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[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

[Paulitz]
'Never before
in American history'

'has one family held
such an enormous concentration'

'of political power.'

'The plan is perfectly plain.'

'To retain and perpetuate
this power for decades.'

Two terms for JFK,
two for Bobby and two for Ted.

And in each administration

the brothers
who are not president

would take over
the most powerful cabinet posts.

They have several
hundred million dollars

and some of the best brains
on earth to carry it through.

They have put together
a powerful coalition

of big-city machines.

'Labor, negroes, Jews,
liberals..'

...and the press.

That will make him
unbeatable in 1964.

Wait a minute, professor.

He's appointed Republicans
to the Treasury, to the Navy.

'Another's head of the CIA.'

'Brother Bobby worked
on Joe McCarthy's committee.'

The old man is farther
to the right than I am.

Ancient history, Harold.

Man's come out for cuts
in oil-depletion allowance.

'He's stopping mergers
under the Antitrust Act.'

He promises to close down
52 domestic

and 25 overseas military bases.

Foster, since when
do you believe

the promises of politicians?

Especially in an election year?

Times have changed,
Mr. Ferguson.

And tactics along with them.

In the next few months,
you're going to see JFK

do the following.

One, he is going to lead
the black revolution

instead of fighting it.

Now we all know
what that means, don't we?

Damn right, a white backlash.

Federal troops
backing up the blacks.

'Blood in the streets.'

Two, he's going to try
to put across

a test-ban treaty
with the Russians.

And three, he's going
to try to pull out of Vietnam

and turn Asia over
to the Communists.

Ridiculous, the American public
would never stand for that.

[Smythe]
'Come on, Harold.'

The American public will stand
for what it has to stand for.

What it's told to stand for

or what it's educated
to stand for.

[Paulitz]
'Done effectively'

the public would soon be
disenchanted with the war.

Which would make action
imperative.

- What kind of action?
- Executive.

I'll take it from here, Bob.

Let's all go
in the other room.

[Harold]
'Why in the other room?'

Just a short walk.
Do you good.

[indistinctchattering]

Nothing wrong with my heart,
James.

He's got you there, Jim.

Tell me, sir..

...to what do you ascribe
your great, good health?

Hard liquor and soft women.

[both laughs]

Southern gentlemen.

[instrumental music]

[applause]

This country was not made..

...by people who sat
in their own community..

...and followed
their own private interests.

Instead, it was made

'by the men who recognized
that change means progress.'

And progress means
the welfare of our people.

[applause]

That's what makes this
a great country.

[crowd cheering]

[indistinct chatter]

How are you?

In Europe, heads of state
always die

at the hands of conspirators.

Our presidents
are killed by madmen.

The pattern is remarkably
consistent.

Abraham Lincoln,
April 14th, 1865.

Target,
sitting and stationary.

Range, six inches.
Successful.

James Garfield,
July 2nd, 1881.

Target, walking at
two-and-a-half miles per hour.

Range, three feet.
Successful.

William McKinley,
September 6th, 1901.

Target,
standing and stationary.

Range, one foot.

[gunshot]

'Successful.'

'Theodore Roosevelt,
October 14th, 1912.'

'Target,
standing and stationary.'

'Range, six feet.'

[gunshot]

'Wounded, survived.'

Franklin D. Roosevelt,
February 15th, 1933.

Target,
sitting and stationary.

Range, 23 feet.
Five shots, five misses.

In no case was the killer
an expert marksman.

In every case,
the Secret Service

was unprepared.

And in every case, the assassin
was a political fanatic

willing to die
to get the president.

Now, no professional technician
can be expected to lay his life

on the line for such a cause.

So we've determined
that our action

'can best be carried out
during a motorcade.'

How so?

Because they're scheduled
well in advance.

They give you a chance
to fire from cover

and get away
in the confusion.

How do you select
your operatives?

I can tell you, Harold.

Now, in the old days
you used to have to train

your own men
from the ground up.

Keep them on your payroll
the rest of their lives.

No more.

Do you know many men
were fired by the CIA

after the Bay of Pigs fiasco?

There's a small army
of anti-Castro Cubans.

'They're all ready.
They're all available.'

'They can do anything
from picking a lock'

'and bugging an embassy to
taking care of an ambassador.'

So..

How many of them do you need?

A team of three men.

I've had two teams in the field
for over a month.

Why two?

'One team will be selected
for action.'

The other for backup
and getaway.

These are all men
I've used before, Harold.

Trained, reliable, professional.

Now, one man firing
from long range

at a moving target
is out of the question.

Even with two men,
we found the percentages

of failure are too high.

The only possible scenario

is three rifles
with triangulated fire.

'Two firing
at a retreating target.'

'The third firing
as the target advances.'

[gunshot]

[team leader]
'Three misses, three hits.'

Take the target back.

[engine revving]

Stand by to go again.

Start the target.

'Stand by to fire.'

Fire.

[gunfire]

[Halliday]
'While there's a climate
of violence in the country now'

in which anything can happen,
the people won't protest it

or even fight it for fear
of becoming involved.

What about the Secret Service?

They give the president
less protection

than any other
head of state on earth.

De Gaulle travels surrounded
by 47 motorcycles.

Kennedy with eight,
sometimes ten.

And none between him
and the crowds on the sidewalk.

When a Soviet motorcade
passes a ten-story building..

...there's a separate agent
to watch each floor.

Now, in Jack's motorcades

the agents often travel
inside of closed cars.

They can't see a damn thing.

And they're paid less
than the FBI.

They only have target practice
twice a year.

And they're often used
as White House errand boys.

And most of their intelligence
comes from other agencies.

