An interview with Barr McClellan, author of Blood, Money & Power: How L.B.J. Killed J.F.K.
Court TV Host: Our guest, Barr McClellan, author of "Blood,
Money & Power: How L.B.J. Killed JFK." Welcome, Mr. McClellan...thanks
for being our guest today. Barr McClellan: Thank you. Very glad to join you. Court TV Host: Before we start, is there anything you didn't get a
chance to say on television yesterday that you'd like to mention here before
we begin? Barr McClellan: I was preempted by Michael Jackson so the session
was very abbreviated. Mainly I got the key exhibits on the show - the prints
and the indictment. There's much more. Mainly it turned into a chat of
somewhat harsh tones between Posner and the shot expert. There is a whole
lot more - 68 total exhibits to tell the whole story and text to connect the
dots. Question from AnnD: How did LBJ kill JFK? Question from lucy: What makes you believe LBJ
did it? Barr McClellan: The entire book needs to be read. Basically, LBJ
wanted power - the presidency and he feared indictment. There was a lot
more. He was a ruthless and violent man who would and did do anything. Then
I have the exhibits bringing his hitman, Mac Wallace onto the sixth floor -
by his prints and a witness. The lawyers I worked with first told me Ed
Clark, the senior partner, was behind it. I later confirmed that. LBJ asked
Clark for help and Clark provided it according to his long agreement with
Johnson. This is the heart of what happened. There is a lot more in the
book, to show these men in action. Question from ally_oops: What indictment are you
referring to? Barr McClellan: In 1961 Henry Marshall was murdered by Mac
Wallace, the hitman on the sixth floor. The ruling then was suicide;
however, a later grand jury ruled homicide and said Johnson was guilty. He
could not be indicted because he had passed on. But with that action, law
enforcement got him. That grand jury ruled in 1984 with supporting evidence
from Texas Ranger Clint Peoples. Three people were involved - Johnson,
Wallace, and Cliff Carter. Billy Sol Estes was the fourth participant and
was given immunity. Court TV Host: What happened to that indictment? Barr McClellan: The indictment was after Johnson had passed on. It
was used to help the Marshall family change the result. Many newspapers
covered the event in Texas but it got little publicity elsewhere. Since the
guilty men were dead, nothing could be done. Question from mergatroid: If LBJ were still
alive, do you think there would be some congressional hearing (similar to
Clinton's) where he would have been given the opportunity to testify? Barr McClellan: That was happening back in 1961 when the murder
was committed. Law enforcement was slowly closing in, centering on Estes who
was indicted in April 1962. Then Johnson went underground, not available to
the press. He was the top dog everyone suspected. Impeachment papers were
introduced and talk started that Kennedy would drop him. Without the
protection of his office, Johnson could be indicted. The stage was set for
Dallas. Today, Johnson would have the chance to testify if alive; however,
it would be in court, not Congress. Question from lapdog: Well, LBJ obviously did not
pull the trigger himself. How is it possible that those who assisted LBJ in
this coup managed to keep their mouths shut all these years? Question from ally_oops: Did any of these men
ever admit any guilt to family members or anyone? Barr McClellan: Their mouths were sealed by the attorney-client
privilege. Many lawyers consider that to mean no talk. There is a proviso -
they must talk to prevent imminent injury. The key men were thus protected
and well-paid. Oswald was killed and Ruby died. Wallace was taken care of
with a good job and then, after a divorce and wanting more, he was killed.
There are two men we have not identified. They may still be subject to
indictment. They were all protected and paid or they were killed. Question from soccermom: Why haven't the
Kennedy's ever come forward supporting any of these theories of conspiracy?
