Family Connections
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Introduction
In Doug Horne's video "The Evolving JFK Autopsy Report" (which I recently found, posted about a year ago at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yEugT91vq8&t=1141s, about 18 minutes in), Horne speculates, with good reason, that RFK was responsible for ordering the destruction of the original FBI autopsy report along with certain autopsy materials (brain, slides, etc.) by ordering these to be placed in the bronze casket that was then sunk irretrievably at sea. He quotes the Kennedy family attorney, Burke Marshall, who told the HSCA (Vol 7, pg 28) that it was Burke's opinion that RFK "obtained and disposed of these (autopsy) materials himself," and that he was certain that "obtaining or locating these materials is no longer possible." Horne seems to recognize that RFK was involved in the cover-up, but his mindset still seems to be "Deep State coup d'état" conspiracy-oriented.
A family connection between the Kennedy's and George Hickey would give good reason for RFK's involvement in the cover-up. It could be said, however, that saving the family from the embarrassment of JFK having been killed by a freak accident was enough motivation for the family's involvement in the cover-up, but I think there was more to it than that. There are just too many "coincidences" and connections for me to believe that the obvious connection between the two men was due to more than just Kennedy encountering Hickey as a fellow man of Irish descent (the name "Hickey" has Irish roots) in the White House where Hickey was initially positioned as a White House policeman. The connection appears to have existed before Kennedy's inauguration.
Critics of my belief that there was a family connection between George Hickey and JFK might argue that I can't prove such a connection exists, and they would be correct. However, there are enough "coincidences" that there is certainly cause to believe that there was. At the very least, there was certainly strong evidence of a bond of some sort between the two men.
In Doug Horne's video "The Evolving JFK Autopsy Report" (which I recently found, posted about a year ago at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yEugT91vq8&t=1141s, about 18 minutes in), Horne speculates, with good reason, that RFK was responsible for ordering the destruction of the original FBI autopsy report along with certain autopsy materials (brain, slides, etc.) by ordering these to be placed in the bronze casket that was then sunk irretrievably at sea. He quotes the Kennedy family attorney, Burke Marshall, who told the HSCA (Vol 7, pg 28) that it was Burke's opinion that RFK "obtained and disposed of these (autopsy) materials himself," and that he was certain that "obtaining or locating these materials is no longer possible." Horne seems to recognize that RFK was involved in the cover-up, but his mindset still seems to be "Deep State coup d'état" conspiracy-oriented.
A family connection between the Kennedy's and George Hickey would give good reason for RFK's involvement in the cover-up. It could be said, however, that saving the family from the embarrassment of JFK having been killed by a freak accident was enough motivation for the family's involvement in the cover-up, but I think there was more to it than that. There are just too many "coincidences" and connections for me to believe that the obvious connection between the two men was due to more than just Kennedy encountering Hickey as a fellow man of Irish descent (the name "Hickey" has Irish roots) in the White House where Hickey was initially positioned as a White House policeman. The connection appears to have existed before Kennedy's inauguration.
Critics of my belief that there was a family connection between George Hickey and JFK might argue that I can't prove such a connection exists, and they would be correct. However, there are enough "coincidences" that there is certainly cause to believe that there was. At the very least, there was certainly strong evidence of a bond of some sort between the two men.
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JFK's Family Tree
The name "Hickey" certainly appears in JFK's family tree. It was the maiden name of JFK's paternal grandmother before she married JFK's grandfather Patrick Joseph "P.J." Kennedy:
The name "Hickey" certainly appears in JFK's family tree. It was the maiden name of JFK's paternal grandmother before she married JFK's grandfather Patrick Joseph "P.J." Kennedy:
Image from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kennedy-family
Although she is not pictured in the above chart, there are online sources for an image of Mary Augusta Hickey:
Mary Augusta Hickey
Could the last name simply be a coincidence? Considering what we know about John F. Kennedy and George Hickey, it seems unlikely.
