The release of a secret audiotape has reignited questions about Lyndon B. Johnson’s role in John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Shane Stevens, grandson of Texas businessman Billie Sol Estes, claims his family hid the tape for decades. It allegedly captures Estes and LBJ’s aide, Clifton Carter, discussing Johnson’s plot to kill Kennedy. Stevens says the tape was “dead man’s insurance” to protect his grandfather from threats.
On Glenn Beck’s show, Stevens played the tape publicly for the first time. The crackling recording includes voices said to be Carter and Estes. They reportedly mention LBJ hiring hitman Mac Wallace to carry out the assassination. Beck’s team had experts analyze the tape, who claimed it wasn’t AI-generated. Skeptics argue the tape lacks concrete proof and point to Estes’ history of fraud.
The controversy comes as Trump’s 2025 declassification order released thousands of JFK files. While mainstream outlets downplay conspiracy theories, conservatives highlight unanswered questions. They argue the CIA’s history of secrecy—from Oswald’s Mexico City trip to wiretapping operations—fuels distrust.
Roger Stone, citing Nixon-era conversations, claims LBJ orchestrated the killing to seize power. Critics call this speculation, but supporters say the tape adds weight to long-held suspicions. Either way, the drama underscores concerns about deep-state corruption. Many conservatives warn that if a president could be assassinated in 1963, similar abuses could happen today.
The tape doesn’t prove LBJ’s guilt, but it keeps the debate alive. For those skeptical of government narratives, it’s a reminder to question official stories. As files trickle out, Americans are left wondering: will we ever know the full truth about JFK’s murder?
