ABC probes JFK assassination

"It leaves no room for doubt," said Tom Yellin, executive producer of the special, which will be narrated by Peter Jennings. He called the results of ABC's study "enormously powerful. It's irrefutable."

The conclusion that Oswald alone shot Kennedy during a motorcade in Dallas mirrors that of the Warren Commission, the official government inquiry into the assassination. Even today, public opinion surveys find that half of Americans don't agree with that conclusion, said Gary Mack, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas.

That reservoir of doubt -- which grew over years, fed by government secrecy, unauthorized investigations, and Oliver Stone's high-profile movie "JFK," about the assassination -- is important to address, Yellin said.

ABC News worked with an expert who created a computer-generated reconstruction of the shooting based on maps, blueprints, physical measurements, more than 500 photos, films, and autopsy reports, ABC said.

The reconstruction enables a person to view the scene from any number of perspectives, including what Oswald saw from the sixth floor of the former Texas School Book Depository, Yellin said.

"When you do that, it's chillingly clear what happened," Yellin said. He dismisses theories that there was another gunman. Through interviews and other documentation, ABC News also concludes that Jack Ruby, who later killed Oswald while the suspect was in custody, acted simply out of his love for Kennedy.

The computer-generated technology, only available for the past few years, is now frequently used in criminal investigations, Yellin said.

While Stone's movie raised doubt about the Warren Commission in many people's minds, it also led to the release of many government documents that had previously been kept hidden and fueled conspiracy theorists, Yellin said.

None of the documents offers significant evidence refuting the conclusion that Oswald acted alone, Yellin said.

But, said Mack, "people are going to believe what they want."

Wallace will host `Fox News Sunday'

Fox News announced yesterday that Chris Wallace, a network-news veteran at ABC and NBC, will become the host of its Sunday-morning public-affairs show, "Fox News Sunday" (locally, it airs at 10 a.m. on Channel 25).

Wallace replaces Tony Snow, who was recently named host of a syndicated program for Fox News Radio.

Wallace was most recently a senior correspondent for ABC's "Primetime Thursday" and also served as a frequent substitute host for "Nightline."

During his time at NBC, he was the network's chief White House correspondent from 1982 to 1989; he also anchored "Meet the Press" from 1987 to 1988 and the Sunday edition of "NBC Nightly News" at various times.

SUZANNE C. RYAN

Globe on NECN

Here's what's happening on "Around the Globe" today on NECN: 12:30 p.m.: "Globe at Home"-- Globe Magazine art director Brendan Stephens and Nancy Purbeck, founder of Positive People Day. 4 p.m.: "Around the Globe" 6:30 p.m.: "New England Business Day" 8 p.m.: "NewsNight" Schedule is subject to change.

Talk of the dial

7 a.m. WBNW-AM (1120) -- "ChickChat." Guest: Jay Czelusniak, vice president, Czelusniak Funeral Home of Northampton, discusses what the funeral business is really about.

11 a.m. WBNW-AM (1120) -- "Hire Frequencies." Guests: Harris Miller, president, Information Technology Association of America; Diane Morello, vice president, Gartner Group; Ernie Nounou, the Catalytic Group; Amit Mahershwari, CEO, I-Vantage; Dan King, Career Planning and Management discuss outsourced America and why we are losing so many jobs overseas.

Other radio highlights

7 a.m. WCRB-FM (102.5) -- Butterworth's Banks of Green Willow: Nicolai's Merry Wives overture; Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23.

Noon WUMB-FM (91.9) -- "Live at Noon." Guest: Faith Soloway, playwright, improvisational comedian, songwriter, performs live following interview.7 p.m. WGBH-FM (89.7) -- "Jazz With Eric in the Evening." Dave Brubeck Quartet at New Jersey Performing Arts Center.