Chapter 18 Summary and Analysis

Jim Garrison was a colorful New Orleans character. He conducted numerous investigations that resulted in no convictions but generated a lot of publicity. Garrison was a popular political figure in Louisiana and 1965 was an election year. He investigated mafia influence in New Orleans and concluded that Carlos Marcello was a respectable businessman and that there was no underworld in New Orleans. Garrison then began an investigation into the Kennedy assassination.

Garrison was interested in the activities of David Ferrie, an eccentric adventurer. He drew attention to Ferrie's travel with two friends to a Houston ice skating rink on November 22, 1963. Garrison felt that the Winterland Ice Skating rink was a message center for the conspiracy. The other aspect that stimulated Garrison's interest was attorney Dean Andrews saying he recognized Oswald who used to come to his office with a group of gay...