What They Said

Preacher Defends Himself and Like-minded Conservatives

“I know — and you know — that no true conservative in the United States would stoop to takingthe law into his own hands, I know — and you know — that any man who would assassinate the President of the United States, in these days when we still have ‘due process of law,’ would not be a conservative or a patriot, but an anarchist. I hold them in the same company that I hold the Communists or any man who would go beyond the law to achieve an end.”

In a statement released from his Tulsa, Oklahoma, residence, Oklahoma-based preacher and conservative activist Reverend Billy James Hargis spoke out within days of the crime to defend fellow conservatives from numerous suggestions that right-wing Americans — such as himself — should be considered as possible perpetrators of the assassination of President Kennedy.

JFK: The Second Plot Suggested Oil Barons Were Behind the Assassination

“The oil industry in Texas had enjoyed huge tax concessions since 1926 when Congress had provided an incentive to increase much needed prospecting. The oil depletion benefits were somehow left in place to become a permanent means by which immense fortunes were amassed by those in the industry and, well aware of the anomaly, John Kennedy had declared an intention to review the oil industry revenues. There is nothing in the world which would have inflamed the oil barons more than the President interfering with the oil depletion allowance.”

This fantastic article is for subscribers only.
Login
Lost Password?

JBS Member or ShopJBS.org Customer?

Sign in with your ShopJBS.org account username and password or use that login to subscribe.

The New American Digital Subscription The New American Digital Subscription Subscribe Now
Use code SUB25 at check out
  • 24 Issues Per Year
  • Digital Edition Access
  • Exclusive Subscriber Content
  • Audio provided for all articles
  • Unlimited access to past issues
  • Cancel anytime.
  • Renews automatically
The New American Print+Digital Subscription The New American Print+Digital Subscription Subscribe Now
Use code SUB25 at check out
  • 24 Issues Per Year
  • Print edition delivery (USA)
    *Available Outside USA
  • Digital Edition Access
  • Exclusive Subscriber Content
  • Audio provided for all articles
  • Unlimited access to past issues
  • Cancel anytime.
  • Renews automatically