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Listen to Summary

Key Takeaways

1. Conflicting Evidence Obscures the Truth

What you believe happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963, depends on what evidence you believe.

Conflicting accounts. The Kennedy assassination is shrouded in conflicting evidence, making it difficult to discern the truth. Eyewitness testimonies, medical reports, and official investigations often contradict each other, leading to multiple interpretations of the events.

Credibility assessment. The legal system's approach to conflicting evidence is to determine which evidence is credible, rather than seeking new information. This approach can be limiting, as it relies on subjective judgments and may overlook crucial details.

The "best evidence" fallacy. Lawyers often prioritize "best evidence," but this can be misleading. The most readily available or officially sanctioned evidence may not always be the most accurate or truthful. A thorough investigation requires considering all evidence, even if it challenges the established narrative.

2. The Zapruder Film: A Tangible Anomaly

Lane then quoted another “official” explanation—this one published in Life magazine—which stated that, although the car had already passed the building, the President had turned around to wave to someone in the crowd, thus exposing the front of his neck toward the rear. But the Life issue which carried this explanation also published frames from the Zapruder film, and they demonstrated that during the entire assassination the President was facing forward.

A home movie's impact. The Zapruder film, a home movie capturing the assassination, presents a tangible anomaly. Its depiction of the shooting contradicts the official findings, particularly the backward thrust of President Kennedy's head following the fatal shot.

Challenging the narrative. The film's existence raises questions about the accuracy and completeness of the official investigation. Why did the Warren Commission downplay or ignore the film's implications?

Accessibility and interpretation. The Zapruder film, once available only to scholars, has become widely accessible, allowing a new generation to analyze its contents. However, interpreting the film remains a challenge, as it requires careful consideration of perspective, motion, and potential alterations.

3. Medical Testimony: A Battleground of Contradictions

Every day, in courtrooms, juries are confronted with conflicting evidence.

Dallas vs. Bethesda. The medical evidence surrounding the Kennedy assassination is a battleground of contradictions. Doctors at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas initially believed the President was shot from the front, while the Bethesda autopsy concluded he was struck from behind.

The throat wound controversy. The nature of the throat wound, whether it was an entrance or exit, became a central point of contention. The Warren Commission's conclusion that it was an exit wound contradicted early news reports and raised suspicions of a cover-up.

Burning the evidence. The revelation that autopsy documents had been burned by Dr. James Humes, the physician who performed the autopsy, further fueled the controversy. The lack of questioning about this act by the Warren Commission added to the mystery.

4. The Autopsy: Authority vs. Authenticity

Best Evidence is a story of my journey in search of the truth about the autopsy.

The autopsy's centrality. The autopsy findings on President Kennedy's body are the centerpiece of the Warren Commission's evidence. They establish the basic architecture of the shooting and support the conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin.

Impeaching the findings. If the autopsy findings are invalid or falsified, the entire narrative of the assassination is called into question. Impeaching those findings becomes crucial for uncovering the truth.

Authority vs. authenticity. The book delves into the process by which individuals and society decide what is true and false. It explores the conflict between official authority and the search for authentic evidence, particularly in the context of the autopsy.

5. Trajectory Reversal: A Blueprint for Deception

Trajectory Reversal: Blueprint for Deception

The laws of physics. The backward motion of President Kennedy's head in the Zapruder film challenges the official narrative that he was shot from behind. This "head snap" suggests a force impacting from the front, contradicting the Warren Commission's conclusions.

Altering the body. To reconcile the head snap with the official narrative, the conspirators may have altered the President's body to create the appearance of shots from behind. This alteration could have involved creating a false entry wound and manipulating the trajectory of the bullets.

Disguise and deception. The autopsy report and related evidence may serve as a disguise behind which the conspirators hide. The story of how these findings were falsified transcends the issue of the number and location of the shooters.

6. The Power of Suggestion: Shaping Perceptions

What people could “see” was not only a function of what was there, but of what they could accept.

Subjectivity of perception. Photographic enlargements and other forms of evidence are subject to interpretation. What people "see" is influenced by their existing beliefs and biases.

The grassy knoll effect. People who disagree with the Warren Commission's conclusions are more likely to "see" evidence of a grassy knoll assassin. This highlights the power of suggestion and the difficulty of achieving objectivity.

The disguise. The autopsy report and related evidence may serve as a disguise behind which the conspirators hide. The story of how these findings were falsified transcends the issue of the number and location of the shooters.

7. The Lake County Informant: A Glimmer of Hope

You have found new evidence!

