@arrowiv thank you for the info! You'll note I integrated it into the next chapter.
Chapter 4: Stormy Days Ahead
Dallas, Texas; F.B.I. Offices: 11:00 a.m. (CST), November 29, 1963:
At 11:00 a.m. J. Edgar Hoover, who had arrived in Dallas barely two hours ago entered the regional offices of the F.B.I. in Dallas.
Waiting for him were Gordon Shanklin and James Hosty, the two resident F.B.I. agents assigned to Dallas. How long that position would continue was contingent on what Hoover learned from them at this meeting.
In Hoover’s mind if this was a conspiracy the F.B.I. should have caught wind of it early on. The fact that there were no warning signs of any type before the fatal events of a week ago made the F.B.I. look bad. And this in the sight of a new president and the attorney general and brother of the late President who were demanding answers – loudly.
Hoover knew that his own career might well be on the line if he couldn’t come up with those answers.
Now Hoover sat at a desk in the Dallas office of the F.B.I. What he learned here could determine the futures of many in the agency, himself included.
“All right,” Hoover declared. “Let’s get started. First off, what have you learned about Oswald in addition to what we already have on him?”
Agent Hosty spoke up first. “We put out a request for information on the man to all the offices around the country. We did get one interesting piece of information. Evidently the New Orleans office reports that Oswald lived there for a time before moving to Dallas. He was involved with or started a group known as ‘Fair Play for Cuba’. They report that while he was in New Orleans, he distributed pamphlets demanding the U.S. normalize relationships with Cuba and stop persecuting the Cuban people and leadership. We’re working with the New Orleans Office investigating just how many may be members of this ‘Fair Play for Cuba group. So far, we have no evidence that there are any other members then Oswald in it.”
“Any sign that he’s contacted any of the Russian agents real or suspected we have under surveillance?” Hoover asked. “No sir, but we’re still looking into that, admitted Agent Hosty. “So far, nothing.”
Hoover nodded. He wasn’t totally satisfied with the answers but at least it seemed the two agents had dug up some additional information that could prove useful.
“What about the Dallas Police Officers on Air Force One?” He demanded. Here Gordon Shanklin handed Hoover another folder. “Here are the transcripts and notes from our preliminary interviews with the officers” Shanklin then handed a second folder to Hoover. “And here are the personnel files we have on both Dr. Earl Rose and the officers who boarded Air Force One.”
As Hoover skimmed through the various reports Shanklin anticipated his next question. “As far as we can tell one of the officers is a member of the John Birch Society, while one of the others has a relative who may, I emphasize may have Klan connections. We’re in the process of trying to verify that piece of information now.”
Hoover looked over the files paying particular attention to the one of the officer with the John Birch membership. “According to this he hasn’t attended a meeting in the last two years and is not on their active membership list.” Shanklin replied, “Yes sir. We verified that with the local John Birch society. The man is on their inactive membership list and has been for over two years now.”
After a few more moments looking at the files Hoover turned his attention back to the transcripts. “Okay, sum up the preliminary interviews for me.”
James Hosty replied. “Mr. Hoover, honestly, I think we’re looking at sone sort of cover-up. All the officers in the transcripts seem to say the exact same thing paralleling the statement that they put out right after the shooting. If you look them over, you’ll find there’s hardly any deviation in any of the accounts. That’s a warning sign to me these guys have been coached.”
Hoover nodded again. After a moment of glancing through the transcripts he replied. “Maybe they have been coached or maybe they actually are telling the truth.” And there was clearly doubt in Hoover’s voice when he said this. “We need to bring them all in one by one starting with Dr. Rose and question them each individually.
After another moment skimming through the transcripts Hoover continued. “I’ll read through these files and transcripts in more detail later. Right now, let’s see about getting Dr. Rose and these other officers in here to interview them. Washington is going to want answers and I will provide them come hell or high water!”
Washington, D.C.; The White House, Oval Office; 10:00 a.m. (EST):
In the oval office President McCormack was having a spirited discussion with Senator Hubert Humphrey and his former congressional aide and now potential chief of staff.
“I know there is no procedure for a President to appoint a Vice President under the Constitution Hubert. But honestly, I don’t think the Founding Fathers ever anticipated a screw up like what happened a week ago.”
Hubert Humphrey said, “Mr. President I agree with you. But this is not the time to be setting a precedent. The best I can recommend is to keep the office vacant until the election next year. If something happens to you, God forbid, then the next Speaker of the House can take the position if necessary.”
President McCormack shook his head. “Not good enough Hubert. The country needs to know it has a firm hand at the wheel. Quite honestly, I’m concerned that mine isn’t the firmest at this time. As I told Bobby I am concerned that my health might not hold out to the middle of January 1965. We need to have someone in the second seat who is a lot healthier and stronger than me.”
President McCormack continued. “That’s why I want Bobby Kennedy to be Vice-President. As I told him right now, we need to show the country there is at least one firm hand running the country. And if that hand is a Kennedy all the better. I know there is no legal precedent for this, but I am prepared to invoke executive privilege and take this all the way to Earl Warren if I have to,” McCormack concluded.
