Oswald and the CIA: The Documented Truth About the Unknown Relationship Between the U.S. Government and the Alleged Killer of JFK [Paperback]

John Newman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1602392536 | ISBN-13: 978-1602392533

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 black-and-white photographs

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Newman was a military intelligence officer and a Professor of History at the University of Maryland. He lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 696 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602392536
• ISBN-13: 978-1602392533
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #728,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. John M. Newman, MAJOR, US Army, RETD

Born December 20, 1950, Dayton Ohio

Education:
BA Chinese Studies, George Washington University (1973)
MA East Asian Studies, George Washington University (1976)
PhD Modern Far Eastern History, George Washington University (1992)

Experience:
US Army Intelligence, 1974-1994
Assistant to the Director, National Security Agency, 1988-1990
US Army Attaché in China, 1990-1992
Professor, University of Maryland, 1981-Present
Honors Professor, University of Maryland, 1994-2012
Adjunct Professor, James Madison University, 2013-
Yoga Instructor, 2006-present

Publications:

JFK and Vietnam (Warner, 1992)
Oswald and the CIA (Carroll and Graff, 1995; Skyhorse edition, 2008)
Quest for the Kingdom: The Secret Teachings of Jesus in the Light of Yogic Mysticism (Createspace, Amazon: 2011)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine follow up to hardcover edition March 29, 2009

By Clement Finn

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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! Read more ›

37 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Oswald Finger Prints of Intelligence!! July 21, 2008

By Armand Herpe

Format:Paperback

This Book Oswald and The CIA is The Documented evidence That Oswald was an American Intelligence operative who was a Radar operator in the CIA Top Secret Base in Atsugi Japan,was Trained in the Russian Language by ONI and sent to Russia as a Phony Defector!!This is who LHO was,and this is my firm conviction about him.of course the Govt has been in the Business of disinformation and obfuscation of the truth regarding his connections to Intelligence agencies and his Place in history.Excellent Book!!!!!!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the BEST books on the assassination March 19, 2012

By M. Prior

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is an excellent account of Lee Harvey Oswald and documents related to his activities up until the time of the assassination of President Kennedy. The title is a bit of a misnomer as the documents provide by the author are actually not just from the CIA, but also by various agencies of the United States government: FBI, Department of State, Office of Naval Intelligence in addition to others.

A refreshing aspect to this book is that Newman is reserved about jumping to conclusions. There is no mention of a gunman on the knoll, etc. Instead the author simply assesses whether a particular agency could have done more, dropped the ball, or exhibited gross negligence. In the 2008 addendum added to the back of the book, he does add his conclusion and thoughts about how everything played out the way it did. Again, still refreshingly, he also stipulates that he could be wrong, partly wrong, or maybe right. As a testament to this book, you can see that there are no negative reviews on Amazon from any anti-conspiracy proponents; The author's due diligence simply does not provide them an opportunity to refute his work.

Regardless, if you are just beginning in your inquiry into the assassination "Oswald And The CIA" is an excellent book with which to start. If you have already read a few other books on the assassination, this book is a must have for your collection.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exhausting...but essential January 1, 2011

By Phil S.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Upfront I must say that I have not read this book cover to cover; however, I feel that my review is valid, nonetheless: there is a mountain of names, places, events, documents upon documents to leave even the most ardent anti-conspiracy person with some serious doubts about the "lone nut" theory.

If you are a reluctant challenger to Warren...then just skip around for two major "clues" as to why the conspiracy nuts are not "nuts": the very real evidence that someone was impersonating Oswald at the Mexican Embassy (a fact which shocked Hoover and his Warren associates) and that the CIA kept on ongoing NON-CIVILIAN file on Oswald. (Interesting, also, that apparently not one piece of information from the CIA arrived at the Warren Commission desk, during its' period of selectively collating evidence for the publication).

This book does not portray LHO as a solid citizen, either, but shows, in a startingly objective way, that the FBI and CIA were very well aware of this guy...and that it's more than conceivable that the Fair Play For Cuba Committee was a front for Oswald to penetrate anti-American factions!

There is over 100 pages of photostatted documents to dilate the pupils of those who gave five Amazon stars to Gerald Posner's book, "Case Closed".

Dealey Plaza minutae is *not* featured here - key evidence (soft and hard) leading up to that mysterious day in November, is the main thrust.