A new lead. A Lake County informant's account of head surgery on President Kennedy's body offers a glimmer of hope in the search for truth. This new evidence suggests that someone altered the President's body prior to the autopsy.

The Sibert and O'Neill report. The informant's account is supported by an FBI report from agents Sibert and O'Neill, which mentions "surgery of the head area" on President Kennedy's body. This report, overlooked by the Warren Commission, provides further evidence of a cover-up.

Reopening the inquiry. The new evidence and the FBI report raise questions about the validity of the Warren Commission's conclusions. They suggest the need for a reopening of the inquiry to investigate the possibility of body alteration.

8. The Liebeler Memorandum: A Call to Action

You have written a book about authority.

A confrontation with authority. The author's confrontation with Wesley Liebeler, a former Warren Commission attorney, marks a turning point in his investigation. It leads to a deeper understanding of the process by which we decide what is true and false.

The Liebeler memorandum. Liebeler's memorandum to Chief Justice Warren, which highlights the discrepancies in the medical evidence, represents a call to action. It urges a responsible analysis of the autopsy photographs and X-rays to determine the accuracy of the Sibert and O'Neill report.

A personal narrative. The book transforms from an abstract evidentiary analysis into a personal narrative. The story of the author's journey and experiences becomes just as important as the evidence he has found and the theory he is propounding.

9. The Missing Brain: A Haunting Absence

The answer to that, I am convinced, will cast a bright light on the most important question of all: who was behind the assassination?

The brain as evidence. The President's brain, a crucial piece of evidence, is missing from the National Archives. This absence raises questions about the integrity of the investigation and the possibility of a cover-up.

The chain of possession. The chain of possession of the brain is unclear. The autopsy report mentions the brain, but its whereabouts after the autopsy remain a mystery.

A call for accountability. The missing brain highlights the need for accountability and transparency in the investigation of the Kennedy assassination. It underscores the importance of pursuing the many serious issues of autopsy forgery raised in the book.

10. The Clandestine Intermission Hypothesis: A Chilling Revelation

The Clandestine Intermission Hypothesis

A secret operation. The author formulates the "Clandestine Intermission Hypothesis," which suggests that the President's body was secretly removed from the Dallas casket and altered before the autopsy. This hypothesis accounts for the discrepancies in the medical evidence and the missing brain.

The missing link. The chain of possession of the President's body is the missing link in the Kennedy assassination investigation. Understanding what happened to the body between Dallas and Bethesda is crucial for uncovering the truth.

A synthesis of evidence. The Clandestine Intermission Hypothesis synthesizes the various pieces of evidence, including the head snap, the grassy knoll witnesses, and the conflicting medical reports. It provides a framework for understanding the assassination as a covert operation.

11. The Secret Service: Custodians of Truth or Architects of Deceit?

Best Evidence is the story of my journey in search of the truth about the autopsy.

The Secret Service's role. The Secret Service, responsible for protecting the President, played a significant role in the events surrounding the assassination. They had custody of the body, the clothing, and the limousine.

A web of inconsistencies. The Secret Service's actions and statements are marked by inconsistencies. Their reports are often vague or contradictory, and they have been accused of withholding information.

A question of trust. The Secret Service's involvement raises questions about their role in the assassination. Were they merely custodians of the truth, or were they architects of deceit? The answer to that question may hold the key to unlocking the secrets of the Kennedy assassination.

Last updated:

Review Summary

4.00 out of 5
Average of 500+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Best Evidence by David S. Lifton is a controversial book about the JFK assassination that focuses on discrepancies in the medical evidence. Many readers praise Lifton's meticulous research and find his theory of body alteration compelling, though some dismiss it as far-fetched. The book is seen as eye-opening by those skeptical of the official narrative, but criticized by others as promoting baseless conspiracy theories. Readers appreciate Lifton's detailed examination of the evidence, even if they don't fully accept his conclusions. The book is considered a must-read for those interested in the assassination, though its length and technical detail can be challenging.

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About the Author

David S. Lifton was a UCLA physics student who became fascinated by the JFK assassination after seeing the Zapruder film. He spent 15 years researching the case, focusing on the medical evidence and autopsy discrepancies. Lifton had unique access to a Warren Commission lawyer, Wesley Liebeler, which informed his work. His book "Best Evidence" was published in 1980, proposing a controversial theory of body alteration to explain conflicting medical reports. Lifton's dedication to the case interrupted his academic pursuits, and he supported himself while conducting extensive research into government archives and interviewing key witnesses. His work is noted for its detailed forensic analysis and investigative approach.

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