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Destiny Betrayed: J.F.K., Cuba, and the Garrison Case
Lays out the myriad details of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison's investigation into the murder of JFK, discussing events from World War II to the present day and the indictment of Clay Shaw in the murder.
423 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1992
80 people are currently reading
575 people want to read
About the author
James DiEugenio
12 books27 followersJames DiEugenio is one of the foremost researchers into the major assassinations of the 1960's. His first book: Destiny Betrayed, was an in depth look at the Garrison investigation. In 1993 he co-founded both Citizens for Truth about the Kennedy Assassination (CTKA), and the following year: the Coalition on Political Assassinations (COPA). Along with Lisa Pease he co-edited COPA's journal: Probe Magazine from 1993-2000, and later assisted in a compilation of the Probe articles which was published as The Assassinations. In response to Vincent Bugliosi's Reclaiming History and associated film Parkland, DiEugenio published Reclaiming Parkland, a critique of Bugliosi's methodology, evidence, and findings in the Kennedy Asassination.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 22, 2012
I’ve completed this grand book. It was a miraculous read, having all of the features that it takes to create a good JFK conspiracy novel: it was an easy read; the leads and explanations thereof were clear and concise, gave direct links to who committed the murder with no confusing innuendoes, and it was very fast-paced. The author is truly talented, using a down-to-earth style of phraseology to get his point across and it was not difficult to keep up. This is a rare find if you’re a conspiracy buff such as I am. :) Most books can take this dilemma and make it quite backbreaking to follow their explanation of what happened on November 23, 1963.
The book is about the famed JFK researcher and prosecutor, Jim Garrison and the Clay Shaw prosecution. The author wanted to build on what Garrison theorized and to further solidify the reasons why he’d prosecuted Shaw in the 60’s. The author even gave his take on why that prosecution failed. He also shows full documents that other authors merely touch on. The appendixes are filled with notes and trial transcripts so that one can readily check his sources of information. For the first time I enjoyed reading the appendixes as much as the book itself!
What was an unexpected plus of this book were the many pictures of all of the characters involved in the plot of JFK’s murder. It was so cool to actually see the people so often described in the many JFK books that I’ve read and the movies watched. I can’t imagine the difficulties the author came across to get and publish the photos in this book.
In short this was the best JFK novel that I’ve had the pleasure of reading besides the book written by Jim Garrison himself.
I’d recommend this book to all who know the truth about Kennedy’s death.
The book is about the famed JFK researcher and prosecutor, Jim Garrison and the Clay Shaw prosecution. The author wanted to build on what Garrison theorized and to further solidify the reasons why he’d prosecuted Shaw in the 60’s. The author even gave his take on why that prosecution failed. He also shows full documents that other authors merely touch on. The appendixes are filled with notes and trial transcripts so that one can readily check his sources of information. For the first time I enjoyed reading the appendixes as much as the book itself!
What was an unexpected plus of this book were the many pictures of all of the characters involved in the plot of JFK’s murder. It was so cool to actually see the people so often described in the many JFK books that I’ve read and the movies watched. I can’t imagine the difficulties the author came across to get and publish the photos in this book.
In short this was the best JFK novel that I’ve had the pleasure of reading besides the book written by Jim Garrison himself.
I’d recommend this book to all who know the truth about Kennedy’s death.
February 4, 2014
With the advantage of hindsight, DiEugenio shows how incredibly close Jim Garrison got to the truth, and the unbelievable maneuverings the government used to prevent him from reaching it.
August 10, 2016
Wow. This is a huge book! And it's so rich in detail. For those who are interested in the topic(s), this is - dare I use such an overused term? - surely a must read. Basically, this book focuses on two things surrounding JFK's death: One, DiEugenio sets JFK's assasination in context with his politics. Two, he retells the Garrison case and all shabby events surrounding it - without gloryfying Garrison.