Which means
they get very little.

The FBI doesn't give much
to anybody.

And Hoover,
he doesn't like the Kennedys

any more than we do.

The CIA?

After the Bay of Pigs,
its director

and his deputy were forced
to resign.

The mood of the agency
may best be described as bitter.

Are you trying to tell me
people in the CIA and FBI

are going to help
with this project?

[Paulitz]
'No.'

James, how many government
intelligence agencies

do you have
personal knowledge of?

Fifteen. Maybe 17.

And how many private companies
would you say

act as fronts
for American intelligence?

Private? Maybe three or 400.

Including six or seven
of your own?

What one agency
finds inconvenient to do

may be very simple for another
one in the same area.

So you see, there aren't nearly
as many secrets

as an outsider might imagine.

I can see
how that could happen.

And even after a man leaves
the government service

'he still has ongoing
relationships'

with the various intelligence
outfits he's left behind.

[Harold]
'Yes, I can see that, too.'

It's that ongoing relationship

that gives him access
to information.

He receives it
because he's trusted.

That's the way
we receive ours.

Yes? Oh, Charlie.

Is that so?

I see.

Yes, of course, that would
have to be worked out.

- Yeah.
- 'Thanks very much, Charlie.'

- Quite alright.
- 'Bye.'

Bye.

A conspiracy will make us
look like a banana republic.

We don't have them.

That's what we pay
our intelligence agencies

to prevent.

They'll deny a conspiracy
down to the last man

lay the whole thing off
on some crazy damn fool

who did it all on his own.

Who is the crazy damn fool?

He'll be provided.

Charlie McCadden
just called from El Paso.

Governor Connally
has just left the president.

And they made
a private agreement

'that he will make
a political pilgrimage'

to Texas to woo votes.

Probably in the fall.

There ought to be a better way
of settling things like this.

Have you researched
the man's private history?

Thoroughly.

[Harold]
'Letters from
the State Department?'

Harold, if you'll forgive me..

...we're way ahead of you.

If we could find some way
to discredit him..

...believe me,
we'd have done it by now.

Gentlemen, the hour
is getting late.

Well, I'm sorry, gentlemen,
I'm still unconvinced.

Oh, I agree with you
that the welfare of this country

is worth any man's life,
even the president's.

My advice, for what it's worth
to you, is wait.

I'll see you
to your car.

Harold.

Harold.

Oh, before I took over
Transjordanian Oil

my own intelligence men
had to eliminate

a little local opposition.

I understand these things.

I just don't like them.

They're tolerable
only if they're necessary

and permissible
only if they work.

Good day.

I was in charge of that
Transjordanian operation.

The hell.

Arranged it through
the German intelligence.

'My technician on that job
is out there right now'

'training Team B.'

Okay, Lee, take her up.

[whirring]

Okay, Chris, take it up.

Okay, Jess.
Take it up to 15 feet.

'Hold it. That's good.'

'Okay, hold it.
That's good.'

'Okay, that's good.
Lock it off.'

Start the action.

[instrumental music]

Fire.

[gunfire]

I got three hits on target.

One hit on Number 2.
A miss.

Seven seconds and two misses.

It's probably a kill,
but we're two seconds over time.

So we'll have to slow
the target down.

With the most accurate
rifle on earth

we've still got
a two-inch spread

on either side
for every hundred yards.

So at 20 miles an hour,
it's too much.

- Hmm?
- Yeah.

Let's get a beer.

[applause]

[male narrator]
Commencement exercises
at American University

gained world significance when President Kennedy reveals

two major decisions on western relations with Russia.

Addressing the graduates,
Mr. Kennedy makes

a stirring plea
for world peace and says..

First, Chairman Khrushchev

Prime Minister Macmillan
and I have agreed..

...that high-level discussions
will shortly begin in Moscow..

...looking towards
early agreement..

...on a comprehensive
test-ban treaty.

'I now declare
that the United States'

'does not propose to conduct'

nuclear tests
in the atmosphere

so long as other states
do not do so.

This generation of Americans

'has already had enough.'

'More than enough'

'Of war and hate
and oppression.'

[crowd applauding]

[indistinct chatter]

[knocking at window]

Jim, sit down.

- Are you hungry?
- Thanks, I've eaten.

How's the team?

Well, it can be done
in five or six seconds

but only if we slow the target
down to 15 miles an hour.

Otherwise, you take chances.

Alright,
we'll work on that.

Any cover problems?

No, no problems.

Supposed to be hunters.

And I take it
that's what we actually are.

Correct.

Here's your expense money.

Say, when are you gonna throw
a little light on this play?

It's not quite
a standard operation.

I may run
as tight as you are.

You mean is that each of us
knows only his own job?

Put it in any words
you like.

The company must be running
a couple other teams then.

Are we number one?

Two teams only.

And there's a good chance
that you'll see action.

Maybe before Thanksgiving.

How soon will we find out
what the options are?

Probabilities for success
are almost 100 percent.

Yeah, like the Bay of Pigs.

Now, look. You're a high-risk
man, you're on contract.

Your men are all experienced
in black operations.

You take your chances and you
get paid for it and damn well.

Okay, Jim.

I'll tell you this much.

I've never seen a better cover
plan in all my life.

Every man Jack of you'll be out
of the country within 36 hours.

New passports, new identities

plus $25,000 each
just for spending money.

I like that. Tell me more.

'You'll stay out of the country
for two years.'

'You'll receive
$25, 000 a year'

'via Switzerland
for the next five years.'

All of us?

I said every man jack
involved in the operation.

And five years from now,
on January 2nd, 1968

provided no one
has broken security..

