NBC Worries Trump Will Cover Up JFK Assassination Files

Newsbusters.org ^ | September 29, 2017 | Kyle Drennen

[Kaslin]

In a bizarre story for NBC’s Today on Friday, correspondent Peter Alexander preemptively attacked President Trump for possibly blocking the release of classified government files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, even though the reporter acknowledged that  “no decision’s been made” by the administration regarding the obscure bureaucratic matter.

“As you can imagine, historians are eagerly awaiting the release of these never-before-seen files....The National Archives here in Washington has until October 26th to turn them all over....The one person who could stand in the way, President Trump,” Alexander melodramatically announced at the top of his report about the 54-year-old “news.”

https://www.mrctv.org/videos/nbc-worries-trump-will-cover-jfk-assassination-files

Amping up the concern that Trump may decide not to have the documents released to the public, the reporter proclaimed: “More than 50 years after his tragic death, the endless fascination with President John F. Kennedy lives on....The National Archives is preparing to release more than 3,000 never-before-seen documents related to the assassination, unless President Trump decides to keep them secret.”

Despite such sensationalism, Alexander noted: “For now, the White House tells NBC News no decision’s been made, but the documents could be kept in the shadows for reasons of national security.”

He then quickly ratcheted the story back up: “Historians fear that President Trump could torpedo this chance to shed light on an event that sparked countless conspiracy theories.” A clip played of historian Philip Shenon fearing: “If documents are held back next month, I think that would only add to the confusion, that will add to the cynicism. And from an historian’s standpoint, from the standpoint of an American citizen, I think that would be a great shame.”

Alexander eventually turned the segment to offer the usual liberal media fawning over JFK’s legacy: “For decades, JFK’s legacy has loomed large in American politics. His death becoming a turning point in our history, movies and documentaries analyzing every detail. Images of Camelot still mesmerizing the whole today.”

A soundbite followed of left-wing MSNBC host and Kennedy superfan Chris Matthews getting a thrill up his leg over the late president: “He was just glowing in his leadership in the country. Everyone looked up to him and many loved him. The future looked very bright. And then, it was over in a flash.”

“Now, the question remains, will President Trump allow new information to come to light or keep it under wraps?,” Alexander ominously wondered.

Here is a full transcript of the September 29 segment:

7:42 AM ET

MATT LAUER: 7:42 now on a Friday morning, we’re back with the much-anticipated release of secret government files tied to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

HODA KOTB: There is just one roadblock potentially standing in the way of that. NBC National Correspondent Peter Alexander is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. with that story. Hey, Peter.

PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Hoda, Matt, and Savannah, good morning to you. As you can imagine, historians are eagerly awaiting the release of these never-before-seen files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The National Archives here in Washington has until October 26th to turn them all over. That deadline was set by Congress 25 years ago.

Scholars, as you would expect, they’re hopeful they’re going to get their hands on these. Files mostly from the CIA and FBI that could clarify some unanswered questions about the assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. The one person who could stand in the way, President Trump.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Sealed JFK Documents Released?; Trump Could Reveal Thousands of Assassination Files]

More than 50 years after his tragic death, the endless fascination with President John F. Kennedy lives on. And now the public could soon learn new details about his killer. The National Archives is preparing to release more than 3,000 never-before-seen documents related to the assassination, unless President Trump decides to keep them secret. For now, the White House tells NBC News no decision’s been made, but the documents could be kept in the shadows for reasons of national security. Historians fear that President Trump could torpedo this chance to shed light on an event that sparked countless conspiracy theories.

PHILIP SHENON [AUTHOR OF “A CRUEL AND SHOCKING ACT”]: If documents are held back next month, I that would only add to the confusion, that will add to the cynicism. And from an historian’s standpoint, from the standpoint of an American citizen, I think that would be a great shame.

ALEXANDER: One of the more bizarre conspiracies promoted by Mr. Trump himself, touting a widely discredited National Enquirer story about Senator Ted Cruz’s father.