All this is told in a very compelling, passionate way which makes it a really good read most of them time - some parts were rather slow, sure, others a tad too confusing; I do have troubles remembering so many names and even though I knew a lot of them already, there were many, many new ones and no sort of Dramatis personæ, which would've helped me a lot. But overall, I liked DiEugenios style and "voice".
My two favourite chapters:
- Chapter 2: The Education of John F. Kennedy - basically, JFK's take on African/Asian countries. DiEugenio not only mentions JFK's more "huge" efforts (withdrawal from Vietnam, careful approaches towards better relations with Cuba and the Soviet Union), he also shows his way of intervening with other countries by not really intervening directly (aka help those countries to help themselves) in Congo, Indonesia and Laos. Like: Rather than play world police and more or less govern these fresh nations himself, he'd rather have the US help in the background as some sort of advisor and/or negotiator. And how all of this was reversed by LBJ, with lots of air strikes and/or installment of dictatorships that lasted for decades. I'd never read about JFK'S Africa/Asian policy in these countries before and wow... this was all so hopeful and optimistic and then - all shattered. Very sad.
- Chapter 7: On Instructions from His Government - Oswald's childhood, youth, his time with the Marines in Japan, his, uh, defection to Russia and return to the US three years later with his Russian wife. I hadn't read about all this in such fine detail before and it sure was super exciting and fascinating. The enigmatic riddle Lee Harvey Oswald will never NOT make for an interesting read.
All this is told in a very compelling, passionate way which makes it a really good read most of them time - some parts were rather slow, sure, others a tad too confusing; I do have troubles remembering so many names and even though I knew a lot of them already, there were many, many new ones and no sort of Dramatis personæ, which would've helped me a lot. But overall, I liked DiEugenios style and "voice".
My two favourite chapters:
- Chapter 2: The Education of John F. Kennedy - basically, JFK's take on African/Asian countries. DiEugenio not only mentions JFK's more "huge" efforts (withdrawal from Vietnam, careful approaches towards better relations with Cuba and the Soviet Union), he also shows his way of intervening with other countries by not really intervening directly (aka help those countries to help themselves) in Congo, Indonesia and Laos. Like: Rather than play world police and more or less govern these fresh nations himself, he'd rather have the US help in the background as some sort of advisor and/or negotiator. And how all of this was reversed by LBJ, with lots of air strikes and/or installment of dictatorships that lasted for decades. I'd never read about JFK'S Africa/Asian policy in these countries before and wow... this was all so hopeful and optimistic and then - all shattered. Very sad.
- Chapter 7: On Instructions from His Government - Oswald's childhood, youth, his time with the Marines in Japan, his, uh, defection to Russia and return to the US three years later with his Russian wife. I hadn't read about all this in such fine detail before and it sure was super exciting and fascinating. The enigmatic riddle Lee Harvey Oswald will never NOT make for an interesting read.
January 26, 2016
I've listened to so many hours of Mr DiEugenio, all the free audio he's blessed us with, that I almost felt compelled to grab his book. But, as luck would have it, it was not readily available new so I had to buy a used copy. Guess I owe Mr DiEugenio a latte.
It's hard to say I'd recommend this to someone who's not really into the subject (I've not yet seen the light, breezy introduction to any of this material in any medium) but it delivers if this is what you're into. There's a lot here, a lot of names, you have to focus, read slow and maybe read some parts a 2nd time.
The writing style is not for everyone, the author seems to use lots of very short sentences, many sentences beginning with "because" or "as" or "by"; like Vonnegut, Mr D seems to have an aversion to the semicolon and even the comma. If I'm not mistaken Mr D taught high school, and in fact the style has a whiff of straightforward high school text about it (in style, not in density or complexity of content).
Certainly a book to grab if you have any interest in Garrison at all.
It's hard to say I'd recommend this to someone who's not really into the subject (I've not yet seen the light, breezy introduction to any of this material in any medium) but it delivers if this is what you're into. There's a lot here, a lot of names, you have to focus, read slow and maybe read some parts a 2nd time.