...each man will find
a $100,000

in his own personally numbered
Swiss bank account.

Jesus.

You just told me
who we're gonna hit.

[John on TV]
'This nation was founded'

'by men of many nations
and backgrounds.'

Okay.

It was founded
on the principle

that men are created equal

and that the rights
of every man are diminished

when the rights of one man
are threatened.

'My fellow Americans'

'this is a problem
which faces us all'

'in every city of the north
as well as the south.'

Today, there are Negroes
unemployed

two or three times as many
compared to whites.

Inadequate education,
moving into the large cities

unable to find work,
denied their equal rights.

'We cannot say to 10%
of the population'

'that "You can't
have that right."'

"Your children can't have
the chance to develop

whatever talents they have."

That the only way that they're
going to get their rights

is to go in the street
and demonstrate.

I think we owe them
and we owe ourselves

a better country than that.

The computer threw out
14 possible goats.

Or sponsors,
as we like to call them.

A young man named
Lee Harvey Oswald

seems the best.

Born, New Orleans, 1939.

Father dead,
mother remarried and divorced.

Boy was in an orphanage
for a while

then shunted about with
his mother till he was 17.

You can start now, Tim.

He has a remarkably muddled
political record

that can be steered
strongly to the left.

[Tim]
'On October 24, 1956'

'seven days
after his 17th birthday'

'subject enlisted in
the United States Marine Corps.'

Attended
Aviation Fundamental School

at Naval Air Station
in Jacksonville, Florida

studying basic radar theory,
map reading

and air-traffic-control
procedures.

'Began studying
Russian language'

'and taking
pro-Communist attitudes.'

Fellow Marines called him
"Oswaldavitch" and "Russki."

In the Marine Corps?

Not a chance.

Preparing a cover for him.

Naval Intelligence?

Either that or CIA.

Go ahead, Tim.

Arrived in Yokosuka, Japan,
aboard the Bexar

for assignment at Atsugi,
20 miles west of Tokyo.

Isn't that where we monitored
the U-2s over China?

And a lot of other stuff.

[Tim]
'Court-martialed on June 27th'

'for pouring a drink'

'over a non-commissioned
officer's head'

'and use
of insulting language.'

'Confined 28 days
at hard labor.'

Only 28 days?

Not only giving him a cover,
they're fixing him a phony.

On August 17, 1959

he requested
a dependency discharge

on the ground that his mother
required his support.

Discharge was granted,
September 11.

Well, that was easy.

Easier than you think.
Watch this.

To get the discharge,
he needed a doctor's affidavit.

Otolaryngologist,
Marvin Danvers gave one

saying he started treating
Oswald's mother

on September 5..

...even though his letter
is dated September 3.

Well, I'll be goddamned.

On the same day,
September 4

Oswald applied for..

...and received a passport.

Quote, "In order to attend

Albert Schweitzer College,"
unquote.

Passport granted.

Good for European travel,
including USSR.

'Arrived in Moscow,
October 16.'

'Ordered to leave USSR
by 8 PM, October 21.'

The Russkies weren't buying.

'Slashed his wrists
the same day.'

'Taken to Botkinskaya Hospital,
released a week later.'

Visited US embassy
on October 31.

Stated his determination
to revoke American citizenship

and turn classified data
over to the Russians.

'Can find no record that embassy
tried to dissuade him'

'from handing over
classified material.'

How much did he actually have?

Location of all bases
on the West Coast

radio frequencies
for all squadrons

all tactical call signs,
strength of squadrons

number and type
of aircraft in each

names of commanding officers

and the authentic code
for entering and exiting

the ADIZ radio
and radar ranges.

Jesus.

'On January 4, 1960'

Oswald receives permission
to remain in the USSR

for one year.

They're beginning to buy.

On January 5

'he is given 5000 rubles
and assigned to work'

'at the Belorussian Radio and
Television Factory in Minsk.'

They've bought.

'In 1961'

'he writes a series of letters
to the embassy'

'concerning possible return
to the United States.'

When was Powers shot down
in that U-2?

May 1, 1960.
He was there, alright.

But I'm not sure
there was any connection.

They've been spotting
our U-2s for a long time.

Thanks, Tim,
I'll take it from here.

[Tim]
'Right, Mr. Farrington.'

On March 17th

'he met a young lady,
a graduate pharmacist.'

'Six weeks later,
they were married.'

'As a result
of Oswald's letters'

'the State Department
informed embassy'

'that for security reasons'

'Oswald should be given
a passport.'

There was a long wrangle
with the Russians

about exit visas
for his wife

but everything on our side
was as smooth as silk.

'The embassy issued a passport.'

'They lent him $435
in traveling expenses.'

'And he passed through
Immigration'

June 13th, 1962
en route to Fort Worth.

[Robert]
'Did anyone meet them
at Immigration?'

A representative of the
Concerned Travelers' Society

named Ralph P. Waterford.

To help them through customs
or so he said.

Is that name familiar?

There's a Ralph P. Waterford
known in Taiwan

'as the secretary-general'

'for the World Campaign
Against Communism, Inc.'

- Now, who would have sent him?
- God knows.

You get into that area,
there are so many

little double
and triple-headers

you can't count them all.

Tim.

All the intelligence agencies
have files on him.

He was interviewed twice last
year by the FBI that we know of.

And there's a report out
that the state attorney general

and the Dallas district attorney

have got him labeled
as FBI informant Number S-172.

He could be.

Defecting, coming back

running into no trouble at all
he could be anything.

CIA, Office of Naval
Intelligence, anything.

Lowest possible echelon,
of course.

A few dollars here

a few there,
possibly a little doubling.

Listen..

On January 27th of this year

he bought a mail-order
Smith & Wesson.38

under a phony name.

And in March,
he bought a mail-order 6.5 mm

Mannlicher-Carcano rifle.

In May, he was distributing
Fair Play for Cuba literature

in Dallas.

Can we rely on a character
like this?

We're not relying on him.

We're using him.

I've got someone placed
very close to him.

Get a little air.

Go ahead. I wanna check
the stock market, of course.

The real problem is this, James.

In two decades there will be
seven billion human beings

on this planet.

Most of them brown,
yellow or black.

All of them hungry..

...all of them
determined to love.

They'll swarm out
of their breeding grounds

into Europe and North America.

Hence Vietnam.

An all-out effort there
will give us control

of South Asia
for decades to come.

And with proper planning,
we can reduce

the population to 550 million

by the end of the century.

I know.

I've seen the data.

We sound rather like Gods

reading the Doomsday Book,
don't we?

Well, someone has to do it.

Not only will the nations
affected be better off..

...but the techniques
developed there

can be used to reduce
our own excess population.

Blacks, Puerto Ricans,
Mexican-Americans

poverty-prone whites
and so forth.

[instrumental music]

Raise your right hand,
please.

Do you swear or affirm that the
statements in the application

are true to the best of your
knowledge and belief?

I do.

Do you swear and affirm
your allegiance

to the United States of America?

I do.

For 24-hour service,
it's $2.

George Bernard Shaw
speaking as an Irishman

summed up an approach to life.

"Other people," he said,
"see things and say 'Why?'

"But I dream things that never
were and I say, 'Why not?'"

'The problems of the world
cannot possibly be solved'

'by skeptics or cynics'

'whose horizons are limited'

'by the obvious realities..'

[telephone ringing]

Yes?

Twenty-four hours?

Not only that.

He stated on his application
that his previous passport

had been lifted..

...and that he intended
to travel to Russia.

He can't be just crazy
on his own.

He defects,
they lift his passport..

...and on 24-hours' notice

he gets another one
to travel back to Russia?

Somebody must be behind him.

Oh, yes, indeed.
Worth his weight in gold.

[instrumental music]

We call this
our Cubanization process.

[snaps finger]

Here our sponsor distributes
Fair Play for Cuba leaflets

on Canal Street in New Orleans.

Who's the other man?

Picked him up in an employment
office, $2 an hour.

We've repeated this process
four times in the last ten days.

The address on the leaflets
is 611 Karp Street.

Howard Grimm's building.
You remember him.

Special agent in charge
of the Chicago FBI office.

We used him in '61 as equipment
purchaser for our Cuban friends.

Grimm has an office
in that building himself.

- Was that wise?
- Well, no matter.

Grimm's organization
is on LaFollette Street.

The Anti-Communist League
of the Caribbean.

I like that.
They cancel each other out.

And no one's been able
to put them together yet.

I don't like it,
but it's done.

When are you getting him
into Dallas?

Not for another month,
at least.

Our New Orleans scenario
still calls

for a street-corner fight
and an arrest.

Possibly some radio interviews,
TV if we're lucky.

He doesn't know
he's being handled, does he?

No.

That's being taken care
of by someone

who's known him for years.

Heard anything
from the old man?

Not yet.

Go ahead without him?

Difficult to say.
Very difficult.

In the meantime,
we'll push on and hope

that Kennedy
makes up his mind for us.

Just a little water.

[instrumental music]

I still have a dream.

It is a dream deeply rooted
in the American dream.

I have a dream..

...that one day..

...this nation will rise up..

'...live out the true meaning
of its creed.'

'We hold these truths
to be self-evident..'

'...that all men
are created equal.'

[crowd cheering]

[applause]

I have a dream..

...that my four
little children..

'...will one day
live in a nation'

'where they will not be judged
by the color of their skin'

'but by the content
of their character.'

I have a dream today.

[crowd applauding]

♪ Walk hand in hand ♪

♪ Someday ♪

♪ Oh deep in my heart ♪

♪ I do believe ♪

♪ That we shall overcome
someday ♪

[dramatic music]

Letters from God?

What the hell would they be
sending us to Montana for?

Help fight American imperialism.

'Join the Fair Play
for Cuba Committee.'

I know you, dirty bastard!

You spy for Castro.

You came to our office
of Cuban Students in Exile.

Took some materials.

And here you are
handing out this crap.

[siren wailing]

Why don't you go to Cuba
and stay there?

[indistinct chatter]

[whistles]

- Alright.
- 'Please take him away now.'

[indistinct chatter]

A full-scale nuclear exchange..

...lasting less than 60 minutes

with the weapons
now in existence

'could wipe out more than
300 million Americans'

'Europeans and Russians'

'as well as untold millions
elsewhere.'

That's why I support
the test-ban treaty.

[applause]

'Not because we're going to be
easier in our lives'

'but because we have a chance
to avoid being burned.'

The reason that I'm worried
about this treaty is..

...because I believe
that this treaty

is a step away from safety..

'...possibly a step toward war.'

A pact, hailed
by a hopeful majority

as signaling peace
in our time

actually turns out
to be a first step

on the path to disaster.

[John]
This treaty is not
the millennium

but it is an important
first step.

A step towards peace.

Let history record
that we, in this land

...at this time,
took the first step.

Man's creating the perfect
climate for his death.

They sometimes do, you know.
Caesar did.

In that event

what do you hear
from our elderly Brutus?

Ferguson says in effect,
"Don't call me, I'll call you."

How's yours stand-in
for Brutus doing?

Oh, he's doing fine.

Heading up a Fair Play for Cuba
Committee that doesn't exist.

