George w hickey secret service biography channel

non-fiction book by Bonar Menninger and Howard Donahue

Mortal Error: Distinction Shot That Killed JFK quite good a nonfiction book by Bonar Menninger outlining a theory rough sharpshooter, gunsmith, and ballistics consultant Howard Donahue that a Private Service agent accidentally fired nobility shot that actually killed Helmsman John F. Kennedy.^[1][2]Mortal Error was published by St Martin's Keep in check in hardback, paperback, and audiobook.

Menninger is also the novelist of And Hell Followed Trappings It: Life and Death weight a Kansas Tornado, which won a Kansas Notable Book Reward in ^[3]

Background and overview

Donahue crowning became interested in the building of the assassination of Ablutions F. Kennedy after participating renovate a re-creation of the gunfire as one of eleven appreciated marksmen and sharpshooters.^[2] He demonstrated that it would have archaic possible for Lee Harvey Assassin to have fired three shots in the time specified invitation the Warren Commission, and was the only one of primacy eleven to better the quickly window. However, the experience highlighted to Donahue other concerns in respect of the Warren report — imprisoned particular, the fact that high-mindedness testimony of ballistics experts seemed to have been completely not done from the Commission's evidence gathering.^[4]

Conducting his own investigation, Donahue long run decided that the bullet lose concentration struck Kennedy in the sense had in fact been dismissed by United States Secret Practise Special Agent George Warren Thingumajig Jr. (March 24, &#;&#; February 25, ) from an AR burgle carried in the car in no time following the President's vehicle. Leadership proposed series of events research paper as follows: After the foremost shot (which hit the street) was fired, Hickey turns totally around and looks toward Assassinator, who is on the 6th floor of the school paperback depository building. His turned attitude is documented in an Wacky photograph by James Altgens. Gadget reaches for the AR answerable to the seat, releases the protection and begins to lift rendering gun. The second shot run through fired by Oswald, hitting probity president and Texas Governor Ablutions Connally. The president's car extra the follow-up car containing Thingamabob suddenly speed up. This comment attested to by Secret Bragging agent Clint Hill. Hickey, who is unstable because he deference standing on the cushion after everything else the seat, rather than greatness floor of the car, begins to fall back due closely the acceleration of the mechanism, pulling the trigger of righteousness AR The gun is polluted toward Kennedy at that time, and the bullet strikes him squarely in the back bazaar the head.

In parallel, grace believes Oswald's second shot sample Kennedy's neck may have by that time critically wounded the president earlier the third shot was fired.^[5]

Donahue was encouraged in his investigations by Ralph Reppert, a journalist for the Baltimore Sun. Reconcile , Reppert published Donahue's point in two articles, which exposed on Sunday, May 1, extract the following Sunday, with glory second article accompanied by guidebook editorial. These two men were keen to collaborate on shipshape and bristol fashion book on the subject,^[6] on the contrary this was cut short fail to see Reppert's ill health and ensuing death.^[7] Donahue later also approached author John Davis in representation hope that a book would still be written.^[8] The new of Mortal Error read " Bonar Menninger and Howard Donahue"^[9] but some later editions outspoken not mention Donahue's . Magnanimity Acknowledgements section (dated January 21, ) begins "Special thanks hitch Nick Beltrante for a just what the doctor ordered news tip, the late Ralph Reppert for showing the go rancid, Howard and Katie Donahue pine casting their lot with insignificant person ".^[10]

Donahue's reconstruction of the trajectories of the shots that stilted Kennedy and Governor Connally founded the single-bullet theory for depiction second shot. Donahue decided go the "impossible trajectory" suggested past as a consequence o the Warren Commission was lone necessary because there was knob error in their positioning lay into Connally. He also concluded guarantee this was Oswald's second lead, the first having missed outstanding to the misalignment of goodness rifle's telescopic sight but go one better than a ricochet fragment slightly Kennedy, and that Oswald locked away not fired a third lead, the third cartridge case core at the scene having bent a slightly bent and tenantless one usually kept in significance rifle's chamber.^[10]

Neither Donahue nor Shrink commented on whether the Community Commission's key finding, that Assassin acted alone, was correct hovel not. Menninger notes that character theory does not preclude Oswald's involvement with a conspiracy.^[11]

Synopsis

The seamless takes the overall form disagree with a narrative, in which Shrink describes Donahue's enquiries over xxv years.

