I arrived at the appointed time, 2:30 PM, at the House Whip's lavish offices but, Congressman Bogs, was not there. His staff, scurrying around, offered coffee but no explanation, as if it was not out of the ordinary. Boggs, a Democrat from Louisiana, had been elected to Congress at the age of 26 in 1946--the youngest congressman in history. As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, he had log-rolled much of the benefits of the national highway program to fellow Congressmen, and built up so much power that he was now House Whip.

I had by now been able to obtain enough of the house keeping records of the Commission from the National archives to see that Boggs had attended very few meetings. But I wanted his perspective on how the Commission worked. I also hoped he could open other avenues of access for me.

He arrived at 3:15 in a burst of energy. Good-looking and smooth-talking, he answered my questions without any trace of reticence~ or modesty.

Q. How did Commission originate?

A. I was its originator. I suggested to a Washington correspondent there should be a blue ribbon Commission. I suggested 3 Judiciary, 3 Congress, 4 from Public. The next day the President called me, said he was creating Commission, and asked me to serve on it.

Q. Was the Why as important as the how of assassination?

A. They are "both equally important." We spent a great deal of time on details, but we also spent time on motivation.

Q. Do you agree with Ford's comment on the separation between staff and Commission?

A. Yes. It was different from Congressional Committee, but I'm not sure on difference it makes.

Q. Did you feel that the staff was working too independently?

A. I didn't feel that way.

Q. Was there an incident where evidence was held back by staff?

A. I don't remember it.

Q. Do you think there was difference between FBI & Commission Report?

A. There was also a Secret Service Report. We decided not too rely too much on either in December.

Q. The Reports were not sacrosanct, were they?

A. No. we had our own investigation.

Q. What were changes?

A. I don't remember the details.

Q. On the CONNALLY BULLET. Did you accept that both JFK and Connally were hit by the same bullet?

A It was never re-solved.

Q. The Commission never came to a decision?

A: No. There was a difference, of opinion.

Q. What was your opinion?

A. I doubted that one bullet would be powerful enough to inflict the wound. Connally had large wound on both his back and wrist, and in his thigh. I doubted if this bullet had passed through the President first.

Q. So then you didn't want to state in the Report that both men were hit by one bullet?

A. No. But I didn't believe it was of great moment.

Q. You didn't think it was important?

A. No-Not of great importance.

Q. How did the staff feel?

A. They tried to prove it with paper logic--but they offered no real evidence.

Q. How was it resolved?

A. It never was resolved.

Q. Was Connally bullet the only area of disagreement?

A. I can't think of any others.

Q. The Commission did a good deal of independent work.

A. Yes.

Q. Did you have any special area of interest?

A. No.

q. Was there a possibility someone influenced Oswald?

A. We couldn't find any?

Q. Why was Report negatively written?

A. No answer.

Q. Ford suggested that there was a secret meeting of the Commission to discuss an allegation of a prior FBI connections to Oswald.

A. There was.

Q Was that the only such meeting?

A. I can't think of any others.

Q. How did you decide to terminate?

A. We wanted to end before the election. Both parties thought it wouldn't look good to delay until after the election. People would think something was wrong.

Q. Is there any reason for continued secrecy?

A. No. But if you say something of the Commission, you should say something good.

Q. But were the Commissioners with their other duties too busy?

A. I always say--if you need a job done, pick a busy man.

Q. In New Orleans--was there any connection to a Fair Play for Cuba Committee?

A. We couldn't find any.

Q. How did you evaluate Marina Oswald?

A. She certainly changed. I doubt she knew anything beforehand.

The interview, which lasted only about 30 minutes, was full of interruptions. But it was clear to me that Boggs was not going to provide any details, if he knew them. He was, if anything, proof of McCloy's point about absentee commissioners.