Writing letters to the
Communist Party in New York.

And after that street brawl

he demanded that an FBI man
come down to see him.

When will he be in Dallas?

Between the 3rd and 5th
of October.

His wife's there now

living outside of the city
with a friend.

Well, why wait so long?

Well, he wants to go
to Mexico City

to try to get a visa
to go to Cuba.

- Was that your idea?
- No.

But there's no way
to stop him

without making him angry
with our connection.

I don't see any harm
in it, do you?

[laughs]

The man's a genius.

He'll have the FBI watching
the CIA

and the CIA watching
the bureau.

Before he's through, nobody
will know whose man he is.

Meanwhile, I'll schedule
two live-target rehearsals.

- One for each team.
- Good.

And one more thing, Robert.

When this operation is finished,
it's my last.

Why, of course.

We all have our failures
of nerve.

If we didn't, none of us
would be worth a damn.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

George, in one, of the negatives
you shaded him a bit.

Yeah, I know.

[team leader]
'I only printed up the hits.'

'None of them
were really far off.'

[gunman #1]
'Look at that. Right on target.'

[gunman #2]
'Beautiful.'

'Front angle shot's wide open.'

- 'It's gonna work.'
- 'Sure it is.'

Okay. Now, we're supposed to be
on the road before 9:00.

Destroy these.

Tim, show them the pros and cons
of that motorcade.

The most direct route
from Love Field

to the Trade Mart,
where the lunch will be

is either by Stemmons Freeway

here or Harry Hines Boulevard,
which is here.

'To get the biggest crowds,
however'

the best route would be
straight down to Main Street

down Main Street
and through Dealey Plaza.

Where did you say
you placed your sponsor?

Texas School Book Depository.

Elm and Houston.

I went to work there yesterday.

Here's the depository.

In order for the motorcade
to pass it

they'd have to make a jog.

Right on Houston Street
and left on Elm here

and then through the underpass
to Stemmons Freeway.

Isn't that a long way around
to nowhere?

It's the perfect place
for triangulated gunfire.

A man in the records building
here.

Another man in the depository.

A third man here
on the grassy knoll

where he has excellent cover.

They'll have to slow down
to ten to 12 miles an hour

to make this turnoff.

And when they've reached
this point

they've walked
right into the trap.

And there's no way
they can get out of it.

If that's where you want
the parade to go

why, that's where it'll go.

I can think of
a dozen arguments right now

and a dozen people
who'll listen to them.

But let me handle it.

Where will you start,
in Washington?

President's there
to please people, isn't he?

Businessmen, bankers,
merchants, so forth.

They do the deciding
on where he goes.

And, when it comes
to those fellas

I know where the bear sits
in the buckwheat.

Dealey Plaza.

I'll guarantee it.

That leaves us
with just one problem.

Ferguson's got to be convinced
in the next week or two.

[bell tolls]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Tonight the news from Saigon
is grim, indeed.

As riots sweep the city

and the government
of courageous President Diem

hangs in the balance.

'Radical students
and Buddhist activists'

'are demonstrating
in the streets'

'while government troops battle
desperately to subdue them.'

'In protest,
another Buddhist monk'

'has burned himself to death.'

And what is our president

doing to support Diem?

This from Washington.

[reporter #1]
'Is there any speed-up'

'in the withdrawal
from Vietnam?'

Well, you know, uh,
when secretary McNamara

and General Taylor came back,
they announced

that we would expect

to withdraw thousands of men

from, uh, South Vietnam

before the end of the year.

Reliable sources inform us
that Kennedy plans

to withdraw
all United States forces

from Southeast Asia in 1965.

'A vital region
which will inevitably'

'fall to the Communists.'

'Will our president's
suicidal no-win policy prevail?'

Yes, Robert.
I can see your point.

I'm in complete agreement.

By all means, go ahead.

[instrumental music]

[switch clicks]

[music continues]

[switch clicks]

[music continues]

"Page 499, verse 10."

"Job..

"He shall return
no more to his house

neither shall his place
know him anymore."

[toilet flushes]

[knocking on door]

- Chris.
- 'What?'

Open up for a minute.

'Jesus, I've got
somebody in here.'

Okay, you come out here.
It'll only take a minute.

I'll be back in a minute.

What?

Close the door.

You got something, huh?

It's our job.

You sure?

Start packing.
Tell the boys.

Right.

[Tim]
'We picked up this film
in New Orleans.'

'It's a TV interview with Oswald
after he got in that hassle'

'passing out
the pro-Castro leaflets.'

No matter what you say, Jim

the point of it is,
you must be remembered.

Ten days from now,
if they hear you described

they must say..

"Oh, yes, I saw him.
He was here."

'Do you understand?'

I've got it.

It's equally important
that we set him up

planning the event.

He owns a rifle with a scope

but he's never used it.

Give him visibility
in a gun shop.

'We'll provide you a rifle
similar to his.'

'We also want
to see him practicing.'

Can't you arrange
to borrow his rifle?

That's programmed for later
when we're certain

he won't miss it.

Let's do some more homework.

That does not mean, however,
that I'm a communist.

[interviewer]
'What is the difference
between the two?'

Well, there is a great deal
of difference.

[repeating after Lee on TV]
'Several, uh, American parties'

'and several countries
are based on Marxism '

suchas Guyana,
uh, Ghana.

'Uh, certain countries
have characteristics'

'of a Socialist system'

such as Great Britain
with its socialized medicine.

'Uh, these, then,
are the differences'

'between an outright
Communist country'

'andcountries which adhere'

to leftist or Marxist,
uh, principles.

[interviewer]
'In your work with the
FairPlay for Cuba committee'

'uh, what are you advocating?'

