Burden Proof

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FEATURES • THE ARTS • TELEVISION TELEVISION • ARTS THE • FEATURES

Of Of

BURDEN BURDEN

PROOF PROOF • •

says that that says

The story involves a missing safety deposit deposit safety missing a involves story The

second — and possibly a third — gunman. gunman. — third a possibly and — second

Gayle Nix Jackson and brother David Nix show a gape copy of film taken by by taken film of copy gape a show Nix David brother and Jackson Nix Gayle

ups and lies cloud the film's whereabouts. whereabouts. film's the cloud lies and ups

author of two books on the assassination, assassination, the on books two of author box, box,

the shadows if he has the original film. film. original the has he if shadows the street from Mr. Zapruder, Mr. Nix filmed filmed Nix Mr. Zapruder, Mr. from street

assassination of President John F. Kennedy Kennedy F. John President of assassination what some experts now believe may be a a be may believe now experts some what

camera was recording history with color color with history recording was camera

in Dealey Plaza. But while his 8-millimeter 8-millimeter his while But Plaza. Dealey in

what was happening behind Mr. Zapruder. Zapruder. Mr. behind happening was what

pictures of the fatal shots, it couldn't catch catch couldn't it shots, fatal the of pictures

Staff Writer of of Writer Staff

By Kathy Jackson Jackson Kathy By

The only thing Is, it's missing. missing. it's Is, thing only The

Whispers of betrayal, conspiracy, cover- conspiracy, betrayal, of Whispers

Robert Groden, a photo analyzer and co- and analyzer photo a Groden, Robert

Now--28:years later, his gran gran his later, Now--28:years

Standing on the opposite side of the the of side opposite the on Standing

Orville Nix did that. that. did Nix Orville

Abraham Zapruder captured on film the the film on captured Zapruder Abraham

a one-sentence contract, contract, one-sentence a

he he

The Dallas hforolag News News hforolag Dallas The

can bring those assassins out of of out assassins those bring can

OrvilleNix-filihreiiiiitit OrvilleNix-filihreiiiiitit

an old man's man's old an

assassination. The original film is missing. missing. is film original The assassination.

A A

still photo taken from a copy of Orville Nix's film of the the of film Nix's Orville of copy a from taken photo still

— —

he: t t he:

hottght was a'secOnfiztlitiiiiiiii*the JFK assassination. assassination. JFK a'secOnfiztlitiiiiiiii*the was hottght

their grandfiaher during during grandfiaher their

;

., .,

• •

p• p•

4., 4.,

the Kennedy assassination. assassination. Kennedy the

den says he'll put the original film on a a on film original the put he'll says den

Please see ORVILLE on Page 2C. 2C. Page on ORVILLE see Please

lect Committee on Assassinations. Mr. Gro- Mr. Assassinations. on Committee lect photos of the shooting for the U.S. House Se- House U.S. the for shooting the of photos

give it to to it give

says, that the film eventually would be re- be would eventually film the that says,

made. "We were were "We made.

with his father when the agreement was was agreement the when father his with

in the Big Apple." Apple." Big the in

days after the assassination. Mr. Nix and and Nix Mr. assassination. the after days

UPI Newsfilm, had a verbal agreement, she she agreement, verbal a had Newsfilm, UPI

Burt Reinhardt, then-managing editor of of editor then-managing Reinhardt, Burt turned to the Nix family. family. Nix the to turned to United Press International for $5,000 four four $5,000 for International Press United to

ball deals," says Orville Nix Jr., who was was who Jr., Nix Orville says deals," ball

grandfather's original film, which he sold sold he which film, original grandfather's

nation. nation.

has been fighting to reclaim her dead dead her reclaim to fighting been has

naivete and his granddaughter's determi- granddaughter's his and naivete

Mrs. Jackson wants the film so she can can she so film the wants Jackson Mrs.