The writing style is not for everyone, the author seems to use lots of very short sentences, many sentences beginning with "because" or "as" or "by"; like Vonnegut, Mr D seems to have an aversion to the semicolon and even the comma. If I'm not mistaken Mr D taught high school, and in fact the style has a whiff of straightforward high school text about it (in style, not in density or complexity of content).
Certainly a book to grab if you have any interest in Garrison at all.
May 8, 2015
'Big Jim was no one's fool, he owned the town's only diamond mine
He made his usual entrance looking so dandy and so fine
With his bodyguards and silver cane and every hair in place
He took whatever he wanted to and he laid it all to waste
But his bodyguards and silver cane were no match for the CIA.'
Essential reading on the JFK assassination case. A very balanced and well researched work bringing truth to the much maligned New Orleans D.A. Jim Garrison. If anyone remains in any doubt as to who killed JFK, and why, then DiEugenio's 'Destiny Betrayed' will shine the light.
Published in 1992, alongside Oliver Stone's 'JFK', this is also a great companion piece to the movie.
Very well written with over fifty pages of Endnotes and a well stocked Bibliography that will provide me with much further reading.
He made his usual entrance looking so dandy and so fine
With his bodyguards and silver cane and every hair in place
He took whatever he wanted to and he laid it all to waste
But his bodyguards and silver cane were no match for the CIA.'
Essential reading on the JFK assassination case. A very balanced and well researched work bringing truth to the much maligned New Orleans D.A. Jim Garrison. If anyone remains in any doubt as to who killed JFK, and why, then DiEugenio's 'Destiny Betrayed' will shine the light.
Published in 1992, alongside Oliver Stone's 'JFK', this is also a great companion piece to the movie.
Very well written with over fifty pages of Endnotes and a well stocked Bibliography that will provide me with much further reading.
August 29, 2021
More valuable clues clarifying the Dulles, CIA connections, but too muddled with a lack of clarity
For those of us who never tire of studying the event that destroyed true democracy, this is a must read addition to the mounting evidence, But THE DEVIL'S CHESSBOARD remains the most vital
For those of us who never tire of studying the event that destroyed true democracy, this is a must read addition to the mounting evidence, But THE DEVIL'S CHESSBOARD remains the most vital
November 10, 2022
Unless you have read ALL that I have read, my opinion will not matter much. Instead let me map the stages of my paradigm shift on the Assassination of JFK in 10 steps:
1. What are the "conspiracy" books saying?
2. The C.I.A. (and F.B.I.) couldn't REALLY have been involved could they?
3. How much information is there that supports #2?
4. Wow, there sure is a great deal of evidence that the C.I.A. and F.B.I. were VERY involved in the Cover-up of a larger conspiracy!
5. Yeah it seems ridiculous to think that L.H.O.acted alone.
6. WOW. It seems L.H.O worked for the C.I.A.!
7. Why did the Government Agencies like the F.B.I. spent so much time and resources investigating and attempting to discredit celebrated New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison???
8. Why are the thousands of F.B.I. pages on the assassination which were to be lawfully released in 2017, still kept from the American public? (why the initial until 2017, and why is that still dangerous to the Government?)
9. Who benefitted the most from JFK's assassination? And why does this matter today?
10. How can anyone believe the absurd "lone wolf" theory that the U.S. Authorities consistently promote?
Between steps 1 and 10 I have read many books. The three best were "The Assassinations" "A Lie Too Big To Fail" and this one.
1. What are the "conspiracy" books saying?
2. The C.I.A. (and F.B.I.) couldn't REALLY have been involved could they?
3. How much information is there that supports #2?
4. Wow, there sure is a great deal of evidence that the C.I.A. and F.B.I. were VERY involved in the Cover-up of a larger conspiracy!
5. Yeah it seems ridiculous to think that L.H.O.acted alone.
6. WOW. It seems L.H.O worked for the C.I.A.!
7. Why did the Government Agencies like the F.B.I. spent so much time and resources investigating and attempting to discredit celebrated New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison???