[Lee]
'We advocate restoration
of diplomatic, trade'

'and tourist relations
with Cuba.'

Hi, there.
What can I do for you?

Well, could you, uh

drill this to mount
a telescopic sight?

[gun cocks]

Sure can.

How soon?

I'm gonna need it
any day now.

Well, uh, be ready
in a couple of days.

- Fine.
- Alright.

What's your name?

Lee

Harvey

Oswald.

- Good.
- Thanks.

912..

...Martin Street..

...Irving..

...garage.

Got it.
I'll let you know.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Chris.

All yours.

It's a 6.5 Mannlicher-Carcano.

Jesus Christ, the Italians
stopped making this in 1941.

That's 22 years ago.

Let's go.

She's a real fine piece
of weaponry, isn't she?

The Italians
in world war II called it

the rifle that never
hurt anybody on purpose.

The bolt sticks..

It's got a two-stage trigger

and the scope is off
.02 to the left

and it has a 9.5-inch drop.

Can you adjust to it?

Oh, sure.

I'm gonna need a hell
of a lot more practice

before countdown.

[gunfire]

That's one hell
of a buy, friend

in case you're looking
for first-class transportation.

Won't cost you
an arm and a leg.

How much?

$1,995.

Radio, heater,
whitewalls included.

Well, if it's such
a hell of a buy

why haven't you sold it?

Only been here
the last couple of days.

Bullshit.

I saw this car on the lot
last Monday.

What you saw here last Monday

was the same model,
but it wasn't this car.

What'd you get for it?

$100 more than
I'm asking for this one.

Jesus.

You mean you'd do
that to some poor

dumb Texas burr picker?

What the hell are you talking

about Texas like that for?

'Cause if I was a doctor

and I wanted to give
the world an enema

I'd stick the nozzle
right here in Dallas, Texas.

And before I kick you
in the ass

can you tell me
a better place than Texas?

Yeah, Russia.

In Russia, they make a car
called the Volga that--

You communist bastard,
get out of here.

Get off my lot!

Who the hell do you think
you are, anyway?

The name's Oswald.
Lee Oswald.

And if you ever learn
how to spell

you can have a lot of fun

trying to write it down.

[James]
It'll come in handy
at the right time.

'To leak to the press.'

The face doesn't look
enough like him

to pass muster with me.

Get a picture of the sponsor
himself and tip it in.

Can do?

Apple pie.

Tim..

Give him a pistol
with a holster..

...and a telescopic sight
for the rifle, too.

Everything in order?

So far.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

Hey, buddy, you're firing
at the wrong target.

'That's my target.'

[gunshot]

Hey, mister,
you're firing at my target.

Hey, would you mind
if you just fire at your own?

Why don't you take
a flying screw at the moon

and charge it to me?

I'll be glad to,
you son of a bitch.

You just tell me your name.

Lee Oswald.

O-S-W-A-L-D.

[gunshot]

Hey, Ralph!

[instrumental music]

Outside the Dallas
Municipal Auditorium

a large number of pickets

gave UN Ambassador
Adlai Stevenson

a hot reception last night

when he came
to give a speech

in honor
of United Nations' Day.

[indistinct shouting]

And the audience inside
wasn't a bit more friendly.

[crowd booing]

Surely, my dear friends,
I don't have to come here

from Illinois to teach Texas
manners, do I?

[indistinct chatter]

[clamoring]

I do hope all the pickets
will come in and sit down.

Go home! Boo!

[crowd booing]

Of course,
for my part I believe

in the forgiveness of sin

and the redemption
of ignorance.

Stevenson told friends
that he was going

to advise President Kennedy

not to make that
forthcoming trip to Dallas

because of the hostile
atmosphere in that city.

[bell tolls]

[helicopter whirring]

[instrumental music]

[team leader]
'Do you see your position?'

[Chris]
'Yeah, behind that fence
on top.'

'Okay, let's take her down.'

[music continues]

[music continues]

[Robert]
'"On November 22nd,
the only important officials'

'"remaining in Washington, DC'

'will be McNamara
and Robert Kennedy."'

"The secretaries of state
treasury, interior

"commerce and labor
will be in the air

en route to Tokyo."

"The president
and vice president

will be in Dallas."

To confuse matters

and give your men
as much time as possible

a code will be removed

from the Tokyo-bound
cabinet plane

and the Washington, DC
telephone system

will suffer
a temporary blackout.

That will help.

'The Secret Service
are under regular orders'

'to stay with the president
no matter what happens.'

'Once they get him
to the hospital'

they'll probably filter back.

But for at least
a half-hour

you should be entirely
free of them.

I'll have six men
with Secret Service credentials

in Dealey Plaza.

Their insignia
for this trip, incidentally

is double white bars on red.

I forgot to mention

that the chief
of the White House detail

has decided to stay
in Washington.

Good.

Now to the intelligence
agencies.

In going through Oswald's
address book

our contact man came across
the name and telephone number

of somebody called
Fred Hastings.

Now, Hastings,
it turns out, is an FBI man

working out
of the Dallas office.

You know him?

Oswald has his telephone number?

I was about to mention
Mr. Hastings.

He's visited Mrs. Oswald once
and her landlady twice

since the first
of the month.

He knows that Oswald works
in the book depository

and we must assume
he also knows

that the president's
motorcade will pass

the book depository.

Yet neither the local
nor the Washington office

of the FBI has reported
that to the Secret Service.

What about other Oswald files?

The office of Naval Intelligence
is watching him.

The CIA regularly
monitors his mail.

Yet no one has reported anything
to the Secret Service.

