The Journalist and the Murderer Characters & Character Analysis

The Journalist and the Murderer Key Figures

Gary Bostwick

Bostwick was the lawyer who represented MacDonald in his libel suit against McGinniss.

William F. Buckley, Jr.

Buckley, a writer, was a witness for the defense at McGinniss's libel trial. He testified that it was acceptable for a writer to falsely agree to something a subject says in order to acquire more information.

Lucille Dillon

Dillion was the one jurist serving on the McGinniss-MacDonald trial who did not find McGinniss guilty. Her refusal to deliberate forced the judge to declare a mistrial.

Dr. Jeffrey Eliot

Dr. Eliot was a writer and a professor who taught at North Carolina Central University. He was working on a book about MacDonald and served as a witness at the libel trial. He believed that MacDonald did not receive a fair trial and that a new one could result in his acquittal.

Bob Keeler

Keeler was a reporter from Newsday who had covered the MacDonald trial. He hoped to publish his own...
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