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The PT-109 Coconut
While in the Navy during WWII, The PT-109 boat commanded by Kennedy was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, forcing the survivors to swim miles to a nearby island. A coconut into which Kennedy carved a message and gave to friendly natives to carry to allied forces figured prominently in the rescue of Kennedy and his men. The adventure was memorialized in a movie starring Cliff Robertson as JFK, and the last shot of the movie was of the coconut.
Advertisements for the PT-109 movie describe the coconut (that Kennedy had enclosed in plastic or glass and kept on his desk throughout his Presidency, now housed in the JFK Library) as an inauguration gift.
While in the Navy during WWII, The PT-109 boat commanded by Kennedy was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, forcing the survivors to swim miles to a nearby island. A coconut into which Kennedy carved a message and gave to friendly natives to carry to allied forces figured prominently in the rescue of Kennedy and his men. The adventure was memorialized in a movie starring Cliff Robertson as JFK, and the last shot of the movie was of the coconut.
Advertisements for the PT-109 movie describe the coconut (that Kennedy had enclosed in plastic or glass and kept on his desk throughout his Presidency, now housed in the JFK Library) as an inauguration gift.
Image from https://www.instagram.com/p/DWcjXuJDHCu/
This image is probably of a replica sold at the JFK Library store, included here to show the rescue message.
Image from https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=893021446191651&set=a.247278107432658
Who gave Kennedy the coconut? According to fellow Secret Service agent Sam Kinney, who was reportedly a good friend of George Hickey, it was none other than George Hickey himself, as reported by Vince Palamara in his book Survivor's Guilt.
JFK was in the Navy during WWII. Hickey was in the Marines during WWII. Although the two groups are related (the Marines being a branch of the Navy), it is highly unlikely that the two men became friends during the war. A family relationship might explain why Hickey was motivated to track down and deliver the coconut to the new President.
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After the Presidential limousine was loaded onto the transport plane from Dallas to Washington, D.C. (more on that later), Secret Service agent George W. Hickey II apparently removed both flags, the American flag and the Presidential seal flag, from the vehicle and kept them. Indeed, the FBI photos of the limousine in the White House garage on the night immediately following the assassination show that the flags were not present. The Presidential seal flag later went missing from Hickey's residence, apparently having been stolen, but in 2017 (Hickey died in 2005), his son, George W. Hickey III, sold the American flag at auction. The following document of authenticity was found on the auction website:
Buried in this document is mention that "the President," meaning Kennedy, obtained for the Hickey family a Papal indulgence, signed by the pope.
Unfortunately, there was no paper record of the papal indulgence on the website images. However, it is certainly very interesting that Kennedy would go to all the trouble of obtaining such an indulgence if Hickey hadn't been well known to Kennedy and Kennedy didn't have a fondness for him..
Unfortunately, there was no paper record of the papal indulgence on the website images. However, it is certainly very interesting that Kennedy would go to all the trouble of obtaining such an indulgence if Hickey hadn't been well known to Kennedy and Kennedy didn't have a fondness for him..
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Kennedy "Cleared the Way" for Hickey
At the time of the assassination, George Hickey had been in the Secret Service for only four months. He was forty years old, and just past the time when one could join the Secret Service, according to the agency's guidelines.
However, that age issue appeared to be no great factor in Hickey's being accepted into the Secret Service, especially if one has friends in high places--and who could be higher than the POTUS? According to Vince Palamara in Survivor's Guilt, The Baltimore Sun reported on 8/23/96 that "Mr. Kennedy cleared the way for Mr. Hickey to be assigned to the president's personal protection detail in July 1963, four months before the murder in Dallas. Mr. Hickey was 40 at the time." The version I clipped from Newspapers.com actually says, "Kennedy cleared the way for Hickey to be assigned to the president's personal protection detail in July, 1963, four months before the shooting in Dallas. Hickey was 40 at the time." Minor changes, the original leaving out the "Mr.'s" and saying "shooting" other than "murder." (The quote can be found partway down the first column on the continuation page).
At the time of the assassination, George Hickey had been in the Secret Service for only four months. He was forty years old, and just past the time when one could join the Secret Service, according to the agency's guidelines.
