"THE SHAPING OF PUBLIC OPINION"


1960's		11/22/63- JFK assassinated:
		
		a) press "leaks" (inc. Hoover's FBI)

	LBJ	1964- Warren Commission

		b) press "acceptance"

		1966- the "Critics": Lane, Weisberg, Epstein, Jones, etc.

		c) public begins to strongly doubt the "official" verdict

		1967-1969- Jim Garrison

		d) the critics "unite" (in spite of the 1968 Clark Panel)
	

	Nixon	3/1/69- Clay Shaw acquited ...

1970's		[first major lull in case- research community, publishing world]


		1972, 1973, 1974- Watergate, FORD takes over as President,
		pardons Nixon ...
		
	Ford	1973-1976ish-  Government investigates its own "dirty deeds" 
		( CIA, FBI, etc.) [ Rockefeller Commision, Church Committee,
		Schweiker/Hart Subcommittee ] ...

		
		e)RESULT: "Could there have been a conspiracy- and subsequent
		coverup- in the murder of JFK?"

		3/75- Zapruder film shown on national TV for the first time (via 
		Groden/Geraldo)

		f)RESULT: public outcry for a new investigation ( AIB )...
		
	Carter	1976-1979: HSCA		[also: JFK Library]

		g)the critics- and Garrison- "vindicated" (mainly, but not
		exclusively, via the acoustical findings of the HSCA)



1980's		1980-1981: "Best Evidence", Blakey/Billings,"Conspiracy",
		Kurtz, etc.
	(Specter replaces Schweiker in Pennsylvania Senate)
 	Reagan 1982- N.A.S./Ramsay/Barber: acoustics invalid ...
		
		[second major lull in case- research community, publishing world]
		1983- 20th anniversary
		1984
		1985- "Reasonable Doubt"
		1986
		1987


		1988-25th anniversary: Justice Dept. 'closes' case; "NOVA"
	Bush

1990's		1991-"JFK" , A & E's "The Men Who Killed Kennedy"
			^			^
		1992-JAMA, A & E's "The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald"(EDITED-
		minus Lopez' testimony, call-in poll, commentator's comments)
		[JAMA also acts as a counter to Crenshaw's book and "20/20"
		appearance in April, as well as "High Treason 2"];
		Also:"Ruby", Court TV's "Mock Trial", many books/TV shows,
		JFK Records Act
		- 1992 campaign evokes memories of JFK- Clinton and Gore
		both believe there was a conspiracy; want files released-
	Clinton	1993-30th anniversary w/ more file releases and books, but...
[Connally	POSNER's "Case Closed" (w/"Frontline", CBS Special, USN&WR,
dies]		"Newsweek", etc.) ...

		h) although public opinion polls are still overwhelmingly in the 
		critics corner, an equal amount probably feel confused  or 
		indifferent...or both.
		
		1994- C.O.P.A., A.S.K., more files, some more books, but...
[Jackie
dies]
		ARE  WE HEADING INTO THE THIRD MAJOR LULL

		IN BOTH THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY AND

		PUBLISHING WORLD ? IS IT A CLASSIC CASE OF

		"THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT"? THE PUBLISHING

		WORLD HAS ABOUT GROUND TO A HALT, WHILE ANOTHER

		MAJOR ANNIVERSARY WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE

		50th ANNIVERSARY. AFTER POSNER'S BOOK, ARE WE

		IN A POSITION EQUAL TO THE SURVIVOR'S OF A NUCLEAR

		HOLOCAUST:"ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE"? ONLY TIME
		
		WILL TELL...




10/19/94 by VMP