The Lone Gunman Podcast : JFK Assassination · Rob Clark

JFK Book Reviews - The Night Watch

December 2, 2025·23 min·2 clips

A CIA officer's memoir claims Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, but his unpublished manuscript reportedly suggests a conspiracy.

Joe Borelli and Rob Clark open the episode by introducing their review of David Atlee Phillips' book 'The Night Watch,' a first edition copy Joe obtained. Rob notes the book has 321 pages, 25 chapters, an epilogue, prologue, and 16 pages of photos, but no footnotes. He explains it was published in 1977 by Athenium Publishing and currently costs around $89-$110. The hosts highlight that Phillips devotes a chapter to November 22, 1963, where he states he does not believe there was a conspiracy and that Oswald was the lone assassin. Rob describes the book as an autobiography with a theatrical flair, defending the CIA while admitting some mistakes. He reads a section about Phillips' work in Mexico City on anti-Castro propaganda operations. Joe shares an anecdote where Phillips meets President Kennedy and is pressed about his job. The hosts discuss Phillips' role as a psyops officer and the difficulty of discerning truth in his writing. Rob reveals Phillips wrote an unpublished manuscript called 'The Secret Wars Diary' where he reportedly walked back his lone assassin stance. He mentions Phillips' deathbed confession to HSCA investigator Kevin Walsh about a conspiracy likely involving rogue American intelligence people. The hosts note the unpublished manuscript contains veiled admissions about CIA foreknowledge or involvement. They debate how much of the book is truthful, given CIA review and Phillips' need to protect methods and operations. Rob explains the CIA reviewed the book in 1976 and made minimal changes. The hosts agree the book is not primarily about JFK but a memoir with one short chapter on the assassination. They rate it five guns out of ten, citing its value for insight into Phillips' career but uncertainty about its veracity. Joe mentions the book is available for free on the Internet Archive. The episode concludes with a plug for their weekly live podcast on the JFK assassination.

As heard by us

A CIA memoir gets treated as a claim that has to earn belief.

Joe Borelli and Robert Clark treat David Atlee Phillips's The Night Watch as something that has to prove itself, not just sit on the shelf. That fits the episode well.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you want a CIA memoir read with a skeptical eye, press play.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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