JFK and Sam: The Connection Between the Giancana and Kennedy Assassinations

by Antoinette Giancana, John R. Hughes, Thomas H. Jobe

JFK AND SAM is unique from other books on the Kennedy assassination. Written by an insider with access to key figures, it names the assassins and traces the assassination team's movements on November 22, 1963, and discusses the team leader's life and his taped confession.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

234 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read about Sam Giancana written, in part at least, by members of his own family, the first specifically concerning the connections between him and the murdered president. Supplemented by medical forensics authored by two specialists, the book details the plot to kill Kennedy down to specifying the assassins.

While presenting a plausible account, the text suffers from poor editing and jumps, without much notice, from one authorial voice to another. One suspects a fourth voice in addition to that of the Giancana daughter and the two doctors. Additionally, there's no critical apparatus, no notes and only a meagre bibliography. Still, it's short and a quick read which should be of interest to all interested in the mob and CIA mobsterism.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book with three authors. Antoinette Giancana, John R.Hughes(DM OXON,MD,PHD) and Thomas H.Jobe(MD). My impression is that the majority of this research was put together by the latter two, and Antoinette Giancana's name was added to aid the sales.
I wasn't much taken with the opening chapters. There are omissions and inaccurate statements that indicate some sloppy research. For any readers new to this historical topic, 'JFK and Sam' only opens a narrow window, and much of the information is already in print or available on internet sites. To be honest, I've never really been too bothered about how many shooters were positioned in and around Dealey Plaza, their names, or how many shots were fired.
After fifty years of the official lone nut mantra from government agencies and media, Joe Public has to be somewhat cognitively impaired to not see the involvement of organised crime in Dallas '63. Yet to witness the cover-up that has also been perpetuated for the last half century, and was in operation before JFK's body left Parkland Hospital, clearly points the culpatory finger in the direction of the guilty parties. The author's view that the Secret Service did not know of the assassination prior to 22nd November is wrong.
However, even though much of the information contained in this book, published in 2005, is not new, it is historically factual. Although the identity of the grassy knoll shooter, James Files, has plausibility, it does not dovetail fully with the testimonies of witnesses such as Ed Hoffman and Lee Bowers. Files, Harrelson, Nicoletti, White, Greer, Lawrence are names in a parlour game. I have the opinion that greater insight into the coup d'etat is obtained by following the body of evidence in this case, i.e. the body of JFK.

[Peter Cimino · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a JFK Assassination or Mafia buff, this is a must read.
I had the genuine pleasure of meeting and getting to know Dr. John Hughes - one of the authors - who is close personal friends with Antionette Giancana, Sam Giancana's daughter.
Way back in 1995 (or there abouts) we met and quickly discovered our mutual passion for the most famous unsolved crime in U.S. History, and we talked about it all the time. He said he wanted to write a book - and here it is! I am so happy for him and proud that he followed through.

Many JFK books become very complicated, especially with autopsy evidence, forensics and the like. But this book is extremely easy to follow and very well written.

Many pieces to this mind boggling puzzle are put into place, and what I like most is he does not blame one man - not even "Dead Eye" this self proclaimed Grassy Knoll shooter. This book makes absolute sense - and quite frankly I have to say, the theory, in my mind (and I have read over 30 JFK Assassination books) is right on the money.

Great book - congrats to Dr. John Hughes and his co-authors!

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The murder of Sam Giancana is definitely suspicious when the timeline is considered. The night before he is scheduled to testify before the Church Committee, which ultimately exposes the CIA's nefarious connections to the Mafia through its assassinations program, he is gunned down in his basement kitchen. This book does a great job of walking the reader through the timeline of Giancana's death and his connections to JFK and the CIA, but it falls short of proving the "James Files claim." I've seen the interviews with the self-acclaimed JFK assassin, and I highly doubt a dented bullet casing discovered on the Grassy Knoll in the 80s proves James Files was there in 1963. Good account overall.

[Francie Sorem · Rating 5 out of 5]

gotta love a good conspiracy theory