They don't even know
that Lee Harvey Oswald exists.

'His name appears
nowhere in their files.'

Let's have a drink.

Dallas has one of the highest
murder rates in the country.

In the last two years,
the Secret Service

has established 149 threats

against Kennedy's life
from Texas alone.

Yet they send him
into hostile territory

with no more protection
than you and I would arrange

for a favorite dog.

What would you say
if I told you

that as of November 8th

the Secret Service files
find not one individual

in the entire
Fort Worth, Dallas territory

who represents
a potential threat

to the president's security?

I'd believe it.

Also,
there will be no search

of the buildings
in Dealey Plaza.

And there will be
no Secret Service men

stationed in Dealey Plaza.

Not one.

Good.

The lead car will carry
the chief of police

the county sheriff

and the two top-ranking
Secret Service agents.

It'll be a closed car.

'They won't be able
to see a thing.'

Ah, well.

It'll soon be over.

Then there'll be..

...nothing we can call
our own but death.

That small model
of the barren earth

which serves as paste
and cover to our bones.

For God's sake,
let us sit upon the ground

and tell sad stories
of the death of kings.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[reporter on TV]
'The president John F. Kennedy'

'is getting a warm welcome
this morning'

'here in Fort Worth,
the third stop'

'in his whirlwind trip
through our state.'

'After this breakfast meeting
with the Fort Worth'

'chamber of commerce'

'the president and First Lady'

'will fly to Dallas.'

[choir singing]

[singing continues]

This is from one of our people
in Fort Worth.

"Last night in Fort Worth

"nine Secret Service agents

went to the Fort Worth
press club for drinks."

"Seven of the nine remained
till 2:00 in the morning."

"All three night guards
left the hotel

and went to the cellar house."

"Secret Service rules
state that

"use of intoxicating liquor
is strictly prohibited

"while agents
are on travel status

as these agents were."

Four of the nine
who violated rules last night

have key responsibilities
in the Dallas motorcade.

[engine roars]

[instrumental music]

[male announcer]
'Air Force Number One,
ladies and gentlemen'

'carrying the president
of the United States.'

'Beautiful sight.
Beautiful sight.'

[instrumental music]

[knocking on door]

[instrumental music]

[knocking on door]

[crowd cheering]

[music continues]

[indistinct conversation]

[engine turns over]

[instrumental music]

[applause]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[engine revving]

[music continues]

[crowd cheering]

[gun cocks]

[music continues]

[motorcycle engine revving]

[engine revving]

[dramatic music]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[siren wailing]

Alright,
what are you doing here?

It's alright, officer.
It's alright.

- What happened?
- We're Secret Service.

[siren wailing]

[clattering]

Hey, you, come here.

- Who are you?
- I work here.

- You work here, too?
- Yeah.

Okay.

[reporter #2]
'We have just arrived here
at Parkland Hospital.'

'Ah, It's hard to tell
what's really going on.'

'People here with dazed looks
on their faces.'

'Ah, police are keeping
everybody out.'

'Very difficult to believe
this has happened.'

'We understand
they're giving the president'

'blood transfusions
and fighting very hard'

'to save his life.'

Word just came through
on Secretary Rusk's news ticker.

The president's been shot.
Get me Defense.

Something's happened
to my code book.

Hello? Hello?

Defense department?
Is this the..

Hello? Hello?

[man on intercom]
'Have you called him yet?'

There's no answer, senator.
The line went dead.

[female announcer #1]
'I'm sorry. Our lines
are temporarily out of order.'

[female announcer #2]
'I'm sorry.
Our lines are out of order.'

[female announcer #3]
'I'm sorry, sir, our lines
are temporarily out of order.'

[engine revving]

[instrumental music]

[man on radio]
'Ladies and gentlemen,
the president is dead.'

'We've just been given word'

'that President John Kennedy
is dead.'

'They've administered
the last rites'

of the Catholic church
to President John F. Kennedy.

Nothing about Oswald.

[engine revving]

[instrumental music]

[man on radio]
'The Dallas police
have arrested a man'

'whom they suspect
of being involved'

'in the assassination
of President Kennedy.'

'He was apprehended
in the Oak Cliff area'

'after allegedly killing
a policeman.'

[clamoring]

[reporter #3]
'Did you shoot the President?'

I didn't shoot anybody,
no, sir.

I'm just a patsy.
I'm just a patsy.

This wasn't in the scenario,
was it, Mr. Farrington?

No scenario is perfect, Tim.

Probably realized the position
he'd been placed in.

Slipped out of the depository

stopped by his room
for the gun..

...and then ran into
the policeman and panicked.

'Find out what's happened, Tim.'

[Tim]
'Okay, Mr. Farrington.'

[man on TV]
'...identified
as Lee Harvey Oswald.'

I'll have to leave Dallas.

'An employee
of the Texas book depository'

'overlooking Dealey Plaza,
where the president was shot.'

'So far the police
are releasing no further..'

It's terrible, Hymie, terrible.

No, you don't understand.

I gotta get out of this town.

I'm thinking of coming
back to Chicago.

There's only one thing
I can tell you.

That this case is cinched.

'That this man
killed the president.'

'There is no question
in my mind about it.'

'[reporter #4]
Chief, can you tell us,
in summary'

'what directly links Oswald'

'to the killing
of the president?'

Well, the fact
that he was on the floor

where the shots were fired from

immediately before
the shots were fired.

The fact that he was seen
carrying a package

to the building.

Ballistics tests,
we haven't had a final report

but it is, I understand,
will be favorable.

'If we can put his prints
on the rifle'

'I'm certain we can
connect him to the rifle .'

Are there any other suspects
linked with Oswald?

