Last Word

My Indictment of the CIA in the Murder of JFK

By: Mark Lane

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

The last word on the JFK assassination by the New York Times best-selling author and JFK historian!

Mark Lane tried the only US court case in which the jurors concluded that the CIA plotted the murder of President Kennedy, but there was always a missing piece: How did the CIA control cops and Secret Service agents on the ground in Dealey Plaza? How did federal authorities prevent the House Select Committee on Assassinations from discovering the truth about the complicity of the CIA?

Now, Mark Lane tells all in this explosive new book, with exclusive new interviews, sworn testimony, and meticulous new research (including interviews with Oliver Stone, Dallas Police deputy sheriffs, Robert K. Tanenbaum, and Abraham Bolden). Lane finds out first hand exactly what went on the day JFK was assassinated. He includes sworn statements given to the Warren Commission by a police officer who confronted a man who he thought was the assassin. The officer testified that he drew his gun and pointed it at the suspect, who showed Secret Service ID. Yet, the Secret Service later reported that there were no Secret Service agents on foot in Dealey Plaza.

The Last Word proves that the CIA, operating through a secret small group, prepared all credentials for Secret Service agents in Dallas for the two days that Kennedy was going to be there - conclusive evidence of the CIA's involvement in the assassination.

©2011 Mark Lane (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Both readers who have followed the JFK assassination for years and those new to one of the great debates of the 20th century will find much to contemplate here." ( Library Journal Xpress Review)

Bold, Direct and Controversial, As Always

What made the experience of listening to Last Word the most enjoyable?

Being a dedicated researcher of the JFK murder for decades, it is fulfilling to see one of the original authors (still alive) writing provocative and revealing substance about the crime of the last century. Lane has never been one to pull a punch and I thought the way he revealed the inter-connections between those who criticize him and the agency they work for to be bold and excellent counter-punches. Lane has been relentless in bringing to light the suspicious "coincidences" that engulf the assassination, the Warren Commission and their subsequent multiple white-washings. With so many of the most knowledgable and profound researchers now gone on to the other side of this life, it is a good thing that Lane, Josiah Thompson and a few others cling to the determined course of action in telling facts to the public. It will take people like Lane to counter-punch, once again, the new lathering of whitewash that is surely to appear in the film we are told of that has the involvement of Tom Hanks. Lane is a talented debunker and he will surely be at the forefront of critics of the Hanks production, if it sees the screen. Fortunately Leonardo DiCaprio has bought rights to a book which may well offset much of Hanks' "work." The world of truth owes a lot of gratitude to Mark Lane for this well-documented and powerfully written work.

Who was your favorite character and why?

THere were really no "characters" in this book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The energetic debunking of Vincent Bugliosi's tripe brought tears of laughter to me. Bugliosi is far more talented at writing stuff that is enjoyable to read than he is at telling the truth impartially and accurately. Bugliosi's penchant to exaggerate and stray far afield from the truth is infuriating and should be criminal. Lane took V.B. to task in fine style. The book was worth the listen just for that, alone.

Any additional comments?

"The Last Word" along with James W. Douglass' book "JFK and the Unspeakable" (Also available unabridged on Audible) are the best books written in the last two decades on the subject of the JFK assassination because they deal with how it came to be and the results of it, rather than merely the physics of gunfire and the controversy of testimony. While there is no way to say they are 100% accurate in all cases, they open up panoramic views of evidence that was ignored or intentionally obfuscated by people, whose job it was to tell the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. Anyone who takes the time to listen to these two books can only end up thinking long and hard about the way things are today and how they had been if JFK had lived out his life and been allowed to see through his visions of a world of peace.

Rambling, unfocused rantings of a paranoid man

Truly a mess of a book, Last Word is filled with off-topic ramblings, misleading witness accounts, an imagined conspiracy so vast as to boggle the mind and stretch the limits of credulity.

This is not a book that sets out to prove the CIA killed JFK, Mark Lane believes that is so self-evident he doesn't need to go over it. In fact, having finished the book I'm still not entirely sure I know what he believes happened in Dallas. What I do know is Lane believes the CIA is the most powerful organization in the world, with an unlimited budget and staff to do whatever they want. I know that because he goes on very long tangents about the things he believes the CIA did that have nothing to do with the assassination. Although he actually makes the case that since the CIA did bad things at times in the past, they probably did this bad thing as well (surprising, considering how pedantic and condescending he is towards other people in how they talk about trial law).

