Introduction: Unraveling a Web of Secrets
The March 18, 2025, release of over 80,000 pages of previously classified JFK assassination files by the National Archives has reignited one of history’s most enduring mysteries: the November 22, 1963, killing of President John F. Kennedy. While the official Warren Commission report insists Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the declassified documents—prompted by former President Donald Trump’s transparency directive—have fueled renewed scrutiny of alternative theories. Among the most compelling figures in this saga are Carlos Marcello, the New Orleans Mafia boss suspected of orchestrating the assassination; Dorothy Kilgallen, a journalist allegedly murdered for her investigation; and Gary Underhill, a former intelligence operative who claimed the CIA was involved. This article for berndpulch.org explores their stories, the connections between them, and what the latest files reveal—or obscure—about the forces behind JFK’s death.
Carlos Marcello: The Mobster with a Motive
Carlos Marcello, the powerful head of the New Orleans Mafia, has long been a prime suspect in JFK conspiracy theories. His motive was clear: revenge against the Kennedy administration. Marcello’s empire, spanning gambling and extortion across the Southeast, was threatened by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s aggressive anti-Mafia campaign. In April 1961, RFK had Marcello deported to Guatemala, a humiliating act that, according to Stefano Vaccara’s book Carlos Marcello: The Man Behind the JFK Assassination, fueled Marcello’s hatred. The Mafia had allegedly helped JFK win the 1960 election through vote-rigging in Chicago, only to feel betrayed by the Kennedys’ crackdown, as noted by John H. Davis in Mafia Kingfish. Marcello’s deportation and the subsequent pressure on his operations gave him a personal vendetta against the Kennedy brothers.
Marcello’s connections to key figures in the assassination are well-documented but circumstantial. He had ties to Lee Harvey Oswald through Oswald’s uncle, Charles “Dutz” Murret, a bookie in Marcello’s gambling network. Oswald’s time in New Orleans in 1963 brought him into contact with anti-Castro Cuban exiles and David Ferrie, a pilot and Marcello associate later investigated by DA Jim Garrison. Ferrie’s suspicious 400-mile drive to Houston on the day of the assassination raised red flags. Marcello also had a documented relationship with Jack Ruby, Oswald’s killer, who was linked to Marcello’s gambling operations. Researchers like Vaccara suggest Ruby’s murder of Oswald was a Mafia-ordered hit to silence a “patsy.” Testimonies further implicate Marcello: in 1987, his lawyer Frank Ragano claimed Marcello confessed on his deathbed, saying, “Carlos fucked up. We should’ve killed Bobby, not Giovanni.” Ragano also alleged that Marcello and Tampa mob boss Santo Trafficante celebrated JFK’s death, with Trafficante toasting, “Our problems are over.” The 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) report singled out Marcello as the “number one suspect,” citing his motive, means, and opportunity, though it lacked definitive proof.
Dorothy Kilgallen: The Reporter Who Knew Too Much
Dorothy Kilgallen, a celebrated journalist and What’s My Line? star, emerged as a fierce critic of the Warren Commission’s lone gunman theory. She interviewed Jack Ruby—the only journalist to do so—and publicly questioned the official narrative, writing in her October 4, 1964, column that it “smells a bit fishy.” Kilgallen believed Marcello was the mastermind behind JFK’s death, a theory she planned to detail in a tell-all book for Random House. She told friends she was on the verge of breaking “the biggest scoop of the century,” claiming evidence that would “blow the case wide open.” But on November 8, 1965, Kilgallen was found dead in her Manhattan townhouse, officially from a barbiturate and alcohol overdose. The circumstances were suspicious: her body was staged in a bed she never used, wearing a bathrobe, with her notes missing. Mark Shaw, in Denial of Justice, alleges Marcello ordered her murder to silence her, claiming that Ron Pataky, a columnist close to Kilgallen, poisoned her drink under Marcello’s direction—a claim Pataky denied before his death. Shaw further asserts that Kilgallen’s dossier was seized and destroyed by FBI agents—or mob operatives posing as agents—shortly after her death.
Gary Underhill: The Insider Who Feared for His Life
John Garrett “Gary” Underhill, a former Military Intelligence captain and CIA contact, adds another layer to the conspiracy. A Harvard graduate (class of 1937) and military affairs correspondent for Life magazine, Underhill had ties to the intelligence community, serving as an “infrequent contact” for the CIA’s Domestic Contact Service from 1949 to 1957, as confirmed by CIA memo 104-10170-10145, dated July 19, 1967. On November 23, 1963, the day after JFK’s assassination, Underhill fled Washington, D.C., arriving at a friend’s Long Island home in a state of panic. He told Charlene Fitsimmons that Kennedy was killed by a “small clique” within the CIA, claiming, “Oswald is a patsy. They set him up. The bastards have done something outrageous.” Underhill linked the killing to “Executive Action,” a rumored CIA assassination program, and hinted at motives tied to illicit activities in the Far East. He feared for his life, saying, “They know I know.” Less than six months later, on May 8, 1964, Underhill was found dead in his D.C. apartment, a gunshot wound behind his left ear. Officially ruled a suicide, the death raised suspicions: Underhill was right-handed, making the wound’s location awkward, and no suicide note was found. Critics like James DiEugenio argue Underhill was silenced to prevent further disclosures.
The 2025 JFK Files: What Do They Reveal?
The 2025 release, comprising 1,123 PDF files, was expected to shed light on figures like Marcello, Kilgallen, and Underhill, but the results are mixed. For Marcello, the files offer no direct evidence of his involvement in the assassination. They do confirm his broader criminal influence, detailing his connections to New Orleans politics and figures like Governor Earl Long, but lack specifics about November 22, 1963. FBI wiretaps from the 1980s, mentioned in the files, reportedly captured Marcello bragging about his role, but these tapes—1,350 reels—are not part of the release. Kilgallen’s name is absent from the documents, despite her prominence in conspiracy circles. Shaw attributes this to the destruction of her files, possibly by Marcello’s operatives, a claim the release cannot confirm or refute.
