Podcast Summary: "Did the Mafia Kill JFK?"

Podcast: The Rest Is Classified
Episode Released: October 23, 2025
Hosts: David McCloskey, Gordon Corera
Special Guest: Anthony Scaramucci

Main Theme

This episode explores the theory that the Mafia was behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, diving deep into crime family motives, political betrayals, and connections between organized crime and the Kennedy family. Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci joins hosts David McCloskey and Gordon Corera to discuss facts, interpretations, and lore around the mob's involvement in JFK’s death.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Mob’s Potential Motive

• Historical Context and Betrayal

  • The mob allegedly assisted JFK’s 1960 presidential campaign, particularly in critical states like Illinois and West Virginia.

    “...the mob...was instrumental in helping Kennedy win in Illinois and I think lesser well known in West Virginia...even fabricating the vote in some cases.” — David McCloskey [05:57]

  • After the election, Robert F. Kennedy (Bobby) became Attorney General and launched a major crackdown on organized crime, a "double cross" that infuriated the mob, who felt betrayed by the family they helped bring to power.

    “They see that as a double cross.” — David McCloskey [06:56]

• Family Dynamics and Joe Kennedy's Absence

  • Joseph P. Kennedy, JFK’s father, played a key intermediary role with the mob due to his own murky business past. His incapacitating stroke in late 1961 removed a vital channel that could have de-escalated mob anger.

    “If Joseph P. Kennedy didn’t stroke in December 1961...he wasn’t there to broker the deal with the mob. So now by 1963, Bobby’s running hard on the mob, even though the mob helped the Kennedy family. And that’s what’s known as retribution.” — Anthony Scaramucci [04:49]

• Retribution and the Cuban Factor

  • The mob also blamed JFK for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, which dashed their hopes of reclaiming profitable Cuban casinos. This fueled their grudge against the president.

• Direct Acts of Retaliation

  • The deportation of mob boss Carlos Marcello, orchestrated by Bobby Kennedy, is highlighted as a turning point:

    “They sent him 800 miles down the Yucatan Peninsula and they dropped him off in the middle of the jungle...He got pissed. And once he called Sam Giancana and the five families got together, they said, okay, enough of these guys.” — Anthony Scaramucci [03:36]

Anthony Scaramucci’s Position

Scaramucci firmly champions the mob theory, referencing his own sources (which he withholds) and publicly available information:

“Obviously the mob killed Kennedy, and I believe that...But you guys tell the story, and then I'll tell you what I know, and I'll tell you why I believe they killed him. And I could tell you who shot him.” — Anthony Scaramucci [02:30]

Robert Kennedy’s Zeal

• Bobby Kennedy's intense pursuit of organized crime stemmed from his own puritanical moral code, even at the cost of family interests.

  “Bobby had this thought in his head, this very Puritan thought, he was a righteous guy, that he was going to root out corruption and make things right in the society. But wait a minute. Your dad was corrupt...and the mob helped your brother get elected. I don’t care. I’m in a role. I’m taking the Constitution seriously and I’m going to prosecute the mob.” — Anthony Scaramucci [08:41]

Key Evidence & Public Record

• Scaramucci broadly dismisses most conspiracy theories but emphasizes that the mob’s retribution, especially after direct attacks against figures like Marcello, is clear in several historical documents and books, recommending Carlos Marcello: The Man Behind the JFK Assassination by Stefano Vaccara.

  “If you go to try to buy this book, you’re going to have to pay about $150 to $200 for it, because most of these books are out of circulation now...and the title of the book is Carlos Marcello, the Man behind the JFK Assassination.” — Anthony Scaramucci [08:41]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scaramucci Embraces Mob Stereotypes:

  “Well, you know all Italians from New York are in the mob, David, you didn't know that?” — Anthony Scaramucci [02:21]

• Gordon’s Mobster Accent:

  “And that was me doing my best Italian mob accent. I don't think they were all Italian mobsters, but we'll come to how good they were. We'll get them rated by an expert in a minute...” — Gordon Corera [01:09]

• Marcello’s Alleged Statement:

  “If you want to kill a dog, you don't cut off the tail, you cut off the head.” — Carlos Marcello (quoted by Gordon Corera) [00:24]

• Scaramucci's Sly Tease:

  “I could tell you who shot him.” — Anthony Scaramucci [02:30]

Key Timestamps

• 00:24 — Reading of alleged mob-connected quotes foretelling JFK’s murder
• 01:09 — Introduction to the episode’s focus: the Mafia’s possible role in the assassination
• 01:58 — Introduction of Anthony Scaramucci as advocate of the mob theory
• 03:36 — Scaramucci details Marcello’s deportation and the mob’s subsequent anger
• 05:57 — David McCloskey elaborates on the mob's role in JFK's election and possible motives for anger
• 08:11 — Discussion about why Bobby Kennedy targeted the mob so aggressively
• 08:41 — Scaramucci discusses historical sources and Bobby Kennedy’s puritanical streak

Takeaways

• The mob had powerful motive after feeling betrayed by the Kennedys, especially following Bobby’s aggressive prosecution efforts.
• Joseph Kennedy’s incapacitation in 1961 removed any hope for reconciliation between the Kennedys and the mob.
• Direct mob threats and actions, corroborated by both public records and credible reporting, fuel the plausibility of the mob-assassination theory.
• Scaramucci, while animated and deeply convinced, distinguishes between verifiable historical evidence and wilder conspiracy theories, grounding his views in available documentation.

For listeners: This episode provides a dynamic, detailed exploration of one of the most enduring JFK assassination theories, enriched by Scaramucci’s irreverent commentary and the hosts’ analytical discussion—essential for anyone fascinated by true crime, espionage, and 20th-century American history.