Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 161 Which Hoover? (5k)

Where is the masked man?

“Hello, Mr. Bill, I’m the police officer in charge of the investigation into the presidential assassination. You can call me Pete.”

Bill felt a lingering pain in his lower abdomen. "Where's the masked man?"

Pete looked completely bewildered. "What masked man?"

"Where's the masked man in the textbook warehouse building?" Bill's voice was low but anxious.

Pete still didn't understand: "There was never a masked man from the beginning."

Bill said, "Impossible! I saw a masked man on the upper floors of the textbook warehouse building where the gunshots came from!"

With the sudden exertion, Bill's face turned pale.

Pete gently comforted him, "Bill, calm down first, take a look at the newspaper."

Pete then got up and went outside to bring in several different newspapers.

It includes national newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.

These newspapers were all reporting on Kennedy's death.

This includes the suspect, Oswald, who was arrested at a Dallas theater about forty minutes after the attack.

"President Kennedy was assassinated, and Lyndon Johnson was sworn in."

The accompanying photos show Kennedy's motorcade in Dallas, Jacqueline Kennedy standing beside him in a blood-stained pink coat, and Johnson's iconic swearing-in ceremony on Air Force One.

The New York Times even published an editorial titled "Why America Cried?"

Washington, November 22

Tonight, America weeps not only for the departed young president, but also for herself. The grief is universal, because somehow, the worst of the nation has overshadowed the best. The blame is not only directed at the assassin, because some of the nation's own madness and violent tendencies have destroyed the highest symbol of law and order.

House Speaker John McCormack, 71, who, given the peculiarities of our politics, is the successor to the vice president, expressed this national frustration and self-criticism in an interview:

'This is a terrible blow to the nation and the free world. This is a terrible blow to the cause of peace. This is a terrible blow to all of us who believe in the people of America and the future of this country.'

The irony of the president's death lies in the fact that his short administrative career was almost entirely dedicated to curbing this violent tendency in the American character.

After reading it, Bill felt a pang of sadness. He covered his head with the newspaper, then lifted it up and said earnestly, "Besides Oswald, there was another masked man upstairs at the time."

He then recounted in detail the entire process from meeting the masked man to Kennedy's assassination.

"You can talk to Bonnie Ray Williams about this. She's the manager of the textbook warehouse building, and she went through something similar to what I did."

I suspect she sold the key to the masked man, or possibly to Oswald.

That's why this tragedy happened. I strongly demand an investigation into Bonnie Ray Williams!

After calming down, Bill said with grief and indignation.

“Okay, we will investigate Bonnie Ray Williams and the masked man you mentioned as soon as possible.” Pete nodded, still somewhat skeptical of Bill’s words.

“Mr. Pete, you have to believe me, masked men really exist,” Bill said.

Pete asked, "You just mentioned that the masked man was holding a camera, not a gun, right?"

Bill nodded and said, "That's right."

Pete said, "Because it was a camera, it means the other party wasn't the murderer, so we might not have been as motivated."

Bill said, "No, my gut feeling tells me that the masked man is the key figure, and you'll miss something if you don't investigate him."

Two days after Kennedy's assassination, Oswald was arrested on suspicion of assassinating President Kennedy and was detained at the Dallas Police Department on the afternoon of November 22.

On November 24, police planned to transfer Oswald to the safer Dallas County Jail.

The transfer took place through the police station's basement parking lot, and the media and the public were allowed to watch.

During the transfer, nightclub owner Jack Ruby rushed out of the crowd and shot Oswald in the abdomen at close range with a .38 caliber revolver.

The shooting occurred live on television, and millions of viewers witnessed the shocking scene. Oswald collapsed on the spot and was immediately taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, the same hospital Kennedy was taken after his assassination.

He was pronounced dead at 11:07 a.m.

Jack Ruby was arrested.

Ruby was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, and her trial was held in Dallas in 1964.

Ruby's lawyers argued that he was temporarily incapacitated due to psychotic epilepsy in an attempt to mitigate his guilt.

The jury found Ruby guilty and sentenced her to death.

The court subsequently planned to overturn the death sentence, citing procedural errors in the trial.

Before a retrial could take place, Ruby died of lung cancer at Parkland Memorial Hospital, the same hospital where Kennedy and Oswald died, at the age of 55. No retrial was held.

Too many people, both big and small, died in connection with the Kennedy case.

A large number of key witnesses have died.

In London, global media outlets are all watching and reporting on Kennedy's death.

Inside the editorial office of The Times, telephones rang incessantly, and typewriters clattered incessantly. World maps and international news photographs hung on the walls, and editors busily processed manuscripts.

The Times was no exception.

John Hailey's office was located in a corner of the editorial department. His desk was piled high with newspapers, documents, and a pen, while the bookshelves held political books and historical maps.