He paints various organizations such as the FBI and the Dallas Police Department as being either unwilling pawns in the CIA's game or active members of the conspiracy, depending on his needs. For instance, he claims that the CIA leaked info to J Edgar Hoover to dupe him and play to his ego in order to get the lone gunman theory started. However, he follows that up by claiming Jack Ruby was an asset the FBI used to kill Oswald and keep the conspiracy under wraps. It's simply a matter of whatever Lane needs to be true at that moment to keep the conspiracy theory from falling apart.

He also believes that even though the CIA is so vast as to control the media and assassinate anyone, including American citizens, that could expose the truth (Lane believes himself under CIA surveillance constantly but for some reason they never stop him publishing his books while they kill all those around him), they also bungled the assassination so poorly it should be obvious to anyone that they framed Oswald. Lane claims that Oswald's Mannlicher Carcano was too inaccurate to make the shots required but that Oswald didn't even own it, the CIA planted it. Why the CIA would plant a rifle they would know (in Lane's universe) couldn't do what it needed to do is never explained.

Lastly, and in my view most heinously, Lane focuses on witness testimony in Dallas that he believes prove the CIA killed Kennedy. However, what he never mentions is that in almost every case he's focusing on the testimony of the lone dissenting witness out of many that saw the events. Yes, one person does claim it wasn't Oswald they saw shoot Officer JD TIppit or fleeing the scene, however there are at least 4 other people that do. These others are never mentioned, and we're led to believe the Warren Commission just ignored what it didn't want to hear.

The entire books goes on in this vein, and it was difficult to get through. The long diatribe about Bugliosi's Reclaiming History (an excellent book I highly recommend) was particularly tough to listen to. His biggest specific complaint seemed to be that Bugliosi mixed up a 4 and a 5 in an address he mentions in passing and therefore nothing he says can be trusted. It just goes on and on in an overly pedantic manner.

I'd say this book is only for the already dyed-in-wool conspiracy theorists, but at a basic level it's so poorly written I can't recommend it to anyone. Steer clear.

Thankful for Mark Lane

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely based on Mark Lane's thorough explanation of an event that shook the world

What did you like best about this story?

His critique of Vincent Bugliosi's book and his revealing of Buglios's hypocrisy and ineptness.

What about Mark Boyett’s performance did you like?

Clear and believable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I remember the day JFK was murdered and the utter sadness of everyone that I knew. Then the totally unbelievable murder of Oswald, in of all places .....the Dallas Police station. Now, after listening to Mr. Lane's book, I feel outrage at the lies our government put out there. They shouldn't wonder why people are not so patriotic anymore.

Any additional comments?

It would also be a good idea to watch the movie- "Rush to Judgement" Thank-you Mark Lane for your service to this country.

Loved the book.

What did you love best about Last Word?

I found out what Mr. lane has been doing the last 50 odd years.

What did you like best about this story?

That people who do not believe in the conspiracy theory, always use the Fox channel way of name calling. They never seem to argue the facts.

What does Mark Boyett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good recitation.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Rehash of early Book

I was somewhat disappointed as this was just a rehash of his earlier work. Another was we now have definitive proof that there wasn't a badge men on the grassy knoll. Leroy Blevins shows that there were 5 shooters in Dealey Plaza. One on the roof of the County Records Building as the Zapruder film clearly shows & a second shooter on the 2nd floor who hit Kennedy with two shots, 1 in the back & 1 to the back of the Presidents head. You can look at the Bell images to see the shooter and puff of muzzle fire coming from that window. Another shooter on the sixth floor School Book Depository. LHO was most likely not the shooter as he failed two paraffin tests showing he didn't have any residual powder. This shooter hit Kennedy 1 time in the back of the head & 1 to governor Connelly. The last shooters can be seen shooting the President from the Shelter directly behind Zapruder & to his right. Muzzle fire & smoke trail are seen in the Orrville Nix film. Also, the Mary Moorman photo shows clearly both shooters in the Shelter. Here is a link to show you the evidence ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c8bwtz_VBo ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJL0u1JiC4U&t=712s So I wouldn't recommend this book.

Fantastic book!!

