On November 22, 1963, the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. This event, which shook the nation, has been the topic of speculation for decades. One of the most widely discussed theories is the notion that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was behind Kennedy’s assassination.
The CIA, created in 1947 by Executive Order by President Harry S. Truman and responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign intelligence, has been shrouded in secrecy. Its possible involvement in the assassination of John F. Kennedy adds an extra layer of suspicion and intrigue.
Much of the concern surrounding the CIA and the Kennedy assassination comes from the series of suspicious events leading up to and after the shooting. Citings include the sudden downfall of the CIA official Bill Harvey, the lack of security surrounding Kennedy in Dallas, the murder of two key CIA officers before they could testify in the official investigation on the assassination and the incredible number of eye-witnesses who claimed to have seen suspicious figures linked to the assassination.
In addition, key figures from the CIA who had a direct link to Kennedy’s murder were either discredited or remained silent during the official investigations. It is unclear what role, if any, the CIA had in the killing, but the evidence certainly points to an organised conspiracy.
Criticizing the CIA has become a dangerous task, with anyone who questions their actions facing fierce backlash and censorship. Because of this, few are willing to speak out, and it is difficult to get an unbiased evaluation of the agency and its possible involvement. Still, some scholars have done significant research and made important connections between the CIA and the Kennedy assassination.
G. Robert Blakey, the former Chief Counsel of the House Select Committee on Assassinations that investigated Kennedy’s murder, wrote about the connections the CIA had to the assassination in the book The Killing of a President. In it, Blakey not only explores the deliberate attempts to divide the Select Committee, but also details connections between alleged CIA officers, Jack Ruby and Mafia figures who were all in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Blakey concludes that the agency was likely involved, either directly or indirectly.
Another leading figure in the debate over Kennedy’s assassination and the CIA is Mary Farrell, who spent her professional career researching and investigating the case. While researching the CIA’s ties to the assassination, Farrell notably collected and published an impressive array of documents and testimonies, including affidavits and notes from the House Select Committee on Assassinations.
Farrell believed that the evidence she collected showed that the CIA had the means and motive to kill Kennedy and was quite likely involved. She noted that several former CIA agents had discussed Kennedy in a disparaging manner, and that this could have been a sign of their involvement in a larger plot.
The Secret Societies Link
In addition to the CIA, secret societies and other clandestine clubs have also been implicated in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. One example is the secret society called ‘The Fraternity’, which was formed in the early 1960s in an attempt to control world politics. Many of its members had ties to the CIA, and some have argued that the club was the true mastermind behind Kennedy’s assassination.
The Fraternity included several prominent members, such as Allen Dulles, the former head of the CIA, J. Edgar Hoover, the first FBI Director, and E. Howard Hunt, a CIA operative. It is believed that The Fraternity was behind the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion and had planned to invade Cuba in 1961, an idea that was publicly opposed by Kennedy. This plan was aborted after the President refused to authorize air support for the invasion, making him unpopular with the CIA and, thus, a possible target for assassination.
Moreover, some intelligence experts believe that the assassination of Kennedy was carried out by a team working on behalf of The Fraternity, saying that the search for a ‘lone gunman’ was nothing more than a distraction. They argue that the series of events leading up to and after Kennedy’s death suggest a much bigger conspiracy and argue that the evidence points directly to The Fraternity.
The conspiracy theorists further argue that The Fraternity had infiltrated law enforcement and the government in order to prevent any investigation into the case of Kennedy’s assassination, and point to the lack of movement in the investigation as evidence. In addition, they claim that The Fraternity had connections to organized crime, which could explain why the investigation into Kennedy’s death and the cover-up have gone on for so long.
The Mafia Involvement
Furthermore, the Mafia has long been suspected of being involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy, though the official investigations did not go into this. Many have pointed to the Mafia-CIA connection, a relationship which dates back to the early days of the organization, as evidence of their involvement. It is well known that the CIA and the Mafia had a number of joint operations in Cuba and that there were many links between the two organizations.
The Mafia was often hired by the CIA as an asset in tracking down and eliminating enemies of the US. It is claimed that they had an operative at the scene of Kennedy’s assassination, and that they were likely responsible for the attack. This theory has been supported by the testimony of Billy Lovelady, a Mafia hitman who was present in Dealey Plaza at the time of the shooting. Lovelady was identified as a shooter by multiple witnesses, though he was never officially charged.
In addition, some argue that the Mafia was hired by the CIA to assassinate Kennedy as revenge for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. It is believed that the Mob had the contacts and resources necessary to carry out the assassination, and that they had been promised a large sum of money in exchange for their services. This theory is further supported by the many Mafia members and associates who were in Dallas on the day of the shooting.
The Intelligence Community
When considering the assassination of John F. Kennedy, it is important to note the role of the US intelligence community. Many have pointed to the failures of the various intelligence agencies to detect the threat posed by the assassination as evidence of their involvement in the crime. Kennedy had received multiple threats prior to the shooting, but these were either not taken seriously or disregarded by the intelligence agencies.
What is more, several intelligence officers had visited Dallas shortly before the assassination but made no attempts to provide security for Kennedy’s trip. This suspicious action has been cited as further evidence of their involvement in a plot to kill the President. In addition, many have pointed to the well-known rivalry between the CIA and the FBI as an explanation for the continued lack of movement in the official investigations into the crime.
Furthermore, some argue that the intelligence community had an ulterior motive in the assassination of Kennedy. It is well known that Kennedy had been planning to decrease the power of the CIA and abolish their secrecy laws, and many suspect that this was the reason behind his death. The CIA was likely aware of this, and had motive and opportunity to carry out the assassination.
The Conspiracy Theories
The debate over the CIA’s involvement in the assassination of John F. Kennedy has been ongoing for decades, with each side citing their own evidence to support their claims. There is no definitive answer, though there are numerous theories and speculations. Many have pointed to the mysterious and secretive nature of the organization and its possible connections to the crime. Others have looked to the various groups and organizations with ties to the crime, such as the Mafia and the secret societies.
The debates over the CIA and Kennedy’s assassination will likely continue for years, with many believing that there is more to the story than meets the eye. What is certain is that many were harmed and wronged in the wake of the assassination, and justice has yet to be served.
