Legacy of Secrecy

A compelling narrative that unveils behind-the-scenes accounts of America’s biggest political scandals of the 20th century.

The crack of rifle fire in Dallas that killed John F. Kennedy didn’t just start a frantic effort to find his assassins. JFK’s murder also launched a flurry of covert actions by officials like attorney-general Robert F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson to hide the fact that in November 1963 the United States was on the brink of invading Cuba, as part of a JFK-authorised coup. The plan’s exposure could have cost the life of JFK’s coup leader — Cuban army commander Juan Almedia — and led to a nuclear confrontation with the Soviets, just a year after the Cuban missile crisis. But the cover-ups by these top officials also had the tragic effect of preventing a full investigation into JFK’s assassination, spawning a legacy of secrecy that would impact presidents, Congress, and US foreign policy for the next 45 years.

Legacy of Secrecy reveals for the first time the secret attempts of Robert F. Kennedy and his aides to expose his brother’s killers, using interviews with two dozen RFK associates and newly declassified files from the National Archives. Legacy shows how RFK continued his war against the Mafia by focusing increasing attention on the godfathers behind JFK’s assassination, until his own murder.

RFK’s associates continued his quest and almost exposed the truth on six different occasion. But, like a deadly, high-stakes chess game — at the height of the Cold War — each time they were blocked by three Mafia chiefs and a handful of CIA operatives.

Legacy details each step taken by mob bosses Carlos Marcello, Santo Trafficante, and Johnny Rosselli to hide their involvement in JFK’s murder, including several spectacular murders of Congressional witnesses.