Warren Commission: Conversation with Sen. Tom Kuchel

Speaker: Lyndon B Johnson
Delivered On: 11/29/1963
Place: Washington, DC
Subject:
Audio/Video Available:

Description: LBJ and Sen. Tom Kuchel
talk. Johnson reviews commission membership and then explains how he convinced Warren to
serve. Here, we have selected telephone conversations concerning the Special Commission
to Investigate the Assassination of
President John F. Kennedy
(the Warren Commission). President 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:
Transcript not yet available.
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