However, that age issue appeared to be no great factor in Hickey's being accepted into the Secret Service, especially if one has friends in high places--and who could be higher than the POTUS? According to Vince Palamara in Survivor's Guilt, The Baltimore Sun reported on 8/23/96 that "Mr. Kennedy cleared the way for Mr. Hickey to be assigned to the president's personal protection detail in July 1963, four months before the murder in Dallas. Mr. Hickey was 40 at the time." The version I clipped from Newspapers.com actually says, "Kennedy cleared the way for Hickey to be assigned to the president's personal protection detail in July, 1963, four months before the shooting in Dallas. Hickey was 40 at the time." Minor changes, the original leaving out the "Mr.'s" and saying "shooting" other than "murder." (The quote can be found partway down the first column on the continuation page).
from page 1A of The (Baltimore) Sun
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Hickey "Loved JFK Probably More Than He Should Have"
Hickey reportedly held a deep affection for JFK, an affection that JFK evidently returned, as we will see. He was reportedly devastated by the assassination. He can apparently be seen in this image taken in the parking area outside of the Parkland Emergency room, with his hand to his head:
Hickey reportedly held a deep affection for JFK, an affection that JFK evidently returned, as we will see. He was reportedly devastated by the assassination. He can apparently be seen in this image taken in the parking area outside of the Parkland Emergency room, with his hand to his head:
Picture taken outside of Parkland Hospital shortly after the assassination
According to Hickey's friend and fellow Secret Service agent Sam Kinney (and relayed to Vince Palamara and described in Survivor's Guilt), Hickey "loved JFK probably more than he should have."
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Agitated Agent with "Submachine Gun"
IThe only Secret Service agent during the assassination events known to be carrying anything resembling a submachine gun was George Hickey with the AR-15, and there are accounts of a Secret Service agent handling such a weapon who was extremely agitated at Parkland Hospital.
There was a contemporaneous news account of a Secret Service agent with a "submachine gun" who looked "so agitated that the hospital staff were terrified he would open fire." A man in a "lounge suit" approached, and this agitated agent then assaulted the man with "an uppercut" that "slammed" him against the wall with another force to knock him unconscious. The injured man was then discovered to be an FBI agent.
IThe only Secret Service agent during the assassination events known to be carrying anything resembling a submachine gun was George Hickey with the AR-15, and there are accounts of a Secret Service agent handling such a weapon who was extremely agitated at Parkland Hospital.
There was a contemporaneous news account of a Secret Service agent with a "submachine gun" who looked "so agitated that the hospital staff were terrified he would open fire." A man in a "lounge suit" approached, and this agitated agent then assaulted the man with "an uppercut" that "slammed" him against the wall with another force to knock him unconscious. The injured man was then discovered to be an FBI agent.
Dr. Charles Crenshaw wrote about this incident, describing the weapon as a "Thompson sub-machine gun" and the attacker as "smashed" it across the other man's chest and face. Crenshaw was certain that the victim's jaw was broken.
Even John Connally wrote about the incident in his autobiography:
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"White as a Ghost"
In Survivor's Guilt, Vince Palamara an account by William E. Sale, an airman first class aircraft mechanic who was stationed at Love Field before, during, and after the assassination, that is very interesting. This was sourced as being quoted in Crossfire (p. 248), based on a passage from Johnny, we Hardly Knew Ye (p. 31 and 44). There is also an "undated Sale letter provided to the author (Palamara) by Martin Shackelford.
Sale stated, "When the agent who was driving JFK's car came back to Air Force One he was as white as a ghost and had to be helped back to the plane."
Palamara thought that the agent being referred to was William Greer, who drove the Presidential limousine during the assassination. But the agent referred to had to have been George Hickey, who drove the limousine from Parkland Hospital back to Love Field and loaded it onto the plane. Greer, meanwhile, stayed with the President's body from Parkland to Love Field, and helped load the bronze casket onto the plane, which he can be seen doing in photographs.
The agent who was "white as a ghost" had to have been Hickey.
