The Tangled Web and Other Works of Michael J. Cain

Changes...

2011-04-10T20:14:00.003-04:00

The Tangled Web has pretty much run its course. I have recently finished a new book, so keep an eye out here for announcements as it gets picked up and goes to press.

I'd also like to announce a new blog that focuses on my other passion, helping vets deal with PTSD.

I've recently launched a new blog that deals with the value of journaling as a tool to manage the symptoms of PTSD.

ptsdjournaling.wordpress.com

Please check it out and let me know what you think.

Medal of Honor Recipients Talk About Post Traumatic Stress

2010-06-13T21:16:00.003-04:00

If you are a vet, or if you know a vet, please take the time to watch this video. PTSD is a real and treatable phenomenon, "don't let the enemy defeat you at home." Get help.

Journaling and its Role in PTSD Therapy

2010-02-14T17:29:00.003-05:00

Last week I completed development of a new tool to help wounded warriors in their battle with PTSD. The work book, Journaling and its Role in PTSD Therapy, provides an introduction to the concept of journaling as a therapeutic tool.

PTSD can cripple a life, this tool provides access to a proven method for extracting the causes of PTSD and leads the service member towards a solution. Nearly two years in development, this workbook is based on proven journaling techniques and my own experience in working with wounded warriors at Ft. Bragg.

Currently available through Ft. Bragg's Warrior Transition Battalion and USSOCOM's Care Coalition, it is my hope to make it more widely available soon.

Ten Years of Service

2010-02-08T11:58:00.003-05:00

Last month my son left the Army after ten years of service. I am very proud of the work he's done and the sacrifices he's made. By my count he was deployed nine times into hostile territory. He didn't waste any time moving on to the next phase of his life, moving three days after his discharge to start a semester of graduate work at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. His military service inspired him to pursue a graduate degree in public policy in hopes of influencing future government decisions and implementation of policy.

I wish him well in his new pursuits, and continue to feel great pride in his service to his country.

Family Day for the Warrior Transition Battalion

2009-10-18T11:12:00.009-04:00

Yesterday was the annual family day for Ft. Bragg's Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB). I was invited to set up a table and talk with the soldiers about the journaling class I teach there. I shared a table with Silouan, an inspirational former Marine fighter pilot, and PTSD victim, who frequently visits military installations to talk about PTSD. Check him out at boundforfreedom.com.

Others with a presence at the event included representatives of the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org/, The Red Cross, Gold Star Mothers, American Legion, the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) and others. It is humbling to spend an afternoon with these brave men and women.

I had the opportunity to talk with the Ft. Bragg Garrison Commander, COL Stephen J. Sicinski and his wife, Teresa. With responsibility for all of the physical and mobile facilities on Ft. Bragg, this has to be one of the most challenging, and important, jobs in the Army. I enjoyed meeting them both and we had a good conversation about my work with the wounded warriors. It was good to see the colonel attend this event and show support for the troops.

I also talked with one of the Gold Star Mothers who lost her son in 2007. It was amazing to hear her talk about how this organization has provided her with so much support and given her new purpose in her life. It's a tragedy to lose a child, but inspirational to see how these mothers manage to "soldier on" in the face of such a loss.

I'll be travelling to McDill AFB (headquarters of USSOCOM) next month to present the Therapeutic Journaling program to the Care Coalition, the military's wounded warrior program for the special ops community.

In the meantime, my son Jason has returned to Iraq - his ninth deployment since the beginning of the Global War on Terror. He's planning to leave the Army next year (after 10 years) and will attend grad school, beginning with a semester at Georgetown University for the spring semester.

More to come...

DOD Integrates Stress Coping Training

2009-09-15T08:30:00.003-04:00

As reported in Stars and Stripes this week, the Department of Defense, beginning in October, will introduce stress coping techniques in basic training for all branches of the military.

The goal is to reduce the incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which by some estimates effects 20% of combat veterans. The current thinking is that mental toughness can be taught and, if true, such training can save lives.