Sir John Hailey, by this time, was the editor-in-chief in charge of international affairs. (Mentioned in Chapter 79)

Frank rushed into John Hailey's office, holding a newly received telegram, looking tense and excited.

Frank said, "Sir! Did you hear? Oswald was shot and killed at the Dallas Police Department! Right on live TV, a guy named Jack Ruby rushed out and shot him on the spot!"

John Hailey put down his newspaper, his brow furrowed, and after a moment of silence, he looked up, his voice heavy.

"Yes, I just received the news. This is getting increasingly bizarre. The assassination of Kennedy has already thrown the world into chaos, and now the only suspect has been killed in broad daylight. The judicial and political credibility of the liberal camp will face a huge challenge."

Frank asked, "Sir, do you think there's a conspiracy behind this? Why would Ruby do this? Was it to silence him, or was it just a personal impulse?"

John Hailey stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the London street scene outside, put his hands behind his back, and spoke in a deep voice:

"Regardless of whether there is a conspiracy behind it or not, I am certain that conspiracy theories will be rampant."

Ruby's gang background and connections with the police are indeed suspicious, but we cannot draw any conclusions prematurely.

As journalists, we must remain calm and speak with facts. The truth may be far more complex than we imagine.

Frank: "But with Oswald dead, the truth behind the assassination will probably never be revealed. This poses a problem for our reporting; how should we write it?"

John Hailey turned around, looked firmly at Frank, and slowly walked back to his desk.

John Haley stated, "Our task is to present the facts and analyze their far-reaching implications. Kennedy's death was not only a tragedy for America, but also a turning point in global politics."

The Cold War situation, the civil rights movement, and the situation in the Baiyue region—all these could potentially be altered by his death. We need to approach this from an international perspective, telling readers what this event means for the world.

Frank: "I understand. But the public is very interested in conspiracy theories, should we mention these speculations a little?"

John Haley shook his head, his tone serious, and tapped the table lightly with his pen: “We can raise public concerns, but we must emphasize that there is currently no conclusive evidence. Overhyping conspiracy theories will mislead readers and damage our credibility. The editorial should call for rationality and urge America’s side to conduct an open and transparent investigation.”

Frank: "That makes sense. Perhaps we could also write about Kennedy's legacy and the challenges Johnson will face if he takes over?"

John Hailey nodded, sat back in his chair, and his expression softened slightly.

"Yes, that's a good angle. How will Kennedy's idealism and Cold War strategy continue under Johnson? Will the Civil Rights Act pass? How will the situation in Baiyue develop? These are all topics worth exploring in depth."

Frank: "Then I'll go prepare the first draft. Sir, do you have any other suggestions?"

John Hailey paused for a moment, his tone gentle yet firm: “Remember, Frank, our readers need insight, not just news. Don’t be led astray by the surface chaos; see the essence behind the events. Kennedy’s death is a turning point in history, and our reporting should carry that weight.”

However, the balance was broken the next day.

“Sir, Major John Freeman requests an audience,” Frank said, knocking on the door and entering Sir Haley’s office after receiving permission.

Haley shifted her attention from Frank's manuscript, glanced up at Frank, and said, "Let him in, and pour him two cups of black tea, Lipton, please."

“Yes, Sir.” Before Frank could even leave, Haley added, “Let’s go with Twinings.”

Lipton is an affordable mid-range black tea brand, while Twinings is a high-end tea brand that mainly offers Darjeeling and Ceylon black teas from India.

When Major Freeman walked into the office, Haley could clearly see the panic on his face.

This kind of panic cannot be concealed by feigning composure.

"What's wrong? Do you know who killed Kennedy?" Haley teased.

Major Freeman swallowed hard, shook his head, and indicated that they would talk later.

After Frank brought in the tea, he immediately stood up, closed the door, and then repeatedly checked Sir Haley's office to make sure there were no unknown devices. Only then did he take a deep breath and whisper:

"It really is."

Haley was also alarmed. The news of Kennedy's assassination and the subsequent deaths of those associated with him reached the presenter of the BBC's flagship program, Face to Face, first.

Today is not April Fool's Day.

Moreover, Freeman, a former soldier, doesn't like to joke.

On television, he might occasionally strike a whim and employ some clichéd British humor, but in private, Major Freeman is undoubtedly a serious and unsmiling man.

"Who did it?" Sir Haley asked.

Freeman said in a low voice, "Oswald killed him."

Haley's heart sank immediately; wasn't that common knowledge?

Oswald was arrested that same day.

Freeman's next sentence put his mind at ease: "Oswald was instigated by Hoover."

This is incredibly big news.

Because Hoover was a very important and important person.

Regardless of which Hoover.

"John Edgar Hoover or Herbert Hoover?" Sir Haley's voice began to tremble.

He even felt a little regretful.

He regretted letting Major Freeman into his office today.

