The Public Affairs Discussion Group will host Burt W. Griffin, retired judge of the Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County, on Friday, Feb. 20, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Kelvin Smith Library’s Dampeer Room, for a talk titled “The Warren Commission & the Academy: Exploring Truth in a Political World.”
It’s been more than 50 years since the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known as the Warren Commission because it was chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren, delivered its final report. The purpose of the commission was not only to determine the truth about the events of President Kennedy’s assassination. Although that appeared to be the case for the first few years after the report, it was soon met with a dizzying array of counter-theories. Today, doubts have become institutionalized.
Griffin was one of 15 attorney investigators who staffed the Warren Commission. He joined the staff after graduating with honors from Yale Law School, working for two years at the U.S. District Attorney’s Cleveland office, and joining McDonald Hopkins as an associate. Over his long career since the commission reported, including three decades as a Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas Judge, he has observed how large majorities of Americans, as measured by polls, assert that Oswald was part of a larger conspiracy.
Join the Center for Policy Studies as he reflects on the commission’s work, public knowledge, and whether the education system helps explain the gap between the findings and public beliefs.
Since 1989, faculty, emeriti, students and staff have gathered on Fridays for a brown-bag lunch and to discuss topics in public affairs.
For updates and more information about the Friday lunch schedule, visit fridaylunch.case.edu.