Jim Lehrer (1934–2020)

In this novel Jim Lehrer weaves a fictional story around the actual events of November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The protagonist, Jack Gilmore, is a reporter for the Dallas Tribune (aka The Dallas Times Herald where Lehrer worked) who meets Marti Van Walters, the daughter of Martin Van Walters, a former Secret Service agent, whose father is still guilt ridden year later over his decision to take the bubble top off of Kennedy’s limousine since the weather was sunny.

The novel is an interesting read as well as a quick read, coming in under 200 pages. The prose reads well, but because Lehrer is a former newspaper man and a reporter, the story reads more like a newspaper story than a novel. I never felt like I was reading a novel, but rather a factual story surrounding the assassination events. The characters are not well developed, due in large part to the story being presented mostly in a narrative format (like a newspaper story). I would have loved to see deeper development of Gilmore, Marti, and especially Martin Van Walters, since the whole point of the novel is ridding him of the guilt he has carried for so many years.

Unfortunately, Lehrer’s personal anti-war, and pro LGBTQ views are more than obvious in the book. I don’t care what Lehrer’s political or social views are, but I don’t want them shoved down my throat in a work of fiction. Just give me a good story.

Since the book revolves around an actual historical event, it is imperative that events mentioned in the book be totally accurate. Unfortunately, many facts stated in the book are not accurate. This is a cardinal sin for a former reporter to not fact check events in the book for accuracy. Just a few examples: Marti is a Dallas Cowboys fan and she mentions that in the 1963 game against Cleveland, Don Meredith threw two interceptions and had a fumble. Actually, Dandy Don had 4 interceptions and no fumbles. Also, Marti mentions that Eddie LeBaron was traded by Dallas at the end of the 1963 season. This is also incorrect. LeBaron retired at the end of the 1963 season and never played for any other team. One final example which is the most egregious. Van Walters describes Kennedy’s blood in the Zapruder film he watched as “a spray of red,” describing the final shot that struck Kennedy. He said it was red everywhere and kept repeating the word “red.” Actually, the film was in black and white, so there was no “red” anywhere in the film. Remember this was 1963 and Zapruder was using a home movie camera. Anyone who has seen the Zapruder film would know it was in black and white, not in color. These, as well as other inaccuracies in the book, reduced the overall rating I gave the book.

Personally, I cannot recommend the book. Not only does it not read as one would expect a novel to read, but the inaccuracies regarding events that actually occurred took me out of the story. As a reporter, Lehrer should know better, and have gotten his facts correct.… (més)