Never did believe Kennedy was shot by Oswald but had to give up hope of finding any honest information from our government . None of Mark's finding shock me. It does give me a strange confirmation that our government was directly involved but saddens me that so many brave people who spoke out were systematically hunted down and killed as well. I also find it ironic that our polished picture of the United States as a bulwark of peace and prosperity and democracy actually experienced a Coup d'etat but dared to call it an assignation to make it sound better to Americans and the rest of the world. But most thinking people never believed the lie.

Not even shocking anymore

With what we know about CIA hijinx, none of this should come as a surprise to anyone anymore. The CIA conspiring to assassinate JFK may not even be the most egregious of its dirty deeds, most of which are detailed by the author in the book. It's true that the author can be acerbic, sometimes hypocritical, churlishly name-calling critics who he chastises for doing the same to him. And that certainly could adversely affect a reader/listener's perception of the topics at hand. But 50 years on, very little of what is presented seems implausible, at all, anymore. And as was mentioned in other reviews, the chapter spent putting the boots to that hack Vincent Bugliosi, (Ch.14 I believe) is worth the price of admission alone.

Outstanding!!!

The material, and the reader are so engrossing that I was surprised by the ending, as I completely lost myself in the narration. At the end, and after reading quite a few books on this sad subject I am firmly convinced that the CIA did it.

Like Raid kills bugs dead - this swats Bugliosi

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

That would be an understatement. Even after admitting to paying writers and journalists to SPIN things counter truth wise, the CIA is still spending your tax dollars to rewrite history. Every parent should be alert to history text books worming their way into schools with attempts to ignore the last word of the House Select Committee On Assassinations, that THERE WAS MOST LIKELY A CONSPIRACY TO KILL JFK. Any history book written since that time, which ignores that finding, is propaganda that is probably funded by your friendly CIA. You simply can't reclaim history by changing the facts or killing the witnesses and claiming that people are stupid or frauds to believe the HSCA finding and conclusion. You would be stupid if you believed that a mock trial with paid actors for jurists was anything more than a theatrical production. Parents have a major responsibility to determine which history textbooks are irresponsible counter truth wise spin since they probably won't be able to stop the CIA from having new history books written. As long as there is a CIA, that dog will return to its vomit.

What did you like best about this story?

Mark Lane had a sharp memory and was able to discern and recall inconsistent testimony and prove perjury of the top CIA officials who lied in depositions. His timing was dramatic when he revealed the lie in court for the jury and perpetrator to drop their jaws in sudden realization of their contradiction. Such was the case for E. Howard Hunt claiming he was at home with his family when JFK was assassinated. I don't think any cognizant person, who was alive at the time, fails to remember where they were, what they were doing, and who they were with, when they heard the news of the president's assassination. That should include E. Howard Hunt, his kids, and his wife.

Have you listened to any of Mark Boyett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time. It was an enjoyable reading. I don't recall any irritation, other than an occasional change in volume where it was obvious that a different recording session had commenced in a spot other than a chapter separation.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The truth will out.

Any additional comments?

This was a superior documentary; not just dry facts, or Bugliosian assault on your ability to think for yourself. Mark Lane does resort to legal spin on occasion, maybe even frequently, but never to insult the reader with the attitude that you must believe it happened this way or you must be stupid or a fraud. It is like pulling teeth to get the CIA to admit to any facts but a lot of teeth have come out and there is enough gold when they do come out to make it worthwhile to persist in pulling. To be sure, the CIA is a known killer of leaders and what ever else irks them. Just for the record, I am a very happy man with a wonderful family and I have never considered, even at the lowest point in my life, ending it. I mean, I fully realize, we are discussing the CIA here, and all the teeth have not come out yet! I would not say these things lightly but with the serious hope that our freedom can only be preserved if we learn from history, real history, lest we all be doomed, to repeat it. I, for one, choose to replace presidents by voting, or impeachment, or waiting them out, even now!

Junk, junk and junk.

Only about 30% of this book has to do with the Kennedy assassination. The rest talks about non related events in mark lanes life as well as CIA stuff unrelated to the assassination such as their testing of LSD on humans. The book is basically a bitch fest against the cia in general. As a result, this is the first book I had to listen to portions at 3x speed.

Chilling account of the CIA's role in JFK's murder

Mark Lane’s final book on the JFK assassination explores the role of the CIA in the murder, gathering together fifty years of research, court appearances, witness statements and testimonies. Anyone who still thinks Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman, should read this book now.

To be fair, Lane is repeating himself a bit this time around. A great deal of what he covers has already been said in his previous books, particularly ‘Rush to Judgement’, his first, and perhaps, most devastating expose of the Warren Commission’s kack-handed management of the inquiry. Nevertheless, there’s a lot of new information here, most of which blows the CIA, FBI and a lot of other folk out of the water. After reading this volume, I watched the documentary version of ‘Rush to Judgement’ (available on YouTube), which even now is chilling in the sheer weight of unheeded evidence.

While I was never one of those who believed Oswald was solely responsible, even fifty-odd years on, the CIA’s role in the assassination (and a whole load of other murders), is pretty damn scary.

Last Word from one of the true masters of JFK

Mark Lane was one of the first and best JFK assassination researchers and his classic ground breaking book "Rush to Judgement" and subsequent film from 1967 really did open up the cracks in the Warren Commission's report. He kept the pressure up on the official story for over 50 years and was a major thorn sticking in the side of the authorities. This his final book is simply an update on his long tireless efforts to expose the truth but there really are no spectacular revelations, which is a little disappointing. That said its a worthy and enjoyable story very well narrated by Mark Boyett. To the late Mark Lane I would say a very big thank you for your excellent and tireless research.

Excellent!

This is quite simply the best book I have studied on the subject of the JFK assassination. Meticulously researched, it presents the facts minus the spin. If you are in any doubt that the JFK assassination was a conspiracy, study this book and I am sure you will doubt no more.

Disappointing

I was very much looking forward to listening to this, however unfortunately it felt like a trip down memory lane, the author reminiscing about his past books and daring to rebuke criticism of those books. There is very little "indictment" anywhere except the final chapter, however Mark Lane points towards no specific evidence of CIA responsibility in the Kennedy Assassination, whereas it is 100% clear in other books I have read that both LBJ and the CIA were absolutely responsible. Sorry, but I was let down by this book.

One of the best words on this subject.

Mark Lane has pulled no punches in bringing the CIA, FBI, Science Community and the Mockingbird media to task in this horrific cover up whilst taking aim at Bugliosi and Posner, whom would have you believe the Warren Commission were telling the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth in their 26 volumes of complete mambo jumbo.

If you have not heard of Mr Mark Lane, he is to the literary side what Oliver Stone is to the celluloid side.

Please read this and understand how the CIA/FBI, DPD, Secret Service and Mafia hitmen colluded in a joint effort with oil millionaires to make sure John Kennedy could NOT be allowed to leave Texas alive that fateful day............up there with Gaeton Fonzis’ “Last Investiation”.....
Now that Mr Lane has passed on, it is a tragedy he never lived to pour over the newly released documents President Trump demand be released, or I’d be writing another review on another book regarding the files as Lane enjoyed nothing more than connecting the dots and putting it down in a format us JFK enthusiasts love to read about.

Happy reading and please avoid anything by Vincent Bugliosi or that other government mouth piece Gerard Posner.

The "last word" in a personal argument

If you are familiar with Mark Lane's original claims made in Rush to Judgment, even if you have seen Oliver Stone's JFK, then you will already be familiar with the main points of Lane's, very convincing, thesis.

There is nothing new here. Instead it is a long colloquy of Lane rebutting, in very great detail, anyone who has ever challenged him. At first mildly interesting as he exposes CIA assets in the media, after a while it becomes tedious as he hammers away at each subject, quoting verbatim and at great length, frequently repetitively, documents, articles, books and letters to editor that he wrote, many of which were never published.

whilst no doubt personally satisfying to the author to get these points off his chest, for the average reader it becomes a little tiresome after a while.

the production is variable but an excellent book

fantastic reading of An Important Work. but the sound production is variable at best: some sections with too much gain (and distorted), some sections just TOO LOUD, and others that are too quiet. but aside from this. this is a Must Read book. That there was a coup in 1962 is beyond doubt with the CIA as the de facto government ever since.

Should be required listening

An excellent book. There is no doubt that the CIA should be disbanded and the bosses prosecuted. The loss of JFK has cost the world very dearly.

Stewart

Last Word is a great listen,i would recommend it to anyone with an interest in JFK.

a must for any jfk truth seeker's

loved it. very will narrated and gives a good cover of all thing JFK.
a must listen book