“I don’t know, because Oswald only mentioned Hoover in the recording,” Freeman said.

Haley was shocked: "A recording! What the hell is a recording?"

Major Freeman scratched his head and then sighed, "That's right."

I received an envelope signed V, which contained an audio recording and a letter.

He said he recorded the tape on the sixth floor of the Texas Textbook Depository Building, which is exactly the room where Oswald shot.

There are many audio files, but only:

'Now I can report back to Hoover, right? Bang!'

Sir Haley's face was more solemn than ever before.

"No, there are too many suspicious points here."

The assassination attempt happened the day before yesterday.

How did the audio file end up with you in just two days?

Unless the other party takes a plane from New York to London immediately after receiving it.

Secondly, which Hoover was it?

If it were Herbert, it would be fine, since he was almost ninety years old. But if it were John Edgar Hoover, that would be a much bigger problem.

This would not only cause severe turmoil within America, but could also endanger both of our lives.

Herbert was a historical figure, and at this time he was almost ninety years old. As a former president and former chairman of the Hoover Commission, he was certainly famous and powerful in the past.

But those events happened at least a decade or more ago.

In his old age, every time he attended the Elephant Party's national congress, it was suspected to be his last, but he lived to see the Elephant Party's national congress in 1964.

"It's unlikely that Herbert Hoover would do something like this. No matter how much he disliked Kennedy, he wouldn't do such a thing."

At his age, he should just wait for history to give him its verdict. How could he possibly hire someone to assassinate Kennedy? That would be utterly absurd.

"And I've never heard of any conflict between Herbert Hoover and Kennedy." Sir Haley thought for a moment and shook his head.

Indeed, at this time Herbert Hoover was focused on writing, trying his best to record his experiences and achievements in Washington over the years, so as to leave himself a good posthumous reputation.

Major Freeman and Sir Haley exchanged a glance and said in unison, "That's John Edgar Hoover?"
That's terrible news.

Hoover is a big shot now.

To what extent.

He served as the director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (BI) from 1924 onwards.

Back then, BI wasn't called BI yet.

In other words, he stayed in that position for almost forty years.

It's hard to imagine how terrifying it would be for someone to hold the position of the Eastern Depot for forty years.

White people did not have a secret police agency like the Eastern Depot in their history, but they were equally aware of the immense power that such a long-lasting authority could bring.

"Bullshit!" Freeman said indignantly, "Why throw such a dilemma at me?"

Sir Haley cautioned, "You've dragged me into this too."

Sir Haley rose and paced around his office. "No, we've fallen into a trap. What makes us think this recording is real?"

Freeman's voice was low and his expression was frightened: "Because this letter appeared directly on my desk in my office."

Only I have the key to my office.

I carry one with me at all times, and I don't keep the spare key at the BBC, but at home.

I saw this letter when I walked into the office this morning.

After reading the contents, I immediately confirmed that the office door lock was intact.

After listening to the tape at home, I confirmed again that neither key had been touched.

One has always been on my person, and the other has always been in my home.

There were no signs of climbing outside my office window.

In other words, someone left a letter in my office, which was in a locked room.

And it wasn't thrown on the office floor; it was placed steadily on my desk, and weighed down by the ink bottle on the desk.

This means V walked in, and it's even possible he sat on the sofa for a while.

Lin Ran did walk in confidently, but he didn't sit on the sofa.

He simply left the letter and the tape and then departed.

He was relieved when he left, saying that he was glad he had done an interview with the BBC beforehand.

"It is precisely because of the way it appeared that I am inclined to believe that the letter is genuine."

To put it simply, there are many suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of Kennedy and Oswald.

Isn't it normal for this kind of strangeness to continue to spread in the revelations?
The appearance of the letter is very much in line with the style of the whole incident.

After hearing this, Sir Haley said, "Take me to your office. Perhaps we can make some new discoveries there."

"it is good."

Clearly, no new discoveries were made.

The door is simply invincible.

Here, after listening to the recording, Sir Haley said:
There are too many unknown questions here.

Who is V, and how did he know Oswald would fire from the sixth floor of the warehouse building? How was the recording equipment placed there?

What is his relationship with Hoover, and what is his relationship with Oswald?

In Freeman's office at the BBC building, Major Freeman and Sir Haley were filled with a profound and persistent doubt, as elusive as the November fog in London.

Moreover, the more you think about it, the more doubts you have.

"Our first question now is whether or not to report on the tapes?" Major Freeman said.

“Of course we have to report it; we are journalists,” Sir Haley said matter-of-factly.

Major Freeman hesitated for a moment: "But this would offend Hoover."

Sir Haley said, "We are in London, and in London, offending the KGB is probably more terrible than offending the BI."

Besides, V may not have only provided us with this one tape.

If we don't report it, other media outlets will.

For example, the East German newspaper Pravda might already be writing tomorrow's headline.

(End of this chapter)