What do you think?
Rate this book
Legacy of Secrecy: The Long Shadow of the JFK Assassination
John F. Kennedy's assassination launched a frantic search to find his killers. It also launched a flurry of covert actions by Lyndon Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy, and other top officials to hide the fact that in November 1963 the United States was on the brink of invading Cuba, as part of a JFK-authorized coup. The coup plan's exposure could have led to a nuclear confrontation with Russia, but the cover-up prevented a full investigation into Kennedy's assassination, a legacy of secrecy that would impact American politics and foreign policy for the next 45 years. It also allowed two men who confessed their roles in JFK's murder to be involved in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, in 1968. Exclusive interviews and newly declassified files from the National Archives document in chilling detail how three mob bosses were able to prevent the truth from coming to light – until now.
848 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2008
142 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 15, 2021
At 943 pages, and dense to boot, this was a major contribution to the debates about the JFK, RFL and MLK assassinations as well as to the attempted assassination of Fidel Castro, planned invasion of Cuba and the crimes of the Nixon administration when it came out in 2009. The threads holding these accounts together are, one, the Mafia and, two, the cast of characters, some of whom were active from the failed Bay of Pigs invasion to Iran-Contra.
Waldron and Hartmann are not afraid to point fingers, identifying those they consider to be the assassins and clearly documenting the evidence behind their contentions. But beyond that there are the accomplices, before, during and after the fact, some of whom had no part in the actual murders, all of whom had good reason to obfuscate the facts by concealing, lying, dissembling, distorting and fabricating. Here 'Legacy' is particularly good and, to my knowledge, distinctive, viz., why do these murders remain mysteries and why are the original official accounts so absurd? What, in other words, were the motives behind such prominent knowing deceivers as RFL, LBJ, Earl Warren, J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Helms and his spooks?
All in all, a valuable contribution, worthy of some substantial effort on the part of the reader.
Waldron and Hartmann are not afraid to point fingers, identifying those they consider to be the assassins and clearly documenting the evidence behind their contentions. But beyond that there are the accomplices, before, during and after the fact, some of whom had no part in the actual murders, all of whom had good reason to obfuscate the facts by concealing, lying, dissembling, distorting and fabricating. Here 'Legacy' is particularly good and, to my knowledge, distinctive, viz., why do these murders remain mysteries and why are the original official accounts so absurd? What, in other words, were the motives behind such prominent knowing deceivers as RFL, LBJ, Earl Warren, J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Helms and his spooks?
All in all, a valuable contribution, worthy of some substantial effort on the part of the reader.
June 8, 2013
We will likely never know all the details re the assassination of JFK. But as more information comes to light, it is increasingly clear that the official version of events provided in the Warren Commission's report does not add up. Legacy of Secrecy helps to shed light on why this is so, detailing the little-known interaction of the CIA and the mob in efforts to kill Cuba's Castro in the early 1960s. The book's authors contend that the mob took advantage of this interaction and assassinated JFK, knowing that the government would decide against revealing its close ties to the mob (and the possible involvement of a handful of CIA officials in the assassination). Hence the coverup and the story that Oswald acted alone. The authors also argue that some of the same people responsible for the death of JFK had a hand in the deaths of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. This is the legacy alluded to in the title. Although the book relies on a trove of recently released documents to make a somewhat persuasive case, ultimately there is no smoking gun. The mob doesn't keep records after all (though at least two of the mob bosses accused of orchestrating the hit later confessed to their involvement). Instead, much of the evidence, though compelling, is circumstantial at best. But the book clearly notes the dangers that can result when the government--and we the people--fail to fully investigate what happened on November 22, 1963. With the 50th anniversary of JFK's death approaching, this book highlights the clear need for the government to release its many remaining records related to the assassination.
May 21, 2013
The prose could use a bit more polish, and the editing (or lack thereof) leaves something to be desired, but Waldron (and Thom Hartmann) do a competent job of marshaling evidence for a convincing indictment of the conspirators behind the assassinations of John Kennedy, and to a lesser extent, of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.
While it has long been a relatively simple (if time-consuming) exercise to use the Warren Commission's own 26-volume report to disprove its contention a) that there was only one shooter, b) that that shooter was Lee Oswald, and c) that there was no link between organized crime and the plot against JFK, Legacy of Secrecy takes advantage of (relatively) recently declassified CIA and FBI documents to place the plot and cover-up into a convincing context.
The villains of this piece will be familiar to anyone who has taken the trouble to examine JFK's death in any detail, as they were indeed to the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978: organized crime lords Carlos Marcello and Santo Trafficante, Giancana protege Johnny Rosselli, Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa, David Ferrie & Guy Banister (employees for Marcello lawyer W. Wray Gill), right-wing racist Joseph Milteer, and so on.