Underhill receives a brief mention in CIA memo 104-10170-10145, which responds to a 1967 Ramparts article linking him to the agency. The memo confirms his wartime service, Harvard education, and role as a Life magazine correspondent, but clarifies he was “not an employee of CIA,” only an “infrequent contact.” It notes his 1964 “suicide” and mentions his association with Harold R. Isaacs, who was linked to Oswald’s cousin, Marilyn Murret, though no direct tie to the assassination is established. The memo also hints at Underhill’s dealings with Interarmco, a private arms company, suggesting his involvement in weapons trading. However, it does not address his claims of a CIA “clique” or his panicked flight after the assassination, leaving his allegations unverified.
The broader files focus heavily on Oswald’s Soviet contacts, Mexico City visits, and the Warren Commission’s narrative, with little to corroborate conspiracy theories involving Marcello, Kilgallen, or Underhill. Historians like Fredrik Logevall, speaking to The New York Times, argue the release reinforces the official story, but skeptics point to redactions and missing records as evidence of a cover-up. Posts on X reflect this divide: some claim the files “suggest Marcello was likely behind the assassination,” while others note “no solid evidence” of Mafia involvement.
Connecting the Threads: A Pattern of Suppression?
The stories of Marcello, Kilgallen, and Underhill intersect in their shared challenge to the official narrative. Marcello’s alleged role as the “central planner,” as per the HSCA and Ragano’s testimony, aligns with Kilgallen’s belief that he masterminded the assassination—a belief that may have cost her life. Underhill’s claim of a CIA “clique” suggests a possible collaboration between rogue intelligence elements and the Mafia, a theory supported by the HSCA’s finding of a “probable conspiracy.” The suspicious deaths of Kilgallen and Underhill—both ruled suicides under questionable circumstances—point to a pattern of silencing those who threatened to expose the truth. Shaw’s assertion that Marcello ordered Kilgallen’s murder ties her fate directly to the mobster, while Underhill’s death, coming months after his panicked allegations, hints at a broader effort to suppress dissent.
The 2025 files’ failure to address these figures directly raises critical questions. Were their records withheld or destroyed? Did their deaths deter others from speaking out? The establishment’s reluctance to pursue Marcello, despite his motive and connections, and the lack of investigation into Kilgallen’s and Underhill’s deaths, suggest a deliberate effort to protect powerful interests—whether Mafia, CIA, or both. The Warren Commission’s dismissal of conspiracy, contrasted with the HSCA’s later findings, underscores the tension between official narratives and alternative truths.
Critical Reflections: What Are We Missing?
The 2025 release, while monumental, is not the full disclosure many hoped for. Redactions persist, and the absence of key evidence—like Kilgallen’s dossier, the FBI’s Marcello tapes, or records of Underhill’s claims—fuels suspicion of a cover-up. Marcello’s influence over New Orleans politics, as Vaccara notes, allowed him to operate with impunity, potentially shielding him from scrutiny. Kilgallen’s missing files and Underhill’s uninvestigated death fit a pattern of suppression that has kept the truth about JFK’s assassination elusive for over six decades. The American public, as polls consistently show, remains unconvinced by the lone gunman theory, and the 2025 files do little to change that.
Conclusion: The Search for Truth Continues—and Your Support Matters
The stories of Carlos Marcello, Dorothy Kilgallen, and Gary Underhill illuminate the shadowy forces that may have shaped November 22, 1963. Whether Marcello orchestrated the assassination, Kilgallen was silenced for her knowledge, or Underhill was a casualty of his insider claims, their fates underscore the unresolved tensions of the JFK saga. The 2025 document drop, while voluminous, leaves as many questions as it answers, urging us to dig deeper into the shadows of history.
For readers of berndpulch.org, this is not the end but a call to action. The files are now public; the tools to analyze them are at hand. The voices of Marcello’s victims, Kilgallen’s lost scoop, and Underhill’s warnings echo through the decades, urging us to question, investigate, and refuse to accept the establishment’s word as final. But uncovering the truth requires resources and dedication. If you’re inspired to dive deeper into this and other hidden histories, consider supporting independent research at patreon.com/berndpulch or making a contribution at berndpulch.org/donation. Your support fuels the pursuit of answers in a world where secrets shape destinies. The truth about JFK—and those who sought it—remains tantalizingly out of reach, but with your help, it’s not beyond pursuit.
Article Tags
- JFK Assassination
- Carlos Marcello
- Dorothy Kilgallen
- Gary Underhill
- CIA Conspiracy
- Mafia Involvement
- Released JFK Files
- Lee Harvey Oswald
- Jack Ruby
- Warren Commission
- National Archives 2025
- Intelligence Cover-Up
- Jim Garrison
- Suspicious Deaths
- Bernd Pulch Investigation
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Call to Action: Support the Pursuit of Truth
For readers of berndpulch.org, this is not the end but a call to action. The files are now public; the tools to analyze them are at hand. The voices of Marcello’s victims, Kilgallen’s lost scoop, and Underhill’s warnings echo through the decades, urging us to question, investigate, and refuse to accept the establishment’s word as final. But uncovering the truth requires resources and dedication. If you’re inspired to dive deeper into this and other hidden histories, consider supporting independent research at patreon.com/berndpulch or making a contribution at berndpulch.org/donation. Your support fuels the pursuit of answers in a world where secrets shape destinies. The truth about JFK—and those who sought it—remains tantalizingly out of reach, but with your help, it’s not beyond pursuit.
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