'I don't believe the conspiracy': Cokie Roberts reflects on JFK's assassination and hearing her father plan the Warren Commission

  • Cokie Roberts' father was Congressman Hale Boggs who was selected to serve on the investigating committee
  • Boggs was skeptical of the single bullet theory but ended up signing the Warren Commission report anyway
  • Single bullet theory argues that Kennedy and Texas Governor Connally were shot with the same bullet

By Meghan Keneally

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Journalist Cokie Roberts has spoken out on the anniversary of President Kennedy's death saying that she doesn't believe the conspiracy theories.

Both of Roberts' parents were members of Congress at the time of the assassination and her father was a member of the official committee tasked with investigating the murder.

Even though her father, Democratic Congressman Hale Boggs, was reportedly unconvinced about the Commission's reliance on the 'single bullet' theory, today Roberts said that belief in the conspiracy theories is effectively a coping mechanism.

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Her view: Cokie Roberts said that she thinks the conspiracy theories are based on emotions and not facts as no new technology as proved any of them true

Her view: Cokie Roberts said that she thinks the conspiracy theories are based on emotions and not facts as no new technology as proved any of them true

Close ties: Roberts' father was Congressman Hale Boggs (seen left with President Kennedy on October 11, 1963- just a month before the assassination)

Close ties: Roberts' father was Congressman Hale Boggs (seen left with President Kennedy on October 11, 1963- just a month before the assassination)

'I really think that the problem is that it's very hard for people to accept that one deranged soul could have such an enormous impact. It's so much easier to believe in a conspiracy bc its rational,' she said during an interview on Morning Joe.

Her father was a leader in Congress and accompanied the Speaker to Andrews Air Force Base to receive Air Force One and the President's casket when it arrived from Dallas.

 

Newly-elected President Johnson later called Congressman Boggs at their family home in Louisiana to ask him to join the investigating committee, which went on to be referred to as the Warren Commission.

'I can remember my father so well saying "We need a blue ribbon commission to put everything to rest so the American people know we have examined every possibility and we know exactly what happened" and of course that didn't happen,' Ms Roberts said.

Searching: After nearly a year-long investigation, the Warren Commission (featuring Boggs, right) produced a 889-page report asserting that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and a 'single bullet' was used to hit both Kennedy and Connally

Searching: After nearly a year-long investigation, the Warren Commission (featuring Boggs, right) produced a 889-page report asserting that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and a 'single bullet' was used to hit both Kennedy and Connally

Political family: Cokie was the youngest child (seen at right in 1947) of Congresswoman Lindy Boggs (left) and Congressman Hale Boggs (center), both Democrats from Louisiana

Political family: Cokie was the youngest child (seen at right in 1947) of Congresswoman Lindy Boggs (left) and Congressman Hale Boggs (center), both Democrats from Louisiana

'Now, he was somewhat skeptical of the single bullet theory and basically he signed the commission report and of course it was unanimous.'

She went on to concede: 'It's somewhat difficult to see the bullet taking that trajectory.'

'Since then we haven't learned anything more that would indicate anything else.

'The House Committee on Assassinations in 1978 with much more technology to examine these things basically came to the same conclusion right up to the last minute when they heard an acoustical report that- to them- sounded like to guns. That report has been discredited.'

The Warren Commission produced an 889-page report and passed their findings on to President Kennedy on September 24, 1964.

Fatal ride: President Kennedy was shot and killed during a motorcade in Dallas

Fatal ride: President Kennedy was shot and killed during a motorcade in Dallas

They asserted that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing the President, and nightclub owner Jack Ruby acted alone in killing Oswald before he could stand trial.

More than a decade later, the House Select Committee on Assassinations used improved technology. While they conceded that Oswald did act alone, they did think that Oswald was motivated by a conspiracy.

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The comments below have not been moderated.

Why is she even commenting, it was her father who was investigating the assassination not her!

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It's more fun having conspiracy theories. I have one that the BBC sports personality of the year is rigged. Not as much fun as who killed the President, but it's my own pet conspiracy theory. So there!!

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The woman is delusional and any one that truly believes the single shooter, single bullet theory is a fool. Even the Kennedy family doesn't believe the Warren Commission white wash. There was a conspiracy, Oswald was just a patsy, and wise people will come to know the truth. There is something to the Richard Nixon comment during Johnson's term in office when he was asked how badly he wanted to be the President, Nixon said he did want to become President but he wouldn't kill for it like LBJ.

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Butter.

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Running a country is big business and everyone has their own special interests. They shut down the government a month ago and look how much it costed. Back then the stakes were high and everyone had a right to a gun . The law is an ass and the conspiracy is more real than we can imagine.

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Being their daughter doesn't make her more privy to the truth. She knows only what her parents *wanted* her to know and nothing more. If so many witnesses seemed to die of odd circumstances then it's safe to say that they saw something they shouldn't. The parents will take the truth to the grave so the same doesn't happen to them.

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She needs to read the report and look at the photos. They don't match! How any one ever thought that report would be believed is beyond me!

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However anyone can't grasp the clear, simple, obvious ballistic truth is beyond me, too. The report is accurate. Full stop.

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Whenever great men are mysteriously killed, there will always be speculation and unanswered questions. For me, there's not a doubt in my mind that there's more to this story than the establishment is willing to reveal.

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This Woman doesn't know what she's talking about. Of course he was bumped off; the same as Marilyn and Diana. They're not conspiracies, they're the truth! I think that she herself is in denial.

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protyecting her self image developed by being the involved family member ,and naturally only ever being spoon fed one version.

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Well the 50 years pass by an the. Warren commission promises to open up their fundings an make it public.

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The Warren Commision was as reliable as England or the Vaticans witch hunt trials.Arthur Miller in writing the crucible tried to remoind to warn Americans of what was happening,what was coming in their government but the critics were too scared or too compliant to elucidate,and they , like media now just beat around the bush till nothing but dust got in peoples eyes.

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