Tag: JFK

Mary’s Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy To Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer, And Their Vision For World Peace-Peter Janney

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mosaicFifty-One years ago, a mother of two was brutally murdered in broad daylight in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C.  For several hours her identity remained a mystery to investigators.  When her identity was revealed, it as sent shock-waves through the political and intelligence circles of Washington and raised the eyebrows of researchers of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  Mary Pinchot-Meyer, the estranged wife of Cord Meyer, Jr., was only 44 when she was murdered, leaving behind sons Quentin and Mark.  Peter Janney, a friend of the Meyer family and best of friend of the Meyer’s late and middle son Michael,  presents to us his investigation into her murder and why it remains a crucial part of the investigation into the murder of President John F. Kennedy.

But who was Mary Pinchot Meyer and who would want her dead?  Janney answers these questions and his closeness to the Meyers gives him a unique perspective regarding her murder, the actions of her close “friends” after her death, the sham trial against Ray Crump, Jr. and the actions of his own father, Wistar Janney, also an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency.   Beginning with Meyer’s death, the book takes us through several twist and turns, each revealing more and more troubling aspects of both murders.   We’re also introduced to several highly important individuals related to both of the deceased such as William Harvey, Ben Bradlee and the mysterious James Jesus Angleton.  And the further the author takes us into Meyer’s life and the chilling connections surrounding her  death, the more we realize how crucial her murder is in solving the crime that occurred in Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963.  Many years have passed since she and JFK departed this earth, but their murders have brought to life a very dark side of U.S. intelligence.  Her life was truly a mosaic, filled with unbelievable characters and events and one that continues to put fear into those who knew and loved her.

ISBN-10: 1510708928
ISBN-13: 978-1510708921

 

The Dark Side of Camelot-Seymour M. Hersh

On By Genyc79In JFK5 Comments

20180603_134838Interestingly, the term “Camelot” was never used by President Kennedy or his family.  And according to Author M. Schlesinger, Jr., it was a term coined by the press to described the Kennedy legacy.  The President’s death still remains one of the most shocking moments in U.S. history.  Thousands of pages of documents relating to his administration and murder still remained classified as do numerous documents relating to the then Attorney General and President’s brother, Robert F. Kennedy. In recent years, more information about the inner workings of the Kennedy administration have come to light. And the number of books written by people who knew the President or are investigation his murder is nothing short of staggering.  To my knowledge, there is no other President in history about which, so many books have been written. The prevailing image of JFK is that of a young President, murdered by a lone assassin, leaving two children and a grieving widow behind.   However, the further we explore his murder, administration and personal life, the more we will come to realize that there was indeed a very dark side to Camelot.

Seymour M. Hersh, the famed investigative journalist, takes us deep inside the Kennedy family and their history in the politics of the nation.  I forewarn the reader that the book isn’t pleasant. Hersh does not sugar coat anything and at times some of the things that are revealed are both shocking and disturbing.  People with knowledge of the Kennedys and assassination researchers will know quite a bit of some of the things in the book.  But for those who are learning these facts for the first time will find themselves in for a shock and a new understanding on how fractured the personal life of John F. Kennedy was.   It’s often been said that Kennedy and his mother Rose had what would be considered a “cool” relationship. Often away during his childhood, his relationship with his mother quite possibly played a large part in his future relationships with his wife and the many affairs he had during his lifetime. Guided by an assertive and driven father who would not take losing at any cost, the young Senator and future President found himself in the biggest office in the land, inheriting the problems of the previous administration and a nation in the midst of political and social upheaval.   But behind the scenes, the President was in a tumultuous marriage, strained by infidelity and the prying eyes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.   Protected by his father Joe, Sr., and his younger brother Bobby, the young President was continually insulated from situations that could have severely damaged his reputation and possibly removed him from office.

In his defense, President Kennedy isn’t alive to defend himself and like all of us he had his faults.  Had he lived, there’s a strong possibility that he may not have had a second term in office due to the many scandals brewing just beneath the surface and ready to explode at a moment’s notice.  However, the facts remain that he did avert a nuclear war, put into motion several important laws and had begun to work on a plan for civil rights.  And contrary to Hersh’s assertion that Kennedy alone was responsible for Vietnam, Kennedy did in fact have a plan for withdrawal that sadly, he wouldn’t live to fulfill.  This book is a roller-coaster ride, full of all sorts of interesting pieces of information.   All of the major players are here, and what results is a complicated web connecting Washington, the Italian-American mafia, call-girls, Cuban exiles, the military and the Central Intelligence Agency.  Hersh did a incredible job researching this addicting and intriguing read.

ISBN-10: 0316359556
ISBN-13: 978-0316359559

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter-Kate Clifford Larson

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ows_144380183016065Political dynasties are as American as apple pie.   We all know the names Bush, Clinton, Rockefeller, Roosevelt and Kennedy.  Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. (1888-1969) and Rose Kennedy (1890-1995) produced nine children together and helped create a legacy that continues to this day.   Tragically they lost four of their nine children to violent deaths.  Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy (1932-2009) carried the touch for the family for many years until his own death in 2009.  In death, they became larger than life figures who became staples of American politics.  But behind the historical speeches, money, looks and fame was a Kennedy whose life took a tragic course of its own.  She is nearly forgotten in history books about the Kennedys but her story is one that must be told.  And here, Kate Clifford Larson tells the sad story of Rose Marine “Rosemary” Kennedy (1918-2005).

