Relationships Matter

One of the most unsettling, revelatory books about the relationship between the CIA and JFK's alleged assassin ever published "reads like an intricate spy thriller"(Publishers Weekly).

From the acclaimed author of JFK and Vietnam comes a book that uncovers the government's role in the Kennedy assassination more clearly than any previous inquiry. What was the extent of the CIA's involvement with Lee Harvey Oswald? Why was Oswald's file tampered with before the assassination of John F. Kennedy? And why did significant documents from that file mysteriously disappear? Oswald and the CIA answers these questions, not with theories, but with information from the primary sources themselves—ex-agents, officials, and secret records. To look at the Oswald file is to look at the most sensitive CIA operation of the Cold War. The story is as alarming as it is tragic; the lies and manipulations it reveals led directly to Kennedy's murder. Oswald and the CIA is a gripping journey to the darkest corners of the CIA. 23 b/w photographs.

User Reviews about Oswald and the CIA: The Documented Truth Anout the Unknown Relationship Between the U.S. Government and the Alleged Killer of JFK

John Newman produces a book thick on research about a man researchers of the JFK assassination should know more about. We find out in Oswald and the CIA reasons to believe whether Oswald was a spy or not. We find out why he was anything but typical for a US citizen going to the Soviet Union and returning. We also find out about our government agencies and their shading of the truth.

Dean Hartwell
Author of Dead Men Talking: Consequences of Government Lies -- Newman's Research Is Thorough!

The best thing about a book like this is the fact that anyone who thinks that Oswald was a 'hater' and a 'lone nut' love to say that anyone who shows otherwise are making things up. In this book, everything came from actual facts and DOCUMENTED sources which the author provides copies of in the rear of the book!

The book does not go into "what if's" or speculation, it goes by actual facts and points out how the facts may or may not not be consistent with the "official" (what the government says...) version of events. This is just one book that shows you the 'other' side of the JFK assasination that most of the public does not know about because all they see is what is told to them on The History Channel and they take that as the full story because it is from "The HIStory Channel." Most people do not bother to read books on the subject or any other event that we are told what the cause was (9-11 and now Iran). Most people read fiction books. Most get their news from TV or newspapers and they don't think that they could be lied to by them!

The Author does not lead, he may point out that an 'official' story said other than what the actual FACTS (in document form) states and let's you figure it out. If Ruby had not killed Oswald and Oswald did not have the most unusual history, there would not be as many questions about the JFK killing. Not to mention that most people heard threee shots - with the last two almost on top of each other! That ALONE shows conspiracy, but the powers that be were able to manipulate everything else to fit their story. When they could not manipulate, they had to eliminate!

Anyone who STILL thinks that 9-11 happened the way they claimed and put Bin Laden as the villian (never caught and Bush said he was not concerned with him!) attacked Iraq - you are either afraid or stupid. Any wise person could see that Afghanistan was targeted for two reasons - oil and it shares a border with Iran. Iraq was attacked for the SAME reason! Saddam was CREATED by the Bushes, so it is no surprise that they took him out! Now, change of president or not, this whole thing is done to set up from Iran since Iran is a large, mountainous country. The US knows it's wepaons are no threat to us, it is only a threat to Israel. So Israel may be the ONLY reason for all of this.

Get this book, you learn behind the scenes info how deep governments go to get what they want. This is also very good for info about Oswald's stay in the Soviet Union, which is very mysterious. One day, when they figure out a good way to try and pin JFK's murder on the mob, will we then know that he was killed as a result of a conspiracy. They will never admit the government or those who control it (see who controls the Federal Reserve) did JFK in. The only problem with the mob excuse is, why did they hide it and how come they did not do anything about the mob if they did it? It may have been "A" mob, but it sure as heck was not the more popular Italian one. -- Great Work!

I am using this means, in desperation, after informing you on FOUR previous occasions that the inadvertant order for SIX copies of this book sent by you was been cancelled before you shipped them. They were repacked some time ago and await advice from you as to how to send them back. The UK Post Office wants to charge approx $100 to send them cheapest air mail. Do you really want to refund this? Until I hear from you they remain here and the 'return date' of May 10th must be in abeyance. Shall I write to Seattle? Or Lexington?
Matthew Smith -- Oswald and the CIA

This is a follow up paperback ed. of the original hardcover written some 13 years ago. Despite its provacative title, this was originally not a conspiracy oriented book. Newman's journey into the conspiracy camp has been a slow and deliberative process. The afterword added by the author details his own theory of who was behind the assassination, but he is careful to point out that he could be all wrong. This I find is one of the most refreshing aspects of the book. Newman is a very careful writer as one would expect of a history professor of some note at the University of Maryland. He also served in Vietnam as a major in Army intelligence before becoming Executive assistant to the head of the NSA(National Security Agency). That of course, is a quite impressive resume. He also holds the distinction of being perhaps the only author in the conspiracy camp who once landed an interview with Richard Helms. His research here will be appreciated by all I think. The bulk of the book is not really conspiracy oriented until the final chapter. Newman's background in intelligence serves him well especially in examining and explaining government documents in the case. Plainly his forte is in "document forensics". Even skeptical readers will find themselves wondering why both the CIA and the FBI are planting disinformation about Oswald in the weeks prior to the murder of JFK. They will also wonder why people at both agencies are carefully suppressing information about Oswald prior to Nov.22, 1963. Special attention is paid to the person of Marving Gheesling, who inexplicably removed the "flash" (or "stop" in FBI parlance) from Oswald's file in October of 1963. This single act sealed the doom of JFK as it prevented Oswald's being placed on the security index. Gheesling was severely disciplined by J. Edgar Hoover immediately after the murder of the president, though Hoover never informed the Warren Commission. Hoover well understood the import of Gheesling's actions and would do anything to prevent embarassment of the FBI. The entire incident (and others) was buried in FBI files and Gheesling never faced any questioning from any of the official inquiries into the president's death. Newman's work will stand as a beacon to other academic historians who will now have to re-examine this complicated case and also question the official story.
Newman makes a persuasive case that only one man at CIA had access to all the information needed to manage a sophisticated plot and that was ????. Well, read the book! -- Fine follow up to hardcover edition