Legacy of Secrecy settles the tricky and multi-faceted question of motive. It was not, as those following the Oliver Stone/Fletcher Prouty line have maintained, so that American involvement in Vietnam could be escalated--while one could argue that that was in fact a direct result of the assassination, there has nevertheless been a disturbing tendency in retrospect to neglect JFK's history of generally militant hawkishness. As it turns out, in all likelihood JFK was eliminated to destroy Robert Kennedy's power as Attorney General and hence, his ability to aggressively prosecute organized crime. A further tragic consequence of the rather ingenious planning and timing of the hit is that, for reasons of both (perceived) national security as well as of political preservation, the grieving Robert Kennedy was placed in the position of being one of the chief architects of the cover-up of his brother's murder.
While this volume does contain quite a bit of original research, its impact is magnified by some prior reading that gives one the proper context to grasp how all of the players and pieces fit together. In this regard, there's no better source of background information than Peter Dale Scott's meticulous Deep Politics and the Death of JFK.
While it has long been a relatively simple (if time-consuming) exercise to use the Warren Commission's own 26-volume report to disprove its contention a) that there was only one shooter, b) that that shooter was Lee Oswald, and c) that there was no link between organized crime and the plot against JFK, Legacy of Secrecy takes advantage of (relatively) recently declassified CIA and FBI documents to place the plot and cover-up into a convincing context.
The villains of this piece will be familiar to anyone who has taken the trouble to examine JFK's death in any detail, as they were indeed to the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978: organized crime lords Carlos Marcello and Santo Trafficante, Giancana protege Johnny Rosselli, Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa, David Ferrie & Guy Banister (employees for Marcello lawyer W. Wray Gill), right-wing racist Joseph Milteer, and so on.
Legacy of Secrecy settles the tricky and multi-faceted question of motive. It was not, as those following the Oliver Stone/Fletcher Prouty line have maintained, so that American involvement in Vietnam could be escalated--while one could argue that that was in fact a direct result of the assassination, there has nevertheless been a disturbing tendency in retrospect to neglect JFK's history of generally militant hawkishness. As it turns out, in all likelihood JFK was eliminated to destroy Robert Kennedy's power as Attorney General and hence, his ability to aggressively prosecute organized crime. A further tragic consequence of the rather ingenious planning and timing of the hit is that, for reasons of both (perceived) national security as well as of political preservation, the grieving Robert Kennedy was placed in the position of being one of the chief architects of the cover-up of his brother's murder.
While this volume does contain quite a bit of original research, its impact is magnified by some prior reading that gives one the proper context to grasp how all of the players and pieces fit together. In this regard, there's no better source of background information than Peter Dale Scott's meticulous Deep Politics and the Death of JFK.
November 11, 2011
The author tries to cover far too much territory with this book. While there may be some truth to the expression "where there's smoke, there's fire", this book has so much smoke in it, it just leaves you in a general fog.
March 22, 2022
Legacy of secrecy was a good audio book. There was new information on jfk killing that I didn’t know about before . A must listen to for anyone who likes non fiction
June 20, 2015
Amazing. I love books that take a fair look at every avenue, and Waldron does with Legacy of Secrecy. It is a massive read - really time consuming - but well worth it. I love the citations, as the majority go back to the FBI Vault website. This book really made me think about the events that took place, and it was eerie how well documented everyone's intertwined lives and surroundings were. It paints everyone in a not-so-great light, so some may be annoyed with that, but hey, everything is backed up by documents referenced at the FBI Vault. I spent a few too many nights checking it out, lol. The intertwining of Carlos Marcello and his New Orleans mafia, Jack Ruby, Oswald, and government officials is eerie.
Massive book, yes. Massive price, yes. Is it worth the read? Absolutely. Warning, though: I am a speed reader, and I couldn't do that with this book. It took me nearly a year to finish it, because it is so in-depth and technical.
Massive book, yes. Massive price, yes. Is it worth the read? Absolutely. Warning, though: I am a speed reader, and I couldn't do that with this book. It took me nearly a year to finish it, because it is so in-depth and technical.
February 2, 2009
This was an 800 page beast of a book. My co-workers mocked me for saying that it was a page turner. Imagine a book that covers, with hard hitting evidence, the follow topics:
The mob ordered hit of JFK.
Bobby Kenned helped cover up his brothers murders.
The two failed assassination attempts in the weeks before his actual assassination.
A major JFK backed Cuban coup was set to unfold on Dec. 1, 1963. Only 12 people knew about it.
The mob knew of the plot thanks to their past CIA ties.
The mob used the secrecy of the Cuban coup to kill Kennedy.
Because of the eventual cover-up, two men were able to carry out the future assassination of MLK.
and on and on and on.
Walderman makes this a highly readable and page turning bombshell.
