Reasonable Doubt: An Investigation into the Assassination of John F. Kennedy

by Henry Hurt

Many researchers, including Mark Lane, Henry Hurt, Michael L. Kurtz, Gerald D. McKnight etc have pointed to inconsistencies, oversights, exclusions of evidence, errors, changing stories or changes made to witness testimony in the official Warren Commission investigation, which suggest cover-up, without putting forward a theory as to who actually committed the murder. Reasonable Doubt by Henry Hurt, explicates his Warren Commission doubts. Hurt tends to pin the plot on professional crook Robert Easterling, along with Texas oilmen & a Ferrie/Shaw alliance.
A thoro, objective, well-documented study of the JFK assassination with 48 b&w photos. Investigative reporter Hurt assembles an overview of evidence, circumstance & theory about the assassination of JFK in '63. In addition to reviewing the eight official inquiries & the various conspiracy theories, he minutely examines seemingly outlandish notions, such as the involvement of a Lee Harvey Oswald impostor in a Cuban conspiracy. The latter theory doesn't seem so outlandish after he produces a likely candidate & a witness whose testimony, tho 'terribly sullied,' provides abundant plausible detail. He builds a powerful case that Oswald didn't kill the president or policeman J.D. Tippitt, & that he was the patsy he called himself shortly before Jack Ruby shot him dead. The prose is a bit breathless at times. He refers to the crime of the century, the autopsy of the century etc. But after reading this, few will doubt that the circumstances surrounding JFK's assassination remain among the mysteries of modern times or that the components of that mystery are clearly laid out here.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

571 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Al Duran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hurt’s book on the Kennedy assassination is an adequate critique of the conclusions of the Warren Commission. Unfortunately, the prominence given to the Robert Easterling “confession” towards the end of the book puts the author’s own judgment into a state of “reasonable doubt.”

[Pete daPixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is a book investigating the JFK case that has appeared in so many bibliographies of more recent publications on the subject that I had to peruse the work of Henry Hurt. 'Reasonable Doubt' appeared in 1985 and probes the many aspects of Dallas with broad brush strokes.
With just under five hundred pages, Hurt certainly took on a massive task to analyse the Warren Commission,HSCA and Garrison conclusions and to also present a coherent view of Dealey Plaza, the puzzles of Oswald and the tragically missed leads of the Tippit murder, Jack Ruby and New Orleans.
With so many aspects of this mystery to document 'Reasonable Doubt' certainly covers much ground and with solid research to present to the reader. Many books have been written that focus on just one of these topics that Hurt covers in just one chapter, hence the broad brush.
The expose of Robert Easterling's tale was completely new to me, yet like the confessions of Hunt, Harrelson, Hemming, Files, Factor et al., I don't think take us any further on the road to the core truth.
It would be interesting to know what this author could add with the passage of thirty years and the A.R.R.B. since 'Reasonable Doubt' first appeared. Or would he echo the words of Jack Ruby, "Everything pertaining to what's happened has never come to the surface. The world will never know the true facts of what occurred."

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better overviews of the JFK assassination and of the theories surrounding it up to the date of its publication in 1985. While much of it is a considered overview of the opinions of others, and a scathing critique of the Warren Commission, some of the material is original with the author, most particularly as regards the dubious Robert Easterling confession.

[J McEvoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bulk of the book is a well-written and organised summary of the main flaws of both the Warren Report and the HSCA. The author has an eye for hidden details, and for picking out important clues and possibilities. Many of the issues he raises are still pertinent today, no answers having been forthcoming, despite the JFK Records Act and the AARB review. Recommended.

[William Guerrant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and intriguing critique of the investigations of the Kennedy assassination, this book convincingly reveals the flaws and inadequacies of the official explanations and conclusions--leaving the reader with lots of unanswered questions.

[Joseph Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m currently reading “Countdown to Dallas” and it mentions this book. I read it sometime between 1988, when it came out, and 1990; so I’m adding it now. What you think of this book probably depends on whether you believe the conspiracy theories or not.

Shortly after I finished the book, Victor Marchetti, author of “The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence,” came to town to speak. There was a footnote in the book that either mentioned Marchetti or concerned something in his wheelhouse. I asked him about it and he replied that the book and the details in it collectively didn’t add up to anything convincing.

[Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A balanced view of the problems with the investigation of JFK's death. Some interesting arguments discussed, and n ot too rabid one way or another, though he leans toward a conspiracy of some sort.