Fonzi Gaeton - The Last Investigation: a Former Federal Investigator Reveals the Man behind the Conspiracy to Kill JFK

M Y WIFE, Marie, knows marathons. She has run five of them, including Boston, in respectable times Ill never likely match. Running a successful marathon is far more than a simple physical feat, it is a lone struggle against mental demons scheming to ambush your will at critical points. Solitary though the ultimate process, it cannot begin, continue or succeed without a support team in place long before the starting gun, from running buddies to help ease some of the hundreds of grueling training miles to cheering friends ready on race day to provide nourishment and encouragement along the way. So it is with writing a book. And Im both lucky and blessed to have had an exceptional support team to ease my steps. Marie, of course, has been the heart of it, not only with her love and forbearance, but also in her intrepid role as my initial sentinel against factual and grammatical carelessness and literary obfuscation. (Obviously, she hasnt read this note.) Im fortunate, too, to have friends such as Gordon Winslow, the Miami archivist whose passion for objective research is matched by his generosity in sharing it. Im grateful for the friendship of Palm Springs businessman Robert Dorff, whose insightful analyses of the issues and his dedication to pursuing the truth about the Kennedy assassination I value. I offer my deepest appreciation also to Irish writer Anthony Summers, an investigative journalist in whose footsteps we all follow but inadequately fill. Bleeker Streets brilliant iconoclast, Alan J. Weberman, the most tenacious of researchers, was generous with both his files and his analytical insights. Mary Ferrell, the Dallas fountainhead for Kennedy researchers, has often been justly recognized for her impressive knowledge of government documents and her unstinting cooperation, but not enough for her beautiful, unconquerable spirit which has been an inspiration to all of us for so long.

Without the initial help of some of my earliest and closest friends and associates, I wouldnt have been able to begin or continue-my investigation into the Kennedy assassination. I was more than lucky to have Alan Halpern, the pioneering legend of city magazines, as a friend and supportive editor; Frank King as a valued cohort and astute investigator; and Charles MacNamara, the Mencken of Philadelphia, as my keen-minded editorial comrade. Down through the years, Bernard McCormick, my ex-partner at Gold Coast Magazine, retained an enthusiasm for my work that helped me sustain a hope that it would someday make a difference. Im particularly indebted and grateful for the years of encouragement given by another ex-Philadelphia Magazine associate, Nancy Love, now my agent.

In the body of this book I describe how a Philadelphia lawyer named Vincent Salandria initially sparked my interest in the Kennedy case. Im not sure I should be grateful to Vince for enlightening me about a terrible truth about our government, and Im not sure I agree withor even dare to think aboutsome of the awesome theories he has since developed about the forces behind the assassination, but I am sure I honor and respect him and consider him one of the few truly courageous men Ive known in my life.

I still always describe former U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker, whom I had no contact or affiliation with before he hired me, as the only politician Ive ever met who I came to respect more after getting to know him. I thank him for the freedom to pursue the leads we developed regardless of where they led. Im proud to have worked with top quality individuals on his staff, including Dave Newhall, Dave Marston and Troy Gustavson.

Since some would prefer to remain anonymous, I wont name any of the dozens of former House Assassinations Committee staffers who cooperated in helping me reconstruct this inside story. Not one I approached refused. Nevertheless, anonymity isnt an issue when it comes to paying special tribute to my Miami partner, A1 Gonzales, a good cop, a good man, a good friend. I relied heavily on the street smarts A1 garnered from his tough years as a New York homicide detective, and on his instinctive ability to judge character. He was beside me through much of this story.

Among those most generous with his own experiences and knowledge of that critical period in Miami history when the CIA played the leading role was ex-Army Captain Bradley Earl Ayers, whose own book, The War That Never Was [Bobbs Merrill, N.Y.], opened my research door a critical crack. Ayers has yet to tell the rest of the explosive story about his continuing power struggle with the intelligence establishment.

Miamis secret history as the cauldron of anti-Castro activity wasnt easy to penetrate, but I had an excellent guide in Marty Casey, one of the insiders from Nelli Hamiltons boardinghouse crew of soldiers of fortune. Blessed with total recall, the affable, handsome Casey, now a Soldier of Fortune magazine writer and irrepressible adventurer, rightfully bears the honor as the unofficial historian of Miamis most tumultuous era. Another player of talent from that period who was most generous with his cooperation was Tom Dunkin, the photographer responsible for much of Life magazines coverage of the CIAs secret war.

The community of JFK assassination researchers, like any group involved in a muddle of conflicting issues, is often rife with controversy and personal friction. Yet I was humbled by the outpouring of cooperation I received from every comer, among them the most respected in the community. Boston author Dick Russell, whose own book, The Man Who Knew Too Much [Carroll & Graf, N.Y.], broke new ground, generously shared his research. Attorney Jim Lesar, at the Assassination Archives and Research Center in Washington, D.C., provided invaluable guidance. Im deeply appreciative also to Washington private investigator Kevin Walsh, one of the research communitys truly dedicated pioneers, and to Berkeleys Paul Hoch, among the most respected of analysts. Down through the years, Jerry Policoff, frequent contributor to the Village Voice and author of some of the most perceptive magazine articles about the assassination, has regularly alerted me to newly uncovered information and knowledge.

Among those who provided me with critical assistance is Connecticut author and painstaking researcher Peggy Adler Robohm. Another resident of the Nutmeg State, Brenda Brody, graciously let flow both the output from and her analyses of an incredibly comprehensive computerized file system. Scott Malone, a writer who has helped produce award-winning shows for PBS Televisions Frontline series, was instrumental in sharing the results of his investigative efforts in key areas. My thanks also to Earl Golz, one of the few Dallas reporters who has continued his passionate pursuit of the truth about the Kennedy assassination and, as a result, has uncovered a wealth of significant details down through the years. Im indebted, too, to Dr. Jerry Rose, publisher of The Third Decade research journal at New York State College at Fredonia, for his help and encouragement, and to Bay City, Michigans G.J. Rowell, publisher of The Investigator, another research journal.

Finally, it has been a pleasure working with an editor as competently critical, dedicated and, most important, enthusiastic and supportive as Joan Fucillo. Shes responsible for whatever editorial polish and structural flow this book may have picked up in its marathon struggle to the finish line.

Thank you all.

G.F

A FTER THE FIRST official Government investigation into the assassination of President Kennedy, Sylvia Meagher, writing in a small magazine called Minority of One, had this to say about the Warren Commission: There are no heroes in this piece, only men who collaborated actively or passivelywillfully or self-deludedlyin dirty work that does violence to the elementary concept of justice and affronts normal intelligence.