Recommended Reading

By W. Tracy Parnell
These are my own picks for JFK researchers and students looking for source material.

Anson, Robert Sam. "The Shooting of JFK." Esquire. November 1991.

Probably the best article on Stone's film. Includes much behind the scenes information particularly on Oliver's questionable methodology.

Belin, David W. Final Disclosure. New York: Scribners, 1988.

The late Warren Commission lawyer argues the case for the lone assassin very convincingly.

Beschloss, Michael R. Taking Charge: The Johnson White House Tapes, 1963-1964. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.

Fascinating behind the scenes look at Johnson's White House. Includes several conversations concerning the assassination.

Bugliosi, Vincent. Four Days in November: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008.

Bugliosi, Vincent. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. New York: W. W. Norton, 2007.

The legendary Manson prosecutor tackles the JFK case.

Davison, Jean. Oswald's Game. New York: W. W. Norton, 1983.

"Probes Oswald's early obsession with Marxism, and deems his defection and later political actions as a protest against American imperialism. Concludes Oswald may have been motivated by Castro's complaints about US-sponsored assassination attempts that Oswald read in The Militant newspaper, and perceived prosecution from FBI Agent Hosty's visits to wife Marina. Foreword by Norman Mailer, former member of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and author of the 1995 book Oswald's Tale." -Jerry Organ

Epstein, Edward Jay. Legend: The Secret World of Lee Harvey Oswald. New York: Reader's Digest Press/McGraw-Hill, 1978.

A "must have" for those interested in Oswald. In-depth coverage of the military years.

Galanor, Stewart. Cover-up. New York: Kestrel, 1998. Review by W. Tracy Parnell

Good compendium of conspiracy arguments.

Groden, Robert J. The Search for Lee Harvey Oswald. New York: Penguin Studio Books, 1995.

I hate to encourage Groden, but this is a must for Oswald researchers.

Holland, Max. "After Thirty Years: Making Sense of the Assassination." Reviews in American History-22. 1994.

Holland, Max. "The Key to the Warren Report." American Heritage. November 1995.

Two fine articles by a regular contributor to The Nation.

Kathchik, Keith. "Lee Harvey's Legacy." Texas Monthly. March 1995.

Over the years, Texas Monthly has offered many fine articles on the JFK case. In this one, Kathchik interviews Rachael Oswald post-JFK.

Kirkwood, James. American Grotesque: An Account of the Clay Shaw-Jim Garrison Affair in New Orleans. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1970.

The first book to uncover the travesty of justice known as Jim Garrison's investigation.

Lambert, Patricia. False Witness; The Real Story of Jim Garrison's Investigation and Oliver Stone's Film, JFK. New York: M. Evans and Company Inc., 1998. Review by W. Tracy Parnell

Latest book on the Garrison investigation shows the folly of the "Jolly Green Giant" and Oliver Stone.

Lattimer, John K. Kennedy and Lincoln, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980.

Discussion of the medical evidence in the killing of two Presidents. Hard to find at this writing.

Lifton, David S. Best Evidence. New York City: Macmillan, 1980.

Even if you disagree with the central thesis, this is one of the most interesting and best written books on the JFK killing.

Mailer, Norman. Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery. New York: Random House, 1995.

Important mostly for the first half of the book which deals with LHO in Russia.

McMillan, Priscilla Johnson. Marina and Lee. New York City: Harper & Row 1977.

McMillan had extraordinary access to Marina Oswald for the writing of this book.

Moore, Jim. Conspiracy Of One: The Definitive Book On The Kennedy Assassination. Fort Worth: The Summit Group, 1990.

Best "Lone-assassin" book until Case Closed.

Myers, Dale. With Malice: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Murder of Officer J.D. Tippit. Milford MI: Oak Cliff Press, 1998. Review by W. Tracy Parnell

Case Closed on the Tippit murder.

Patoski, Joe Nick. "The Two Oswalds." Texas Monthly. November, 1998.

John Armstrong and his theory make it to a major media outlet.

Posner, Gerald. Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK. New York: Random House, 1993; Anchor Books, 1994.

Posner, Gerald. "Garrison Guilty. Another Case Closed." The New York Times Magazine. August 6, 1995.

Posner, Gerald. Killing The Dream: James Earl Ray and the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. New York: Random House, 1998. Review by W. Tracy Parnell

Posner is hated by many, loved by some, and ignored by nobody.

Russo, Gus. Live by the Sword: The Secret War Against Castro and the Death of JFK. Baltimore: Bancroft Press, 1998. Review by W. Tracy Parnell

Solid in some areas but lacking in others. Still an important book..

Salerno, Steve. "Lee Harvey's Oldest – June Oswald." The New York Times Magazine. April 30, 1995.

Oswald Talked-June that is! She liked the "second spitter" episode of Seinfeld.

Summers, Anthony and Robbyn. "The Ghosts of November." Vanity Fair. December 1994.

The arguement for conspiracy circa 1994. Interesting reading.

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