Representative Ford.

The one you just read.

Mr. Weissman.

Oh, no.

Representative Ford.

Because of your own liberal domestic philosophy?

Mr. Weissman.

Right. The only question in here that is entirely my own is the last one, and this is because I was pretty steamed up over the fiasco in Cuba and the lack of followup by the administration.
"Why have you scrapped the Monroe Doctrine in favor of the spirit of Moscow?" I will still stand by that question. As far as the copy at the top of the letter, appearing before the questions, as far as I know, this was written by Larrie Schmidt. He showed it to me. I said, "It is a little rough, but if we are going to get our money's worth out of the ad, I guess it has to be."

Mr. Jenner.

Mr. Chairman, may I stand over near the witness?

Representative Ford.

Surely.

Mr. Jenner.

Thank you.
When you say the copy at the top of the ad, does that include the banner, "Welcome, Mr. Kennedy, to Dallas"?

Mr. Weissman.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

And you are referring to all that portion of the ad which is Commission Exhibit No. 1031, down to the first question?

Mr. Weissman.

Yes. The idea of the black border was mine.

Mr. Jenner.

Yes. I was going to ask you that. Why did you suggest the black border?

Mr. Weissman.

Well, I saw a proof of the ad--drew a mockup, the advertising man at the newspaper office drew a mockup, and it was the sort of thing that you just turned the page and pass it by, unless you had something to bring it out. And I suggested a black border. He put a one-eighth inch black border around. I said try a little heavier one. He went to a quarter inch black border and I said, "That looks okay," and we had the black border.

Mr. Jenner.

I take it from your present statement that you worked with a copywriter or advertising composer at the Dallas Morning News.

Mr. Weissman.

Yes. His name was Dick Houston.

Mr. Jenner.

How many editions did this run for the $1,463?

Mr. Weissman.

One edition. It came out on the evening edition, on the 21st, and the morning of the 22d.

Mr. Jenner.

Just one paper?

Mr. Weissman.

One edition, one paper.

Mr. Jenner.

That is only the Dallas Morning News?

Mr. Weissman.

That is right.

Mr. Jenner.

It was not in the other Dallas papers?

Mr. Weissman.

No.

Mr. Jenner.

The Times Herald?

Mr. Weissman.

No. We felt---we didn't even go to the Times Herald. We felt they would not even print it, because they are a very liberal paper, and we felt it would be a waste of time. We were convinced that the Morning News was conservative enough to print it. And they did.

Mr. Jenner.

So the Dallas Morning News people were quite aware of the composition of the ad, and worked with you in putting it in final shape?

Mr. Weissman.

Yes; as a matter of fact, I had asked to show it to a Mr. Gray, who was the head of the advertising department, and they said no, that wouldn't be necessary, they just have to submit it to a judge something or other, a retired judge who was their legal advisor, and who would look at the ad to see if there was anything libelous in it, so to speak, or anything that the Morning News could be sued for. And I assume they did this, because they didn't let me know right away whether or not they could print it.
When I came back that afternoon, or the following morning---I don't recall which---and they said everything was okay, that it would go.

Mr. Dulles.

When you spoke of the head of the advertising department, that is the advertising department of the News?

Mr. Weissman.

Of the Dallas Morning News; yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

Mr. Weissman, you have read two questions with which you disagreed.