From the outset, the story is gripping as Rose realizes that something is not right with her daughter who seems to be developing much slower than she should be.  It is not long before it is realized that Rosemarie is developmentally disabled.  Rose refuses to give up and teaches her daughter, eventually making enough progress where Rosemarie is able to function with some independence.  Larson even includes snippets of letters Rosemarie wrote showing both her progress and lack of development.

In the time period in which mental disability was rarely spoken of and in primitive stages of treatment, the Kennedy family name had much to lose.  And this could not be allowed.  The family desperately wanted to help its beloved Rosemarie and her father Joe, finds out about another new experimental treatment.  And this is the turning point in the book and the author captures the tragedy perfectly, driving home the point to the reader.   For Rosemarie, her life would never be the same again and in some ways was  over for good.  Tragically, she spent the rest of her life in an assisted living facility, never again able to venture out on her own.  In seclusion, she remained a carefully guarded secret but her sisters would use her disability in one of the most moving examples to date.

While she may have been unaware, Rosemary’s condition served as the catalyst for her brother John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) and sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver  (1921-2009) to create the Special Olympics, through the Kennedy Foundation in partnership with several organizations.   The Special Olympics continues to this day and through the games, the memory of Rosemary Kennedy lives on.  This is her story, the good, the bad and the heartbreaking.

ISBN-10: 0544811909
ISBN-13: 978-0544811904

A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy In The White House-Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

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1000 daysPresident Kennedy served less than three years in the White House.  But in that time, his administration was involved in some of the most important events of the 20th century. Inheriting the Cold War, Indochina and Cuban policies from the Eisenhower administration, the new young President found himself  embroiled in situations that would change the course of world history.  Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., the noted historian and author served as Kennedy’s special assistant and advisor at times on the most important decisions made by the Kennedy administration.

Revisiting his time with the late Kennedy, Schlesinger’s memoir serves as an invaluable part of American history and is one of the best sources of information regarding the day-to-day functions behind the scenes in the White House.  The major events that threatened world peace and tested the new leader are re-examined and Schlesinger meticulously analyzes the events to show the reader how and why Kennedy reached his decisions and then implemented them as official policy.  Critics have lambasted Schlesinger for not discussing the negative aspects of the Kennedys’ lives and in particular the scandals that nearly ruined Kennedy’s political career and reputation.  Infidelity, murder, association with organized crime and blackmail hung as dark clouds over the Kennedy administration and threatened to derail hopes for re-election in 1964.   When Schlesinger wrote the book, his primary focus was on domestic and foreign policy decisions and not the gossip that spread throughout Washington.  And for those who do want to read about the dark side of the dark side of the Kennedy administration, Seymour Hersh already has that covered in his bestselling ‘The Dark Side of Camelot’ .

On November 22, 1963, Kennedy’s life came to a deadly conclusion.  And with his death came the loss of feelings of hope, promise and optimism. He signaled a change in American politics, no longer dictated by weapons but by diplomacy, intelligence and empathy.  His independence, intelligence and oratory skills have seldom been matched and Schlesinger’s account is a fitting tribute to the slain leader.

ASIN: B001P1RK8S

Into The Nightmare: My Search For The Killers Of President John F. Kennedy and Officer J.D. Tippitt-Joseph McBride

On By Genyc79In Assassinations1 Comment

McbridgeAnyone that was born at least nine years before 1963 can remember with precision where they were the day that John F. Kennedy died.  My father remembers it as if it were yesterday and in full detail.   And I sense that although he tells me what he does remember, there are so many more things about that day that he is unable to express with words.  The violent removal of the president and the change of government that ensued left its mark as one of the darkest days in American history.   The ghost of John Kennedy continues to haunt us every November when we remember those tragic days in Dallas.  In October, 2017, the government is expected to release a significant number of classified documents relating to the assassination, in particular documents related to the Central Intelligence Agency.  The news has given researchers hope that one day we may know the full truth about Kennedy’s murder.

The Warren Commission presented an open and shut case.  Although he was never convicted in a court of law, Lee Harvey Oswald has been blamed for the murder.  Simply put, one assassin and three excellently placed bullets, ended the life of the 35th President of the United States.   Furthermore, as Oswald plotted his next move, he allegedly encountered and murdered Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippitt who took interest in Oswald based on the description of the shooting suspect that was broadcast over police radio.   At first glance, all the pieces fit into a nicely designed puzzle.  But on closer inspection, there are many strange things that occurred that day that had nothing to do with Lee Harvey Oswald. Tippitt was memorialized as a heroic officer who died in the line of duty as he attempted to apprehend a monster that had just gunned down the president.  But is that what really happened?  And was Tippitt simply a beat cop with bad luck or did he play a darker and more sinister role in the crime?

