Episode 164 The Garrison Investigation Part 14 The NBC Whitepaper

Episode 164 is  the fourteenth  in a new series of episodes that chronicle the story of the Garrison investigation in  New Orleans and the related trial of Clay Shaw.   Today's episode features the audio from the  NBC Whitepaper on the Garrison Investigation, which aired on June 19th, 1967. It was a major blow to Garrison and his team.  On the surface, this prime  time television special  was an attempt by NBC to address the controversial aspects of the Garrison investigation, which had already resulted in the arrest  of Clay Shaw on March 1st, 1967. Shaw was subsequently  indicted, after a preliminary hearing and a grand jury proceeding,  under the  charge of conspiracy to murder President Kennedy. One of the principal forces behind  the NBC White Paper  was  Walter Sheridan  and his  ultimate objective was to discredit the investigation overall. NBC attacked  the rather flimsy evidence that Garrison's team presented in a preliminary hearing...evidence used to justify arresting  Clay Shaw. NBC also  addressed  what appeared to be dubious methods applied by the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office  to obtain testimony from key witnesses. Finally they would attempt to refute that Clay Shaw was Clay Bertrand resulting  in an embarrassing faux pas by the network  that backfired. Many of the so called witnesses featured in the NBC White Paper were subsequently summoned to testify in front of the Orleans Parish Grand Jury and repeat their statements under oath. Playing hardball, Garrison used this tool to test whether   the statements made on the NBC TV special were truthful.  Several of the witnesses appearing on the NBC program refused to answer such questions before the grand jury, citing their right to avoid self incrimination.  While the White Paper shed some light on many controversial aspects of the investigation, there was a clear bias contained in the programming. Outraged, Jim Garrison appealed to the FCC and, under the "then existing fairness doctrine",  he was granted 30 minutes of prime time on NBC to rebut the case. Garrison's rebuttal is featured in episode 165.

 Even as early as 1964, rumors and serious concerns over  the lone gunman theory and the evidence that might contravene it,  were becoming a major concern for the government and the commission. Conspiracy theories were contrary to the government's stated narrative from the very beginning. This  real-life story is more fascinating than fiction. No matter whether you are a serious researcher or a casual student, you will enjoy the fact filled narrative and story as  we relive one of the most shocking moments in American History. An event that changed the nation and changed the world forever.