Oswald in the doorway: the blog of the Oswald Innocence Campaign, by Ralph Cinque

I was just informed by Larry Rivera that I was right: Ken Brooten was involved with Lovelady from the very beginning. He made the first trip to Denver CO with Robert Groden in 1976, and he was there for the pictures taken of Lovelady. Brooten was calling the shots throughout the whole thing. 

I used to wonder: Why didn't Groden take Lovelady to Dealey Plaza and shoot him there in the doorway? Why didn't he try to duplicate the Altgens photo? Sure, Lovelady was older, but his shirt wasn't. Mrs. Lovelady said that she kept it in a safe the whole time. It's not like he was wearing it week in and week out. 

But now, I know why: Kenneth Brooten. Kenneth Brooten would never have allowed Groden to do that. But, what was wrong with Robert Groden that he would let this government lawyer lead him around by the nose? Brooten was on the legal staff of Congressman Henry Gonzales of Texas, who brought him into the HSCA. And, Gonzales was the one who introduced the bill in Congress to start the HSCA, which was co-sponsored by Congressman Thomas Downing of Virginia. 

So, Brooten was there. BROOTEN WENT TO LOVELADY. Lovelady didn't go to Brooten. And you know damn well that Lovelady didn't say to him, "Please! Quit your job and represent me!" Nah, nah, nah. What Lovelady said was, "Please! Don't make me go to Washington!" And Brooten said: "Alright, I'll do all I can to help you with that, but that means I'm going to have to be your lawyer, and you're going to have to do exactly what I say." 

That's how Brooten wound up becoming Lovelady's lawyer. 

Brooten must have realized that the whole investigation could pivot on Lovelady. Lovelady needed to be reined in, and Brooten suddenly realized that the best way he could serve the HSCA was to resign and become Lovelady's lawyer.