Chapter 162: You’re In On It Too
On the day Kennedy died, Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office on Air Force One 1 hour and 38 minutes after the announcement of his death, becoming the new president.
The oath was administered by Judge Hughes from Texas.
Johnson insisted on taking the oath on the airplane, before returning to Washington.
From Kennedy’s death to November 25, when Kennedy’s state funeral was held in Washington, America nearly came to a standstill.
Schools closed, Wall Street stock market trading was suspended, and although federal employees did not get a holiday, their work status was no different from being on vacation.
No one had the mind to go to work.
Whether they liked or disliked Kennedy, or were indifferent, everyone was immensely shocked by his death and the subsequent series of events, including Oswald being publicly shot and killed.
Obviously, Kennedy’s death could still be called an accident, but Oswald being shot and killed in front of everyone made it impossible not to think of conspiracy theories.
Like whether America landed on the moon, this is an enduring conspiracy theory topic.
Conspiracy theories including the Illuminati, Freemasons, lizard people, and the like are endless in America.
Those that reach the Chinese Internet are conspiracy theories that have already spread widely in America.
Including that the moon landing was a hoax, a Hollywood studio moon landing, which was first proposed by Americans themselves.
Why does America have so many conspiracy theories?
It’s because there are too many such incidents; it seems the media can report freely, but in reality, the public fundamentally does not believe the media reports are the truth.
From Lincoln’s death to Kennedy’s death, there has been widespread doubt about the official truth.
But no need to worry this time; the professor will bring you the truth.
Federal employees still had to go to work, and Lin Ran, as a White House senior official, had returned to Washington early.
“This is really terrible.” Jenny’s beautiful face showed sorrow. “This is destroying the order of the nation.”
Lin Ran stroked her blonde hair. “I knew it long ago. Yes, I knew long ago that Kennedy would be killed.
I just didn’t expect them to be so bold, not only assassinating Mr. President in public, but also killing Oswald on live television broadcast.”
Jenny was shocked. “Professor, you knew?”
Lin Ran nodded. “Yes, in September, John Morgan came to me and told me that many people wanted Kennedy dead, and they had reached an agreement, so Kennedy would die soon.
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after; that’s what Morgan said at the time.”
Jenny thought for a moment. “It’s not surprising that John Morgan would know.
But professor, why didn’t you warn Mr. President?”
Lin Ran sighed deeply. “The last time I went to the White House, Kennedy asked me how he could become Roosevelt. Once he said that, I didn’t dare warn him anymore.
I even felt that he had such ideas, and over the past four years he had been trying in that direction, and the White House might not be absolutely safe.”
Jenny nodded after hearing this. “Yes, if you told him, he couldn’t save his own life, and you might get implicated.
He wanted to be Roosevelt, but he couldn’t be Roosevelt.
Their behavior is a huge destruction to the federation.
Destroying order takes only an instant, but reconstructing order may never be completed.”
As a core member of an old American family and specializing in political news, Jenny had been in Geneva before and now in Washington; her political sensitivity was undoubtedly high.
She saw the essence of the matter almost at a glance.
The nation’s order had been thoroughly destroyed.
If Kennedy’s death was a shock like Lincoln’s death, then the subsequent death of Oswald meant that America’s upper echelons completely disregarded the existence of order, and it was also the root of America’s subsequent chaos.
The nation could no longer refuse to be hijacked by a small number of interest groups.
Take Vietnam as an example; Lyndon Johnson fundamentally did not want to personally get involved.
His primary goal was to advance his Great Society plan, with the main objectives of economic prosperity and eliminating racial inequality.
In his speech at Ohio University, he said: “We will build a ‘Great Society’ together, relying on everyone’s courage, compassion, and pursuit, to build a society where no child goes hungry, no youth drops out of school.”
Including what he said privately to consultants: “I don’t want to get involved in this war, but we seem to have no choice.”
After Kennedy’s death, the federation’s personal involvement in Vietnam was unavoidable.
Lyndon Johnson dared not resist the military-industrial complex and Commissioner Smiths at all.
Future presidents did not think of resisting either; since they couldn’t resist, they might as well enjoy it together.
The president also began acting as a Commissioner Smith.
Things like Capitol Hill stock gods were standard operations, and White House stock gods emerged too.
From the president being a Commissioner Smith, everyone cooperated with the military-industrial complex and financial monsters to hollow out the federation.
U.S. debt piled higher and higher, the rich got richer and richer, and the welfare system was basically zero.
Everything originated from Kennedy’s death.
So this is a turning point comparable to the Tumu Crisis.
Although the Ming Dynasty later had a revival, and the federation had the golden age of the 1990s, they were all afterglow of the setting sun, the empire’s elegy.
White House senior officials’ condolences came earlier than those of the public.
When the casket arrived at the White House, senior officials held condolences in the White House East Room.
The East Room was dimly lit, illuminated only by candlelight and a few lights; white roses and lilies were placed around the casket, and the air was filled with floral fragrance.
