Blood, Money, and Power

How L.B.J. Killed J.F.K

By: Barr McClellan

Narrated by: David Drummond

Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

An insider’s look at America’s greatest unsolved mystery.

Blood, Money, & Power exposes the secret, high-level conspiracy in Texas that led to President John F. Kennedy’s death and the succession of Lyndon B. Johnson as president in 1963. Attorney Barr McClellan, a former member of L.B.J.’s legal team, uses hundreds of newly released documents, including insider interviews, court papers, and the Warren Commission, to illuminate the maneuvers, payoffs, and power plays that revolved around the assassination of Kennedy and to expose L.B.J.’s involvement in the murder plot.

In addition to revealing new information, McClellan answers common questions surrounding the assassination of our 35th president. Who had the opportunity, motive, and means to assassinate J.F.K.? Who controlled the investigation and findings of the Warren Commission? This historically significant book is proof that absolute power, money, blood, corruption, and deception were at the heart of politics in the early 1960s, and it represents the very best investigative journalism has to offer.

©2011 Barr McClellan (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

The Closest We'll Get to a Texas Insider's Version

I suspect this is a book better read than listened to. In the Audible version the choppy, repetitive, disorganized aspects are very evident. This is partly because McClellan is more concerned with emphasizing central points than with providing a smooth-flowing narrative. The choppiness may also be due to a lawyer's cautiousness. If hazarding a guess, he tells you he's offering a possible theory; if constructing a persuasive brief, he reiterates the key events and background details to refresh our memory and keep us focused.

McClellan ties his themes together with dressy literary elements (epigraphs that open and close each chapter) but these are designed to work on the printed page, not in audio, where they trip up the listener like bollards in the pavement.

The latter part of the book is pure autobiographical narrative and flows smoothly. No plausible guesswork here; it's a true recollection and the best part of the book. McClellan worked for LBJ crony Edward Aubrey Clark in the Austin law firm that bought politicians, engaged hit men, and looked to profit enormously once they had Johnson in the White House.

3stars not due to the content

Not the right narrator for this book. Book did get a little repetitive at the, but very eye opening and informative. Ken Burns basically confirms his involvement in his serious the Vietnam War

one of the best books on the assassination

this book has a lot of critics. which is one of the best reasons for reading or listening to this book. this author has insights on Edward Clark an attorney who served as lbj's Chief henchman and his political career. this book details the presence of super lawyers. these super Lawyers before they were household names in our lexicon had their moorings in Texas and wall street. it also further elucidates the influence the Texas has had since the early 20th century this book does have some flaws. I think it overemphasizes Lee Harvey Oswald's role in the assassination. but other than that this book is flawless you should really really give it a read give it a chance

More fiction than fact

I was hoping to get an insiders take on what might have led up to the assassination of Kennedy and how LBJ was involved from this book. While Barr has some unique insights from working closely with Clark and his firm, most of the book is written as a fictional narrative describing details of things that Barr has no evidence for and no way of knowing. I preferred the parts of the book where he describes first hand accounts but there is so much speculative storytelling going on that it discredits him.

Objection! Speculation...

I anticipated getting this book after seeing Barr's segment on the banned episode of the History Channel's "The Men Who Killed Kennedy".

I was disappointed in the end because of McClellen's speculation on what took place in key events in the assassination. I too dislike that he unveiled great info on Lyndon Johnson but used so much of the tired and false story of Lee Oswald found in hundreds of books.

Example: it is convincingly laid out that Mac Wallace was a long-standing hit man for Johnson and Ed Clark, but he then places Oswald right beside Wallace in the snipers nest. Some may argue my point, but Oswald was present in Dallas to break up an assassination attempt.

There is simply little proof here and taking the author's word for it doesn't work for me. The Johnson info is revelatory and the only redeeming quality overall. As a point of view, it earns two stars.