The release of thousands of previously redacted documents related to John F. Kennedy’s assassination has sparked debate among historians and scholars. While some may have expected juicy revelations about the assassination, experts say the new material is far more significant.
A 1973 memo written by a CIA employee reveals collaborations between the agency and the Vatican, which could be “explosive” for historians. The document also details break-ins at foreign consulates, planned paramilitary attacks on Chinese nuclear facilities, and injections of a “contaminating agent” in Cuba’s sugar exports bound for the Soviet Union.
Historians are finding many new secrets, including information about CIA involvement in attempted coups, election interference, and connections to top foreign governments. A previously unredacted memo by Arthur Schlesinger Jr., an aide to Kennedy, warns of the growing power of the CIA and calls for its reorganization.
Newly visible passages also reveal that nearly half of American embassy political officers were working for the CIA, and a report on the 1961 assassination of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo shows the names of all CIA agents involved in the plot.
Experts say the revelation of sources’ identities causes anxiety within the CIA, as these relationships are secret for a reason. However, historians argue that filling out the historical picture is essential to understanding the agency’s role in shaping global events.
The release of all remaining classified documents in the collection means that researchers can now study previously inaccessible materials, including Church Committee interviews and depositions of former CIA directors. Historians are eager to delve into these new sources, despite knowing that some secrets may still remain hidden.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/jfk-assassination-files-cia.html