“Madam, my condolences.” Lin Ran arrived during the day; he entered behind National Security Advisor Bundy, with Jenny, both wearing black formal attire and a white flower symbolizing remembrance.
“Professor, thank you.” After shaking hands with Lin Ran, Jacqueline said nothing more, her expression sad yet composed.
Robert Kennedy stood nearby, his gaze quite vacant.
“White House Special Assistant for Aerospace Affairs Randolph Lin arrives with companion Jenny Hearst for condolences.” CBS and NBC broadcast the senior officials’ condolences almost live throughout.
The commentator introduced them simultaneously in a low tone.
The ones with the most pained expressions in this process were Kennedy’s core members, that is, the Irish Mob members: Chief of Staff Kenneth O’Donnell, Special Assistant Dave Powers, and others.
Next was McNamara; as an Elephant Party member who became Donkey Party cabinet Secretary of Defense, he completely relied on his personal relationship with Kennedy and was deeply trusted by him.
McNamara could not hide his grief multiple times during this period, tears streaming down, unable to control himself.
“Professor.” In the White House East Room, McNamara hugged Lin Ran, his voice choking, tears flowing uncontrollably. “Mr. President was a good man; I want to avenge him!”
Lin Ran patted his back, while Jenny nearby gave McNamara a disdainful glance.
On November 24, Kennedy’s casket was transported to the Capitol Building rotunda for public viewing.
The casket was draped with the Stars and Stripes and placed on the catafalque used for President Lincoln’s state funeral in 1865.
The hall had soft lighting; under the huge circular dome, guards surrounded the casket, and the entire atmosphere was immensely solemn and reverent.
The historical murals on the walls contrasted with the mourning atmosphere.
From the afternoon of November 24 to the morning of November 25, about 250,000 people lined up to enter the Capitol Building; the queue stretched for miles, and people waited in the cold Washington winter night to pay respects.
Jacqueline Kennedy wore black mourning clothes and a black veil.
Robert Kennedy looked haggard, deeply immersed in the grief of losing his brother.
The queued public had solemn expressions; many shed tears, especially women and youth, who saw Kennedy as a symbol of hope.
Everyone prayed softly; the atmosphere was quiet and heavy.
Wreaths from the government, allies, and the public were placed by the casket; the scent of white roses and lilies filled the Capitol Building.
Bill was still recuperating in the hospital; he watched the live broadcast of Kennedy’s death throughout.
The funeral procession went from the Capitol Building to St. Matthew’s Cathedral, with the casket drawn by six gray horses from the Capitol Building to St. Matthew’s Cathedral.
More than a million people crowded the streets on both sides, silently watching the procession.
Washington’s sky was overcast; November’s cold wind blew, the national flag hung low, and the streets were covered with mourning bouquets.
The hearse’s pace was set by slow drumbeats from military drums, low and monotonous.
Behind the hearse followed a riderless black horse with boots reversed in the stirrups, symbolizing the leader’s passing.
After quietly watching the live broadcast, Bill felt deep sorrow inside.
Not all people in the southern states disliked Kennedy.
Because Kennedy wanted to pass the Civil Rights Act, the traditions left in the southern states naturally opposed Kennedy’s stance supporting racial integration.
Bill was an exception.
As a clerk in the vast administrative institution of Dallas County, he clearly knew the federation needed change.
Not only for victory in the Cold War, but also for the well-being of American people, it needed change.
And the president who finally wanted to achieve something was shot and killed in public like this.
And the subsequent live broadcast execution of Oswald made all the discerning people in this country feel deeply uneasy and saddened.
Just as Bill sank into this mood, the hospital room door opened without knocking.
Bill thought it was the nurse coming.
After all, at this hour, only the nurse changing dressings would come; the doctors had already rested.
But the nurse would knock, and the footsteps didn’t match.
This person’s footsteps were obviously much heavier.
He turned his gaze to the door. “Sheriff, why are you here?”
It was Pete who came.
“Sheriff, did Bonnie confess? It was the masked man, right?” Bill hurriedly asked.
The masked man was like a mystery; the more clues he couldn’t grasp, the more Bill thought about it, like an abyss constantly pulling his thoughts in.
“Mr. Bill, you mentioned before that the masked man said he was V, right?” Pete didn’t answer but asked in return.
Bill nodded. “Yes.”
“Are you sure?” Pete asked.
Bill said seriously, “I’m sure; I remember that night very clearly.
He said he was V and told me to call him Mr. V.”
Pete thought for a moment. “Mr. Bill, please carefully recount from when you met V until he left.”
Bill asked, “Sheriff, is there some new discovery?
I said Bonnie definitely had a problem.”
Pete shook his head. “No, Bonnie’s experience is similar to yours.
She just took V around the warehouse building once, and then he left.
But unfortunately, BBC’s recent special program aired a recording.
The content of the recording is very bad.
Too bad for our nation.
BBC claims this recording comes from the mysterious man V.
The recording is just a short sentence, saying he was acting on Hoover’s instructions.”
