First Hand Knowledge : How I Participated in the CIA-Mafia Murder of President Kennedy [Hardcover]

Robert D. Morrow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1992

Now, for the first time, a former CIA agent reveals all the details of the extraordinary plan to murder the President of the United States.

The astonishing story Robert Morrow tells is complete, uncensored and terrifying. He names the conspirators and explains the circumstances that caused the American intelligence community to conclude that President Kennedy was too soft on communism, a threat to the Mafia status quo and a betrayer of the Cuban Freedom Fighters.

Agent Morrow participated in the assassination plot on direct orders from the head of CIA Covert Operations. He was a patriot who committed honorable treason-an educated, elite CIA operative dedicated to his country, who obeyed the official orders he received. He was also part of a deadly CIA network of killer agents and Mafia enforcers.

First Hand Knowledge is the unbelievable-yet-true newsbreaking account of Morrow's years with the world's most powerful clandestine organization - a government agency that deliberately lied to and manipulated the American public, playing deadly covert games with those who crossed their paths and purposes.

Robert Morrow reveals his stunning First Hand Knowledge of:

* The direct orders from the CIA Covert Operation's Chief to the author to purchase and modify the three Mannlicher rifles used in the assassination of JFK.

* The truth behind JFK's cover-up of the October Missile Crisis and how it was a leading factor in his assassination.

* The alliance-between the CIA, the Mafia and the Cuban anti-Castro movement - provided funding and personnel for the assassination.

* J. Edgar Hoover's silent complicity with the Mafia and the CIA-sponsored Cuban assassination plot.

* The active participation of Carlos Marcello and other Mafia bosses in the assassination strategy.

* LBJ's personal ties to Organized Crime through his top White House aide.

* Vice President Richard Nixon's sanctioning and ordering of political assassinations as White House CIA liaison, including the secret Operation Forty plan to kill leftist Cuban leaders.

First Hand Knowledge sets the historical record straight and dares to reveal the CIA's darkest and most secret missions. It is the definitive account of the people responsible for changing the destiny of a nation-their intrigues and triumphs over democracy in America.

Mr. Morrow has now come forward with the truth because he believes the danger to his family is reduced due to the impending release of the Congressional files on the assassination.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

First Hand Knowledge will change your view of history and confirm your worst suspicions about the real power that controls the government of the United States

"First Hand Knowledge is explosive. Having spent a good deal of time verifying the story, I believe it to be true ... crucial to understanding the Kennedy assassination. A must-read" - Gus Russo, Investigative Reporter, PBS-TV Frontline; Consultant for Oliver Stone's JFK

About the Author

Robert D. Morrow is the author of the controversial bestseller Betrayal. An alumnus of both PA Military College and Penn State, he holds several important patents in the electronics and electromechanical fields. He worked for the CIA as a contract employee from 1959 to 1964 in conjunction with the Cuban exile movement. He wrote his first book, Betrayal, about his experiences during this period. Mr. Morrow currently resides with his family somewhere in the Midwest.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: S.P.I. Books (August 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561711799
• ISBN-13: 978-1561711796
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #755,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hair-raising; revealing, and shocking, March 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: First Hand Knowledge : How I Participated in the CIA-Mafia Murder of President Kennedy (Hardcover)

When I first read this book back in 1994, I thought it was going to be another typical, but perhaps amusing, book on who-killed-JFK. Was I wrong! After reading it, I knew our understanding of JFK and that era was much more complex and shocking than what is portrayed in the media or books. Exposes much of the Kennedy brothers' antics (not the sexual escapades of JFK & RFK -- but the political), leaving the reader numb and shaking his head....could this really have happened? Too convincing and detailed to be fiction, it is a book you can read over and over again. For those who were too young to remember, or not alive during that time, you get a feel of the political environment of the early 60's. The book gives you the understanding of why JFK was taken out of the picture (though not justifying it), and reads much better than any work of fiction. I'm not surprised that this book is now out of print....somehow, I DON'T think because it didn't sell well. It's just too dangerous to keep in print! My recommendation is, if you can get your hands on a copy, get one while you can, and stash it. You won't be sorry. NOT like the other "conspiracy" books; NOT a book of theory -- but of real-life events from someone who knew and worked among those who organized and pulled off the biggest conspiracy in this century. Also, if you want a frighteningly accurate portrait of the JFK and his brother, read this. The expose' of "Dark Side of Camelot" was only melodramatic compared to "First Hand Knowledge."

