Matthew Smith

I cannot tell you, but I doubt this will be difficult to find out.

Frankly, I think his liaison was very well known among journalists and I think he was astute enough to recognise the perils in such a situation. Editors would not publish 'tittle tattle' about the President in those days; very different from today.This did not prevent journalists knowing what was happening, however. Had Robert Kennedy been placed under investigation in connexion with Marilyn's deat, his career would have been finished instantly. It would have mattered not that he would have been cleared; the mere fact that America's top lawman was questioned about it would have produced immediate calls for his resignation. In these circumstances, JFK would, undoubtedly have also resigned without waiting for the press to make known his sordid involvement with Marilyn. It is my belief, however, that Robert Kennedy WAS interviewed in connexion to Marilyn's death. (After all, he was in her house twice the day she died). He was, I'm convinced, interviewed privately by his good friend Chief Parker, who, I strongly suspect, knew what it was all about, anyway. (He was a well informed chief of police). It is unlikely Parker, a man of known integrity, would jeopardize his career and future protecting a man he had any doubts about, a Kennedy or not. The knock-on situation created was that if her superficial 'suicide' had been turned into a murder investigation he would not have been able to protect Kennedy. Chances are he found out who killed Marilyn but his hands were tied. This, I daresay, is what still lingers behind the reluctance of LA DAs to reopen the case while there is anyone alive who could blow the gaffe. Those who, we know, had an agenda to get rid of John and Robert Kennedy from politics were the Bay of Pig CIA agent-survivors. The hated their guts. At first they were not seeking to kill the brothers, but to get them out of the White House (and no doubt, as they thought, replaced by Nixon. When the plan failed by the intervention of Chief Parker, and their exploits came to the notice (through channels) of certain members of the establishment, there was immediate interest among some of their number. They saw their aims in getting rid of the Kennedys through bloodshed, and I believe that Edward Kennedy, a fast rising politician bound to be sought to follow in his brothers' footsteps, was added to the agents' list. By the time it got round to Edward, the need became urgent and alternative means of keeping him out the the White House had to be found. Another Kennedy murder would have exposed the plot to the world and endangered all involved. They were just as successful, though.

(1) Yes, though I am aware there are many who would disagree. As one who does not seek conspiracy round every corner, the pattern of activities surrounding this event leaves no doubt in my mind that it was the work of the IRA. The Irish would not have wanted to harm a Kennedy, though their homework in planning the event left a lot to be desired. As sure as Fraser would have been killed, Caroline would have been killed, also. As far as Lady Fraser is concerned, I cannot see them to have wanted to harm a supporter of Catholic causes. (2) I cannot tell you, but I doubt this will be difficult to find out. (3) Frankly, I think his liaison was very well known among journalists and I think he was astute enough to recognise the perils in such a situation. Editors would not publish 'tittle tattle' about the President in those days; very different from today.This did not prevent journalists knowing what was happening, however. Had Robert Kennedy been placed under investigation in connexion with Marilyn's deat, his career would have been finished instantly. It would have mattered not that he would have been cleared; the mere fact that America's top lawman was questioned about it would have produced immediate calls for his resignation. In these circumstances, JFK would, undoubtedly have also resigned without waiting for the press to make known his sordid involvement with Marilyn. It is my belief, however, that Robert Kennedy WAS interviewed in connexion to Marilyn's death. (After all, he was in her house twice the day she died). He was, I'm convinced, interviewed privately by his good friend Chief Parker, who, I strongly suspect, knew what it was all about, anyway. (He was a well informed chief of police). It is unlikely Parker, a man of known integrity, would jeopardize his career and future protecting a man he had any doubts about, a Kennedy or not. The knock-on situation created was that if her superficial 'suicide' had been turned into a murder investigation he would not have been able to protect Kennedy. Chances are he found out who killed Marilyn but his hands were tied. This, I daresay, is what still lingers behind the reluctance of LA DAs to reopen the case while there is anyone alive who could blow the gaffe. Those who, we know, had an agenda to get rid of John and Robert Kennedy from politics were the Bay of Pig CIA agent-survivors. The hated their guts. At first they were not seeking to kill the brothers, but to get them out of the White House (and no doubt, as they thought, replaced by Nixon. When the plan failed by the intervention of Chief Parker, and their exploits came to the notice (through channels) of certain members of the establishment, there was immediate interest among some of their number. They saw their aims in getting rid of the Kennedys through bloodshed, and I believe that Edward Kennedy, a fast rising politician bound to be sought to follow in his brothers' footsteps, was added to the agents' list. By the time it got round to Edward, the need became urgent and alternative means of keeping him out the the White House had to be found. Another Kennedy murder would have exposed the plot to the world and endangered all involved. They were just as successful, though.

