Presidential Recordings Ep. 2 - Creation of the Warren Commission

The podcast delves into President Lyndon B. Johnson's efforts to establish the Warren Commission following President Kennedy's assassination. It highlights Johnson's initial reluctance due to state rights issues and potential conflict with FBI Director Hoover, before he eventually championed the commission. A key challenge was persuading Earl Warren and Richard Russell to serve, given their personal animosity. The commission included figures like John Sherman Cooper, Hale Boggs, Gerald Ford, John McCloy, and Allen Dulles, carefully chosen to represent diverse political perspectives. Johnson's phone calls reveal his strategic approach to forming the commission, balancing political considerations with the need for a credible investigation. The podcast also touches on the FBI's investigation, including details about Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby.