Since folks have told me that it was the George Smathers papers that "revealed" that a motorcade route was never scheduled for Miami, I feel a need to "reveal" the relationship of Senator Smathers to JFK. Smathers was a friend of JFK's while the two were senators, but once he was running for President and after he was elected, Kennedy could not rely on the support of his "good friend" Smathers. It may have been political, with the influence of the Cuban community in Smathers' home state of Florida guiding how he voted. But in this essay, I will show some of Smathers' associations with people whose names have been mentioned prominantly in the JFK assassination.
Some have claimed to me that his papers are "evidence" that a motorcade was never planned for Kennedy's Miami trip of November 18th, 1963. They contend that this "proves" that no threat existed to JFK in Miami and that the Milteer threat was never taken seriously by authorities, despite the fact that it was tape recorded and the tapes were given to the FBI and Secret Service. Apparently the Miami Police thought the threat to be real or they would have destroyed the tapes without passing them on. But that's another story.
What this story is about is the credibility of the man whose papers revealed that NO motorcade was ever scheduled for Miami.
I intend to show that, when it comes to the JFK assassination and the events leading up to it, Smathers credilbility is questionable.
It is questionable because of his political views, it is questionable because of his political actions and it is questionable because of his political associations and loyalties.

It is interesting to note that George Smathers ran for President as a favorite-son candidate, and got all of Florida's 29 delegates in the 1960 Democratic Primary. He could have supported the candidacy of his good friend JFK, but instead decided to run himself. (Kennedy, Sorenson, p.159) This decision, to run as a "favorite-son" candidate was an option exercised by both Senators and Governors of several states in an attempt to stop JFK from getting the nomination on the first ballot.
Some friend, huh ?
As Senator, George Smathers did not always support his good friend President Kennedy. In fact, he didn't support him before he was elected. In a special session of Congress that took place while Kennedy was running against Nixon, Smathers had voted against EVERY one of JFK's pet projects. (The Man and the Myth, Victor Lasky, pg. 434) In 1961, for example, he only supported the President's bills 47 percent of the time. (The Man and the Myth, Pg. 102) A close personal friend and usher at Senator Kennedy's wedding, Smathers did not support JFK's attempts to pass Medicaid. Theodore Sorenson writes that Smathers "was aware of the influence of the AMA in Florida". And he goes on to relate that a White House colleague commented that, "Smathers hasn't stood up for Jack Kennedy since the wedding". (Kennedy, P.344) In addition, Sorenson tells of a conversation he had with JFK himself, in which the President commented that he had received a series of poor recommendations from Smathers in regard to the Dominican Republic, adding, "And now he's trying to tell me what to do about Cuba." (P. 391n)
Those poor recommendations may have been as a result of Smathers visit, at JFK's request, to the Domincan Republic in the spring of 1961 to convince the dictator Rafael Trujillo to "relinquish power and move out", as Smathers testified to the Church Committee in 1975. It was an effort in which Smathers failed and resulted in Trujillo's assassination in May 1961. The fact that Kennedy tried to intervene indicates his reluctance to support assassination as a tool of state.

Michael Beschloss writes in The Crisis Years, that Smathers lobbied Kennedy hard against Castro. Smathers himself admitted that, "Kennedy always identified me with pushing, pushing, pushing.(p.101) It was probably because he was. According to Gus Russo, (Live by the Sword, pg. 233) Smathers was one of those Democrats who broke party ranks and demanded military action during the Missile Crisis. The other was the right-wing Democrat, Strom Thurmond (S.C.).
In addition, Smathers was a great hater of Fidel Castro. (High Treason, Groden and Livingstone, Pg.325)
The subject of assassination as a tool of state (in regard to Cuba) was discussed by JFK and Smathers. Smathers could not remember whether he brought it up or JFK did, but Smathers suggested, according to Warren Hinkle and William Turner (Deadly Secrets-The CIA/Mafia War against Castro and the Assassination of JFK, pg. 73) , that any assassination attempt be coupled with a staged incident at the Guantanamo Naval Base that would provide a pretext for intervention by American Forces.
Smathers' suggestion about using Guantanamo as an excuse to invade Cuba was similar to the plan suggested by Richard Nixon in his post-invasion visit to the White House when he suggested finding "legal cover" such as "defending our base at Guantanamo" as an excuse for "going in ".
Shortly thereafter, Kennedy learned enough of Smathers' right-wing associations to make him wary. According to Hank Messick (Lansky, pg. 169), a Smathers watcher, Kennedy ordered Smathers never to bring up the topic of Cuba again. But Smathers pushed one more time. At a White House supper, Smathers table-talk of assassination angered the President so much that Kennedy slammed his fork against his plate and broke it. (Deadly Secrets, pgs. 73-74)
After that, Smathers gave up.

