History Channel Apologizes to Lady Bird

[kskiska]

and other stories (Kurtz) …

Revisionist History

The History Channel says it's sorry for airing a program accusing Lyndon Johnson of plotting to murder President Kennedy.

Dan Davids, the channel's executive vice president, wrote to Lady Bird Johnson, LBJ's widow, to "express my deepest apologies for the pain and distress we have caused you and your family as the result of the airing of the documentary 'The Guilty Men.' Our commitment is to historical accuracy, and in this case, we regrettably did not live up to our standards."

Among those making the accusation on the program was Barr McClellan, father of White House press secretary Scott McClellan. The network agreed to an independent investigation under pressure from four Johnson friends, including Bill Moyers, Jack Valenti and former CNN chairman Tom Johnson, chairman of the LBJ Foundation.

As part of its capitulation, the History Channel will air a one-hour special Wednesday to present the conclusion of three independent historians that the murder allegation leveled at the former president "is entirely unfounded and does not hold up to scrutiny."

more (scroll down to "Revisionist History")…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50260-2004Apr4.html

[Catch22Dem]

1. Barr McClellan

Nuff said. What a whore and joke.

[theHandpuppet]

6. You said it...

... and the apple didn't fall too far from the tree, either.

[Fenris]

2. This is a low point for historical documentaries

There remains no credible evidence that Johnson had anything to do with the murder of Kennedy, and the fact that the History Channel gave credence to such an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory tarnishes the network's commitment to quality historical documentaries. It is fair to level criticism at Johnson for the rapid and somewhat insensitive way he was sworn in and the way Robert Kennedy was treated after his brother's death, but the suggestion that Johnson was in any way involved in the assassination is wholly without evidence and merit. That Barr McClellan was a proponent of such an absurd theory would have sent up red flags to any responsible historian.

[Virginian]

3. The apology is a little slow in coming.

The show was months ago. Why are they just now getting around to the apology?
It was much worse than "The Reagans" could possibly have ever been. There was no uproar, no outrage. It showed for an entire week whereas "The Reagans" was taken off the schedule.
I know I am comparing two different stations, but the viewing public is still the viewing public.

[Florida_Geek]

4. It is too bad because there is theories and a book

that he was part of the murder of JFK.

And Lady Bird is a crook so why say you are sorry to her.

[Frances]

5. How old are you?

Anyone who remembers Kennedy getting killed would know that Johnson was not responsible.

Johnson was the vice-president and would have been the presidential candidate after Kennedy's second term if Kennedy won reelection. Johnson would still have been a strong contender for the Dem nomination if Kennedy had lost in 64.

[Florida_Geek]

9. I'm 55 and know a lot about the death of JFK

:)

[jobycom]

12. There are books claiming W is a saint.

Need evidence, especially for a group calling itself the "History" channel. Heck, they may even be right, but without evidence, leave it HBO or other fiction networks.

Not that I've been much impressed with the History Channel's historicity, anyway.

[DemoTex]

7. What LBJ and Lady Bird didn't know about was a "minor" player:

George Herbert Walker Bu$h, CIA. Where was Bu$h-1 on 11/22/63?

[theHandpuppet]

8. Yep...

That's the question I'd be asking.

[Florida_Geek]

11. Like this picture

a lot of people believe is Bush 41

[SilasSoule]

10. Where's Karl Schneider, He used to be LBJ's pilot

post-presidency. I think he has shared a few interesting stories.