"We were used to handshakes and eye- and handshakes to used were "We

For seven months, Gayle Nix Jackson Jackson Nix Gayle months, seven For

Mr. Mr.

Groden, who has enhanced enhanced has who Groden,

a a

As As

couple of country hicks hicks country of couple

The The

•1

. .

Daces Morning Newt. John John Newt. Morning Daces P Rhodes Rhodes P "Rack Cintel," a film-duplicating ma-

Orville Nix's granddaughter isn't giving up Continued from Page 1C.

chine that eliminates shadows and

conceals.

brings out what the darkness

do it," says Mr. Groden, who is from

she says. "This has been a battle. I've

most important pieces of evidence to

Pennsylvania and is co-author of prove he (Lee Harvey Oswald) didn't

tire sequence closer. But the Nix film

sic level," he says.

often relying on her brother and sis-

of at least one other gunman — and

ing business going. Treason. and I don't know anything. I'll show JFK:

me when I'm doing Kennedy stuff," from what I know of first-generation agreement was that UPI could have ton — wherever the clues lead her - has a great deal more value. I ter to keep the family's tax-consult- phones London, New York, Washing- that proves conspiracy at its most ba- the assassination. She says she prints that It will prove the existence

really been given a hard time. They

turn the film in 1988, 25 years after

them.' "

think I'm tims dumb Texas woman called UPI in New York and asked the film for 28 years. received letters saying the original

selves," says Milt Capps, senior vice that the film be returned. Now, though, all the people she talks to say they can't find it.

"It is not something that anyone here

president for corporate affairs at UPI.

has dealt with in recent years. A lot

"The Zapruder film shows the en-

"They're the ones who cover for

Every day, Mrs. Jackson tele-

Mrs. Jackson first asked UPI to re- So

"We have no pursuable leads our-

In January, Mrs. Jackson again

The Nix film may be one of the

Case

she waited three more years,

for

Conspiracy

and

know

High

closer. But the Nix film

value." shows the entire sequence

has a great deal more "The Zapruder film

and he just kept (the camera) run-

Texas Gov. John Connally.

dies, and he told Forrest Sorrels, a fired from. He told his golfing bud- ning."

there. I know it.' Everybody around gunman over there (on the grassy grew up hearing the tale from her him is dive-bombing into the ground, grandfather. "He said, 'I was right

Jackson says. friend at the Federal Bureau of In- town developing company. In the

an autopsy on the president, photo knoll)," says Mrs. Jackson, 33, who vestigation.

camera rolling, aware that he Bethesda Naval Hospital performed away. identity of an assassin. film.

recording history — and possibly the what was happening. He kept his middle of the night, as doctors at Elm Street. Mr. Nix quickly realized lab employees developed Mr. Nix's

where he

'They kept It for four days, along him and telling him to come right

FBI the next day," Mrs. Jackson says.

"He was just beside himself," Mrs. Then the limousine turned onto At first, Mr. Nix told everyone

"He told us there was another

Then they telephoned, waking Mr. Nix rushed his film to a down-

"He turned the film over to the

— Robert Groden,

thought the shots had

photo analyzer

been

was

tions, though, were not included in the brief contract typed by Mr.

and that was too expensive for their

Reinhardt. they closed the deal.

and film makers heard of Mr. Nix

blood," says Mrs. Jackson.

and telephoned him or traveled to said happened must have happened.

grassy knoll. But he was always quick

his Dallas home. He told them what he believed to be the truth: Someone scared of the government,' says Mrs. had fired at the president from the Oswald acted alone. And there were

Jackson.

to add that whatever the government

Mrs. Jackson. "And I said,

mission announced that Lee Harvey

tales of assassination witnesses dying want to talk about it,' " re mysteriously.

nothing's going to happen to you.'

sassination at all. Not at all." at General Services.

