PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA SEMINAR SERIES, THE: DOCEVENTS: PBS AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: OSWALD'S GHOST {LOS ANGELES} {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's DocEvents series, celebrating noteworthy documentary programs. Held at the Paley Center in New York, this evening celebrates "Oswald's Ghost," the documentary deconstructing the myths and controversy surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, airing under the umbrella of "American Experience."
Host Barbara Dixon (director, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and discusses the museum's recent name change before welcoming Josh Mankiewicz (anchor, Dateline NBC). Mankiewicz briefly comments on his memories of the Kennedy assassination and introduces producer/director Robert Stone. Stone introduces the film, which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see B:90961.)
After the screening, Mankiewicz moderates a conversation with Stone and Gary Hart (former U.S. Senator of Colorado and presidential candidate).
Taking intermittent questions from the audience, the panelists touch on such topics as: why the majority of Americans do not believe in the Warren Commission's findings, and the film as an examination of the "whodunit"; Stone's disappointment at not being able to interview Senator Arlen Specter for the film; omitting "niche things" and minor figures in discussing the many conspiracies; the "nutty" theory surrounding New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison, as outlined in Oliver Stone's 1991 fiction film "JFK"; Hart's involvement with the Church Committee and the relevance of the CIA's attempted assassination of Fidel Castro, among other leaders; the Mafia's involvement in the Castro plot, due to their desire to regain access to Cuba, their main source of illegal income; Frank Sinatra's involvement through making key introductions; how Kennedy's post-Bay of Pigs deal with Khrushchev ruined the Mafia's chances of getting back into Havana, thus creating a motive for murder; details about alleged Kennedy mistress Judith Exner and mafiosos Sam Giancana, Santo Trafficante and Johnny Roselli, several of whom met grim and mysterious ends; the House Assassination Committee, which eventually agreed "100%" with the Warren Commission; debate about the alleged "fourth shot"; why the ongoing argument about Kennedy's true killer is a "theological debate," with comparisons to misconceptions about Saddam Hussein's involvement in the September 11th attacks; Stone's editorial choices, including claims that Kennedy underwent secret surgery before the autopsy; his use of Norman Mailer as an "expert witness"; the film's arguably "heavy-handed" aspects; the history of assassinations committed by "loners"; debate about the integrity of Oliver Stone's film, which is often used as an objective educational tool; other politicians' "very generational" positions on the debate; debate about businessman Clay Shaw's true role within the CIA; the CIA and FBI's hasty destruction of evidence regarding Oswald, on whom they had been keeping tabs, after the assassination; Stone's belief that the highly "excitable" Jack Ruby did not plan his murder of Oswald; why the ongoing mystery makes people feel "disempowered" and disinterested in politics; and why the film is not a "debunking" piece.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: June 12, 2007 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:23:53
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:91348
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Barbara Dixon … Host
- Josh Mankiewicz … Moderator
- Robert Stone … Panelist
- Gary Hart … Panelist
- Fidel Castro
- Judith Exner
- Jim Garrison
- Sam Giancana
- Saddam Hussein
- John F. Kennedy
- Norman Mailer
- Lee Harvey Oswald
- Johnny Roselli
- Jack Ruby
- Clay Shaw
- Frank Sinatra
- Arlen Specter
- Oliver Stone
- Santo Trafficante
- Nikita Khrushchev