Unveiling the 1961 CIA Breakup Plan: A Deep Dive into JFK Assassination Conspiracy Theories

In 1961, after the botched Bay of Pigs invasion, President John F. Kennedy received a stark warning from his adviser, Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Schlesinger noted that the CIA had become too powerful and suggested that the State Department should take control of all covert activities. This proposal reflected growing mistrust between Kennedy and the agency.

Recently, documents related to Kennedy’s assassination were released by the U.S. National Archives. Among these was Schlesinger’s memo, which revealed that nearly half of the political officers in U.S. embassies were under CIA control. This finding has reignited discussions about the conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963, suggesting that the CIA may have played a role.

Some historians and scholars believe that the 63,000 pages of newly public records do not alter the consensus that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone when he assassinated Kennedy. Gerald Posner, an expert on the subject, points out the stark contrast between the young, vibrant president and Oswald, portraying the latter as an unlikely assassin. This disparity leads many to seek deeper explanations.

Critics of the lone gunman theory, like Jefferson Morley, advocate for more transparency and access to classified materials to better understand the events surrounding Kennedy’s death. Morley emphasizes that despite the recent release, there are still thousands of files yet to be seen, including ones discovered after the previous release order.

Kennedy was shot while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, a tragic event that sparked enduring suspicion among the American public. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, argues that JFK’s assassination marked a pivotal moment where conspiracy theories began to flourish, shaping public perceptions of the government.

The Bay of Pigs invasion was a key factor that strained the relationship between Kennedy and the CIA. The operation aimed to overthrow Fidel Castro but ended in failure just months after Kennedy took office. In his memo, Schlesinger suggested that all covert operations should be approved by the State Department, rather than being pushed forward by the CIA as a done deal.

Today, the landscape has changed. Ronald Neumann, a former U.S. ambassador, notes that the majority of diplomats are now independent from the CIA, and ambassadors don’t simply follow the agency’s lead. CIA station chiefs still play a vital role, but their relationship with ambassadors is collaborative rather than authoritative.

Schlesinger’s memo even proposed splitting the CIA into two separate agencies, a move that Kennedy seriously considered. However, historical context shows that the president ultimately needed the CIA for the ongoing Cold War. Some suggest that while there were moments of tension, the Kennedy administration played an active role in shaping covert operations.

Timothy Naftali, an expert on JFK’s presidency, argues that as new details emerge, it becomes clearer that the Kennedy brothers were firmly in control of the intelligence community, directing operations as they saw fit.

The ongoing discussions about Kennedy’s assassination and the CIA highlight a complex relationship built on both collaboration and mistrust. As more documents are uncovered, they may shift public perceptions, but the intrigue surrounding that era remains potent.

To learn more about the impact of historical events on today’s political landscape, check out insightful analyses from sources like the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

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