04-11-2008, 12:34 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-11-2008, 09:00 PM by Charles Drago.)
I think it appropriate to share the following story on this page.
Over the years many of us in what is loosely referred to as the "JFK research community" have been approached by individuals claiming to have highly significant inside information that they wish to share,
Almost always these dangles are prefaced with ego-stroking: "You're the only person who can understand what I have to say!" -- b.s. along those lines.
About 15 years ago I was approached by a fellow who at the time was a regular contributor to one of the finest JFK research journals ever and whose work was worthy of true respect. I'll refer to him as "Phil."
He spun the following tale.
He had been contacted by a psychoanalyst who claimed to have a terrifying and all-too-true JFK assassination-related story to recount. He alleged that one of his patients was suffering from repressed memory syndrome. Under treatment and hypnosis, the patient spoke of ritual Satanic abuse at the hands of her mother and the leader of the cult -- a world-renowned financier and backer of national Republican politicians, including Nixon.
The patient claimed that Nixon was a passive member of the cult, witnessed the sexual abuse to which she was subjected, and was aware of this story.
To cut to the chase, the patient said that the JFK murder was itself a Satanic ritual killing; that JFK's brain is missing because it was ingested by cult members as part of a so-called black mass on the weekend of the assassination; that a demonic presence killed a Marine guard stationed at the Capitol while JFK lay in state.
Phil asked if I were interested in writing a book and/or screenplay about this business -- one in which the patient, who had signed a release permitting her analyst to talk about her experiences, would participate and speak freely.
It all sounded too pat -- in fact, Phil's presentation boasted all the qualities of a classic Hollywood pitch. Today he might have described a film treatment as JFK meets The Exorcist.
I quickly passed. And all these years later I'm glad that I did.
Phil has all but disappeared from public view vis a vis JFK research. I think fondly of him personally and continue to value his contributions to the cause.
So what was the game?
Did Phil believe any of this? It is relevant to this story to note that the walls of his office were covered with crucifixes, photos of saints, and other Christian paraphernalia.
I expressed to him my suspicion that he was being sold a bill of goods by a person looking to make a score in the book and film markets. He offered no reaction to my hypothesis.
We did not meet again on this or any other issue.
If forced to offer an opinion, I'd say that it was all hokum.
I present the story here as a cautionary tale.
Over the years many of us in what is loosely referred to as the "JFK research community" have been approached by individuals claiming to have highly significant inside information that they wish to share,
Almost always these dangles are prefaced with ego-stroking: "You're the only person who can understand what I have to say!" -- b.s. along those lines.
About 15 years ago I was approached by a fellow who at the time was a regular contributor to one of the finest JFK research journals ever and whose work was worthy of true respect. I'll refer to him as "Phil."
He spun the following tale.
He had been contacted by a psychoanalyst who claimed to have a terrifying and all-too-true JFK assassination-related story to recount. He alleged that one of his patients was suffering from repressed memory syndrome. Under treatment and hypnosis, the patient spoke of ritual Satanic abuse at the hands of her mother and the leader of the cult -- a world-renowned financier and backer of national Republican politicians, including Nixon.
The patient claimed that Nixon was a passive member of the cult, witnessed the sexual abuse to which she was subjected, and was aware of this story.
To cut to the chase, the patient said that the JFK murder was itself a Satanic ritual killing; that JFK's brain is missing because it was ingested by cult members as part of a so-called black mass on the weekend of the assassination; that a demonic presence killed a Marine guard stationed at the Capitol while JFK lay in state.
Phil asked if I were interested in writing a book and/or screenplay about this business -- one in which the patient, who had signed a release permitting her analyst to talk about her experiences, would participate and speak freely.
It all sounded too pat -- in fact, Phil's presentation boasted all the qualities of a classic Hollywood pitch. Today he might have described a film treatment as JFK meets The Exorcist.
I quickly passed. And all these years later I'm glad that I did.
Phil has all but disappeared from public view vis a vis JFK research. I think fondly of him personally and continue to value his contributions to the cause.
So what was the game?
Did Phil believe any of this? It is relevant to this story to note that the walls of his office were covered with crucifixes, photos of saints, and other Christian paraphernalia.
I expressed to him my suspicion that he was being sold a bill of goods by a person looking to make a score in the book and film markets. He offered no reaction to my hypothesis.
We did not meet again on this or any other issue.
If forced to offer an opinion, I'd say that it was all hokum.
I present the story here as a cautionary tale.