Murder, Inc.: The CIA Under John F. Kennedy

Former President Lyndon Johnson believed that Cuban President Fidel Castro was behind the assassination of President John Kennedy, citing Kennedy's "Murder, Inc." in the Caribbean. James Johnston, a lawyer for the 1975 Senate Intelligence Committee, has written a book on Murder, Inc., which chronicles the CIA's assassination operations from their start to their end with Kennedy's assassination. The book is sourced largely from declassified National Archives holdings on the Kennedy assassination. Johnson ordered the operation stopped shortly after becoming President, citing what he was told before making the decision.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 360 pages
\n Publication date: 01 August 2019
\n Publisher: Potomac Books Inc
\n

Former President Lyndon Johnson expressed his disbelief in the Warren Commission's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President John Kennedy. Johnson believed that Cuban President Fidel Castro was behind the plot, citing Kennedy's alleged involvement in "Murder, Inc." in the Caribbean. Despite the ongoing public fascination with the CIA and Kennedy's assassination, no one has extensively explored the connection between Murder, Inc. and Kennedy's death.

James Johnston, a lawyer for the 1975 Senate Intelligence Committee, which conducted the initial investigation into the assassination plots and their connection to Kennedy's murder, brings a unique perspective to this subject.

"Murder, Inc." is a comprehensive chronicle of the CIA's assassination operations, spanning from their inception shortly before Kennedy's presidency to their culmination with Kennedy's assassination. The book draws extensively from the vast holdings of the National Archives on the Kennedy assassination, which have been declassified under the Assassination Records Review Act. While some proponents of the Act anticipated revelations about the assassination, the majority of the secret documents primarily focus on Murder, Inc.

In essence, the story revolves around the CIA's collaboration with the Mafia in 1960 to assassinate Castro. One CIA officer referred to this arrangement as a mere "contract." This partnership persisted even during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Kennedy directed the Agency to devise a more effective strategy. By the spring of 1963, the CIA proposed a different approach: orchestrating a coup to overthrow Castro. This plan gained momentum in September 1963 when the CIA initiated its operations.

"Murder, Inc." sheds light on the intricate web of relationships and conspiracies that surrounded the Kennedy assassination. It reveals the Agency's willingness to engage with unconventional allies and its willingness to explore unconventional tactics to achieve its objectives. The book also raises important questions about the role of the media, government agencies, and the public in the aftermath of such a tragic event.

Through meticulous research and analysis, Johnston provides a detailed account of Murder, Inc.'s operations and their impact on American history. The book is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about the Kennedy assassination and sheds new light on the complex and often controversial events surrounding it.

\n Weight: 710g\n
Dimension: 163 x 234 x 31 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781640121553\n \n