Popularly known as Judyth Vary Baker, she first came to my
attention several years ago when the History Channel broadcast its series, The Men
Who Killed Kennedy, the segment of Judyth which has since been banned.
At the time, I thought that anyone who confessed to a
relationship with Lee Oswald was a certified kook, desperate for attention.
After all, who would admit to such a fantasy? After several years, a friend
recommended her book Me & Lee, a
blockbuster which blew open the New Orleans aspect of the Kennedy murder. After
reading that book, I became convinced that Judyth was the real deal.
For those who think that Judyth is a liar, or mentally
unbalanced, we refer you to Jim Fetzer’s excellent article showing why he
believes Judyth Baker.
Baker’s recent book is the first to examine David Ferrie in
detail, a quirky and queer man whose character appeared in Oliver Stone’s
classic JFK. New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison saw great value in
Ferrie’s testimony, but he “died” before Garrison could fully question him.
Baker is also one of the very few people still alive who
personally knew Ferrie, making her witness all the more valuable.
Finally, we would like to announce that we are sponsoring
Judyth’s appearance in Atlanta, details of which can be found at www.judythvarybakeratlanta.com.
Judyth has been extensively threatened by the Bush Crime
Syndicate’s CIA, so much so that she sought political asylum on another
continent to save her life. It is thus with great honor that we present this
interview.
Interview with Judyth
Baker, September 13, 2014
Q: You have just completed a book on David Ferrie. Of all the characters you could have chosen, why did you
choose him?
David has been
accused of plotting to kill Kennedy and of being involved in the President's
murder. His actual role in the assassination has been hidden from the public.
It is both surprising and important.
Q: Who is David Ferrie? What
should a well read person know about his background?
David Ferrie was a
genius. He was also a homosexual who wanted to become a priest. His actual life
was as far from that of a good priest as could be possible. Skilled in leadership,
he practiced hypnotism and psychology on teenage boys who considered him as
almost a god. He ended up working as a contract pilot for both the CIA and the
Mafia. He was involved in anti-Castro activities and participated in an
elaborate plot to kill Castro. His story is both fascinating and tragic.
Q: We understand that you personally knew David Ferrie. When did you meet him? How?
The entire experience
is one that you should read for yourself. It's too complicated to describe
briefly, but I became David's friend after I was introduced to him by Lee
Harvey Oswald, who was later that year falsely accused of killing President
Kennedy.
Q: What was your relationship with him? When was your
last contact with him?
David was exactly my
father's age, and once he said I was "the little daughter he never
had." Since I had wanted to become a nun, and he had wanted to become a
priest, he was deeply concerned to learn I had become an atheist. He spent a
lot of time trying to get me back into the Catholic Church. We were working
together, as well, in a mutual effort to kill Castro, and we had to learn to
trust each other. David last contacted me a few weeks after Kennedy was killed,
warning me that I had to be a 'vanilla girl' and 'never to use your bright
little head for anything important again, if you want to live.' I am certain
that he was paramount in saving my life.
Q: Oliver Stone figured him prominently in his movie about the investigation and prosecution of Clay Shaw. Why
was Ferrie so important to Garrison?
David turned out to
be a key figure that linked the Mafia, the FBI and the CIA together in their
most nefarious actions, leading to the betrayal and murder of John F. Kennedy.
His name would keep popping up in Garrison's investigation. When David's name
hit the papers, in 1967, due to Garrison's investigation, he called Garrison's
people and told them he was a dead man. Five days later, David was dead
"of natural causes."
Q: What was Ferrie’s
connection to Clay Shaw?
For years, any such
connection was vigorously denied by Shaw's defenders, despite numerous
witnesses who saw and /or heard them interacting. I am one of the few persons
still alive who personally witnessed Shaw and Ferrie together --specifically,
at an airport, just before Ferrie flew Shaw to Toronto (and possibly Montreal)
and at an event at the 500 Club, where I observed Shaw, Ferrie and Carlos
Marcello present at the same time , concerning anti-Castro activities and a
gun-running operation.
Q: What was the role of David Ferrie in the JFK
assassination?