DONALD TRUMP [5/13/16]: His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald being, you know, shot. I mean the whole thing is ridiculous.

ALEXANDER: The new files may contain new information about Oswald. Just weeks before the killing, the 24-year-old traveled to Mexico City, visiting Soviet and Cuban embassies apparently to secure visas to enter those countries, but details of his trip remain a mystery. Raising questions for some about whether or not Oswald had help, or if the U.S. government was aware of his intentions before the shots rang out in Dallas.

JOHN F. KENNEDY: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

ALEXANDER: For decades, JFK’s legacy has loomed large in American politics. His death becoming a turning point in our history, movies and documentaries analyzing every detail. Images of Camelot still mesmerizing the whole today.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: He was just glowing in his leadership in the country. Everyone looked up to him and many loved him. The future looked very bright. And then, it was over in a flash.

ALEXANDER: Now, the question remains, will President Trump allow new information to come to light or keep it under wraps?

Again, that deadline is October 26th. Among those leading the charge to get these documents turned over, the Republican Senator from Iowa, Chuck Grassley, who gave NBC News a statement that reads in part, “Americans deserve a full picture of what happened that fateful day in November 1963. Shining a light on never-before-seen government records is essential to filling in these blank spaces in our history.” Back to you guys.

LAUER: Even after all these years, there’s so much interest in that subject.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Yes, we’ll see what he does.

LAUER: Exactly. Peter, thank you.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Explain how Connelly’s wound was oblong in a way that does not include the bullet tumbling after already hitting JFK first.

[MagnoliaB]

Just as you stated before, I too and mainly because I don’t have time, don’t want to rehash every aspect of it. When I see these threads it interests me. Probably because I grew up and decades into my adulthood, having to see it rehashed. In any case, I have questions that have not been answered to my satisfaction and that’s my prerogative. You on the other hand and other snarky com padres and the ‘area 51’ mocking are a curiosity to me. You people use liberal tactics to mock people into shutting up the same as what we see them do to conservative speakers. Why? What’s in it for you people to try and shove the Warren Report down people’s throats lock, stock and barrel?

I have no clue how well your BS meter works but I know how mine works.

[SoCal Pubbie]

What snarky comment did I post?

[MagnoliaB]

First tell me why you are trying to shove The Warren Commissions Version down everyone’s throat? Again, what are you getting out of discrediting anyone that thinks the government may have lied to us about what went down?

If you can’t answer that, then my conversation with you is done.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I'm not trying to shove anything down anyone’s throat. And I don't want to discredit anyone save the Mark Lanes and David Liftons of the world. Lane in particular was a toll of the KGB. So I'm not getting anything out of it, except the satisfaction of people learning the truth, that Oswald killed JFK and acted alone. There simply is no evidence to the contrary. Mistaken witnesses no more invalidate the basic facts of the Warren Report than do claims of two shooters in Las Vegas last night. Nor do hearsay accounts of drug addicts, old strippers, or long abandoned mistresses.

The forensics point to the sixth floor window. The majority of witness point in the same direction. The gun found in the sniper's nest was his. His marksmanship has been replicated. Connelly’s wounds prove he was hit by a bullet fired from the rear, that struck someone else first. The doctors who actually worked on JFK agree that the shots came from behind. There are no other spent shell casings, or entry sounds from any other direction, or any other hard evidence of any other shooter.

There is no credible evidence that Oswald knew Ruby. Ruby had no prior knowledge of Oswald's transfer nor any special access to gain entry to the police building. He shot Oswald FOUR MINUTES after finishing his transaction at the Western Union office. Oswald's transfer had been delayed do Ruby should not have even been able to do the deed. The shooting hardly displayed the expertise and planning of a paid killer.

There are wired coincidences and bad luck involved with just about every infamous crime throughout history. That doesn't spell conspiracy.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Also I challenge conspiracy proponents for the same reason I argue with 9/11 Truthers.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Boston Glob”....lol

[GOPsterinMA]

Even their sports section has become unreadable.