Inquest: The Warren Commission and the Establishment of Truth by Edward Jay Epstein lands on the shelves of my shop.
Hutchinson, 1966, Hardback in dust wrapper.
From the cover: The primary subject of this book is the Warren Commission not the assassination itself states the author. It began as a masters thesis at Cornell University, the object of which was to examine the workings of an extraordinary government organisation in an extraordinary national situation; as Epstein puts it truth finding in a political environment. Were not the events of November 22nd 1963 even now fresh in most peoples minds, this book would still merit the closest attention, because it exposes how even the most distinguished commission of enquiry, with the resources of the entire United States Government to hand, still failed to establish the truth. INQUEST should be read by all who accept the Commission, whether Presidential or Royal, as a tool of good government.
Epsteins fundamental criticism rests on the divided purpose of the enquiry. The paramount purpose may well have been simply to make the truth known, but the question remains, Why? The appointment of Chief Justice Warren implies that one purpose was to protect the national interest and restore American prestige abroad. Thus, the termination of rumours and the restoration of domestic tranquillity was the implicit purpose jeopardizing the achievement of truth.
The author examines with cold and devastating logic the various problems of the assassination which did not receive the attention they merited from the Commission. How many shots were fired at the motorcade? Did the first bullet that hit Kennedy also cause Governor Connallys wounds? Did Oswald have an accomplice? Was Oswald at one stage a paid F. B. I. informer?
Edward Jay Epstein, now working on a doctoral programme in American government at Harvard, has written a book causing a furore in the United States which is of acute relevance to the rest of the world. Richard Goodwin, one of President Kennedys assistants writes of it Mr Epstein makes his case in so logical and detached a manner that it demands equally serious exploration and refutation If we cannot deny this book, then the investigation must be reopened if we wish to approach the truth more closely.
Introduction by: Richard H. Revere
Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Edges of the text block lightly tanned. Offset to the blanks.
Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XIX] 224 pages. Index. 8½” x 5½”.
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