Letters                                         19 May 1991    
The Orange County Register
P.O. Box 11626
Santa Ana, CA  92711

  This letter is in response to the 15 May 1991 Opinion article
"Oliver Stone's flimsy film falls like a rock" by Jon Margolis.

On New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison-
  Although former CIA contract agent Clay Shaw was acquitted, the
jury was convinced that there had been a conspiracy but couldn't
agree on the extent of Shaw's involvement.
  It was speculated that former FBI agent Guy Bannister recruited
Oswald as a low level agent for the Bureau.  Texas authorities
reported Oswald's FBI informant number was T-179, and the CIA had
a "201" personnel file for Oswald.  
  It should be noted that important information, including the
Abraham Zapruder film, was made public as a direct result of this
trial.
  Mr. Garrison is presently a judge for the 4th Circuit Court of
Appeals in Louisiana.

Believing the Warren Commission-
  There are some who believe Oswald acted alone, probably the same
people who believe that a single bullet can cause seven wounds in
two adults, shatter two bones, and emerge pristine.  But I think
that Mr. Margolis is in the minority.
  In 1969, Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry stated, "We don't have 
any proof that Oswald fired the rifle, and never did.  Nobody's   
yet been able to put him in that building with a gun in his hand."
  In the mid 1970's, several commission members and President
Johnson doubted that Oswald acted alone.  In 1979, the House Select
Committee on Assassinations report stated that President Kennedy
probably died as the result of a conspiracy.
  In 1988, 4 out of 5 Americans believed that there must have been
a second gunman.

Movie influencing "millions of young people"-
  What is Mr. Margolis afraid of?  If the movie "JFK" turns out to
be bad entertainment, free market forces will "punish" Mr. Stone. 
Young people have survived much worse precepts.
  But look at the possible positive effects the movie could bring,
people demanding of our government that the truth be sought.  New
ballistics and acoustic tests using today's technology, would go a
long way in resolving the mystery and skepticism.  Maybe then we
wouldn't have to wait for the year 2039 when the sealed records are
opened, and additional facts see the light of day.
  Bring on the movie, I'll even buy Mr. Margolis a ticket, if he
promises to keep his eyes open.
         





                                         Steve Peterson   722-9251
                                         2166 A  San Michel Drive
                                         Costa Mesa, CA  92627