The theories
Claims that go viral every few years, checked in one place.
RECORD / AT A GLANCE
Mostly false or unproven
Documented that a November 1963 FBI memo mentions “Mr. George Bush of the Central Intelligence Agency”; disputed which George Bush it meant, and the CIA said it was probably another man. False that Ted Cruz’s father was identified in a photo with Oswald; the tabloid’s own expert said he never claimed it. Documented that Judyth Vary Baker worked at the same coffee company as Oswald in 1963; unproven that she was his lover or part of any plot.
THE EVENTS / THE INVESTIGATION / THE STORY
29 Nov 1963
An FBI memo refers to a briefing for “Mr. George Bush of the Central Intelligence Agency.”
10 May 1963
Oswald and Judyth Vary start at the Reily coffee company in New Orleans on the same day, she says.
July 1988
The memo is reported; the CIA says it probably meant a different George Bush.
3 May 2016
Trump links Ted Cruz’s father to Oswald on Fox and Friends.
READ THE FILE
A real memo, a disputed name.
A tabloid photo and a primary-day claim.
Oswald’s co-worker, or more?
Open an article for its evidence, labeled AI assessment and numbered sources. Read the complete static edition ↗
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS FILE
3 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.
A Hoover memo names a “George Bush of the CIA”; the CIA said it was another man.
Who says it: 1988 reporting.
Her employment at Reily is documented; the rest is not.
Who says it: Judyth Vary Baker.
The tabloid’s own expert never claimed it; PolitiFact rated it Pants on Fire.
Who says it: Donald Trump.
OPEN THE RECORD
Numbered citations in each article identify the relevant sources. These records have different purposes and evidentiary weight.
The first report on the Hoover memo; Bush denied working for the CIA before 1976. Blocks scripted fetches; confirmed by search.
The CIA said the memo probably meant a different man, George William Bush, who worked at agency headquarters in 1963. Blocks scripted fetches; confirmed by search.
Rated Pants on Fire.
The National Enquirer’s photo expert said he never claimed the man was definitely Rafael Cruz.
Supports her employment at Reily’s in 1963 alongside Oswald, nothing more.
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A real memo, a disputed name.
In July 1988, while George H. W. Bush was running for president, it was reported that a 1963 FBI memo from J. Edgar Hoover referred to a briefing for “Mr. George Bush of the Central Intelligence Agency” on Cuban exile reactions to the assassination. Bush, who headed the CIA in 1976, denied working for the agency before then. [1]
The CIA said the memo probably referred to George William Bush, who worked at agency headquarters in 1963. [2]
What we can’t tell you. Both New York Times reports block scripted fetches and were confirmed by search.
The first report on the Hoover memo; Bush denied working for the CIA before 1976. Blocks scripted fetches; confirmed by search.
The CIA said the memo probably meant a different man, George William Bush, who worked at agency headquarters in 1963. Blocks scripted fetches; confirmed by search.
A tabloid photo and a primary-day claim.
On 3 May 2016, the morning of the Indiana primary, Donald Trump said on Fox and Friends that Ted Cruz’s father “was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald being, you know, shot.” He was repeating a National Enquirer story built on a photo of an unidentified man handing out pro-Castro leaflets with Oswald in New Orleans in August 1963. [1][2]
The Enquirer’s photo expert said the man had “more similarity than dissimilarity” with a young Rafael Cruz. He told FactCheck.org he never claimed it was definitely Cruz and called Trump’s statement “stupid.” PolitiFact rated the claim Pants on Fire. [1][2]
What we can’t tell you. The second man in the photo has never been identified, which is what left room for the claim.
Rated Pants on Fire.
The National Enquirer’s photo expert said he never claimed the man was definitely Rafael Cruz.
Oswald’s co-worker, or more?
Judyth Vary Baker has said she was Oswald’s lover in New Orleans in 1963. Documents posted by her supporters, including a 1963 W-2 form from Wm. B. Reily & Co., support that she worked at the same coffee company as Oswald that summer. She says they both started there on 10 May 1963. [1]
What we can’t tell you. Her documents are posted by a supporter. Employment at the same company is not evidence of a relationship or a plot.
Supports her employment at Reily’s in 1963 alongside Oswald, nothing more.
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