In the meantime, combat stress clinics are being introduced in combat areas. These "restoration centers," as the military calls them, provide a place for service members to get a few days respite following an acute mental trauma. Having a chance to talk it through with medical staff can go a long way in minimizing the long term impact of such events.

Army medics are trained to look for signs of PTSD and mental health professionals conduct periodic psychological debriefings in the battle zone to help soldiers to deal with the combat stress they all face.

These proactive steps by the military are aimed at reducing PTSD, reducing suicides and reducing post deployment violence. I applaud these efforts.

VA to Soften Definition of PTSD

2009-08-31T14:01:00.002-04:00

The Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed a change in its definition of qualifying stressors for a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Under current regulations PTSD is recognized for combat veterans and POWs. The new proposal, which was posted for comment in the Federal Register on August 24, 2009, suggests they may amend the definition to include situations where, "1.) The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others: 2.)The person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror."

Since the military first began to acknowledge PTSD as a service related disability after the Vietnam War, there have been questions about what causes it and why it strikes some and not others. We all deal with stress in different ways and the reality is that no one knows why it hits at all, much less why it effects people in seemingly random ways. So I for one am pleased to see the VA open the scope a bit to recognize that not only vets actually involved in combat can be impacted by PTSD.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

Update July 8, 2009

2009-07-08T20:59:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th holiday. I marinated a beef brisket and enjoyed it with a nice bottle of Chianti.

I'm going to Chicago in a couple of weeks and hope to meet up with some interesting characters. How can you not meet interesting people in Chicago? The Tangled Web is still doing well and I'm still working toward turning it into a film.

I've been invited to speak again at the November in Dallas conference of JFK researchers, hosted by JFK Lancer. I continue to support this group because they continue to search for the truth about the Kennedy assassination. Stay tuned.

Buy a book today - click on the Buy Now button to pay by credit card or with your Pay Pal account. Thanks for your support.

Sale Through the End of June

2009-06-10T09:06:00.004-04:00

I'm pleased to announce The Tangled Web will be offered at a special sale price through the end of June. Originally published at $22.95 - through the end of June you can purchase an autographed copy of the hardcover edition for just $16.95 plus reduced shipping and handling of $3.95. Just click on the Buy Now button to the right to use PayPal or send me an email at michaeljcain@gmail.com All buyers will receive a bonus of the updates included in the paperback edition published in March 2009.

Act now for this exclusive opportunity to own an autographed copy of The Tangled Web.

The Tangled Web

2009-05-30T14:24:00.002-04:00

After reading an advance copy, Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Gibson said of The Tangled Web, "This is one of the most important mob books ever written."

The stories about Richard Cain that have been rumored for years, talked about in police stations and saloons, are now told for the first time in print for all the world to share. He redefined the very concept of a corrupt cop, while he secretly plotted to take control of the mob.

All copies ordered here will be autographed by the author. If you would like your copy personalized, just leave a comment here.

Sheriff Richard B. Ogilvie

2009-05-29T10:41:00.003-04:00

In 1962, former federal prosecutor Richard B. Ogilvie threw his hat in the ring for Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois. Ogilivie's primary claim to fame was an income tax evasion conviction against mob boss Anthony "Big Tuna" Accardo. His opponent was equally qualified with the added bonus of being a Democrat. The city of Chicago has a long and deep Democrat heritage, but suburban Cook County is historically Republican. Ogilvie had an uphill battle from the start. Dick Cain, who had been Ogilvie's investigator while building the Accardo case, approached Ogilvie with an incredible offer.

Cain told the candidate that he was mobbed up and because of that he was able to manipulate the vote in Chicago to ensure Ogilvie won the election. In return he wanted to be appointed chief of a new Special Investigations Unit. In this role, Cain would clean up vice in Cook County, not by closing it down, but by controlling it. In accepting the deal, Ogilvie and Cain redefined the concept of police corruption in a city where corruption was nothing new.

More later...

What's it All About?

2009-05-23T13:05:00.003-04:00

The Tangled Web is a book about the life, and death, of Richard Cain. Richard was a Chicago cop and a made member of Sam Giancana's mafia. When he worked for Cook County Sheriff Richard Ogilvie, he was chief of the Special Investigations Unit. Possibly the highest police rank ever for a made member of the mob.