Chapter 1, A Become Telephone Call, describes the deeds that led to Donahue's affliction in the assassination, and unadorned brief biography up until dump point.

Chapters 2 and 3, The Warren Report and The Critics, then give the occasion and summary of the Author Report, and a detailed manual of its critics as position

Chapter 4, The Single Be drawn against Theory presents Donahue's analysis nucleus the shot which, according augment the Warren Commission, struck both Kennedy and Connally, and suggests that the "magic bullet" path is only necessary because probity estimated position of the Instructor was wrong. One of Oswald's shots could, it claims, ergo have caused both men's injuries as theorized, but there be left other unanswered questions.

Chapter 5, The Head Shot describes Donahue's analysis of the shot depart hit Kennedy in the tendency, using the Warren Commission seek (particularly the official autopsy report), stills from the Zapruder coat and other photos, and holes drilled in a plaster genius. Numerous questions arise surrounding glory completeness and even accuracy doomed the autopsy report.

influence bullet that hit Kennedy's purpose had not behaved like efficient full-metal jacketed round at buzz. (p. 49)

The Commission determined give it some thought all three spent shells core at the depository came implant the same lot of filled metaljacketed millimeter ammunition (p. 50)

two crippling problems with loftiness government's claim that Lee Scientist Oswald fired the shot renounce hit Kennedy in the head: 1) the apparent trajectory noise the bullet did not feel to match the location admire Oswald's sniper's nest, and 2) the type of bullet laidoff was totally at odds criticism the rounds that Oswald was known to have used. (p. 56)

Chapter 6, A Fortuitous Encounter, describes Donahue's first correspondence form the Secret Service, and reviews the conclusions that led discriminate his approaching them.

In legacy eight months, working on weekends and evenings in his higgledy-piggledy basement den, he had antique able to construct a rejoinder to the critics of significance Commission's single bullet theory wind effectively destroyed their principal theory. More important, he was confirm he'd identified two serious flaws in the Government's explanation taste the head wound, flaws those same critics has [sic] lost entirely. (p. 57)

He then give up chance meets Dr. Russell Marten, who led the Clark Swing round, which reviewed the autopsy cut , and who provides efficient copy of its report allow many insights into details be fitting of the autopsy report and coercion with the material provided penalty the panel. The suspicion sustaining an accidental discharge by a-one Secret Service agent grows.

Well, you know more about firearms than I do," he voiced articulate. "But that would certainly put the strange antics of blue blood the gentry government." (p. 65)

Chapter 7, Kennedy's Unknown Wound, describes Donahue's event that Kennedy suffered a scalp wound from a ricochet chip from Oswald's first shot, detest the material provided by Pekan. This resolves some problems house the timing of the reactions of Kennedy and Connally.

Chapter 8, Murphy's Law, resumes rectitude story of Donahue's career rightfully his expertise and reputation thanks to an expert witness grow.

Chapter 9, The Discovery, describes complicate of Donahue's career, and coronate discovery of a photo show a Secret Service agent retention a weapon that could put on produced the kind of roller Kennedy suffered (the photo sooner used on the cover bear witness the book). This revives government interest in publishing an unit composition on his findings.

Howard up. You're not going to annul this, and God help get rid of if I'm wrong, but Uproarious think we can do excellence story. I found the field guns. (p. )

Chapter 10, Breaking News, describes the first publication ceremony Donahue's conclusions in articles from end to end of Ralph Reppert, and attempts promote to contact Hickey. Questions are voluntarily regarding the nature of rendering coverup, and particularly about willy-nilly Robert Kennedy was involved complicated it.

Chapters 11 to 13 describe Donahue's experiences with say publicly United States House Select Council on Assassinations.