David was openly
anti-Kennedy. How he came to be involved, and his actual role, is one of the
central themes of the book David Ferrie: Mafia Pilot. David's actual activities
will simply amaze the reader. It is my belief that after reading the book, the
reader's understanding of David Ferrie's role in the Kennedy assassination will
be turned upside down. At the same time, Lee Oswald's innocence will be
obvious.
Q: Did Lee Oswald know David Ferrie? If so, what was their relationship?
David Ferrie was the
Commander, and, later, an advisor, in New Orleans' Civil Air Patrol meetings at
the same time Lee attended those meetings. There is a photo of them in a small
group of CAP cadets who spent a weekend with Ferrie when Lee was fifteen years
old. Lee was physically assaulted by Ferrie at one point, when Lee reacted to
Ferrie because he thought David was going to rape him, but eventually, they
became friends. Their relationship was complex. It is described in detail in
both Me & Lee (my first book) and in my new book about David.
Q: Was David Ferrie as quirky or weird as he was
portrayed in the Stone movie?
Absolutely!
Nevertheless, he had a charismatic personality and had an awesome array of talents.
He could speak at least five languages fluently and was able to inspire his
Cadets, for example, to an extraordinary degree. There is no doubt whatsoever
that he was a courageous patriot.
Q: Ferrie died before Garrison could interview him –
is that correct?
David was interviewed
at least three times by Garrison's investigators -- twice, just before he died.
Q: Some JFK researchers have doubted that Ferrie died of natural causes. Are these doubts well-founded? Did
he die from foul play? Is there any evidence to support their beliefs?
My book provides new
evidence that David Ferrie was foully murdered.
Q: If he died from foul play, who would want him dead
and why?
David knew too much.
Way too much. Even the movie JFK didn't present all the reasons why David
Ferrie could not be allowed to live. In the book, I also present the many
quotes and excuses given by those whose apparent role was--and is-- aimed at
'proving' David Ferrie was not murdered and was not important and was not even
all that bright. They portray him as a liar, a braggart, a hypochondriac and a
fool. They tend to quote Dave's boyfriends and former lovers, even though Dave
told me that he never confided much to his homosexual friends because they came
and went in his life, and could change and blackmail him.
Q: How long did it take to write this book?
Three years. However,
parts of the book come from Me & Lee, of necessity, as I describe our
relationship during that same time period. That book was written in a matter of
weeks back in 1999, then expanded with evidence files and full quotes as
researchers asked questions of me and I was required to describe various
incidents, many of which I didn't realize had remained unknown to the public.
For
example, I thought there was so much evidence available about the
Clinton-Jackson incidents described in both books that I wouldn't have to go
into detail. I was wrong: despite more than a dozen witnesses, the true meaning
of the Clinton-Jackson incidents had been successfully hidden from the public.
The
American people had been lied to. They needed to get all the facts that I knew.
I have had a tremendous response, as their eyes have been opened and they've
learned the truth about Lee Oswald and David Ferrie. I find comfort in this,
because I lost my teaching profession and home and was forced to move overseas
and live in secret places after speaking out. Yes, I miss my family and
friends, but, as I tell people, by breaking my silence, I have saved my soul.
Q: What materials did you use to write it? In other
words, what kind of documents, evidence, and artifacts did you use?
Personal items are
mentioned in the book: some of them are exhibits. I had kept diary entries on
scraps of paper and in the margins of books; I had also typed out some quotes
so I would not forget them.
Common
sense and logic--Occam's razor--shows how what I have to say puts the pieces
together, connects the dots. Edward T. Haslam and other researchers have
published materials based on leads I gave them. I saved important newspaper articles,
too. Much of what's in the new book about David Ferrie is based on evidence
that proves my association with Lee Oswald through witnesses and artifacts and
documents previously published. These are intricately linked to David Ferrie
due to our cancer research work together. Of great importance are the
statements of new witnesses who have come forward to tell me about David in
their own words.
Concerning
what has been previously published about David, because I knew him, I know who
was --or who still is-- lying about him. I've presented the lies told by these
people (and by researchers) alongside the truth so you can clearly see who you
can trust. I think you'll be surprised to see who can't be trusted.
Q: Did Ferrie leave behind any heirs?
Are any family members still alive who would have information on him?
