Ben Barnes

Politics & Policy |
January 21, 2013

Truth or Consequences

In 2004 Dan Rather tarnished his career forever with a much-criticized report on George W. Bush’s National Guard service. Eight years later, the story behind the story can finally be told: what CBS’s top-ranking newsman did, what the president of the United States didn’t do, and how some feuding Texas

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Politics & Policy |
September 27, 2009

Ben Barnes weighs in on JFK’s trip to Texas

The former lieutenant governor called to say that the reason for Kennedy’s trip to Texas in November 1963 was not because he was worried about the feud between U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough and Governor John Connally, or Don Yarborough’s role in it. Rather — and he says he was involved

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Politics & Policy |
January 5, 2009

The speaker jinx

Add Tom Craddick to the list of speakers whose careers ended for reasons other than their own choosing. Byron Tunnel, 1963, had his sights set on a second term, but was forced out of office by Governor John Connally, who gave him the choice of a soft landing of a

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