Post by Rob Caprio on Dec 24, 2018 22:43:46 GMT -5
All portions ©️ Robert Caprio 2006-2025
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Mark North’s book, “Act of Treason”, examines all things J. Edgar Hoover (JEH) as he writes about JEH’s active involvement in the President John F. Kennedy (JFK) assassination and the cover-up that followed. One man did try to challenge the powerful head of the FBI though, and surprisingly it was someone on the Warren Commission (WC) itself.
Chief counsel Lee J. Rankin was considered less political than the members of the WC, and he quickly leaked some news regarding JEH when he joined the WC. He told the media that JEH was pressuring the WC to conclude that the investigation would be concluded by February 1964 which was something he considered a practical impossibility.
In his very first staff meeting things got so hot in terms of what their focus and goals should be that it basically degenerated into a standoff, and they never had any more staff meetings! Rankin would tell his staff, perhaps at this very meeting, that JEH COULDN’T be trusted. This would get back to JEH via WC member Congressman Gerald Ford (this why he was put on the WC by JEH). Ford would become a “snitch” for the FBI as former CIA Director, and WC member, Allen Dulles was for the CIA.
JEH would not deliver the files the WC needed to review, and on December 16, 1963, they made a public appeal for the files. JEH would quickly convene a luncheon with his friend President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) to thwart this
effort (what was he so afraid of them seeing?) which failed, but it did buy him more time.
Why do none of the WC defenders mention this since the FBI was deliberately curtailing the efforts of their beloved WC? On January 2, 1964, JEH tells the press that the investigation is complete into the death of JFK. On January 7 he leaks to the media that Marina Oswald “is now convinced that Oswald killed JFK” and she has still not yet even testified before the WC.
On January 17, 1964, Rankin will request access to all photographic evidence of the assassination from JEH, who complies. On January 27, 1964 the Chief counsel and other members apparently view the Zapruder, Nix, and Hughes films. They will meet on January 22 and January 27 to discuss the reality of the situation. JEH is essentially charged with obstruction of justice and the seriousness of the situation appears to overwhelm some members of the WC.
In February Marina Oswald finally testifies and confirms her new position of her husband, Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO), being guilty of the crime. Rankin will question her about LHO’s informant status, and this perhaps caused JEH to admit that Jack Ruby was a FBI informant in the late 1950s. This fact will be concealed from the American people under the guise of “national security”, but later on it did surface but it was stated that Ruby simply was recruited because of his knowledge of the Dallas “criminal element."
On March 26, 1964, the WC shows JEH’s attempt to overwhelm them with stalls fails as they submit fifty-two interrogatories to him. These are basically a “cross-examination” of the Bureau. Rankin will become more aggressive and on April 20, 1964, he and staff assistants, Redlich and Willens (a liaison to the Bureau and in a position to read FBI Mafia reports), set a trap for JEH.
They are anticipating his May appearance before the Commission when he will be under oath. They want to question him about LHO’s ties to the Mafia. On April 30 JEH responds the only way he can – he denies ANY connection between LHO and the Mafia. JEH is outraged by such a perceived hostile attack and on May 5, 1964, he will leak derogatory information on Redlich to the media. JEH supporters call for a stoppage in the WC’s work until all members can be submitted to a “full security investigation” by the Bureau.
[Note: This is how easy it is to get even important people to cooperate.]
This attack stuns the WC and forces them to ask Rankin to stop his attempts to show JEH lied under oath and that there were very real connections between the Mafia and the assassination. Rankin will not back down fully and on May 14 JEH comes to the WC again. Rankin uses his April 20 letter and the denial in front of the WC of April 30 and asks him point blank if he still DENIES any involvement by the Mafia in the assassination of JFK, BUT then tragically does NOT follow through with questioning and evidence that would have showed JEH to be a liar. He will be blocked by Chief Justice Earl Warren, Ford and Dulles with interjections and redirections whenever he gets close to this issue.
North feels JEH was told ahead of time he would be safe as he again perjures himself when he lies under oath by saying the Bureau had NOT withheld information from the Secret Service (SS) regarding threats against JFK.