Joseph McBride is an independent researcher who has invested more than 30 years of research into this chilling and revealing investigative account into what has been referred to as the crime of the century. On a Youtube podcast, McBride mentioned that Arlen Specter declared that the Tippitt shooting is the Rosetta stone of the assassination.  It certainly is but not for the reasons many of us have been lead to believe. The book is not simply a tome of facts in chronological order but reads more like a journal which helps keep the reader engaged throughout the book.  McBride does not solely focus on Dealey Plaza and devotes a good portion of the book to Tippitt’s life which puts the crime in a completely different light. In the Commission’s report, very little is mentioned about Tippitt. In fact, until this book, the majority of what we knew about Tippitt came from independent researchers.  Their discoveries were good but McBride has taken the research to a whole new level.   Discussions with Tippitt’s father,  people who knew him, former Dallas Police officers and those who worked at locations he was known to frequent provided valuable insight into the real life of Jefferson Davis Tippitt.

So what exactly is in the book? Well there are no spoilers here but I can say that after you finish the book, you will see through the Commission’s report and understand what was really taking placed in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas that day.   Ironically Tippitt becomes just a mysterious as Oswald himself.  A World War II veteran, Tippitt as no stranger to combat or gunfire and had been an office for at least 10 years.  His sudden murder which by all accounts caught him off guard is examined in detail by McBride. Several witnesses to the murder stated that Tippitt was known in the area and was no stranger to many of the residents.   And shockingly, Oswald’s killer, Jack Ruby also lived in the Oak Cliff section as did Oswald himself.  And thus, the nucleus of the crime is formed with its principle patsies all destined to fulfill their roles.  Officially, the Commission’s position is that there is no evidence the three men knew each other.   Many witnesses have come forward to dispute that but in the process have been discredited by subversive means or ignored in other cases.  But as McBride digs deeper, we began to see that there was a strange nexus of activity in the area up to and subsequent to the assassination.   The mystery that McBride is attempting to solve is the true nature of their relationships and connections. Oswald and Tippitt died within days of each other and Ruby several years later.  Whatever secrets they had they took with them to their graves.  But I do believe that this book is the closest we have come to seeing the truth.

The book is exhaustively research but McBride does not overburden the reader with footnotes.  The writing style is easy to follow and beyond interesting.   And through his efforts he has created a masterpiece that puts the assassination in a new perspective.   Some believe that we will never know the truth about what really happened that day.   But with authors such as McBride, we are getting excitingly close.

ISBN-10: 1939795257
ISBN-13: 978-1939795250

The Echo From Dealey Plaza: The True Story of the First African American on the White House Secret Service Detail and his quest for justice after the assassination of JFK -Abraham Bolden

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20180603_134813In the wake of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Secret Service came under close scrutiny for its failure to protect the president.  Some of the agents assigned to the motorcade never recovered from that day and were haunted by the events that took place.  Prior to that day, the Secret Service had received numerous warnings of assassination attempts on Kennedy’s life.  One plot in Chicago, was actively foiled but several weeks later in Dallas, the agency would not be as fortunate.  As the Warren Commission began its investigation, dozens of witnesses came forward with their story of what they saw or heard and among those was the first African-American secret service agent to guard a sitting president.  Abraham Bolden was junior agent on post when by chance, Kennedy walked past him.  He turned to Bolden and asked him if he would like to be the first Black American to protect the president. Bolden agreed and the following week, he reported for duty in Washington.

After accepting President Kennedy’s invitation to join his Secret Service detail, Bolden reported to his new post but found himself surrounded by a climate of right-wing agents, incompetence, racism and perhaps treason.  In the book, he recounts his early life and the hostile environment he stepped into after accepting Kennedy’s proposal.   Bolden truly believed in the job he was assigned and after Kennedy’s murder, he approached the Warren Commission to request to testify about the failure of the Secret Service to act on warnings of the impending assassination and the incompetence that plagued the agency. His decision to testify and the aftermath form the basis of this book and present a stgory that is nothing short of shocking.

Bolden was labeled as whistle blower, and his decision to speak out against the government resulted in him losing his job and being forced to defend himself in a sham criminal case concocted by his former employer.   He was convicted in sham trial based on false testimony, he served several years in prison before being released.  Upon his release, his life took an even darker term as the government continued to punish Bolden for what it considered to be an act of aggression. The battle against the U.S. Government took many years from his life and he explains his ordeal in this eye-opening account of the murder of John F. Kennedy and Bolden’s life afterwards.

In his later years, he worked in the automotive industry and lived a quiet life with his wife Barbara who passed away in 2006. Bolden is still alive and the memories of Dallas fresh in his mind as if they happened yesterday.   The government has always attempted to explain Kennedy’s murder as the work of a loan assassin. But stories such as these cast doubt on the official narrative as we begin to see the forces which were opposed to the young president.  Those of us who are interested in the assassination will find this book highly interesting and tragic at the same time for two lives were destroyed as a result of the events that day.  Regardless of what your thoughts are regarding Oswald’s guilt or innocence, this is the story of Abraham Bolden at the echo from Dealey Plaza.

ASIN: B0011UEEBE