Buried memos, erased tapes, secret meetings, and one long-dead lie at the heart of American history.
When over 63,000 documents were released in 2025, most of the media covered the story in broad strokes-"CIA surveillance," "Oswald activity," "internal mistrust."
But the real revelations are in the details.
This post breaks down 10 specific documents that shift the foundation of what we thought we knew.
đ 1. Oswaldâs Mexico City Call Transcript (October 1963)
What it is: A CIA cable summarizing Oswaldâs phone call with Soviet embassy officer Valeriy Kostikov.
Why it matters: Kostikov was part of the KGBâs assassination department. The CIA heard the call and buried it.
đ 2. The "Do Not Disseminate" Oswald Memo (Nov 8, 1963)
What it is: A memo sent from CIA headquarters to Mexico City advising local staff not to report further Oswald updates.
Why it matters: A direct order to withhold intel-less than two weeks before JFK was killed.
đ 3. Angletonâs File Alteration Note
What it is: A handwritten instruction by James Angleton referencing selective edits to Oswaldâs CIA 201 file.
Why it matters: Proves the file was curated-not just incomplete.
đ 4. "Operation Mockingbird" Journalist Coordination Memo
What it is: Internal CIA strategy for shaping media coverage of the assassination.
Why it matters: Confirmed use of assets to push "lone gunman" narrative and discredit critics.
đ 5. Joannides’ Reassignment Orders (1978)
What it is: Memo detailing George Joannides’ return to serve as CIA liaison to the House investigation-without disclosing his DRE ties.
Why it matters: The man Congress trusted had everything to hide.
đ 6. CIA Internal Dissent Report (1964)
What it is: A suppressed report cataloging agents who raised red flags about Oswald surveillance and data suppression.
Why it matters: The cover-up wasnât external-it was internal too.
đ 7. "Sensitive â Eyes Only" Contingency Plan Memo
What it is: Prepared document dated Nov. 19, 1963 outlining agency response in case of "unexpected leadership loss."
Why it matters: The CIA was gaming out a scenario eerily similar to what happened-three days later.
đ 8. Whittenâs Removal Order
What it is: A top-down instruction to strip John Whitten of control over the Oswald investigation.
Why it matters: Whitten had discovered Joannides’ link to anti-Castro groups. He was silenced.
đ 9. FBI-CIA Joint Strategy Doc (Post-Assassination)
What it is: Internal agreement to manage public messaging "with unity of interpretation."
Why it matters: Shows the feds worked together-not to find truth, but to contain fallout.
đ 10. Mexico City Tape Destruction Cable (Dec 1963)
What it is: Final order to destroy the recordings of Oswaldâs embassy calls.
Why it matters: They werenât erased as routine-they were erased as policy.
đ A Paper Trail of Truth
These werenât theories. These were facts-on CIA letterhead, with real dates, signatures, and classification marks.
The 2025 release didnât offer one smoking gun.
It offered ten thousand glowing embers-and these ten are among the hottest.
