Interview with Max Holland

Max Holland is a journalist, author, editor, and JFK historian. He was featured in the National Geographic television show JFK: The Lost Bullet.

What kind of man was JFK? I did not know him personally, of course. I only know him from what I read.He was intelligent, quick-witted, easily bored, did not treat women as equals, and very conscioius of his image and that of his family. What are some reasons anyone would want to assassinate Kennedy in the first place? Assassination is defined as political murder, and anyone who seeks to kill a president is committing a political act by definition, most obviously to gain attention for himself and his political causes. Can you explain to us some of the conspiracy theories that surround his assassination and how they originated? The origin of all conspiracy theories stems from the fact that Oswald was arrested for and accused of the assassination, but never stood trial. Americans are great believers in legal due process and the fact that the purgative effect from a criminal trial never occurred was like opening Pandoras box of conspiracy theories. Is is very similar to the phenomena that occurred when Lincolns assassin, John Wilkes Booth, never received his day in court. Do you remember the day of his assassination? Where were you? I do remember. I was 12 years old, in gym class, when an announcement was made by the principal over the PA system. At first, I couldnt understand what saying, but the tone of his voice was so grave, I thought a war had started. What got you interested in studying his death so deeply? I saw Oliver Stones film JFK when it came out in 1991. At the time, I had worked as a journalist in Washington for about 15 years. I didnt have a firm opinion about who was responsible for the assassination, but I knew that Stones version could not possibly be correct. The federal government could never act in such a coordinated and secretive manner.

Do you know of some conspiracy theories surrounding Marilyn Monroes death and how they originated? Im assuming that since she didnt leave a suicide note, the mysterious circumstances gave rise to conspiracy theories. Can you tell us a little about the man that shot President Kennedy? Oswald was a politicized sociopath, in my view. He bought a rifle to kill Gen. Edwin Walker in April 1963. When that failed,he was like a cocked rifle: waiting for another opportunity to commit a violent political act. Do you think that Lee Harvey Oswald committed the crime completely on his own? And do you think that there is any chance that he could have been innocent? Yes, I believe Oswald was the only person firing a rifle in Dealey Plaza and is responsible for all the violence there. In addition, there is no evidence anyone aided or abetted him either before or after the assassination. He was quite on his own. Do you think that ONE bullet pierced through Kennedy and Governor John Connally? Yes. A real magic bullet would have exited President Kennedys throat and disappeared. Of course it hit Connally. Can you explain the assassination plot of Lincoln and other important factors leading to his murder? The assassination of President Lincoln was a true conspiracy. At the same time he was killed, several senior members of the Cabinet were supposed to be assassinated as well by other members of the conspiracy. To this day, I dont think we really know if the plot was sanctioned by the COnfederate government, which was desperate,or if Wilkes Booth was acting independently. In any case, it was an effort to decapitate the federal government.

What are some conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of Lincoln?

Many of the theories parallel conspiracy theories involving Kennedy. For example, members of the federal government were involved or that his vice president, Andrew Johnson was responsible. Can you give us your opinion on the Moon Landing conspiracy? I believe it is nonsense. Can you tell what you know and believe about the Roswell Incident? I believe it was an experimental Air Force project to collect radiation samples from Soviet airspace, to see if and when they exploded a nuclear device. Will you give us some information on the Watergate Tapes? The Watergate tapes were secret tape recordings made by President Nixon of his conversations with aides, other politicians, officials, and even members of his family. They include both telephone conversations and meetings in the Oval Office, Camp David, and several other locations. Do you think that the Book of Secrets would hold the truth behind President Kennedys death as well as the other theories mentioned? I think the fundamental truth about JFKs death is to be found in the Warren Report, or books by people like Hugh Aynesworth or Priscilla Johnson McMillan?