In Survivor's Guilt, Vince Palamara an account by William E. Sale, an airman first class aircraft mechanic who was stationed at Love Field before, during, and after the assassination, that is very interesting. This was sourced as being quoted in Crossfire (p. 248), based on a passage from Johnny, we Hardly Knew Ye (p. 31 and 44). There is also an "undated Sale letter provided to the author (Palamara) by Martin Shackelford.
Sale stated, "When the agent who was driving JFK's car came back to Air Force One he was as white as a ghost and had to be helped back to the plane."
Palamara thought that the agent being referred to was William Greer, who drove the Presidential limousine during the assassination. But the agent referred to had to have been George Hickey, who drove the limousine from Parkland Hospital back to Love Field and loaded it onto the plane. Greer, meanwhile, stayed with the President's body from Parkland to Love Field, and helped load the bronze casket onto the plane, which he can be seen doing in photographs.
The agent who was "white as a ghost" had to have been Hickey.
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Last Thoughts
After failing to find enough information to determine possible/probable family connections from the Kennedy ancestry perspective, I tried from the Hickey family perspective. Another researcher sent me this genealogy for George Hickey:
After failing to find enough information to determine possible/probable family connections from the Kennedy ancestry perspective, I tried from the Hickey family perspective. Another researcher sent me this genealogy for George Hickey:
These Genealogies do not make any definitive connection between George Hickey and Mary Augusta Hickey, but nor do they preclude such connection, either. Mary Augusta Hickey was born in 1857. Her son, JFK's father, was named "Joseph," as was JFK's older brother, who was killed in WWII. Kennedy's prior to JFK's paternal grandfather also bore the middle name "Joseph."
Meanwhile, in the Hickey family tree, George's paternal grandfather's name was also "Joseph," who was born some 16 years after Mary Augusta Hickey.
Unfortunately, the "Joseph" connection is tenuous at best, but the name can be found in both families. Perhaps someone better skilled at genealogies than I am can more definitively trace a connection between John F. Kennedy and George W. Hickey, II, assuming it exists.
I think it does exist. I think it unlikely that Hickey would have tracked down the PT-109 coconut and given it to Kennedy as an inauguration gift, or that Kennedy would have "cleared the way" for Hickey to join the Secret Service against the agency's age guidelines, or that Kennedy would have obtained for him a papal indulgence, if the two men had not known each other before Kennedy ascended to the Presidency. Hickey's agitated and "white as a ghost" response to the shooting could be attributed to a family connection, as well--or, perhaps, to an excitable and sensitive personality. But for it to be asserted that Hickey "loved the President probably more than he should have," one has to wonder at the cause. A relationship before JFK's Presidency--especially a family relationship--offers a good explanation for Hickey's actions with the PT-109 coconut, and for Kennedy's obtaining the papal indulgence and "clearing the way" for Hickey to join the Secret Service. And there is, undeniably, a "Hickey" in the JFK family tree.
Which may be more than just "coincidental."
Meanwhile, in the Hickey family tree, George's paternal grandfather's name was also "Joseph," who was born some 16 years after Mary Augusta Hickey.
Unfortunately, the "Joseph" connection is tenuous at best, but the name can be found in both families. Perhaps someone better skilled at genealogies than I am can more definitively trace a connection between John F. Kennedy and George W. Hickey, II, assuming it exists.
I think it does exist. I think it unlikely that Hickey would have tracked down the PT-109 coconut and given it to Kennedy as an inauguration gift, or that Kennedy would have "cleared the way" for Hickey to join the Secret Service against the agency's age guidelines, or that Kennedy would have obtained for him a papal indulgence, if the two men had not known each other before Kennedy ascended to the Presidency. Hickey's agitated and "white as a ghost" response to the shooting could be attributed to a family connection, as well--or, perhaps, to an excitable and sensitive personality. But for it to be asserted that Hickey "loved the President probably more than he should have," one has to wonder at the cause. A relationship before JFK's Presidency--especially a family relationship--offers a good explanation for Hickey's actions with the PT-109 coconut, and for Kennedy's obtaining the papal indulgence and "clearing the way" for Hickey to join the Secret Service. And there is, undeniably, a "Hickey" in the JFK family tree.
Which may be more than just "coincidental."