The JFK File/CASE 33/1960 – 1979

The theories

Did Castro do it?

The CIA was trying to kill Castro. Castro said U.S. leaders would be in danger. Then Kennedy was shot

RECORD / AT A GLANCE

Plots against Castro documented; Cuban role not found

Documented that the U.S. was trying to kill Castro and that Castro publicly warned U.S. leaders. False that a Cubana flight carried the killer to Havana. Unproven that Cuba was involved; both U.S. investigations found it was not.

THE EVENTS / THE INVESTIGATION / THE STORY

The chronology.

READ THE FILE

Evidence & assessment.

01

The plots against Castro

The CIA, the Mafia and AMLASH.

↗02

The Harker warning

Castro said it in public.

↗03

Oswald’s Cuba

A pro-Castro activist who tried to get to Havana.

↗04

Anti-Castro exiles

Groups not involved, individuals not ruled out.

↗05

Kennedy was talking to Castro

Talks were being planned in the weeks before Dallas.

↗

Open an article for its evidence, labeled AI assessment and numbered sources. Read the complete static edition ↗

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS FILE

The claims, rated.

7 claims people make about this file, each rated documented, partly true, disputed, unproven or false. Think a rating is wrong? Use Dispute or Support, or join the Discussion.

DOCUMENTED Cuba, exiles & the mob

“The U.S. was trying to kill Castro when Kennedy died.”

The Church committee documented at least eight plots; an AMLASH contact was offered a poison pen on 22 November 1963.

Who says it: Church committee.

The evidence in this file ↗ · On the full claims board ↗

All 155 rated claims ↗

OPEN THE RECORD

Sources & limits.

Numbered citations in each article identify the relevant sources. These records have different purposes and evidentiary weight.

  1. Church Committee: Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders (1975) ↗

    The Senate report on CIA plots against Castro, including the mob intermediaries and the AMLASH pen offered on 22 November 1963.

  2. HSCA final report, part I-C: conspiracy findings ↗

    Soviet, Cuban, anti-Castro, organized-crime and agency allegations, one by one.

  3. HSCA staff report: CIA plots against Castro, volume X (AARC mirror) ↗

    The committee’s review of the plots and whether they could have provoked retaliation.

  4. CIA 1975 review of allegations of Cuban involvement, opening with Castro’s 7 September 1963 interview with AP correspondent Daniel Harker, RIF 104-10051-10250 ↗

    Agency review of the Harker interview, given at a Brazilian embassy reception, and later allegations against Castro.

  5. Warren Commission report, chapter 6: investigation of possible conspiracy ↗

    The Commission’s review of the Soviet years, Mexico City, Cuba, New Orleans, Ruby’s associations and rumors; it found no evidence of a conspiracy.

  6. FRUS 1961–63 vol. X, doc. 270: origins of Operation Mongoose ↗

    State Department documentary history: Kennedy’s November 1961 decision to start a covert program against Castro.

  7. National Security Archive: Kennedy and Castro, the secret quest for accommodation (records and audio) ↗

    The autumn 1963 back channel through William Attwood.

  8. Joint Chiefs of Staff: Northwoods memorandum and annex, 13 March 1962 (National Security Archive) ↗

    The signed proposal for staged pretexts to justify invading Cuba. Civilian leaders did not approve it.

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