The Early 60s
The turn of the century marked a new era for mob involvement in the government. The early 1960’s consisted of multiple mafia-government collaborations to aid the Kennedy family in the White House, including the election of John F. Kennedy as president, and a steadfast plan between the CIA and Sam Giancana to assassinate Fidel Castro.
1960 Election: Kennedy v. Nixon
“Even before Election Day, rumors circulated about fraud, especially in Chicago … When it became clear how narrowly Nixon lost, outraged Republicans grew convinced that cheating had tipped the election and lobbied for an investigation.” “What made Kennedy’s victory in Illinois so amazing was that Nixon won 92 out of the states 101 counties, but lost by such a large margin in the counties controlled by [Chicago Mayor] Daley and [Sam] Giancana, that it didn’t make a difference.” |
The Mafia and Cuba
“Edwards memoranda to FBI read that Giancana had been recruited ‘in connection with the CIA's clandestine efforts against the Casto government.’” Castro Assassination Plots Debra Conway “He also wrote that Richard Bissell had ‘told the attorney general that some of the [Bay of Pigs] planning included the use of Giancana and the underworld against Castro.’”
Debra Conway |