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Twenty-six Seconds

a Personal History of the Zapruder Film
Feb 13, 2017PimaLib_NormS rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
“Twenty-Six Seconds: A Personal History of the Zapruder Film” by Alexandra Zapruder can be a challenging read, because the film records the assassination of President John Kennedy. Reliving that moment in time can be difficult. But because of the historical significance of the Zapruder film, one is almost compelled to read it through to the end. The film has taken a long, strange journey. Abraham Zapruder, the author’s grandfather, was the man behind the movie camera on that sunny Dallas day. In the hours after the shooting, he wanted to get the film into the hands of the federal authorities. Surprisingly, neither the Secret Service nor the FBI took control of the film. Copies were made, but the actual film remained in his possession. Over the years, the six foot piece of celluloid became more than just a visual record of those twenty-six seconds. No one seemed to think of it at first, but, over time, it came to be regarded as an important historical artifact that should be owned by the federal government. However, the film was private property that certainly had monetary value. If the government seizes private property, lawfully the owners must receive fair compensation. But, is it morally right to profit from such a horrifying event? The Zapruder family struggled with this question, and other film related issues for decades. It fell to Alexandra Zapruder, more than 50 years after the event, to document those struggles. At times, she had to straddle a blurry line; was she writing as a Zapruder or a journalist? Both? Neither? Read this compelling book and find out.