The mob ordered hit of JFK.
Bobby Kenned helped cover up his brothers murders.
The two failed assassination attempts in the weeks before his actual assassination.
A major JFK backed Cuban coup was set to unfold on Dec. 1, 1963. Only 12 people knew about it.
The mob knew of the plot thanks to their past CIA ties.
The mob used the secrecy of the Cuban coup to kill Kennedy.
Because of the eventual cover-up, two men were able to carry out the future assassination of MLK.
and on and on and on.
Walderman makes this a highly readable and page turning bombshell.
December 21, 2024
Excellent inside view of the information withheld from the public in relation to assasinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, and further details on Camrlot and Watergate.
The book chronocles informatiom as it was unearthed by other authors over a progression of time as well noting information still withheld. It will be interesting to see whst gets released when president Trump retakes the presidency following his campaign pledge to let it as ll come forward.
What Waldren captures in this book is the names of stakeholders who refused to turn over informstion to past presidents, and congressional inquiries. This book is worth reading and the presentation of data lists extensice citations so as not to be blended into the conspiratal publixations chron I cling the events and theories about Cold War axtivities.
The book chronocles informatiom as it was unearthed by other authors over a progression of time as well noting information still withheld. It will be interesting to see whst gets released when president Trump retakes the presidency following his campaign pledge to let it as ll come forward.
What Waldren captures in this book is the names of stakeholders who refused to turn over informstion to past presidents, and congressional inquiries. This book is worth reading and the presentation of data lists extensice citations so as not to be blended into the conspiratal publixations chron I cling the events and theories about Cold War axtivities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2020
Very interesting and well-written book about the JFK assasination. It covers many events over 20 year period related to Cuba and the JFK assasination. It provide an interesting perspective on events and have solid evidence and documentation for claims made.
May 22, 2020
If you want to know how President John F Kennedy was assassinated this is the definitive book!
Read
January 28, 2026This is better written and more cohesive than the authors' earlier book, ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. Compulsively readable and makes a strong case, as SACRIFICE did, for the Mafia being responsible for the killing of JFK. In LEGACY the authors go beyond the JFK killing to discuss the Mafia hit on RFK and what role Sirhan Sirhan really played in it. They also have convinced me that James Earl Ray probably killed King, albeit for money, not out of racism. Too bad, I sort of had a soft spot for the poor bastard after reading William Pepper's AN ACT OF STATE and John Larry Ray's TRUTH AT LAST, but as Waldron and Hartmann point out, as Ray's attorney Pepper is not the most objective source. (Ray's brother John Larry isn't either.) The authors also document the involvement of Georgia racist Joseph Milteer, aided by Mafioso Carlos Marcello, in MLK's assassination. Finally, they discuss Johnson's switch from focusing on Cuba to Vietnam, suggesting that he may have thought attempting to overthrow Castro was a "Kennedy thing" so he wanted to get the US involved somewhere else to leave his own mark on history, apparently failing to realize just how disastrous that mark would end up being. LEGACY will fascinate anyone interested in these events. UPDATE: I now think Earl Ray DIDN'T do it, I've been reading more about this...
February 20, 2020
Amazingly convoluted
I lived through all if this. I was born in 1960 in Dallas, lived in Oak Cliff and moved to Arlington in 1961. To think and put together all of these: JFK, MLK, and RFK, Watergate and Iran-Contra is amazingly scary. How the are interconnected and almost feed off of each other.
Growing up in the South I didn't really see the horrible discrimination of our black brothers and sisters. In the deep South I did see whites only drinking fountains, this was in Venton LA.. Maybe I just didn't get out enough from my white middle class neighborhood.
In saying that I also don't remember Dr Kings murder, but I do remember Bobby's and she don't remember Jacks.
I didn't know this was 900 pages and. I started it. I love a book that takes you down a rabbit hole to check up more on people mentioned in the book.
Now I need to read one about the civil rights battle.
I lived through all if this. I was born in 1960 in Dallas, lived in Oak Cliff and moved to Arlington in 1961. To think and put together all of these: JFK, MLK, and RFK, Watergate and Iran-Contra is amazingly scary. How the are interconnected and almost feed off of each other.
Growing up in the South I didn't really see the horrible discrimination of our black brothers and sisters. In the deep South I did see whites only drinking fountains, this was in Venton LA.. Maybe I just didn't get out enough from my white middle class neighborhood.
In saying that I also don't remember Dr Kings murder, but I do remember Bobby's and she don't remember Jacks.
I didn't know this was 900 pages and. I started it. I love a book that takes you down a rabbit hole to check up more on people mentioned in the book.
Now I need to read one about the civil rights battle.