By the time this series was being distributed I had no contact with Central TV. I dissociated myself from Central because (1) I thought the producer's ideas on the assassins were rubbish and I was not consulted on the issue whatever; and (2) they simply took what I offered and ceased to use me as a consultant. I caned them financially. It was my belief - though I cannot confirm - that the impending law suits combined with the political embarrassment this clumsy piece of work caused pressed Central to settle 'out of court'. It is also my belief it cost them millions of pounds. It could be that individual states attempted placing an embargo on The Men Who Killed Kennedy. This would not surprise me because of the political offence the last segment caused, but it has gone on to be screened in some states, though I think the offending segment may have been deleted. Incidentally, I heard of no cries from the LBJ camp. The problems with the series related to naming Frenchmen as the assassins. Not sure, but I believe even the President of France leapt to their defence.

I believe the assassination of JFK was the work of a highly competent team of (1) marksmen, (2) communications operatives, and (3) liaison personnel, and I could not remotely go with the notion of two Cuban agents carrying this out. With respect, this is little better than the Warren Report's lone gunman theory. Wayne January's fully documented encounter with a renegade CIA pilot at Red Bird airfield was very revealing. It also established that the team of assassins was great enough to require a Douglas DC3 to take them out of Dallas.

I have, of course, encountered many theories in which Cubans were involved in the assassination. I cannot say I have met this one before, but in my own work there enough to hack at the roots of it. Oswald's movements from when he returned from Russia up to the time of the assassination are fairly well documented. I cannot see when such a liaison would be formed and even less when it could have been developed. At the time of the Mexico trip LHO was clearly being run by renegade CIA agents. It would be difficult to establish opportunity during this few days. I fully believe it was the intention of the CIA agents involved in the assassination to lay a trail leading to Cuba, therefore any evidence of this would be interesting, but it would not be likely to be significant by itself. I believe the assassination of JFK was the work of a highly competent team of (1) marksmen, (2) communications operatives, and (3) liaison personnel, and I could not remotely go with the notion of two Cuban agents carrying this out. With respect, this is little better than the Warren Report's lone gunman theory. Wayne January's fully documented encounter with a renegade CIA pilot at Red Bird airfield was very revealing. It also established that the team of assassins was great enough to require a Douglas DC3 to take them out of Dallas.

Matthew Smith is a scriptwriter, television producer and writer. He is a leading authority on the assassination of John F. Kennedy and worked as a consultant on Central Television's The Men Who Killed Kennedy. In JFK: The Second Plot, published in 1992, Smith argues that Lee Harvey Oswald was a CIA agent. Smith quotes James Wilcott, a former CIA man, who claimed that Oswald had been "recruited from the military for the express purpose of becoming a double agent assignment to the USSR." The Soviets were suspicious of Oswald and he was allowed so little freedom it was decided by the CIA to bring him home. On his arrival back in the United States Oswald continued to pose as a left-wing activist. Smith argues Oswald was "taken over and run by renegade CIA agents who were dedicated to assassinating President Kennedy." Smith claims that J. D. Tippit and Roscoe White were also involved in this plot although he suggests that Oswald was not aware of what was going on and was being set up as a patsy. Tippit was supposed to take Oswald to Redbird Airport where he was to be flown to Cuba in order to implicate Fidel Castro in the assassination. Other books by Smith include Vendetta: The Kennedys, (1993), Say Goodbye to America: New Perspectives on the JFK Assassination (2002), Victim: The Secret Tapes of Marilyn Monroe (2003).