Interview · moment 7 of 23
Skull and Bones, Secret Societies, and the CIA's Ruling Class
from Dead President with Russ Baker · #125
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
4 minGuest
They discuss the exclusivity and purpose of Skull & Bones, JFK's warnings about secret loyalties in government, and how this social class became the recruiting ground for CIA covert operations, culminating in the fact both Bush and Kerry were members.
- 22:01Skull and Bones membership is surprisingly small — around 14 people per year — and now includes women and minorities.
- 22:25Tim interviewed a young woman intern who had been in Skull and Bones.
- 22:45The real danger isn't that everyone in secret societies is sinister, but that members pledge to keep secrets while holding public office.
- 23:13Secret societies like Skull and Bones became key recruiting grounds for the CIA's covert operations apparatus after World War II.
- 24:05In the 2004 election, both George W. Bush and John Kerry — the two major candidates — had been in Skull and Bones.
- 24:20When asked about Skull and Bones, Kerry refused to discuss it, saying it was secret.
- 24:44These secret societies enforce class cohesion among the ruling elite, creating a shared mentality that their rule benefits everyone.
- 25:11The CIA's covert operations people conducted incredibly ruthless activities that Congress and often presidents themselves never knew about.
George W. BushJohn F. KennedyGeorge H. W. BushJohn KerryHarry TrumanSkull & Bones