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Article 58 of 98 in alt.conspiracy.jfk
The Katzenbach memo AKA the Hoover directive
Robert Harris <bobharris77@yahoo.com>
Today 11:50 AM

Probably no government document makes more clear, the extreme bias of
the highest federal authorities, and their lack of interest in a
legitimate investigation, than does the Katzenbach memo, issued less
than 72 hours after the murder.

Of course, in later years Katzenbach would deny that he was trying to
stifle the investigation, and didn't really mean that he was in a rush
to pin the blame on Oswald.

But based on other evidence, it does indeed appear that this was
Katzenbach's as well as the FBI's intent. This is from the HSCA
interview of David Slawson.

"Mr. CORNWELL. ...it has been reported to  us by  our research staff
that in the L.B.J. Library in Austin there is a memo prepared by, or
reflecting a conversation between, Mr. Hoover and the White House,
Walter Jenkins. The conversation reflects that Hoover made the following
statement:

"The thing I am most concerned about, and Mr. Katzenbach, is having
something issued so that they can convince the public that Oswald is the
real assassin,"

the conversation occurring November 24, 1963, 2 days after the
assassination.

(unquote)

So, one day prior to the release of Katzenbach's memo, Hoover was told
that the attorney general's office would release something about how
they would "convince the public that Oswald is the real assassin.".

This the full text of the Katzenbach memo:

Deputy Attorney General

November 25, 1963

MEMORANDUM FOR MR. MOYERS

It is important that all of the facts surrounding President Kennedy's
Assassination be made public in a way which will satisfy people in the
United States and abroad that all the facts have been told and that a
statement to this effect be made now.

1. The public must be satisfied that Oswald was the assassin; that he
did not have confederates who are still at large; and that the evidence
was such that he would have been convicted at trial.

2. Speculation about Oswald's motivation ought to be cut off, and we
should have some basis for rebutting the thought that this was a
Communist conspiracy or (as the Iron Curtain press is saying) a
right-wing conspiracy to blame it on the Communists. Unfortunately the
facts on Oswald seem about too pat-- too obvious (Marxist, Cuba, Russian
wife, etc.). The Dallas police have put out statements on the Communist
conspiracy theory, and it was they who were in charge when he was shot
and thus silenced.

3. The matter has been handled thus far with neither dignity nor
conviction. Facts have been mixed with rumour and speculation. We can
scarcely let the world see us totally in the image of the Dallas police
when our President is murdered.

I think this objective may be satisfied by making public as soon as
possible a complete and thorough FBI report on Oswald and the
assassination.

This may run into the difficulty of pointing to in- consistencies
between this report and statements by Dallas police officials. But the
reputation of the Bureau is such that it may do the whole job.

The only other step would be the appointment of a Presidential
Commission of unimpeachable personnel to review and examine the evidence
and announce its conclusions. This has both advantages and disadvantages.

It think it can await publication of the FBI report and public reaction
to it here and abroad.

I think, however, that a statement that all the facts will be made
public property in an orderly and responsible way should be made now. We
need something to head off public speculation or Congressional hearings
of the wrong sort.

Nicholas deB. Katzenbach

Deputy Attorney General





Robert Harris

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