It is still not known if Rankin knew ahead of time whether he would be prevented in fully exploring this issue or not. If Rankin would have shown JEH to be the liar he was, what would have this done to the final WC report? I think we know the truth would possibly have come out much sooner if JEH had been shown to be an active part of the cover-up in 1964.
mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/shared/npr/styles/x_large/nprshared/201706/260309350.jpg
images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41uh-rUn7qL._SY445_QL70_.jpg
Mark North’s book, “Act of Treason”, examines all things J. Edgar Hoover (JEH) as he writes about JEH’s active involvement in the President John F. Kennedy (JFK) assassination and the cover-up that followed. One man did try to challenge the powerful head of the FBI though, and surprisingly it was someone on the Warren Commission (WC) itself.
Chief counsel Lee J. Rankin was considered less political than the members of the WC, and he quickly leaked some news regarding JEH when he joined the WC. He told the media that JEH was pressuring the WC to conclude that the investigation would be concluded by February 1964 which was something he considered a practical impossibility.
In his very first staff meeting things got so hot in terms of what their focus and goals should be that it basically degenerated into a standoff, and they never had any more staff meetings! Rankin would tell his staff, perhaps at this very meeting, that JEH COULDN’T be trusted. This would get back to JEH via WC member Congressman Gerald Ford (this why he was put on the WC by JEH). Ford would become a “snitch” for the FBI as former CIA Director, and WC member, Allen Dulles was for the CIA.
JEH would not deliver the files the WC needed to review, and on December 16, 1963, they made a public appeal for the files. JEH would quickly convene a luncheon with his friend President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) to thwart this
effort (what was he so afraid of them seeing?) which failed, but it did buy him more time.
Why do none of the WC defenders mention this since the FBI was deliberately curtailing the efforts of their beloved WC? On January 2, 1964, JEH tells the press that the investigation is complete into the death of JFK. On January 7 he leaks to the media that Marina Oswald “is now convinced that Oswald killed JFK” and she has still not yet even testified before the WC.
On January 17, 1964, Rankin will request access to all photographic evidence of the assassination from JEH, who complies. On January 27, 1964 the Chief counsel and other members apparently view the Zapruder, Nix, and Hughes films. They will meet on January 22 and January 27 to discuss the reality of the situation. JEH is essentially charged with obstruction of justice and the seriousness of the situation appears to overwhelm some members of the WC.
In February Marina Oswald finally testifies and confirms her new position of her husband, Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO), being guilty of the crime. Rankin will question her about LHO’s informant status, and this perhaps caused JEH to admit that Jack Ruby was a FBI informant in the late 1950s. This fact will be concealed from the American people under the guise of “national security”, but later on it did surface but it was stated that Ruby simply was recruited because of his knowledge of the Dallas “criminal element."
On March 26, 1964, the WC shows JEH’s attempt to overwhelm them with stalls fails as they submit fifty-two interrogatories to him. These are basically a “cross-examination” of the Bureau. Rankin will become more aggressive and on April 20, 1964, he and staff assistants, Redlich and Willens (a liaison to the Bureau and in a position to read FBI Mafia reports), set a trap for JEH.
They are anticipating his May appearance before the Commission when he will be under oath. They want to question him about LHO’s ties to the Mafia. On April 30 JEH responds the only way he can – he denies ANY connection between LHO and the Mafia. JEH is outraged by such a perceived hostile attack and on May 5, 1964, he will leak derogatory information on Redlich to the media. JEH supporters call for a stoppage in the WC’s work until all members can be submitted to a “full security investigation” by the Bureau.
[Note: This is how easy it is to get even important people to cooperate.]
This attack stuns the WC and forces them to ask Rankin to stop his attempts to show JEH lied under oath and that there were very real connections between the Mafia and the assassination. Rankin will not back down fully and on May 14 JEH comes to the WC again. Rankin uses his April 20 letter and the denial in front of the WC of April 30 and asks him point blank if he still DENIES any involvement by the Mafia in the assassination of JFK, BUT then tragically does NOT follow through with questioning and evidence that would have showed JEH to be a liar. He will be blocked by Chief Justice Earl Warren, Ford and Dulles with interjections and redirections whenever he gets close to this issue.
North feels JEH was told ahead of time he would be safe as he again perjures himself when he lies under oath by saying the Bureau had NOT withheld information from the Secret Service (SS) regarding threats against JFK.
It is still not known if Rankin knew ahead of time whether he would be prevented in fully exploring this issue or not. If Rankin would have shown JEH to be the liar he was, what would have this done to the final WC report? I think we know the truth would possibly have come out much sooner if JEH had been shown to be an active part of the cover-up in 1964.