For over ten years, Judyth Vary Baker has stated that she had a relationship with Lee Harvey Oswald, that she knew he was an informant for our government and that he was innocent of any wrongdoing in the murder of President Kennedy.
As her book, Me and Lee, approaches publication, a question will continue to attract debate in the community of JFK assassination researchers and perhaps continue into the mainstream of political discussion: Should we believe her?
It is reasonable for one to ask some questions about what she says. Here is what went through my mind when I first heard of her:
What has she got to gain by saying it?
If it is money or fame, it pales in comparison to what she has lost: contact with family members, the feeling of safety (she lives overseas due to threats to her life) and any chance at a normal life. In short, I do not see great gain personally, but rather a need to vindicate a man she loved.
If she is making up a story, is it plausible she would choose this one? Those who spin tales tend to make themselves heroes. But Judyth doesn’t as she admits she made mistakes. Or they tell a story that would keep them safe, like saying that the man the government said was guilty was truly so. Not so here. Or they make a “non-falsifiable claim,” or something impossible to disprove. But Judyth has offered proof of her relationship with Lee (see “14 Reasons to Believe Judyth Vary Baker” -http://jamesfetzer.blogspot.com/2010/03/14-reasons-to-believe-in-judyth-vary.html) and has subjected her statements to the public.
Speaking of, what types of criticism she has received by some in the community of JFK experts? Some have cited what they believe to be inconsistencies in Judyth’s story. But even if I were to stipulate to that, it would be normal for one recalling events from almost a half century ago to forget or confuse some things. The real question is whether the inconsistencies relate to material issues. Judyth’s story about meeting Lee, having a relationship with him, his innocence, etc. have remained constant.
I had already believed in Lee Oswald’s innocence and the possibility he was an informant before I met Judyth. She told me what she knew first-hand but never insisted I had to believe it. She gave me a glimpse of who he really was and what motivated him. She told all of this to me in what I felt was a straight-forward manner.
Judyth has given Lee Oswald back the presumption of innocence he never received in real life. All of us in the JFK community should give her that presumption before making the decision as to whether to believe her.
As her book, Me and Lee, approaches publication, a question will continue to attract debate in the community of JFK assassination researchers and perhaps continue into the mainstream of political discussion: Should we believe her?
It is reasonable for one to ask some questions about what she says. Here is what went through my mind when I first heard of her:
What has she got to gain by saying it?
If it is money or fame, it pales in comparison to what she has lost: contact with family members, the feeling of safety (she lives overseas due to threats to her life) and any chance at a normal life. In short, I do not see great gain personally, but rather a need to vindicate a man she loved.
If she is making up a story, is it plausible she would choose this one? Those who spin tales tend to make themselves heroes. But Judyth doesn’t as she admits she made mistakes. Or they tell a story that would keep them safe, like saying that the man the government said was guilty was truly so. Not so here. Or they make a “non-falsifiable claim,” or something impossible to disprove. But Judyth has offered proof of her relationship with Lee (see “14 Reasons to Believe Judyth Vary Baker” -http://jamesfetzer.blogspot.com/2010/03/14-reasons-to-believe-in-judyth-vary.html) and has subjected her statements to the public.
Speaking of, what types of criticism she has received by some in the community of JFK experts? Some have cited what they believe to be inconsistencies in Judyth’s story. But even if I were to stipulate to that, it would be normal for one recalling events from almost a half century ago to forget or confuse some things. The real question is whether the inconsistencies relate to material issues. Judyth’s story about meeting Lee, having a relationship with him, his innocence, etc. have remained constant.
I had already believed in Lee Oswald’s innocence and the possibility he was an informant before I met Judyth. She told me what she knew first-hand but never insisted I had to believe it. She gave me a glimpse of who he really was and what motivated him. She told all of this to me in what I felt was a straight-forward manner.
Judyth has given Lee Oswald back the presumption of innocence he never received in real life. All of us in the JFK community should give her that presumption before making the decision as to whether to believe her.
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