Gordon, Four Dead In Ohio - Was There A Conspiracy At Kent State?

Abstract

The title of William A. Gordon's book about the 1970 tragedy at Kent State University clearly indicates to the reader the author's approach to the topic. Born near Kent, Ohio, Gordon attended Kent State and this obviously sparked his interest in the topic. While it is apparent that he spent much time researching the events of May 1970, his lack of historical expertise presents a clouded view of the tragedy. Gordon's authorship of two Hollywood tour guides are his only other listed credentials. He claims that no history professors at Kent State would even discuss the tragedy with him. As Gordon explains the roadblocks he encountered in writing this book, the reader only becomes more convinced that the author failed to accurately analyze the evidence and only pursued avenues that would support his belief of a conspiracy. In other words, the lack of evidence to prove the innocence of those involved means that they are all guilty -- hardly the conclusion of someone sifting through all the facts and not just the ones that support his hypothesis. Gordon's unclear citations make it even more difficult for readers to follow the trail of evidence.