Chaos & Confusion - The Kennedy Assassination
Posted by Drawnlines Politics Air Force One, audio tapes, JFK, Nation 3:09 AM
Newly-released audio archives give listeners a behind the scenes glimpse at the confusion and stress surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy in November 1963.
According to CBS News, "The complete audio record of the flight back to Washington was lost for years until the estate of JFK's top military aide, Army Gen. Chester "Ted" Clifton Jr., sold his copy of the tapes to The Raab Collection, historical document dealers, which gave a copy of the audio to the National Archives."
It appears the White House Communications Agency edited out 42 minutes of the footage in a previously-released version of the tapes. Conspiracy theorists suggest this was done to cover up "the real story" of the assassination. Others say it was done to protect code names, confidential whereabouts and other sensitive information for national security purposes. You can decide on that for yourself.
Most striking in the tapes is the primitive communication between Air Force One, the White House and other government officials. The channels routinely went out and interference caused rampant miscommunication. It is a wonder that everyone kept their composure and got their job done that day.
History buffs often wonder about the intensely chaotic time between the grassy knoll and the return to the White House that fateful day. With the release of these tapes, the whole world can be a fly on the proverbial wall. Immerse yourself in these historical moments and feel the tension as word came that our president was dead.
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