Hoover-Johnson Transcript 11/23/63

[Charles Collins]

Here's Epstein's account of meeting Nechiporenko in Moscow. Surprising that in this account Nechiporenko said he considered Oswald as a possible source, as someone with potential. Potential for what? This is completely at odds with the book account where he said Oswald behaved erratically, pulled out a revolver and as a result of his behavior that they wanted to get rid of him. And this account is all muddled; Oswald visited the Embassy over two days - Friday and Saturday. Nechiporenko has him visiting just one day and that he told Oswald (?) to come back the next day?

When questioned about it, LHO became upset and denied ever even being in Mexico City. This was similar to his denying owning a rifle, or bringing a long package to work, etc. It is intriguing…

[Walt Cakebread]

Is this a transcript of the whole conversation?
If so, how come LBJ is asking about "the visit to the Soviet embassy in Mexico in September".
He seems more clued up than the head of the FBI.

 how come LBJ is asking about "the visit to the Soviet embassy in Mexico in September".

That's the question ........??  Why was LBJ asking that question....   

Was LBJ still trying to make it appear as if Lee Oswald was an agent of the Soviets?   ( The original plot intended to make it appear as though Lee Oswald was working with the Cubans  ( and therefore that could be used as a pretext for attacking Cuba)   But they had to back away from that plot because of the fear of starting a nuclear war with Russia.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

When questioned about it, LHO became upset and denied ever even being in Mexico City. This was similar to his denying owning a rifle, or bringing a long package to work, etc. It is intriguing…

Yeah, why deny this? The rifle, the package, photos...denying that makes sense. But this? So angrily? Just anger with the FBI or something more?

When he came back from MC he told Marina that he was through with Cuba, that the bureaucrats there were just like everywhere else. So the entire "Revolution" and Castro are to blame for some bureaucratic office screwup? And for that he dismisses them? Very odd.

[Richard Smith]

how come LBJ is asking about "the visit to the Soviet embassy in Mexico in September".

That's the question ........??  Why was LBJ asking that question....   

Was LBJ still trying to make it appear as if Lee Oswald was an agent of the Soviets?   ( The original plot intended to make it appear as though Lee Oswald was working with the Cubans  ( and therefore that could be used as a pretext for attacking Cuba)   But they had to back away from that plot because of the fear of starting a nuclear war with Russia.

Whew.  There are so many logical contradictions here that it defies belief. 

[Charles Collins]

how come LBJ is asking about "the visit to the Soviet embassy in Mexico in September".

That's the question ........??  Why was LBJ asking that question....   

Was LBJ still trying to make it appear as if Lee Oswald was an agent of the Soviets?   ( The original plot intended to make it appear as though Lee Oswald was working with the Cubans  ( and therefore that could be used as a pretext for attacking Cuba)   But they had to back away from that plot because of the fear of starting a nuclear war with Russia.

That's the question ........??  Why was LBJ asking that question....

LBJ had been informed about it earlier in the day by the CIA. He was speaking to the head of the FBI. Why the heck wouldn’t he ask if there was any further developments regarding this very important aspect of the assassination investigation? Even if there hadn’t been any further developments, LBJ was experienced enough to know that the various Federal agencies and bureaus do not always share all of the available information with each other. If the FBI had information that the CIA wasn’t privy to (I am not saying that they did), LBJ was talking to JEH, (who most likely would have all of the information that the FBI possessed). So, I think that the better (than your’s) question would be: Why wouldn’t he want to ask the question?

[Walt Cakebread]

That's the question ........??  Why was LBJ asking that question....

LBJ had been informed about it earlier in the day by the CIA. He was speaking to the head of the FBI. Why the heck wouldn’t he ask if there was any further developments regarding this very important aspect of the assassination investigation? Even if there hadn’t been any further developments, LBJ was experienced enough to know that the various Federal agencies and bureaus do not always share all of the available information with each other. If the FBI had information that the CIA wasn’t privy to (I am not saying that they did), LBJ was talking to JEH, (who most likely would have all of the information that the FBI possessed). So, I think that the better (than your’s) question would be: Why wouldn’t he want to ask the question?

LBJ had been informed about it earlier in the day by the CIA.

Please present verification that LBJ had been briefed by the CIA about Mexico City "earlier in the day ".

[Charles Collins]

LBJ had been informed about it earlier in the day by the CIA.

Please present verification that LBJ had been briefed by the CIA about Mexico City "earlier in the day ".

On the question of when LBJ learned about Oswald's visit to MC.

From Max Holland's book "The Assassination Tapes": "During the [Saturday] morning briefing with McCone, Johnson learned some information from the Central Intelligence Agency that is not yet public knowledge - namely that six weeks prior to the assassination the CIA station in Mexico City observed Oswald visiting the Soviet embassy in the Mexican capital."

So LBJ learned about the Oswald visit *before* having the later call that Saturday (11/23) with Hoover on the latest news/information.

What's a bit interesting is that apparently Hoover/McCone did not know at that time that Oswald had also gone to the Cuban consulate. LBJ was only told about the Soviet Embassy visit. So that bit of information hadn't gotten to them yet.

Correction: LBJ had that crazy letter that Oswald sent to the Soviet Embassy in Washington. He mentions the Cuban consulate visit there. So Hoover knew about it but doesn't mention if in the call with LBJ? Or was that edited out?