Betrayal in Dallas: LBJ, the Pearl Street Mafia, and the Murder of President Kennedy

by Mark North

John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas by Mafia contract killers hired by Louisiana mob boss Carlos Marcello. Longtime local district attorney Henry Wade, an LBJ crony who would have sole jurisdiction over the prosecution of those responsible, had been corrupted by the local Civello crime family. Lyndon B. Johnson, while a US senator during the 1950s, had accepted bribes from the same mobsters so that they could avoid deportation.With incredible detail and documentation, Mark North pieces the puzzle together to reveal how, in late 1961, US Attorney General Robert Kennedy and his brother John, who hated LBJ, initiated a covert Organized Crime Task Force investigation of the Civello mob in Dallas. Johnson, through Wade and local federal officials he had placed in power, learned of the plan and cooperated with the Civello mob to have JFK killed. Johnson did this, in part, because he had the power to control any subsequent federal investigation via FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. After the Mafia killed JFK, Johnson stopped Robert Kennedy’s prosecution of the Dallas Mafia.Betrayal in Dallas is unlike any book written on the JFK assassination. Because its conclusions are based on classified federal documents unknown to the public and research community, it will startle and convince all those who read it. Betrayal in Dallas is what the American people have been waiting for since November 22, 1963.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2011

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - This is an unusual take on the Mafia angle to the JFK assassination. The author postulates that Attorney General Robert Kennedy’s targeted prosecution of the Civello crime family in Dallas led to the Kennedy assassination. The entire book is just a bit over 150 pages and is very readable. The author connects Jack Ruby to the Civello bookmaking operation. LBJ exerts his influence over Dallas DA Henry Wade and Judge Sarah Hughes to stop the prosecution of the Dallas Mob and to prevent Ruby’s ties to them from reaching the public. Exhibits sections was particularly interesting, but key pieces of the assassination were glosses over or avoided in my opinion. Great read!! Not definitive, but it didn’t do what a lot of books in this genre tend to do which is focus on inane details of no import, and I appreciated that.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. I was in my late teens, in '63; making plans to get married and not yet old enough to vote. Even though I grew up and lived at the time, in New Orleans, I suppose I was lost. This book should be read by all who have interest in the Assasination of .

[Gerry Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, well documented account of the conspiracy to murder JFK. I highly recommend it.

[Thomas Richards · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, not good. Full of disconnected facts, huge assumptions, and faulty logic. I regret spending good money on this book.

[Debi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting mafia take on the JFK assassination. This book is NOT over 300 pages. It's barely over 150 pages and the rest is b.s. glossaries, etc......

[Davy Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only time I have heard the Dallas Mob called the Pearl Street Mafia. Of course, he points out that the actual shooters were brought in from other locales. This correlates with what I have seen in other sources. Though, most think it was more than just mob guys, that Mac Wallace and maybe CIA types were in on it also.
Speaking of LBJs muscle guy Mac Wallace take a look at some of the crimes he got away with in a crooked Texas legal system (at least parts of it).

There is a lot of interesting information presented here by North, and it's a quick read. About 150 pages plus a large index.

North says it was the Mob along with LBJ and J. Edgar Hoover, and I agree they were in on it probably, and the latter two surely worked hard to cover the truth.
Take a look at Slick Roger Stone's LBJ-JFK book if this sounds too astounding. There are others too.
Yes, and lone nutters and conspiracy buffs are out to make a buck, but follow your common sense.

However, I think there were other players in the mix that he mostly ignores. He is rightfully hard on the Warren Commission, who I also think was a twisted farce. Perhaps read Devils Chessboard, a NY Times Best Seller about former CIA Director Allen Dulles if you doubt this. He had been fired by JFK after the Bay of Pigs fiasco yet became the driving force in the WC.

[Travious Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compact book that contains a wealth of information, though much of it seems unrelated to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It reads like one of many conspiracy theories.

According to this book, many people are to blame—ranging from multiple prominent families to the FBI and ultimately the vice president. It’s a mix of various conspiracy theories, blended together into a narrative that’s difficult to accept.

That said, I will admit that I’m open to the possibility of more than one gunman in the attack on President Kennedy. However, I cannot absolve Oswald, as the evidence against him is overwhelming.

[j cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid story of corrption & cover-up in the JFK assaination

Good read and well researched.
Not so sue if the Stone/Civello Mob's bookmaking is what led to Nov 22.
No mention of CIA, Cubans, and Big Oil as other likely plotters/beneficiaries.
Good take on LBJ's network of loyal, corrupt, and despicable Tx cronies...
Big omission is the pivot man of it all----LBJ's lawyer Rd Clark...

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book certainly gives confident and credible theories as to the death of JFK, and you have to wonder why several documents are still not in the public domain, if Lee Harvey Oswald was indeed the sole shooter. If these theories are true, it's shocking, and Lynden B Johnson comes out of this with any reputation he had in tatters. After reading some reviews, I suppose I have to treat these findings with a modicum of scepticism, but I really do think it's high time the truth came out finally.

[Kenneth Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has the thesis that JFK was killed by the mafia in Dallas which was called the Pearl Street Mafia headed by Civello. The Marcelo family from New Orleans was also involved. The reason for the murder was the organized crime task force effort to destroy the gambling and drug trafficking of the mafia. This task force was the creation of Attorney General Robert Kennedy. To protect themselves from prison and deportation they had to remove JFK and replace him with their friend and ally LBJ. The book then details how LBJ, with the help of J Edgar Hoover, stopped the investigation of the murder and put the blame on Oswald. Dallas police and district attorney were pressured into helping cover up the crime in hopes of personal gain and/or fear of being exposed as corrupt because of their ties to the mafia. The book is an interesting read, but it's difficult to imagine that that many public officials could be involved and keep cover up a secret.

[Dee Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a huge interest in Organized Crime and the JFK Asassination. This book is well written and only confirms what I have read in others. It also confirms my belief that there was a conspiracy to murder President Kennedy. I am anxious to see what documents will be declassified in 2017 for the public to see on this incident.

[Natalie Sampson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but tricky to keep track of all the players and names. Adds more credibility to the LBJ conspiracy.

[Deborah A. Eicholtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not believe what went on back then. I feel it is a must read! When you pick up this book you will not believe what people did.