new blood in the Secret Service is what is needed. New procedures. Some of those guys are as old as I am. But I don't think there's any undue cause for alarm, John. As Tracy has said, doing it for real is a very different proposition to making a movie about it. But I must say, looking at the film, and the way this whole thing has been handled, it gives me a new respect for the Cuban Intelligence Service. This was a very skilful operation. Just goes to show what can be done with a little guts and know-how, eh, Sheff?'
Yes sir. It just goes to show what can be done.'
Just what could be done was a matter of equal interest to Sam Giancana when, less than three months after Kennedy's inauguration, Johnny Rosselli met with the Chicago gangster to tell him what he had been able to glean about the hit on Kennedy that never was, from conversations he had had in Washington and Las Vegas with O'Connell and Maheu.
It seems like Jefferson actually had Kennedy in his telescopic sights,' said Rosselli. Apparently, on the film, he actually pulls the trigger, three or four times, before the camera zooms right in on Kennedy's head. Almost like it's a bullet. I'm told that it's a very nice bit of camera work.'
That's one movie I'd like to see,' admitted Giancana. Jefferson had balls. I always said so. If he was here now, I'd probably shake him by the hand. Too bad he didn't do it for real, huh?'
It's true. Things are different now,' admitted Rosselli.
They were seated in a cabana by the pool, at the Fontainebleu Hotel, in Miami. Giancana had been in town to see Phyllis McGuire and her sisters perform at the four-thousand-seater Cavalcade Theater, on 3 April. But plans to fly to New Orleans the next day, for a sit down with local mob boss Carlos Marcello, had been abandoned following Marcello's arrest and subsequent deportation to Guatemala. Giancana was still profoundly shocked by what had happened to the other gangster.
That fucking Kennedy,' seethed Giancana. Instead of slacking off on us, like he was supposed to, Bobby's been beefing up the whole Justice Department and its organised crime section. There are four times as many attorneys working in that department now, compared with last year. And this guy Bobby's got running the show. Silberling. I hear he's gotta list of top hoodlums. So-called. Carlos Marcello was at the top of it.'
Rosselli shook his head. Marcello will beat this. You mark my words. It was an illegal deportation. For the Justice Department to organise something like this is a scandal.' He sipped his Smirnoff on the rocks. His lawyers will fight it in the courts and win. Same way you beat the rap last time.'
Yeah, but who'll be next for the out-patient treatment? Me? I was born in Chicago. But you, Johnny Sacco. They find out about that fraudulent birth entry and where you were actually born, they might try and deport your ass back to Italy.'
Believe me, Sam, it's been on my mind a lot these past few days.'
I don't know, I really don't. I thought we had a deal with that mick fucker. And now look. What does Frank say about it?'
Oh, Frank is very embarrassed. He thinks you're mad at him.'
He must have a guilty conscience. One minute he tells me this, the next minute he tells me that. He's talked to Bobby, then he's talked to Jack. I don't know what to believe.'
To be honest, Momo, I'm not sure Frank knows himself. But that's people in show business, for you. They're full of shit. Say one thing, do another. Deluded. Most of them live in a fantasy world. Look at Marilyn. They think they walk on water. Frank still thinks he can be a fucking ambassador. But he's the only one who thinks so. Those Ivy League types would never let him do something like that. They'll go to his Pre-Inauguration Gala, and then piss all over it when they get home. That's those people all over. They fuck you like a whore and then they walk. Those people are full of promises that they never deliver.'
What about you?' said Giancana. Look at you. All that work for the CIA, and now the feds are trying to fuck you, Johnny. And all because of that Dan Rowan wiretap.'
Rosselli had been tipped off that the FBI were about to re-open a years-dormant probe into the status of his citizenship.
Where's the fucking justice in that?' demanded Giancana.
I love America, Sam. It's been good to me. I was just trying to put something back in, you know?'
We should have gone for Nixon's deal.'
We've always been Democrats, you know that, Momo.'
Yeah, but Nixon is straight. You can trust Nixon. When Nixon makes a deal he sticks to it. Our kind of deal. Next time we should back Nixon.'
Maybe Jefferson should have shot Kennedy after all. Then wouldn't be in this spot.'
I'll buy that. They're still going ahead with this dumb invasion?'
Very much so. I hear April seventeenth. Somewhere on the south coast. The Bay of Pigs.'
And, in spite of everything that's gone down with Carlos, they're still expecting us to kill Castro for them? Just like before? Like nothing happened?'
We're not supposed to know, but the whole fucking invasion rests on it. This doctor I know, Tony Varona, is gonna poison him.'
Giancana paused and lit a cigarette.
Not any more,' he said. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I want you to tell this croaker to lay off.'
How's that?'
I just decided. Not any more. It ends here, Johnny. You understand me? All this shit with Castro. We're out.'
Rosselli knew better than to argue with Sam Giancana.
Whatever you say, Sam.'
Listen to me, Johnny. Why should we help them? When they won't help us?'
Reluctantly, I'm forced to agree with you, Sam. You're probably right.'
You're damn right I am.' Giancana laughed harshly. Just make sure you tell that doctor. All bets are off. Fuck the CIA. And fuck Jack Kennedy.'
Okay, Sam. I'll tell him. If that's what you want.'
Giancana laughed. It's what I want all right. I decided last night. After what happened to Carlos. Boy, are they in for a big surprise, when the hit on Castro doesn't happen.'
Frankly, it'll be the biggest surprise of his playboy presidency. Probably fuck him for good. Just let him try and get elected again after he screws this up.' Rosselli smiled, coming round to the idea. You know? I'm beginning to like this new angle a lot, Sam.'
Don't you tell them. I don't want to spoil the surprise. You keep stringing them along, Johnny. That's what you're good at.'
Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Sam. Not that the invasion stood much of a fucking chance anyway. They're only sending a force of about fifteen hundred men.'
Is that all? Jesus. Those crazy mick fuckers. What do they think they can do with a force that small?'
They're Cubans mostly. There's not a marine among them. Kennedy figures Castro's assassination and the landing will provoke a widespread revolt among the Cuban population at large.'
What about air support?'
Contingent on Castro's assassination. No body, no bombs.'
Too bad for those guys on the ground. Sounds like it'll be mass murder.'
What the hell? They're pimps and dealers. Full of shit and machismo. Most of them only know how to fight with a switchblade.'
Good. That should help to make Kennedy very unpopular with the Cuban community.'
Oh, his name will be crap, Momo. Take my word for it. He'll probably never dare set foot in Florida again.'
Even so, those Kennedys must feel they're pretty well tucked up in the White House.'
How do you mean?'
I mean them ordering another Castro assassination. They're not bothered by this Cuban Memorandum?'
Momo. They don't know about it. Didn't I say? The Secret Service didn't tell him. On account of the fact it made them look like a bunch of fucking pricks. Nor have the CIA. Because they figure it's none of their business. And because they didn't want Kennedy to pull the plug on this Bay of Pigs shit.'
