Director Oliver Stone and researcher James DiEugenio joined guest host Richard Syrett (Twitter) to discuss their documentary series, "JFK: Destiny Betrayed" and "JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass," which explores the JFK assassination and its aftermath.
Stone reflected on the evolution of understanding regarding JFK's assassination due to the Assassination Records Review Board (ARB) from 1994 to 1998, which released thousands of pages of documents. However, he noted that significant classified documents, around 4,000, remain inaccessible. Despite the additional insights brought about by the ARB, mainstream media has largely ignored or downplayed these revelations, Stone lamented. He also argued the CIA's secrecy has blocked historical progress in the JFK assassination investigation.
DiEugenio recounted his journey as a filmmaker and researcher intersecting with the release of Stone's 1991 film, "JFK." He initially intended to write a screenplay on the JFK case but found his plans disrupted by Stone's adaptation of Jim Garrison's book. Reflecting on the controversy surrounding the film's portrayal of historical events, DiEugenio acknowledged the liberties taken by filmmakers, attributing them to the lack of access to all documents at the time. He emphasized the unprecedented attacks on Stone and the film, which persisted even before its release.
Stone delved into what he believes are deeper motivations behind JFK's assassination, suggesting a connection to geopolitical tensions, particularly with Cuba and the Soviet Union. Stone argued that Kennedy's push for peace and departure from Cold War ideologies might have threatened powerful interests invested in perpetuating conflict. He criticized the integrity of the investigation, highlighting inconsistencies in JFK autopsy evidence, including altered photos and the president's missing brain.
DiEugenio explored the broader historical context of the assassination, critiquing the Warren Commission's investigation of it and highlighting the CIA's involvement in covert operations, particularly in Cuba. Like Stone, he argued that Kennedy's efforts towards peace, as evidenced by his American University speech, posed a threat to entrenched interests in maintaining the Cold War paradigm. DiEugenio underscored the persistent resistance to acknowledging a conspiracy regarding JFK's assassination, citing ongoing classification of documents and media apprehension towards alternative narratives.
He stressed the significance of continued inquiry into the JFK assassination, and emphasized the importance of integrating newly available information into the public discourse, as evidenced by the success of their documentaries and the enduring interest in the subject matter despite mainstream media skepticism.
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The remainder of the program featured Open Lines. Richard also recounted a series of strange occurrences happening in his hometown of Thornhill, Ontario, involving his neighbor, Helen, and the voice memo app on her iPhone. Helen shared with Richard's son, Zachary, that the app keeps suggesting the title "Voula Sakellaropoulos" for her recordings, which is the name of Richard's deceased mother-in-law. Despite attempts to rationalize the phenomenon, such as attributing it to GPS or Google Maps, the suggested title persists even with unrelated recordings. Richard remains perplexed by the inexplicable connection between Helen's recordings and his deceased relative's name. "I'm out of explanations," he said.