If they believe Johnson is behind it, there should be nothing holding them
back at this point in time. Question from ally_oops: Do the Kennedys agree
with you? Barr McClellan: The Kennedys are central to any investigation, and
I promptly notified them of the print exhibits. Jackie commissioned a book,
Farewell America, with help of France, and it said conspiracy - big Oil. RFK
was there but cut off from law enforcement, and blocked by Hoover. When he
ran for the presidency, he said he would take action when elected. That, of
course, did not happen. I have some indication from the Kennedy family, a
nephew of Jackie's, who agrees. We are still confirming. Some key records
are still sealed. We are waiting. Question from ally_oops: Did the Kennedy family
give you any interviews during your research of your book Barr McClellan: No. And I did not ask. They have kept a very low
profile, and the nephew's report may be one of the first to talk. They were
informed but it was a courtesy. I received no response. Question from Candyce_Moonwalking: Can you tell
us a little about Edward Clark and what role you think he played for
Johnson? Question from Candyce_Moonwalking: How did this
alliance with Ed Clark and Johnson come about? Why did Johnson trust
him? Barr McClellan: Clark was the key lawyer for Johnson and the only
man he trusted. There is a telling letter in the book on this. In 1949 Clark
was recognized as the boss of Texas and during the Johnson years ran the
state. Johnson asked for his help and got it. Since Clark controlled Texas
justice, Kennedy did not have a chance. Any trial would be in Texas courts -
assassinating a president was not then a federal crime. They key between the
men was several fold. Clark got Johnson elected for the first time. Clark
sent Thomas to stuff the ballot box in the 1948 election. A series of
letters in 1949 shows the basic conspiracy - Clark to take care of a man for
good and to handle some deep financial problems. Johnson writes back - we
know the risk, and you will be protected. This was in 1949. In 1960 a letter
in the book shows Johnson trust - no man in more esteem and indebted to no
other. These telling documents are part of the key exhibits and tell an
important part of the story. Court TV Host: You also worked for Clark, didn't you? Barr McClellan: I was an attorney with Clark in 1966 and with him
until 1977. I learned of the conspiracy in those years and worked the
Johnson files from early on. I represented Clark personally in his efforts
to get his bonus for the assassination. We covered a great many cases in
those years and took care of Johnson interests in every way. As partner in
1972, I learned all the ins and outs, saw the flow of money, and confirmed
all I had heard. It was very difficult because I admired Kennedy but was in
the middle of his killers. I simply denied it, at first believing it was not
true and then believing it covered by the privilege. It was very
difficult. Question from construe: What reaction have you
gotten about your book from family of LBJ? Barr McClellan: They said nothing for several weeks. Yesterday
they had a press release saying it was a smear. The series on the History
Channel brought them out of an obvious attempt to ignore the book. They have
ignored what I have been saying since 1984 and even in 1998, hoping there
will be no news. Now they have had to respond. Jack Valenti and Tom Johnson
(former head of CNN and LA Times) are speaking for her. I say cut out the
catch phrases and show the facts. Where are the facts? These two very
powerful men have kept the book from some news outlets. We are now well out
there. Question from Tom: Do you contend that Wallace
shot from the book depository, and if so, what about claims of shots from
behind the picket fence on the grassy knoll? Barr McClellan: The prints put Wallace on the sixth floor, and an
eyewitness says he was there. Photos show his shadowy figure there. He fired
one of the shots and ran to escape. Oswald fired two. There was a shooter on
the grassy knoll. The crime scene reveals this situation. Three men claiming
to be Secret Service were never identified. They were the killers making
their escape. Oswald was the patsy. There were at least four shots. Question from lapdog: If LBJ wanted the
presidency so badly, why did he bail out on running for re-election? Question from AnnD: If Johnson wanted the
President badly enough to kill for it, why do you believe he didn't run for
a second term? Barr McClellan: He was exhausted. The emotions of paranoia and
depression left him weakened. The decision was spur of the moment. He
instantly regretted it. Clark did not know and never forgave him.By 1968,
Johnson was a broken man and could take no more. Court TV Host: Any closing thoughts? Barr McClellan: The case is very complex. The book is only an
overview. You have to see how lawyers can be so corrupt, and the power
system can get away with what it did. But it happened, and I've laid it out
in the book. May I return for more? Court TV Host: Certainly. Thank you for being our guest
online.
