(Testimony of Bernard William , Accompanied By Weissman)
Representative Ford.
Was this after the announcement of the PresidentÂ’s visit?
Mr. Weissman.
Yes.
Representative Ford.
You knew that President Kennedy was to be in Dallas on November 22?
Mr. Weissman.
Yes.
Mr. Jenner.
A week before that?
Mr. Weissman.
Right; we had started working on the ad. Larrie and I got together. And I said, "What are we going to put in it?"; because I didn't have the vaguest idea. And Larrie brought out a list of questions, 50 questions, that were made up for some conservative---I think it might possibly have been one of Goldwater's aides had just listed 50 questions of chinks in our foreign policy, you might say, weak points. And we just picked some that we thought might apply to President Kennedy and his foreign policy. Because the 50 questions went back quite aways. And all of the questions except for two I had a part in saying okay to. The two that I had no part in was----
Mr. Jenner.
Read them, please.
Mr. Weissman.
Was the 11th question----
Mr. Jenner.
Are those questions numbered?
Mr. Weissman.
No; but I will read it to you. It says "Why has the foreign policy of the United States degenerated to the point that the CIA is arranging coups and having stanch anti-communist allies of the U.S. bloodily exterminated?"
This was handed in at the last minute by one of the contributed. He would not contribute.
Mr. Jenner.
By whom?
Mr. Weissman.
I have no idea. But he would not contribute the money.
Mr. Jenner.
Was this one of the men who gave money to Mr. Grinnan?
Mr. Weissman.
Yes; this is my understanding.
Mr. Jenner.
And did Mr. Grinnan tell you this?
Mr. Weissman.
Yes; he said "This has to go in."
Mr. Jenner.
He said that to you in the presence of whom?
Mr. Weissman.
I believe Bill Burley was there, and Larrie Schmidt.
Mr. Jenner.
Where was this?
Mr. Weissman.
In Joe Grinnan's office.
Mr. Jenner.
In Dallas?
Mr. Weissman.
In Dallas; yes.
Mr. Jenner.
That is room 811 of the Wilson Building?
Mr. Weissman.
Yes; and I was against this particular question, because I frankly agreed with the coup. But it is a question of having all or nothing. Another question that was put in here---I forget exactly when---which I wasn't in favor of, which we put in after the proof was submitted to Joe Grinnan for his approval, is "Why have you ordered or permitted your brother Bobby, the Attorney General, to go soft on Communists, fellow travelers, and ultra-leftists in America, while permitting him to criticize loyal Americans, who criticize you, your administration, and your leadership?"
Now, this struck me as being a States rights plea. and as far as our domestic policy goes, I am a pretty liberal guy. So I didn't agree with that.
Mr. Jenner.
Who suggested that question?
Mr. Weissman.
I don't remember. I just remember that it came up---I didn't like it. But the fact was that it had to be in there.
Mr. Jenner.
I would like to keep you on that for a moment. Was it a suggestion that had come from a contributor, or did it originate in your group?
Mr. Weissman.
I really don't recall.
Mr. Jenner.
Or Mr. Grinnan?
Mr. Weissman.
I don't recall if it originated with Larrie or Mr. Grinnan or with someone else. I really don't know.
Mr. Jenner.
How old a man is Mr. Grinnan?
Mr. Weissman.
I would say in his very early thirties.
Representative Ford.
That suggestion, the last one, didn't come from you, however?
Mr. Weissman.
Which?
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