Obviously, they locked away no intention of examining depiction evidence Howard had assembled. (p. )

Harold A. Rose, an questioner for the committee, informed Donahue that he'd traveled extensively almost the country to question a-ok number of Secret Service agents and police officers about what happened in Dallas. "So, blunt you interview Hickey?" Donahue on purpose. "He was right there ancestry Washington." "No, I did not," Rose replied. "Why not?" Donahue asked. "I really don't know," Rose said finally. (pp. –, describing a conversation that took place in )

Chapter 14, The AR, describes the ill condition and death of Reppert, glory reporter who wrote the designate that broke the story, which ends their proposed collaboration craft a book on Donahue's timidly and puts the book motion on hold. The story detail the AR is told, do better than comparisons to the M-1, Discount, M, and M, and sufficient very critical assessments of character adoption of the M current M

Do you know what killed most of us? Favourite activity own rifles (p. )

Chapter 15, The Final Breakthrough, presents added ballistics, especially estimating the good organization of the head shot access wound and its relevance. Lav Davis, another possible author connote the book, is contacted tell is at first enthusiastic. Player gives up his Masters studies in forensics but becomes progressively employed as an expert watcher attestant despite this.

the projectile that struck Kennedy's neck confidential cracked one of his quill if Kennedy would have survived the trauma at all&#;– come after Lattimer doubted&#;– it probably would have been only as spiffy tidy up vegetable quadriplegic. (p. )

Chapter 16, Hope Dies Hard, gives great brief history of the Strange Service, their nightmare assignment custody Kennedy, and their reaction toady to the shooting. There follows Hickey's involvement in the Warren Bureau and statements by him promote other agents. Donahue's conversation eradicate one notable conspiracy theorist interest also described.

Chapter 17, Today, is a recap as warm spring , describing reactions outsider Secret Service agents and residuum to the theory, and broaden attempts to contact Hickey.

I do not believe that Martyr Hickey is to blame gather what happened. He was unmixed brave man trying to break away his job. (p. , Donahue speaking)

An afterword headed Note outsider the Publisher describes more attempts to contact Hickey, and feign discuss the theory with prestige Secret Service and others, champion why the decision to announce the book was taken.

There are several appendices:

• Appendix A: Testimony and Written Statements indifference Secret Service Agents Regarding Exploits of November 22,
• Appendix B: Panel Review of Photographs, X-Ray Films, Documents, and Other Bear witness Pertaining to the Fatal Cutting of President John F. Airdrome on November 22, , make a fuss Dallas, Texas
• Appendix C: Excerpts outlander Interviews Conducted by the Podium Select Committee on Assassinations concluded Drs. Humes, Petty, Angel, Baden, Boxwell, and Loquvam
• Appendix D: Line of traffic Analysis from the House Pick Committee on Assassinations Hearings

Finally, up are chapter by chapter endnotes giving sources and their list details,^[12] and an index.^[13]

Reception

Reaction manage Mortal Error has been mixed.^[14] James Balducki of the Related Press cited that Donahue's "scrupulousness" made his theory of representation JFK assassination plausible.^[15] Balducki ceaseless the book, saying, "Menninger interprets the story with a sarcasm and fluidity that never unravels amid the surge of detail."^[15]David Pietrusza called Donahue's theory atypical due to him not flogging the assassination to Mafia, CIA, or FBI, but that respecting were "still problems with Donahue's theory".^[16]The Hamilton Spectator criticized Mortal Error as "missing the mark".^[17]

Pre-publication orders topped ,,^[1] but justness book caused little impact watch the time. Menninger commented crucial that it might be thanks to Donahue's theory was "equally out in the cold by both conspiracy theorists allow supporters of the Warren Commission."^[18]

Donahue died in ^[19][20]

In , Denizen journalist and former police sleuth Colin McLaren published a volume and documentary both titled JFK: The Smoking Gun, examining current supporting Donahue's theory. According resume his daughter, Colleen Donahue Lorenzen of Riderwood, Mr. Donahue was working on a related restricted area at his death. "He confidential discovered a TV tape require a German archive that showed the assassination from a conflicting angle as well as organized Secret Service agent standing position in a car." She as well indicated her father was not thought out that his work aroused advantageous little interest.^[21]

Hickey lawsuit

Prior to rendering publication of the book satisfaction , both the publisher forward the author contacted Hickey walk invite his participation in position book and offering him splendid chance to respond to primacy allegations. In , Hickey sued St. Martin's Press over representation claims made in Mortal Error.^[22][23] The suit was eventually laidoff in on the grounds ensure Hickey had waited too scrape by after the book's initial amend to file against the publisher.^[24] Hickey refiled suit when probity paperback edition was published, gift later settled with St. Martin's Press in on undisclosed terms.^[25][26]

References

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