8. Why are the thousands of F.B.I. pages on the assassination which were to be lawfully released in 2017, still kept from the American public? (why the initial until 2017, and why is that still dangerous to the Government?)
9. Who benefitted the most from JFK's assassination? And why does this matter today?
10. How can anyone believe the absurd "lone wolf" theory that the U.S. Authorities consistently promote?
Between steps 1 and 10 I have read many books. The three best were "The Assassinations" "A Lie Too Big To Fail" and this one.
October 29, 2022
What a monumental achievement. Together with Joan Mellen's A Farewell to Justice, this book is the most important in its treatment of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison's trial of Clay Shaw, successfully rebutting and demolishing the relentless campaign by government, mainstream media and a string of Deep State-commissioned authors such as Gerald Posner and Edward Epstein to denigrate the late appellate court judge. Clay Shaw was a man who, it later became clear, was a CIA asset closely involved with the man accused of murdering JFK, Lee Harvey Oswald, in New Orleans in 1963, months before the assassination. DiEugenio proves it in this work.
DiEugenio is a sober, realistic authority on his subject, and as such doesn't engender tremendous hope that the mystery will ever be fully solved. As he notes, all branches of the US government have tried to investigate the assassination: executive (presidential commission in 1964), judicial (trial in 1969) and legislative (Senate select committee in 1975; House select committee in 1976-79). All failed. DiEugenio is honest in his prediction that the full truth will never be known. This is sad, of course, but knowing something is true without formal government certification of one's knowledge creates an interesting psychological and spiritual state. When you have read this book, you will know the truth.
The recently released four-part documentary directed by Oliver Stone is named after this book, and having seen that film first, I naturally wanted to check out the printed version. Needless to say, it is far more detailed. Its cinematic namesake, while also superb and must-see, is no substitute. DiEugenio is a brilliant writer, not at all boring, and a go-to authority on JFK. I defy anyone to read this book and come away sincerely believing there was no conspiracy to kill President Kennedy. Buy this book.
DiEugenio is a sober, realistic authority on his subject, and as such doesn't engender tremendous hope that the mystery will ever be fully solved. As he notes, all branches of the US government have tried to investigate the assassination: executive (presidential commission in 1964), judicial (trial in 1969) and legislative (Senate select committee in 1975; House select committee in 1976-79). All failed. DiEugenio is honest in his prediction that the full truth will never be known. This is sad, of course, but knowing something is true without formal government certification of one's knowledge creates an interesting psychological and spiritual state. When you have read this book, you will know the truth.
The recently released four-part documentary directed by Oliver Stone is named after this book, and having seen that film first, I naturally wanted to check out the printed version. Needless to say, it is far more detailed. Its cinematic namesake, while also superb and must-see, is no substitute. DiEugenio is a brilliant writer, not at all boring, and a go-to authority on JFK. I defy anyone to read this book and come away sincerely believing there was no conspiracy to kill President Kennedy. Buy this book.
March 21, 2022
Very informative book but I think it might have been easier to take in as a book rather than an audiobook. I know a decent amount about the characters involved in the book and found it a bit tricky to keep everything straight in my head at times. Well worth a listen still though!
March 15, 2024
DiEungenio is a master. He worked with Oliver Stone on LBJ and the more recent documentaries also with Stone. This book is long, long and more long. I have watched him on various YouTube documentaries, podcasts, etc. He’s got credibility. This is a good one to keep.
July 6, 2014
If you've seen the movie JFK, and you want the more detailed story of what all went on, then this is the book for you. Not only does it detail Jim Garrison's case, but it sets up events leading up to the Kennedy assassination, giving motive to his murder via conspiracy. You won't find a rigorous overview of the single bullet theory, or trajectories, or really, very much of Dealey Plaza at all. This is a focus on what groups and individuals were doing up to the assassination, and their behaviors afterward, specifically as it related to being investigated by Jim Garrison. What is great about this 2nd edition, is all the new material that has come to light since the release of many, many, records (with still yet more to go). Jim Garrison was oh-so-close to blowing the lid of the whole case, and for that he was ridiculed and mocked, with a help from the CIA, and FBI no doubt. DiEugenio knows his stuff, and this book is foot-noted very well. I found myself reading this book very slowly as I often stopped to read up on footnotes and Google other events for more information. Incredible book.
