95. JFK vs the CIA: Death in Dallas (Ep 6)

The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger

History

4.4 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 October 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. While Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested as the lone gunman , the political context - the intense anger of Cuban exiles, the deep resentment from parts of the CIA, and the agency's secret relationship with the mob - immediately fuels doubt. Join Gordon and David as they explain why the case is absolutely not closed in the minds of most Americans. We discuss Oswald's own extraordinary character, the subsequent Warren Commission, and the role of the mob in Kennedy’s downfall. This history of secrecy and failure, which begins with the Bay of Pigs, is the root of the distrust of institutions that defines American political life today. ------------------- Join The Declassified Club: Start your free trial at ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠ - go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, quarterly livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community. To sign up to the free newsletter, go to: ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign-up⁠ ⁠ ------------------- Order a signed edition of Gordon's latest book, The Spy in the Archive, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠via this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order a signed edition of David's latest book, The Seventh Floor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠via this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------- Email: classified@goalhanger.com Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@triclassified⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Producer: Emma Jackson Producer: Becki Hills Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	For exclusive interviews, bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to series,
0:09.0	first look at live show tickets, a weekly newsletter, and discounted books,
0:13.1	join the Declassified Club at the Rest is Classified.com.
0:17.3	From Dallas, Texas, the flash apparently official President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time.
0:26.6	Cuba itself is really quickly going to become the Kennedy administration's top priority.
0:33.1	The next four years are going to be difficult and challenging years for us all.
0:38.3	At the end of the day, the U.S. is facing off against this tiny island.
0:42.3	How could you lose?
0:45.3	Castro will tell the General Assembly, the United States is seeking to overthrow him.
0:50.3	Kennedy really looks to the CIA to get the business of the Cold War done.
0:55.0	Castro and his fellow dictators may rule nations.
0:59.0	They do not rule people.
1:01.0	The CIA were kind of playing, Jennifer K.
1:04.0	In the eyes of some CIA trained militants, Kennedy had become a traitor to the cause.
1:11.3	B-26 bombers of the Cuban Exile Air Force attack Castro's airfield.
1:15.9	Everything that could go wrong does.
1:18.2	Out of ammunition, men fighting in water, if no help given, Blue Beach lost.
1:24.4	The airstrike has humiliated the United States before the world.
1:28.3	Were you ever offered money to assassinate President Kennedy?
1:32.3	Directly on numerous occasions.
1:35.3	It is clear that the forces of communism are not to be underestimated in Cuba or anywhere else in the world.
1:47.3	It's like a nightmare.
	...

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