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not only can it happen here, it probably did., December 13, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Hand Knowledge: How I Participated in the CIA - Mafia Murder of President Kennedy (Paperback)

Most books on the JFK assassination focus on who did it. This confuses the real issue. It seems that anyone with a weapon, some ammunition, and a lot of cojones can shoot at a President or anyone else. Morrow's book, though flawed, contains rare passages on the much more interesting and important question of who covered up the truth and why: J. Edgar Hoover, who wanted to bury the Kennedys politically to keep his job, Lyndon Johnson, who coveted the Presidency but had dirty secrets of his own to hide, and the CIA, who in conjunction with Cuban exiles were pursuing their own war against Castro and the spread of communism in the Western Hemisphere. Morrow, a CIA contract agent, claims he was unknowingly on the periphery of the actual hit. He says he bought four Mannlicher rifles which he believed would be used in an attempt on Castro's life, but which actually wound up in the hands of a professional hit team in Dealey Plaza. His descriptions of a couple of other jobs he did for the CIA look plagiarized from Ian Fleming. Supposedly he was in Cuba's interior on the eve of the Bay of Pigs invasion, when he collected evidence of Soviet missile construction which was ignored by the Kennedys for a year and a half. He also recounts a dashing motorcycle getaway from Castro's agents during a trip to the Bahamas. The bravado of these James Bond stories looks phony and somewhat ridiculous when compared to the rest of the text. If you can ignore the baloney, this is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the assassination. However, in discussing the coverup, this book ignores the most interesting issues of all. There is no discussion of the political climate at the height of the Cold War, 15 years into the atomic age, and the possible consequences if the CIA had not aggressively opposed Castro. Further, there is no analysis of how the Kennedy Administration managed to alienate and make enemies of so many powerful groups - seemingly everyone they dealt with. You have to go a long way to provide incentives for covering up something as incredible as the truth.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Tale of a "Super Hero" of America!, August 2, 2009

By 

Christopher (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: First Hand Knowledge: How I Participated in the CIA - Mafia Murder of President Kennedy (Paperback)

I have tried to do a research of the author on the net, but I have found nothing that links him to anything that he claims to be or be a part of. Even without such proof, upon reading this book, this guy is in the middle of all key events and just so happens to know everyone who is anyone involved or mentioned in the assasination.

Just like a certain female who claimed to be Oswald's lover and she put herself involved in every event - like any killers would let some lames know what they are doing, this guy is involved with everyone. Let's see:

* His electronics expertise is in such high demand that the CIA recruits him and rather quickly, he is in their inner-cricle!
* He is an expert pilot and when David Ferrie (his buddy!) could not fly, it was his skills that saved them in the ill-fated Bay of Pigs fiasco!
* You name them, he knew them!
* He did not know he was participating in the JFK assasination, but the Cubans and CIA talked about it and got him to get in on it BEFORE they had him buy four Manlicher-Carcanos - from a store none the less! Why oh why would killers have a guy who they would not tell details to, buy the weapons? The seller could easily recall this bit of info - if it happened!
* This guys is either a liar, or he is the greatest mind the world has ever seen! He can remember verbatum, what all of these various peoples told him, showed him and the names of casual people.
* Just like in the movies, at every critical moment, Robert D. Morrow is the only man that can save the day! He was the McGeyver of the 1960's! They always called on him, even if they did not really know him. If only the CIA could be that trusting of everyone...
* After the murder, he recalled hearing Oswald's name even though he claims he never knew about him until he got picked up! These killers who can pull off a set-up like this have big mouths.
* If the CIA were going to involve players in a set-up for murder, they would not let an un-made man like Morrow know the whole plan! Hell, they would not even let top guys know the plan. They would only have people play the part they need to play and not know why they are playing it. I am not in intelligence, but i know that much. With all of the key witnesses killed, why would THIS guy still (I don't know about now) be alive?

As you read this fantasy, you wonder why any agent would trust him with telling him anymore than he needed to know as far as his part as an electrnoics man is concerned? Of all people, why would they need HIM to buy the rifles? Why would they even need to buy rifles? This guy is a fraud and he could be a disinformation artist - or just a con-artist! I just do not understand how people can take a serious issues and bring BS into it. Maybe he was hoping for a movie deal? Maybe, like so many REAL witnesses and others who were remotely associated with someone who was associated with the event, he wanted his name in the history books? Instead of this, he should become a screen writer. This read like Forest Gump or the Watchemen, injecting himself into history.

Clearly this man cannot know every detail and be there for every event as he claims. As you start reading, you realize that this guy is every where and it seems as if he is James bond or in some action film where it is up to "Robert D Morrow" to save the day, even with highly trained individuals around who should be able to do it better!

I bought this used and it was cheap. I had a feeling it was BS, but in case SOME of it were true, I may be able to see it. However, like most who want their name in the history books - even if they were involvled in some way, they overdo it and place themselves where they could not have been. Even witnesses change their stories later on to make a book more exciting or to solidify their place in history. Yes, Jean Hill was one of those people to me. I say get this book if you like fiction. Stay away if you don't have time for games when dealing with this subject.