One of Smathers right-wing connections that Kennedy may have found out about was the man who Kennedy "stole" the election from . Smathers was friendly with Richard Nixon and was a member of Clint Murchison's "DelCharro Set", which included J. Edgar Hoover. (Deep Politics and the Death of JFK, Peter Dale Scott, pg. 208)
In fact, two of Batista's biggest supporters were Senator George Smathers and Vice-President Richard Nixon. Smathers had a natural inclination toward Havana and the shower of wealth that it rained over Southern Florida. Nixon looked at Cuba with promised-land awe. (Deadly Secrets, pg. 345-46)
Richard Nixon was told by John McCone, Kennedy's CIA director, that Kennedy knew about the secret training of the Cuban exiles BEFORE the election of 1960, despite Allen Dulles' assurances that he did not tell JFK and Kennedy's denial that he knew. The man who confirmed for McCone that JFK knew about it before the election was George Smathers. (Crisis Years, Pg. 29n)
It was Smathers who told Nixon and Eisenhower that Kennedy was considering recognizing "Red China" and maintaining a "two-China" policy, something that both Republicans advised against in their meetings with JFK before his inauguration. (The Man and the Myth, pg. 19)
Besides the fact that he was leaking information on JFK to Nixon through McCone, Smathers was forced to concede that his own conservative politics and those politics of JFK differed: "Sometimes we argue and he gives me hell. But we understand each other.", he said.
Smathers was good friends with Nixon, having introduced Nixon to his future friend Bebe Rebozo in 1951. Nixon's house in Key Biscayne, Florida was purchased from Smathers in December 1968. Smathers had purchased it the year before. (High Treason, Pg. 322) Victor Lasky tells of a speech given by Smathers in 1950 burning Senator Claude Pepper, who was then under bitter attack as "Stalin's mouthpiece in the Senate". Smathers right-wing colors showed through as he hit hard on Pepper's affinity to Left-wing causes including his friendship with Stalin, who he visited at the end of the Second World War. (The Man and the Myth pg. 102) Lasky describes Smathers as being "popular with the chieftains of darkest Dixie". (The Man and the Myth Pg. 184)
Lasky comments that Smathers spoke highly of Kennedy's "leadership", even when disregarding it. (The Man and the Myth pg. 434)

Another of Smathers' friends was the man who gained the most from the assassination of JFK, Lyndon B. Johnson. According to Anthony Summers, (Official and Confidential--the Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, .p 347) some time between the assassination and the 1964 election, Johnson received a dossier on Barry Goldwater from Hoover and read excepts aloud over the phone to Senator Smathers. In addition, Johnson also received a dossier on Smathers and proceeded to read it to Smathers.(Official and Confidential, Pg. 203)

In addition, Gus Russo tells us of a connection between Smathers and Michael McLaney, the man whose brother's summer cottage (which he rented) full of explosives were raided by the FBI near Lake Ponchartrain in July, 1963. McLaney told investigators that he had discussed his operational ideas to bomb Cuban refineries with Smathers. (Live by the Sword, pg. 67) This would have been the same camp that Lee Harvey Oswald had visited on July 24th in the company of David Ferrie and was raided seven days later by the FBI.
McLaney wasn't the only one of these people whose names crop up in the assassination story and are connected with Smathers. Frank Fiorini, alias Frank Sturgis, got his U.S. citizenship thanks to the efforts of Senator George Smathers. (High Treason, Pg. 323) When Sturgis accepted a plan to hijack a Soviet Freighter off of Cuba and his boat was smashed on a reef iin British Honduras, he and his men ended up jailed in Belize. When he made his distress call, it was to Senator George Smathers. According to Sturgis, Smathers said, "Why didn't you invite me along ?" They were quickly released. (Deadly Secrets, pg.407-408)

On JFK's trip to Florida on November 18th, Kennedy and Smathers argued some, with the President complaining to the senator about Smathers regular votes against administration bills. "Goddamnit George," the President said, " you're just knocking my jock off on civil rights. Can't you take it a little easy ?" (President Kennedy-Profile of Power, Richard Reeves, pgs. 658-659) During the flight back to Washington from Florida, on which Smathers was a passenger, JFK said to him, "God, I wish you could think of some way to get me out of going to Texas....couldn't we have an emergency?" But instead, Smathers lobbied for the trip, telling the President how much Lyndon Johnson looked forward to entertaining the Kennedys at the LBJ Ranch. "Even if you declared war", he said, "Johnson would never forgive you if you didn't go." (The Crisis Years, pg. 666)
JFK went and we all know what happened.

http://www.youtube.com/GJJdude

Gil:
For those who argue that JFK was a Cold Warrior looking for a fight with the Soviets, whether it be in Europe, Southeast Asia, or Cuba, one only has to look at your post with respect to Smathers' attempt to get JFK to go after Castro. IF JFK had the excuse he was looking for, it was in the form of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Smathers' break in ranks along with Strom Thurmond in favor of a military settlement reveals Smathers' true colors. The fact that JFK
stayed the course for a diplomatic settlement over the missiles, rather than the more popular military settlement, should convince the most ardent skeptic that this president was not the Cold Warrior he has been unfairly depicted to be.
If Richard Nixon had been President of the United States in
1962, one can only wonder what would have happened as a result of the
Cuban Missile Crisis. Fortunately, we can only speculate.
Bill C

Yes I agree that JFK was not the big cold warroir everyone would like us to believe he was, at least, not by the summer of '63.

From his inaugural speech :

"To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny."

"Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. "

"So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. "

"Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. "

"Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. "

"Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. "

"Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens . . . let the oppressed go free."

"And if a beachhead of co-operation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved."

http://www.youtube.com/GJJdude

Fellow serious searchers:
Having started my work in 1967, my opinion by 1975 (while engaged in a military intelligence position) was that George Smathers must be
(1) an extreme right-winger
(2) not a very good friend to John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The initial post in this thread strengthens that opinion, which I had no reason to ever consider changing in the interim since '75.
Thanks to Debra Conway for having it available for us.
best regards,
Martin Barkley

p.s. : please reference my most important research-to-date at:
http://users4.ev1.net~smyers/jfk2/media.html
Everybody have a great week, Happy Monday!/mrb.

mbark to history TRUTH

Good stuff on this obscure but revealing relationship.

It takes decades to piece together waht should have taken a few months at most with any kind of high level involvement and commitment.

The posturing and avoidance and negligence of the 'Alan Dulles Commission' also reveals LBJ's hand.

Cuba was simply way too high on the CIA AND ANTI-COMMUNIST AGENDA.

Attachment #1, ( file)

I missed this thread by Gil when it was posted, so thanks to Martin for bringing it back up. It's excellently sourced and makes an important point. Smathers was a real player, from Batista and Hoover, to LBJ and Nixon.

I read an account in one of the many books, about a dinner table scene in which Smathers was doing his "pushing, pushing, pushing" for Castro's assassination. According to the story, Kennedy slammed his knife down on his plate with some force and told Smathers in no uncertain terms that he was to never again raise the topic.

Tim

Tim,
Good. When so many try to bring in the possibility of Castro as perp (they usually claim "probability" but I do not), it is good to do a little review - - especially younger searchers who weren't old enough to remember those days. Tim, the dinner table story is one I've utilized a few times with people who aren't aware of the basic decency of JFK. Thanks for bringing IT around again for the forum, too.
best,
Martin

mbark to history TRUTH

Martin,

What's your perspective on the premise that implicating the right-wing was just as much a part of the plan as implicating Castro? The big Castro scare initially brought about the Warren Commission, but doesn't it make sense that the conspirators would want a patsy/patsies to ultimately pin the blame on?

Tony

The entire cover up was contingent upon Humes going along with the LN scenario on Friday night.

Good question, Tim! The kind I've been looking for since I entered, publicly, "the fray" in '94 by signing on temporarily with The Sixth Floor at Dealey Plaza. Thanks. My response will expose me as having a left-of-center mindset politically.
To those who didn't know already, I'm fairly transparant that way, I would think:


My bet on that issue is that it originally only extended as far as Castro, then was extended by The Bush/Nixon years towhat you're describing. The current Bush Empire (as I've called it all along since before my brain bleed) merely cynically profits off of the whole thing by playing both sides of the fence.
Martin.

mbark to history TRUTH

Folks, in addition to the response I made awhile ago where I admit my slightly-left-of-center-"liberal"- orientation, politically, I am presently ready to provide a link to Scott Myers' JFK Assassination web page, titled:

Truth AND Consequences - :

http://users4.ev1.net/%7Esmyers/jfk2

. . this time, this one SHOULD work. His "media page" is at the bottom of the scroll in red color.


It, I feel, used in conjunction with Dale Myers' Tippit book (Dale is NOT related to Scott, Scott assured me long ago), IS "a smoking gun", or close enough to it.
Sincerely,
Martin Barkley,
(Lifetime)Officer Of The Criminal District Courts of Texas

p.s.: In Texas, this is the felony court system/mrb.

mbark to history TRUTH