about it. No one wanted to think the

didn't talk to anybody about the as-

government was lying — especially

him. He

stuffed with letters from the Na-

of UPI. which bought the news film section

Lancaster, Mrs. Jackson has a folder UPI and Worldwide Television News, tional Archives in Washington, D.C.,

Mr. Reinhardt that the film was locked in a safety deposit box after

The Nixes returned home the day

"The hamburgers there cost $1,

Through the years, researchers

"He was of the old school. He was

"He started saying, 'I really don't Years passed. The Warren Com-

"Toward the end of his life, he

Mrs. Jackson says she was told by In her desk at Orville Nix Co. In

ho kvri ic.,..iirect to say anything

worked

for the government

■

Paw-Paw,

embers

end," says Mrs. Jackson, who never-

analyze the grassy knoll scenes. theless continues her telephone cam-

tory like this could just be lost."

paign. "I can't believe a piece of his-

exist. But Mr. Groden says it's im-

is a degree of loss in clarity," he says.

perative that the original be used to

Please see NIX on Page 6C.

• 6T4 c U 61.1

• •

Several copies of the home movie

"When you duplicate a film, there Through more than 25 years of

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she says, "This has been a battle. I've

sic level," he says.

often relying on her brother and sis- and I don't know anything. I'll show me when I'm doing Kennedy stuff,"

ing business going. ter to keep the family's tax-consult-

selves,"

"It is not something that anyone here

agreement them.' " called UPI in New York and asked This is part of UPI's history, not its of the details are lost in the past.... turn the film in 1988, 25 years after ton — wherever the clues lead her - the assassination. She says she phones London, New York, Washing- that think though, all the people she talks to say really been given a hard they can't find it. the film for 28 years. received letters saying the original

present." president for corporate affairs at UPI. has dealt with in recent years. A lot

Mrs. Kennedy shook hands with well- air-conditioning system. General Services Administration was finishing an all-night shift at the downtown, where he worked on the

wishers at Love Field airport, Mr. Nix

hat that he always wore and carrying cade. an and the president talking 10 limeter movie camera, he walked to eagerly for the president's motor- Main and Houston Streets and waited his new Keystone Auto Zoom 8-mil- and his camera were ready. The film

captured Mrs. Kennedy's pink Chanel turned onto Houston Street, Mr. Nix

"They're the ones who cover for

So she waited three more years.

Mrs. Jackson first asked UPI to re- Every day, Mrs. Jackson tele- "We have no pursuable leads our- In January, Mrs. Jackson again

On Nov. 22, 1963, as President and

Dressed in the Frank Sinatra-style

When the presidential Lincoln

the

I'm this dumb Texas woman

says

film be returned. Now,

was

Milt Capps, senior vice

that UPI could have

time. They

and he just kept (the camera) run- dies, and he told Forrest Sorrels, a

fired from. He told his golfing bud- "They kept it for four days, along friend at the Federal Bureau of In-

away, ning." with his camera." there. I know it.' Everybody around grew up hearing the tale from her him is dive-bombing into the ground, grandfather. "He said, 'I was right coming from the grassy knoll just be- Nix showed the film to FBI agents, vestigation. gunman over there (on the grassy see an autopsy on the president, photo FBI the next day," Mrs. Jackson says. Jackson says. cial ever called Mr. Nix — not even pointing out three flashes of light

where he thought the show had him and telling him to come right identity of an assassin. the Warren Commission. He didn't film. knoll)," says Mrs. Jackson, 33, who

sassination, and he and his son flew lab employees developed Mr. Nix's

fore a bullet strikes the president's town developing company. In the one know his identity. Those stipule- months. And when the FBI returned Bethesda Naval Hospital performed the film, his granddaughter says, on the equipment, it was broken. middle of the night, as doctors at two conditions: that they eventually head. movie to UPI the week after the as-

return it to his family, and that no to New York City to meet with Mr. Reinhardt. Mr. Nix sold the rights to

"Ile was just beside himself," Mrs.