David's only
sibling--his brother -- was ashamed of him. He died recently. His brother's
children knew nothing about their uncle. David was ostracized by his family
after morals charges were placed against him in 1961. David's mother, Burdette,
lived with him at that time, dying of cancer soon after he sent her to live
with his brother. By then, David's name had been blackened by accusations of
immoral acts with teenage boys.
Q: We understand that your book may
be the first about Ferrie? Why has he been so overlooked?
The book IS the first
to be written about David Ferrie. And it was expanded from 488 pages to over
535 pages as new witnesses stepped forward to tell me what they knew. That
delayed the book for a year.
A
"Ferrie expert" had long promised to write a book about David for
decades. He had gathered many interviews from those who knew David, but I
became concerned when he refused to meet me, only communicating by emails. When
he refused to accept my offers to send him copies of lecture notes I had made
from two of David's many lectures to me and Lee, and began telling people that
I had nevermet David (it is known by all that HE had never met David!), I
became concerned that the "Ferrie expert" was only interested in
writing down 'his' version of things. He had published many facts about David,
but stubbornly refused to release the names of any of the people he had
interviewed.
Years
passed. I knew some of those he interviewed had died. When I learned that this
person was also a sound and audio editing expert, I became concerned about his
taped recordings because we would never be able to double-check with his
witnesses, if they were all dead.
Then
I remembered that David had told me he did not confide many things to his male
friends and lovers because he was afraid that later he could be blackmailed. I
realized that I might be the last person still alive who knew David's deepest
secrets. I explain in the book how David came to trust me. It is embarrassing,
because it reveals very personal things about me, but it was important in order
to understand why David did cross that line and bare his soul to me. Throughout
my life, I have had the extraordinary privilege of being trusted by many people:
they know their secrets are safe with me.
Q: What were your biggest challenges in writing this
book?
Realizing that I was
the only person who was standing forth with the full truth about David
--against the "Ferrie expert"--against the official stories --against
statements made by the CIA, the FBI and even by some of David's closest
friends. But I had my personal relationship with David on my side. You'll see
it was enough.
Q: Please tell us a little more about your trip to promote the book
It is astonishing how
many people have decided to help. A trip to visit four cities has turned to 21
cities--and counting! Now we're going to hold the JFK Assassination Conference
in Dallas. We're going to have a huge birthday party for Lee in New Orleans.
Some big interviews have suddenly occurred. It's because people are anxious to
learn the truth, and they get inspired to help. Oddly, we can't get Barnes
& Noble to schedule an Author's Night anywhere yet. They seem to think I'm
still 'fringe stuff'--I hope that attitude will change. People who have met me
before have been fantastic about helping again. Each time I've come to the US,
the response has been bigger than the last time! However, I have vision
problems, and also, I get threats and have to rely on bodyguards. I can't keep
doing this much longer.
Q: Do you have any other books to write?
Trine Day is going to
publish THE MIND OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD next year. In 2016, I hope to finish a
book about my dear friend Col. Dan Marvin. In 2017, a book I've been working on
with my murdered friend, Martha Rose Crow, will be finished. I have a very
special book about social systems, several novels, short stories and science
fiction that I also hope will be published. I also write poetry. With my friend
Edward Schwartz, I am the co-author of KENNEDY AND OSWALD: THE FINAL VERDICT.
This book is almost finished.
An
audio book of Me & Lee is about to be released. A play--The Sniper's
Nest--by Lisa Soland, is now being produced in various countries. There are
plans about TV and films, too, in the future.
I
just want to meet people, give them a hug, and tell them that the truth must be
kept alive, for the sake of our country and our children's future. Then I want
to go home, write, paint, compose music and poetry, and thank God my life was
preserved to do that. That's the real miracle: God saved my life more than
once, and I cannot close this interview without expressing my gratitude to God.
As always Judyth, it has been a pleasure talking with
you. I am sure that our readers will want to get the book as soon as it is
available. When can they purchase it?
It can
be purchased from Trine Day Books (online), at Amazon, or at Barnes &
Noble. I will also be selling autographed copies online for the same price as
Me & Lee: just go to http://www.judythbaker.blogspot.com
to Paypal, and purchase “Me & Lee”--but put in the notes section that you
want DAVID FERRIE: MAFIA PILOT. This keeps it simple.
Thank you.
Copyright 2014 Tony Bonn. All rights reserved.
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