“Which Hoover?” Bill felt his heart slowly rising to his throat; he sensed himself getting excited.
“Don’t know.” Pete shook his head. “I believe you’ll see reports about this in the newspaper tomorrow evening.
This makes me think of V; V went to the warehouse building again and also to the county records building.
If the recording is real, then the V who recorded for BBC is the same V you saw.
And him asking you to tour, as you said, was indeed to find something.
But what he was looking for wasn’t a physical object, but Oswald’s possible shooting position.
Maybe by a sniper’s intuition; he might be a former sniper, or maybe by insider information he knew.
He might have known Oswald would leave a mark in advance.
Anyway, obviously, he found it.
So I need more information.
I think V likely knows something, which will be very helpful in finding the truth about President Kennedy’s assassination.”
Bill recounted the same content again.
As Pete guessed, BBC’s evening special report soon caused a global uproar.
If Oswald hadn’t died, people might not have believed it.
But Oswald being killed on live broadcast made Hoover’s suspicion skyrocket.
Global public felt Hoover had very strong suspicion.
During this time, this recording spread widely around the world.
American newspapers and television reporters all went to interview people who knew Oswald.
Including friends, family, and the like.
Everyone said this voice was Oswald’s.
Although the voice was distorted from recording, everyone could still recognize it as Oswald’s voice immediately.
At this time, Lin Ran was still in Washington.
His vacation might even continue until Christmas.
Lin Ran usually wrote math papers at home and handled some letters from NASA, while Jenny, as usual, went to White House meetings periodically and worked at the New York Times office in Washington D.C.
But because of her special identity, during Lin Ran’s time in Washington, she worked from home.
“This is really terrible.” Jenny had a sandwich in her mouth and the latest New York Times in her hand, complaining.
Lin Ran, sitting across from her, was writing math symbols on paper with his head down, not looking up. “Why do people all believe that recording is real?
Didn’t the White House issue a denial?”
“No, professor, you don’t understand; the White House did deny it.
But according to American tradition and Americans’ natural suspicion of the government, the more they deny, the more it makes them believe the recording is real.
And Hoover himself is easy to suspect.
He and Kennedy had very direct conflicts to begin with, not openly, but no one in Washington didn’t know.
Kennedy considered replacing Hoover and wanted to strengthen control over administrative institutions.
And Hoover had been in the FBI for forty years; how could he be easily replaced.
Robert Kennedy also had direct conflicts with Hoover.
These are all open secrets in Washington.
What you don’t know is that after BBC’s report spread domestically last night, someone in the White House presidential office heard Robert Kennedy’s voice from inside: It was Hoover who did it.
Anyway, this incident implicates Hoover, and moreover, it was Hoover who determined the suspect was Oswald.
Within our newspaper company, many reporters, after listening to BBC’s recording, think it’s possible Hoover did it deliberately to cover up the truth.
Including the subsequent killing of Oswald, also Hoover’s operation.
Anyway, this is very bad; Hoover is a true big figure in Washington; he holds too many secrets.
This is really bad news for us.
The Kremlin must be thrilled.”
Lin Ran looked up upon hearing this. “They should feel terrible, because with Kennedy replaced, the next president will only be tougher on them.”
Jenny said, “Every president is tough on the Soviet Union; it’s just different in form, but this time President Kennedy’s death is a destruction of the federation’s underlying operational logic.
The bottom public and those controlling resources, though all American and American citizens, can no longer be forged into one group.
Though it wasn’t in the past either, from Roosevelt to today, there was actually a concept of Americans, but that concept no longer exists.
The consensus that the federation solves problems through ballots has been destroyed.
The federation will have almost no moral high ground left except for freedom.”
At the White House, Lyndon Johnson had already completed the oath of office.
Hoover personally came to the White House to pressure Lyndon Johnson.
“Mr. President, the current rumors are very unfavorable to me,” Hoover said.
Lyndon Johnson raised an eyebrow. “Oh, is that so?”
Not only did Kennedy want to get rid of Hoover; Lyndon Johnson wanted to too.
Anyone who sits in the presidential position wants to get rid of Hoover.
As long as he stayed in that position one more day, it was a huge threat to the White House, and the White House’s power would be affected.
“Of course, such rumors spreading globally is a blow to the free world.
The White House must promote that this is a rumor from the Soviet Union, news they deliberately fabricated.
Also, you need to pressure 10 Downing Street to control their domestic media and not report every piece of news.
News like this recording, without head or tail, how can it just be reported like that!
This is slander against me!”
Hoover was very angry.
Because he sensed something was off.
He had listened to that recording too, and the FBI internally analyzed it; high probability it was Oswald’s recording, but they couldn’t admit it.
Admitting it would be the end.
Lyndon Johnson was noncommittal. “I’ll ask the White House Press Secretary; we’ll discuss a solution.”
Lyndon Johnson was thinking of stalling, to see if he could find a chance to get rid of Hoover.
Hoover’s face twisted. “Mr. President, don’t forget you knew about Kennedy’s assassination too.”