No.

Thank you.

[reporter #5]
'Is there any indication that
this was an organized plot'

'or was it just the one man?'

There's no one else but him.

- Stuttgart, Gate 12.
- Thank you.

Let's go.

Jack.
Where is everybody?

The joint's closed.
Didn't you see the sign?

No, I came through
the back way.

- What's wrong?
- What's wrong?

You stupid bitch,
don't you read the newspapers?

They killed Kennedy
this afternoon.

Sure, I know that, Jack.

But why are we closing down?

Because it looks good,
that's why.

Now get out of here.
Go on home.

Okay.

Hey, wait a minute.

I gave your number
to a guy..

...a guy named Burger,
uh, Henry Burger.

He's a new cop.

He may get lonesome,
give you call tonight.

If he does,
you fix him up, huh?

Sure, I'll fix him up.

May I bring you a drink, sir?

Drink, sir?

Yeah. Vodka rocks.

[camera clicks]

I really don't know
what this situation is about.

Nobody has told me anything
except that I'm accused of, uh..

...of, uh,
murdering a policeman.

I know nothing more than that.

I do request, uh,
someone to come forward

to give me, uh,
legal assistance.

[reporter #6]
'Did you kill the president?'

No, I have not been charged
with that.

In fact, nobody has said
that to me yet.

The first thing I heard about it

was when the newspaper reporters

'in the hall, uh,
asked me that question.'

[reporter #7]
How did you hurt your eye,
Mr. Oswald?

A policeman hit me.

[train horn blares]

[train chugging]

You okay?

Considering I hit
the wrong guy, yes.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

[reporter #8]
'Here comes Oswald
down the hall again.'

'Did you fire that rifle?'

[Lee]
Dispatches you people
have been given

but I emphatically deny
these charges.

- What will he tell them?
- Very little.

[man on TV]
'The police have revealed
no further information'

'since their first statement.'

Sergeant, now,
you say he was interrogated

yesterday at 4:30, right?

- And again at 6:20, right?
- Yes.

And once more at 7:40.

Now, how many hours of
interrogation did that come to?

Uh, I don't rightly know
because I'm not sure

when the last interrogation
ended.

Was the interrogation
taped or recorded?

No, sir.

'Was it taken down
by a stenotypist?'

No, sir.

Was it taken down by
a secretary in shorthand?

No, sir.

Well, has Captain Fritz had
any of his notes transcribed?

- No, sir.
- Well, why not?

No, sir,
didn't keep any notes.

Well, how do you know
what he said

in those three interrogations?

Oh, we got a pretty good idea
what he said, alright.

Sergeant, what time
are you transferring him

to the county jail tomorrow?

We haven't decided
on what time yet

but when we do, you boys
will get a break on it.

You always have,
haven't you, now?

[clamoring]

[male narrator]
In Washington,
the silent crowd is gathered

outside the White House

on this grim
and somber Saturday

maintaining a patient vigil while high government officials

and ambassadors
of many nations..

Stan, Jack Ruby.

Have you gotten any word
when they're gonna transfer him

to the county jail?

Oh! Yeah?

Okay.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[engine turns over]

[reporter #9]
'Why do you think he would
want to kill the president?'

The only thing I do
is take the evidence

present it to jury
and I don't pass on, uh

why he did it
or anything else.

We're just asked to prove
that he did it

which I think we have.

How many cases of this type
have you been involved in

that is where the death penalty
is involved?

Since I've been
district attorney

I've asked the death penalty
in 24 cases.

And how many times
have you attained it?

23.

[indistinct chattering]

[reporter #10]
'There is Lee Oswald..'

'There is the prisoner
being led out by Captain Fritz.'

[indistinct chatter]

[camera clicks]

[horn blares]

[gunshot]

'He's been shot.
He's been shot.'

'Lee Oswald has been shot.'

'There's the man with a..'

'It's absolute panic.'

'Absolute panic here
in the basement'

'of Dallas police headquarters.'

'Detectives have
their guns drawn.'

'Oswald has been shot.'

[indistinct chatter]

[clamoring]

[siren wailing]

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter]

[reporter #11]
Would you be willing to say
with all this evidence

'that it is now beyond
a reasonable doubt at all'

'that, uh, Oswald was the killer
of President Kennedy?'

I would say that without
any doubt he's the killer.

The law says beyond
a reasonable doubt

and to a moral certainty.

Which I have no question

that he was the killer
of President Kennedy.

[reporter #12]
'That case is closed
in your mind.'

As far as Oswald's concerned,
yes.

It's so unlikely I don't see
how anyone can believe it.

Everyone will believe it.
They wanna believe it.

'They have to.'

'People, the government...
everyone.'

Even his brother?

He's the attorney general,
for God's sake.

True.

But he's not thinking
as attorney general tonight.

[telephone ringing]

'He's grieving
for a murdered brother.'

'By the time
his grief subsides'

'all the power
will have passed.'

'It'll be too late.'

Yes?

That's right.

Hold the body there.

We'll make arrangements
in the morning.

That's right.
Thank you.

That was Tim.

James Farrington..

...heart attack.

Parkland Hospital.

[cue ball breaks]

[instrumental music]

[male narrator]
In the three years
after the murders

of President Kennedy
and Lee Harvey Oswald

eighteen material witness died.

Six by gunfire,
three in motor accidents

two by suicide,
one from a cut throat

one from a karate chop
to the neck

three from heart attacks
and two from natural causes.

An actuary, engaged by
the London Sunday Times

concluded
that on November 22, 1963

the odds against
these witnesses

being dead by February 1967..

...were one hundred thousand
trillion to one.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]