBride

On By Genyc79In Assassinations1 Comment

McbridgeAnyone that was born at least nine years before 1963 can remember with precision where they were the day that John F. Kennedy died.  My father remembers it as if it were yesterday and in full detail.   And I sense that although he tells me what he does remember, there are so many more things about that day that he is unable to express with words.  The violent removal of the president and the change of government that ensued left its mark as one of the darkest days in American history.   The ghost of John Kennedy continues to haunt us every November when we remember those tragic days in Dallas.  In October, 2017, the government is expected to release a significant number of classified documents relating to the assassination, in particular documents related to the Central Intelligence Agency.  The news has given researchers hope that one day we may know the full truth about Kennedy’s murder.

The Warren Commission presented an open and shut case.  Although he was never convicted in a court of law, Lee Harvey Oswald has been blamed for the murder.  Simply put, one assassin and three excellently placed bullets, ended the life of the 35th President of the United States.   Furthermore, as Oswald plotted his next move, he allegedly encountered and murdered Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippitt who took interest in Oswald based on the description of the shooting suspect that was broadcast over police radio.   At first glance, all the pieces fit into a nicely designed puzzle.  But on closer inspection, there are many strange things that occurred that day that had nothing to do with Lee Harvey Oswald. Tippitt was memorialized as a heroic officer who died in the line of duty as he attempted to apprehend a monster that had just gunned down the president.  But is that what really happened?  And was Tippitt simply a beat cop with bad luck or did he play a darker and more sinister role in the crime?

Joseph McBride is an independent researcher who has invested more than 30 years of research into this chilling and revealing investigative account into what has been referred to as the crime of the century. On a Youtube podcast, McBride mentioned that Arlen Specter declared that the Tippitt shooting is the Rosetta stone of the assassination.  It certainly is but not for the reasons many of us have been lead to believe. The book is not simply a tome of facts in chronological order but reads more like a journal which helps keep the reader engaged throughout the book.  McBride does not solely focus on Dealey Plaza and devotes a good portion of the book to Tippitt’s life which puts the crime in a completely different light. In the Commission’s report, very little is mentioned about Tippitt. In fact, until this book, the majority of what we knew about Tippitt came from independent researchers.  Their discoveries were good but McBride has taken the research to a whole new level.   Discussions with Tippitt’s father,  people who knew him, former Dallas Police officers and those who worked at locations he was known to frequent provided valuable insight into the real life of Jefferson Davis Tippitt.

So what exactly is in the book? Well there are no spoilers here but I can say that after you finish the book, you will see through the Commission’s report and understand what was really taking placed in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas that day.   Ironically Tippitt becomes just a mysterious as Oswald himself.  A World War II veteran, Tippitt as no stranger to combat or gunfire and had been an office for at least 10 years.  His sudden murder which by all accounts caught him off guard is examined in detail by McBride. Several witnesses to the murder stated that Tippitt was known in the area and was no stranger to many of the residents.   And shockingly, Oswald’s killer, Jack Ruby also lived in the Oak Cliff section as did Oswald himself.  And thus, the nucleus of the crime is formed with its principle patsies all destined to fulfill their roles.  Officially, the Commission’s position is that there is no evidence the three men knew each other.   Many witnesses have come forward to dispute that but in the process have been discredited by subversive means or ignored in other cases.  But as McBride digs deeper, we began to see that there was a strange nexus of activity in the area up to and subsequent to the assassination.   The mystery that McBride is attempting to solve is the true nature of their relationships and connections. Oswald and Tippitt died within days of each other and Ruby several years later.  Whatever secrets they had they took with them to their graves.  But I do believe that this book is the closest we have come to seeing the truth.

The book is exhaustively research but McBride does not overburden the reader with footnotes.  The writing style is easy to follow and beyond interesting.   And through his efforts he has created a masterpiece that puts the assassination in a new perspective.   Some believe that we will never know the truth about what really happened that day.   But with authors such as McBride, we are getting excitingly close.

ISBN-10: 1939795257
ISBN-13: 978-1939795250