American Confidential: Uncovering the Bizarre Story of Lee Harvey Oswald and his Mother

by Deanne Stillman

"Deanne Stillman's American Confidential takes the familiar and makes it new - makes it thrilling. You won't believe this story; it resonates with deep American echoes." - Darin Strauss, author of Chang & Eng

On the 60th anniversary of the JFK assassination, a critically acclaimed writer presents an astonishing new account of one of the 20th century's most notorious assassins, Lee Harvey Oswald—and the mother who raised him . . .

Was Lee Harvey Oswald—as he himself claimed—a patsy? A hired gunman? In this startling account, Deanne Stillman suggests that there was indeed a conspiracy behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy—that of Oswald and his mother, Marguerite, who were locked in a desperate pursuit of fame and recognition. It was a struggle that would erupt on November 22, 1963, with Kennedy’s murder—after which the assassin joined the roster of infamous immortals, while his mother spent the rest of her life seeking the media limelight. 
 
American Confidential is a mother-son noir tale that plays out across the Wild West of mid-twentieth century America, delving into Oswald’s nomadic boyhood, and the world of his restless and disillusioned mother, who passed along a legacy of class resentment and a clamorous need to matter. 
 
In this new and surprising investigation into the short, troubled life of the ordinary man who would take down an American king, Deanne Stillman also presents a fascinating portrait of Oswald as a predecessor of the many violent young men and boys of America today, who take selfies with their rifles, and have come to define a new era of brutality.

Following in the tradition of Joan Didion and Charles Bowden, and continuing her celebrated exploration of America’s shadowlands, Stillman recounts a haunting tale of the promise and failure of the American dream. It held Oswald in its grip until the very end. “Some day,” he once told his wife, “I’d like to have a son. Maybe he’ll grow up to be president.”

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Deanne Stillman is a widely published, critically acclaimed writer. Her books of narrative nonfiction are place-based stories of war and peace in the modern and historical West.

Reviews

[dakotadief · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think we could find a way to blame boy moms for everything that has ever happened

[False · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mother from hell, and then some. The information about his mother is pretty well known, by this date, but may be new to people not familiar with the Oswald history. A full blown narcissist unlikable to most who made her acquaintance. Once Lee was killed everything became about money with her, as it always had been. The author makes that clear that money was a primary motivator in her personality, so much so, that the poverty and rejection she dealt out to her sons was the tip of the iceberg: she sold her interviews, wrote a pamphlet, then eventually a book. She also sold some of Lee’s personal items for the highest amounts possible. She sought out recognition, for herself and for Lee, claiming he was a hero. She obsessed over the care of his grave, where she ultimately resided. Ironically, and the author doesn't explore this, John Kennedy also had a narcissistic mother, so self-absorbed she left her sick little boy behind while she went to Paris to purchase the latest fashions. On her departure, and it's been repeated, often, Kennedy stood in the hall while his mother left saying to her, "You are a rotten mother." Later, Jacqueline Kennedy said her heart broke, knowing what her husband endured with his mother. Now there's another story in itself. One living in abject poverty, the other in cushioned wealth.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very intrigued by the subject matter in this book and was eager to pick up a copy shortly after it released. It was fairly easy to get into and painted a very interesting picture of Oswald and his upbringing. Reading his backstory gave me more clarity on who he was and what he went through growing up that may have helped steer him in the direction to go down in history as an assassin. By the end of the book, I found the title and synopsis to be a bit deceiving. To me, this was more a bio of his life rather than an intensive deep-dive into his relationship with his mother. He had brothers who went through much of the same experiences, and they lived normal, productive lives. It was an interesting book, but do not expect to have an epiphany while reading it.

[Joseph Hamilton]

When I saw this book at the library yesterday I knew I should take a pass but its limited scope drew me back. As I checked it out I thought ruefully that I was still down the assassination rabbit hole. Once I started reading though I got no further than the introduction when I came across these hoary old chestnuts: Writing the book had taken the author “right into the dark heart of the American dream” and the assassination was “the act from which the country has yet to recover.” And that’s as far as I got.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new. Too much speculation.

[Abigail · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book talked about what the book was going to talk about for the first two thirds. It never actually got anywhere.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an interesting look at how parents, Oswald's mother in this story, may or may not have influence someone to commit violence.

[Jillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

In desperate need of an editor. Didn’t need 238 pages of droning on when this could’ve been a short magazine article instead.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fathers take note: No child left behind

[Raven · Rating 2 out of 5]

strange and speculative

[Alexander Socinski · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much conjecture to be a reliable source! Which is a bummer because it’s an interesting subject. Lot of tangents too. Book didn’t really have a clear direction

[Kenny Schwarz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of the information that would have otherwise fallen through the cracks on most references of Oswald. Nonetheless, none of this lesser known information was particularly interesting. Somewhat dry, and a solid three star rating.

[Amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book. I typically am a memoir/biography/autobiography junkie but to me this author really overdoes the speculation on details unknown. I wasn't a fan of the at times odd references to Broadway plays and musicals scattered throughout the story. This is a very interesting topic, and typically would be engaging to me, but this was difficult to finish and not one I would recommend to others. The actual details and facts are far more interesting than the odd assumptions and speculation as to the upbringing and circumstances of Lee Harvey Oswald.