March 20, 2014
I read the recently revised addition, which has insightful information regarding tons of the de-classified docs that came out since 1992. An exhaustively well researched book.
November 10, 2020
While the contents of the book is good, the writing is so awful that it makes it near impossible to read. The structure of it also seems nonsensical.
October 11, 2021
If you are a fan of JFK the movie, you will want to give this a read. I did not know a lot about the Garrison case, I do now. Enjoy!
February 28, 2020
In places this was hard to put down. Not a good book for beginners. The author is making a big point and along with that, some other important points and it seems all the supporting information is provided to do so. I like that Garrison is central, but I think this book could've been written to make him even more central which would've improved the reading. Historically, Garrison is larger than life and he seems very much alone. In DiEugenio's book, he is a great unsung hero who volunteers on a very dangerous stage and performs a service to an ungrateful nation. That nation, it seems, is still unwilling to accept the entire tragedy of what happened.
May 26, 2025
It took me a long time to finish this book because while he connects the dots, Dieugenio refuses to lay the coup at LBJs feet. And it this point, the evidence is overwhelming. He puts the coup on Dulles (who was no doubt involved) but then is mystified why Johnson appointed Dulles to head the Warren Commission? After spending nearly 400 pages pointing in Johnsons direction? Still. no one can deny Dieugenio is a genius and a great writer.
December 31, 2020
An eye opener!
I began reading about the kennedy assassination when I was basically a tween in the late 80's -90s. I always had my suspicions about it. This book reveals alot of info I never knew before. This case will never solved because, the Government will not investigate itself.
I began reading about the kennedy assassination when I was basically a tween in the late 80's -90s. I always had my suspicions about it. This book reveals alot of info I never knew before. This case will never solved because, the Government will not investigate itself.
November 23, 2025
Muddled writing, obviously tremendously detailed but it gets lost. Doesn't create the persuading arguments you might hope for. Oswald probably did it and the CIA were probably covering a whole bunch of stuff up, those aren't mutually exclusive.
January 18, 2022
Very possibly the greatest book written on the subject, at least from the perspective of foul play having been a factor in the murder of President Kennedy.
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April 11, 2022🙈🙉🙊
November 6, 2023
Oddly, there is just too much stuff here. It starts out good but gradually buries itself under a pile of factoids.
November 21, 2025
Read in parallel with On the Trail of the Assassins. This is up there with JFK and the Unspeakable, honestly.
July 4, 2016
James DiEugenio clearly knows his stuff. This is the definitive book on the JFK assassination, dealing specifically with the Jim Garrison angle. If you're not familiar with Jim Garrison, he was the DA who brought the first and only criminal investigation of the JFK assassination, concluding that it involved elements within the intelligence community, including Clay Shaw. A whole new generation learned of this trial thanks to Oliver Stone and his movie, JFK. DiEugenio makes full use of the assassination records released under the JFK Assassination Records Act and demonstrates that Garrison, though right, had no clue what he was up against -- including the fact that his own office was heavily infiltrated by both the CIA and FBI and were actively sabotaging his investigation. DiEugenio's is not the only book on the Garrison investigation, but it is by far the best.
July 8, 2025
While I love the info on the Garrison case, it felt like the majority of this book was focusing on the media and intelligence ops against Garrison. While not bad I believe the original version of the book is much better if you want to learn about Garrison’s investigation.
May 11, 2013
A fantastic and enlightening read! As a keen JFK historian there are many factors highlighted that bring startling new questions.
Well written and an overall compelling read
Well written and an overall compelling read
August 26, 2024
A fine book for JFK conspiracy fans. If you liked the film by Oliver Stone you will recognize many events from the film in this book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews