I came across a pretty far-out political accusation about LBJ in a obit article about Billy Sol Estes. Estes was a "fast talking Texas swindler", a preacher and someone who had contact with a number of famous American politicians in the 1960's. He was convicted as a swindler and spent time in jail. In 1953 the US Chamber of Commerce named Estes "one of America's 10 outstanding young men". He died recently at the age of 88. I found this line in the obit interesting and certainly troubling if true. "Many of his statements were self-serving and never proved-particularly allegations about Johnson. Estes said he had given millions to Johnson, and that Johnson had ordered seven killings disguised as suicides or accidents to cover up his connections to the frauds and had then set up the assassination of Kennedy in 1963 to become president". The obit notes that he was convicted of federal charges in 1963 and sentenced to 15 years in prison, was paroled in 1971 and convicted of tax fraud in 1979 sending him back to prison. Bizarre claims, to say the least, but could there be any truth behind them?
(Source: " Texas swindler made millions and captivated millions" by Robert D. McFadden of the New York Times. In the Virginian Pilot on 5/15/13.
No comments:
Post a Comment