(Testimony of Robert Alan Surrey)
Mr. Surrey.
Possibly.
Representative Boggs.
Is that the substance of the book?
Mr. Surrey.
No. No; the substance of the book is strictly newspaper clippings.
Representative Boggs.
Plus a letter.
Mr. Surrey.
The letter is on the back cover of the book, just a cover letter.
Representative Boggs.
Tell me more about what the letter says.
Mr. Surrey.
I would much rather have the letter. I don't recall exactly what it does say, sir.
The Chairman.
Did you write it yourself, or did somebody write it for you?
Mr. Surrey.
I wrote it myself.
The Chairman.
You don't remember what you wrote?
Mr. Surrey.
No; not as per specific words, I do not.
Representative Boggs.
Well, not specific words. The sense.
Mr. Surrey.
You picked the specific word "muzzling" out of it.
Representative Boggs.
You used that word; I didn't use it. "Muzzle" when you refer to a bipartisan Commission, established by the President of the United States, with a mandate to obtain the truth, is a rather serious word. I didn't use it--you used it.
Mr. Surrey.
Based on some past experience that I have had--I was in Oxford, Miss., with General Walker. Based on past experience of the newspaper in reports I heard coming out of national news media on that incident, which I saw with my own eyes, I could not believe any longer things which I read the newspaper.
Now, the local paper there--and I was not privileged to read the local at the time-- may have had some of the truth that went on there. But there certainly wasn't a good deal of it coming out in the national news media.
Senator COOPER. Did you select the clippings that were in the book?
Mr. Surrey.
Pardon?
Senator COOPER. Did you select the newspaper clippings?
Mr. Surrey.
No; I did not.
Senator COOPER. Who selected them?
Mr. Surrey.
A couple named Osburn that lived in Dallas.
Senator COOPER. Who are they?
Mr. Surrey.
Just some people that live in Dallas.
Senator COOPER. Do you know their names?
Mr. Surrey.
Just Osburn.
Senator COOPER. Do you' know their address?
Mr. Surrey.
No; I do not.
The Chairman.
How did you happen to be associated with them?
Mr. Surrey.
Mrs. Osburn works at Walker's office.
The Chairman.
You are speaking of General Walker?
Mr. Surrey.
Yes.
Representative Boggs.
Well, now, go ahead. I would request, Mr. Chairman, that this book and this letter be made a part of the record of this Commission.
The Chairman.
Will you supply us with a copy of the book?
Mr. Surrey.
If I have one, sir. They are out of print. And I don't know----
The Chairman.
Are they all sold?
Mr. Surrey.
Well, we were going into reprint, right at that particular time the attorney from the Times Herald called and put a cease and desist on them.
The Chairman.
How many copies did you have printed?
Mr. Surrey.
3,000.
The Chairman.
Were they sold?
Mr. Surrey.
Some of them were; yes, sir.
The Chairman.
How many were sold?
Mr. Surrey.
I would say about 900 to a thousand.
The Chairman.
What became of the rest of them?
Mr. Surrey.
They were sent to our presubscriber list, and given away.
The Chairman.
Is this company that published them a corporation?
Mr. Surrey.
No; it is a partnership.
The Chairman.
Who are the partners?
Mr. Surrey.
Myself and General Walker.
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