"He told us there was another Then they telephoned, waking

"He turned the film over to the Al first, Mr. Nix told everyone

Yet, she says, no government offi- According to Mrs. Jackson, Mr.

Mr. Nix rushed his film to a down-

Mr. Nix decided to sell his home

his camera again for eight

•

.:1

been

Oswald acted alone. And there were

Jackson.

mission announced that Lee Harvey

tales of assassination witnesses dying want to talk about it,' " remembers mysteriously. about it. No one wanted to thinkIlie Mrs. Jackson. "And I said, 'Paw-Paw,

nothing's going to happen to you.'

sassination at all. Not at all." at General Services. government was lying — especially

didn't talk to anybody about the as- him. He But he was scared to say anything

Some of the bigshots might have got-

Television News should have the doesn't want to be iden stuffed with letters from the Na-

of UPI.

film in its files; a WTN employee who was kept in the Clinton Union Trust he says. "ft wasn't turn over to us. told her that the safetydeposit box to Alexander P. Bock, UPI's retired letter from Mr. Bock saying he never ten it." treasurer. In Mrs. Jackson's file is a locked in a safety deposit box after it must have it. "The riginal was examined by the Warren Com- turned over to the leade ship at UPI,"

mission and the key was turned over Mr. Reinhardt that the film was was demolished about 10 years ago. its existence." which bought the news film section UPI and Worldwide Television News, tional Archives in Washington, D.C., building in Manhattan. The building had the key, "although I was aware of

Lancaster, Mrs. Jackson

"He started saying,

Years passed. The Warren

"Toward the end of his life, he

"Basically, right now I'm at a

UPI's Milt Capps

Mrs. Jackson says she was told by

In her desk at Orville Nix Co. in UPI officials, Mrs. Jackson says,

worked

for the government

■

say

has a folder

really don't

fed

Worldwide

says UPI

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6 C Ei)f Za I Itag Awning Nelu$ Monday, .duly 15, 1991

Mr.Orville Nix 252? Penley Driae Dallas Texas

UPI Newsfilx agrees to pay yo-.1 $5C'00.00 (five thcusand dollars) for your Fran-, film covarage cf th. assassignatinn of President Kennedy.

by Burt 13.•!iiihardt Nanagir.E,,!ditor 15PI Newsfilm

agr e ed

A simple contract was typed up by UPI Newsfilm managing editor Burt Reinhardt for the purchase of Orville Nix's film of the assassination. Nix came to_fear talking about his film Continued from Page 2C. lieve that the first and third flashes that day indicate that someone was work, Mr. Groden says he has deter- of light on the grassy knoll are standing on the grassy knoll, he says ,m4.1;:ct • mined that the man many people - merely shadows. But the second one the Nix film could be more defini- including himself — believed to be may well be gunfire. Mr. Groden says tive. Lee Harvey Oswald standing in the there are two .men standing in the "I've seen parts of that film, and I doorway of the School Book Deposi- shadows about 15 to 20 feet apart. think it would be excellent," he says. tory during the assassination was, in And one seems to be in a military "If anyone can do it, Groden can." fact, Mr. Oswald's co-worker, Billy Lo- stance. Mrs. Jackson says she is not seek- velady. He also determined by analyz- If he had the original film, Mr. ing the original film for fame or ing films that Mrs.. Kennedy picked Groden says, he might be able to money. She simply wants her grand- up a piece of her husband's head make out more. father, who quit school in the fourth when she climbed onto the trunk of Mark A Oakes, an assassination grade and picked cotton to help sup- the limousine. researcher in St Louis, Mo., says the port his family, to have the place in After watching a copy of the Nix original film could be invaluable. Al- history she feels he deserves. film in slow motion, he came to be- though other films and photos taken "I know this might sound real corny, but God put him down there for a purpose — I really do believe that," she says. -My hope is that this film will hold the answers. If this film shows what happened, what a tribute it would be to my grandfather."