In a bizarre story for NBC’s Today on Friday, correspondent Peter Alexander preemptively attacked President Trump for possibly blocking the release of classified government files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, even though the reporter acknowledged that “no decision’s been made” by the administration regarding the obscure bureaucratic matter.
“As you can imagine, historians are eagerly awaiting the release of these never-before-seen files....The National Archives here in Washington has until October 26th to turn them all over....The one person who could stand in the way, President Trump,” Alexander melodramatically announced at the top of his report about the 54-year-old “news.”
Amping up the concern that Trump may decide not to have the documents released to the public, the reporter proclaimed: “More than 50 years after his tragic death, the endless fascination with President John F. Kennedy lives on....The National Archives is preparing to release more than 3,000 never-before-seen documents related to the assassination, unless President Trump decides to keep them secret.”
Despite such sensationalism, Alexander noted: “For now, the White House tells NBC News no decision’s been made, but the documents could be kept in the shadows for reasons of national security.”
He then quickly ratcheted the story back up: “Historians fear that President Trump could torpedo this chance to shed light on an event that sparked countless conspiracy theories.” A clip played of historian Philip Shenon fearing: “If documents are held back next month, I think that would only add to the confusion, that will add to the cynicism. And from an historian’s standpoint, from the standpoint of an American citizen, I think that would be a great shame.”
Alexander eventually turned the segment to offer the usual liberal media fawning over JFK’s legacy: “For decades, JFK’s legacy has loomed large in American politics. His death becoming a turning point in our history, movies and documentaries analyzing every detail. Images of Camelot still mesmerizing the whole today.”
A soundbite followed of left-wing MSNBC host and Kennedy superfan Chris Matthews getting a thrill up his leg over the late president: “He was just glowing in his leadership in the country. Everyone looked up to him and many loved him. The future looked very bright. And then, it was over in a flash.”
“Now, the question remains, will President Trump allow new information to come to light or keep it under wraps?,” Alexander ominously wondered.
The biased story was brought to viewers by Ancestry, Microsoft, and Burlington.
Here is a full transcript of the September 29 segment:
7:42 AM ET
MATT LAUER: 7:42 now on a Friday morning, we’re back with the much-anticipated release of secret government files tied to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
HODA KOTB: There is just one roadblock potentially standing in the way of that. NBC National Correspondent Peter Alexander is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. with that story. Hey, Peter.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Hoda, Matt, and Savannah, good morning to you. As you can imagine, historians are eagerly awaiting the release of these never-before-seen files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The National Archives here in Washington has until October 26th to turn them all over. That deadline was set by Congress 25 years ago.
Scholars, as you would expect, they’re hopeful they’re going to get their hands on these. Files mostly from the CIA and FBI that could clarify some unanswered questions about the assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. The one person who could stand in the way, President Trump.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Sealed JFK Documents Released?; Trump Could Reveal Thousands of Assassination Files]
More than 50 years after his tragic death, the endless fascination with President John F. Kennedy lives on. And now the public could soon learn new details about his killer. The National Archives is preparing to release more than 3,000 never-before-seen documents related to the assassination, unless President Trump decides to keep them secret. For now, the White House tells NBC News no decision’s been made, but the documents could be kept in the shadows for reasons of national security. Historians fear that President Trump could torpedo this chance to shed light on an event that sparked countless conspiracy theories.
PHILIP SHENON [AUTHOR OF “A CRUEL AND SHOCKING ACT”]: If documents are held back next month, I that would only add to the confusion, that will add to the cynicism. And from an historian’s standpoint, from the standpoint of an American citizen, I think that would be a great shame.
ALEXANDER: One of the more bizarre conspiracies promoted by Mr. Trump himself, touting a widely discredited National Enquirer story about Senator Ted Cruz’s father.
DONALD TRUMP [5/13/16]: His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald being, you know, shot. I mean the whole thing is ridiculous.
ALEXANDER: The new files may contain new information about Oswald. Just weeks before the killing, the 24-year-old traveled to Mexico City, visiting Soviet and Cuban embassies apparently to secure visas to enter those countries, but details of his trip remain a mystery. Raising questions for some about whether or not Oswald had help, or if the U.S. government was aware of his intentions before the shots rang out in Dallas.
JOHN F. KENNEDY: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
ALEXANDER: For decades, JFK’s legacy has loomed large in American politics. His death becoming a turning point in our history, movies and documentaries analyzing every detail. Images of Camelot still mesmerizing the whole today.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: He was just glowing in his leadership in the country. Everyone looked up to him and many loved him. The future looked very bright. And then, it was over in a flash.
ALEXANDER: Now, the question remains, will President Trump allow new information to come to light or keep it under wraps?
Again, that deadline is October 26th. Among those leading the charge to get these documents turned over, the Republican Senator from Iowa, Chuck Grassley, who gave NBC News a statement that reads in part, “Americans deserve a full picture of what happened that fateful day in November 1963. Shining a light on never-before-seen government records is essential to filling in these blank spaces in our history.” Back to you guys.
LAUER: Even after all these years, there’s so much interest in that subject.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Yes, we’ll see what he does.
LAUER: Exactly. Peter, thank you.