April 18, 2010
Lamar Waldron's "Legacy of Secrecy," is a very long, while sometimes dull book. It ultimately provides one of the most logical theories to the saddening assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The theory is that Kennedy was assassinated by the mob, because they found out Kennedy was on the verge of invading Cuba again, which would have cut their drug supply lines. The novel of 600 plus pages examines many theories and states how they're invalid. The diction demonstrated by Waldron is a very complex, advanced form of diction. Also the syntax is complex due to the advanced vernacular of Waldron. I wouldn't suggest this to an individual who likes to read for fun, as it is thick and dense, yet I would suggest it to history professors and students as it widens your knowledge to countless facts and theories.
January 24, 2024
Lamar Waldron and Thomas Hartmann have made sense out of the incomprehensible. The complex web of players, motivations, and evidence makes a compelling sequence connecting all three of these assassinations.
I listened to it twice, going back and repeating sections. I still plan to buy a hard copy to study it more thoroughly. I have been simultaneously listening to A Coup in Dallas, also listening to it twice and going back to repeat sections and planning to buy a print version. These different, intertwining investigations unearthed some the same players and greatly complement each other as an extension of the understanding of who, what, when, why and where.
I also recommend Trauma Room One, and Me and Lee for eye witness perspectives. And Dr. Mary’s Monkeys for an investigation done close to events, all of which adds to the fabric and understanding of people and activities.
I listened to it twice, going back and repeating sections. I still plan to buy a hard copy to study it more thoroughly. I have been simultaneously listening to A Coup in Dallas, also listening to it twice and going back to repeat sections and planning to buy a print version. These different, intertwining investigations unearthed some the same players and greatly complement each other as an extension of the understanding of who, what, when, why and where.
I also recommend Trauma Room One, and Me and Lee for eye witness perspectives. And Dr. Mary’s Monkeys for an investigation done close to events, all of which adds to the fabric and understanding of people and activities.
June 11, 2010
Although this book is very large and detailed (can't read it with the TV on), it's worth learning the new information that has come out on the JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations. The authors have taken great pains to document all of their information sources, some of which have never been released until this book. Americans have been duped by the "legacy of secrecy" that has been pervasive (and still continues) in our government. A must-read if you want to know what really happened and how all three assassinations are interrelated - ALL highly complicated conspiracies.
November 21, 2013
This book continues with the cover-up of JFK's murder. It also tells about the murders of RFK and MLK and how many of the same people were connected to all 3 murders. Some of those people were also connected to Watergate and Iran-Contra affair. Since the knowledge of Cuban coup of 1963 has become known, it is time to release the millions of records that the government has held from public viewing. It is time.
June 10, 2014
It's not just the page count that makes this enormous tome a substantial book. In its investigation of all the circumstances surrounding the assassination of JFK, Martin Luther and RFK, It leaves no visible stone unturned. Any of the possibilities could be true, and maybe lots of them are. Until the government or people involved own up, will have to accept that it is all a mystery.
November 20, 2014
Valiant attempt to construct a Grand Unified Field Theory of the JFK/MLK/RFK assassinations. VERY long, convoluted, exhaustively researched, and compulsively footnoted. Interesting, but still treats conjecture as fact, without exploring opposing info as completely. Nonetheless, a solid contribution to the literature of the obsession.
December 5, 2009
I skimmed this huge book. Very thick with details. Recommend for Kennedy assassination buffs only.
Thom has an interesting guess of actual assassin but names him in another book, "Ultimate Sacrifice" written with another coauthor.
Thom has an interesting guess of actual assassin but names him in another book, "Ultimate Sacrifice" written with another coauthor.
July 7, 2011
Finished this book, and it is fabulous! It connects all the dots, making sense of thousands of documents released in recent years, trying their information in with historical information. It is a must read!
January 20, 2012
After taking me 3 years to read I have finished this book and I strongly believe the mafia had strong connections to killing JFK and the other men mentioned in this book that all i really have to say on this one.
July 22, 2014
The JFK assassination launched a flurry of covert actions to hide the fact that the US was on the brink of invading Cuba. The cover-up prevented a full investigation into the assassination, a legacy of secrecy that would impact American politics for decades.
May 16, 2016
Excellent writing, documentation, clear points made and strong questions asked. Whether you lived in this era or not, reading this book will assure you that people must be involved for this representative democracy to work well.
April 5, 2009
really, really interesting and I think very well researched!
raises alot of questions and concerns re: government coverups through the years,,,,
raises alot of questions and concerns re: government coverups through the years,,,,
Read
June 5, 2009Excellent. Mind-boggling in scope.
August 3, 2011
Very well researched book which I enjoyed reading.A Dangerous Fortune
September 3, 2011
Perhaps the best Kennedy assassination book so far.
October 18, 2012
great and want to re-read
December 22, 2019
4.25-stars
February 25, 2014
Excellent... This might be the closest to the truth...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews