Warren Commission: Conversation with Rep. Hale Boggs

Speaker: Lyndon B Johnson
Delivered On: 11/29/1963
Place: Washington, DC
Subject: United States. Warren Commission.
Investigation of the assassination of
President John F. Kennedy
.
Audio/Video Available:

Description: LBJ and Rep. Hale Boggs
(Dem.-La.) explore the idea of a presidential commission rather than separate Senate
and House investigations. Here, we’re offering selected telephone conversations
concerning the Special Commission to Investigate the Assassination of President
John F. Kennedy (the Warren Commission). President John F. Kennedy was assassinated
in Dallas, TX on November 22, 1963. Shortly thereafter, the House of Representatives
and the Senate considered independent investigations of the assassination and the
murder of Kennedy’s putative assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. To trump these congressional
efforts, President Lyndon Johnson decided to form a presidential commission to investigate
the assassination and Oswald’s death.

These conversations document the formation of the commission — indentified by the
popular title “The Warren Commission” — because the chairman was Chief Justice Earl Warren. The selected
conversations you will hear document Johnson’s extraordinary persuasiveness. The
matchup of personalities called on all of Johnson’s ability. Appeals to patriotism,
family, and honor were interspersed in his conversations. Some people were honored,
others were reluctant despite the Johnson treatment. In the end, all served. These
conversations explain how Johnson cobbled the committee together. (The conversations
are in chronological order.)

A comment about the recordings. These recordings vary dramatically in audio quality.
The recordings were made on Dictaphone Dictabelt equipment. You will hear many imperfections.
Sometimes the audio may be inaudible. This is not the fault of your RealAudio Player.
The problem lies in the source material. Do not be discouraged, for there are riches
to be found here that will illuminate those sad and frightening days following Kennedy’s
death.

References:
Transcript/Log:
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