The book explores how he came to be the person he was and how his corruption impacted law enforcement in Chicago.

The Tangled Web

2009-05-22T16:23:00.002-04:00

Thank for visiting the home of The Tangled Web. You may order a copy of the book by clicking on the Buy Now button to the right, or you can look around and learn about Richard Cain and the tangled web he wove in his lifetime.

I am the author of this book, and while it was released nearly two years ago, it has continued to be a strong seller, and I'm still hopeful that it will become a motion picture.

The life of Richard Cain has been the cause of much speculation over the years about who he really was, where his loyalties were, and what drove him to a life of crime when he could have had so much more with different choices.

Stop by often as I'll be posting regular updates with new information as it becomes available.

You may leave a comment for me by clicking on the comment form just below this text. You'll see that I have other interests beyond The Tangled Web, and that I have a passion for helping and supporting our military in any way that I can. Please try to do your part as well.

Heroes Helping Heroes

2009-05-01T10:54:00.003-04:00

This is the place of heroes. Home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces. The more time I spend with these guys, the more I appreciate the sacrifices they've made for me and for you.

My volunteer work on Fr. Bragg mostly puts me with men and women who have been injured and are on the mend. Whether it's Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or shrapnel wounds, or bullets, or a non-combat injury, these guys have earned our respect and our gratitude. No matter how you feel about the war, don't ever forget the people who put their lives on the line for you every day. Some of them have paid a horrible price for that.

I've seen the Army struggle with how to handle the wounded warriors and I've seen some of the mistakes they've made, but rest assured they're working hard to do the right thing. It isn't just the Army, though, that's working hard. I'm amazed at the number of civilians who have stepped up to offer what help they can. The men and women of the Wounded Warriors Battalion are frequently invited to get away for a day or two by generous citizens who take them to sporting events, hunting and fishing trips or just a barbeque on post.

These events provide a break from the monotony of daily PT and medical care, but more than that they give the soldiers a day to put all the "baggage" on the shelf and relax. Participation by the soldiers is less than universal, but for those who do take advantage of the opportunities, a welcome respite awaits.

Makes me proud to be an American.

Journaling For Heroes

2009-04-05T13:46:00.004-04:00

I've mention before that I volunteer at Ft. Bragg but I thought I'd update you on some changes. Beginning a couple of months ago I changed the format from creative writing to therapeutic journaling. When I started this, I had a notion that some of these guys might want to tell their war stories - either to share with their families or to pursue publication in one form or another. There were a few that connected on that level, but after meeting with a number of them, I sensed a greater need for help in "talking" through their issues. It's very difficult for a soldier to open up with the medical professionals who try so hard to help them. It occurred to me that if they were taught how to express their feelings, fears and frustrations privately, it might actually help them to sort things out.

My students are all members of the Wounded Warriors Battalion at Ft. Bragg. Many have been wounded in combat, others are non-combat injuries, some injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, others have been injured prior to their deployments. There's really quite a wide ranging source of injuries, but the soldiers I want to focus on are the ones who were injured while on deployment, whether combat related or not. The goal is to get them to express themselves on paper, and hopefully through their writing to learn more about themselves and their feelings.

I go to great pains to emphasize that their journals are private, that only they can decide to share what they've written. If they begin to get into territory that makes them uncomfortable, I've told them it's perfectly OK to destroy what they've written, that the benefit is in the writing, not the saving.

The other change has to do with when and where this all takes place. When I first started teaching at Bragg, it was in the evening, at their barracks (actually an old hotel) and loosely categorized as recreational activity. When I changed the format I approached the command and requested that I be allowed to offer the class during "duty hours" so that we could emphasize that this was no longer considered recreation, and more along the lines of a tool to help the healing process.

Two months into the new format, there have been some breakthroughs with a number of students who really get the benefits of this approach. I can't begin to tell you how humbling it is to have these heroes thank me for my time, when I am so grateful for all the sacrifices they have made for us.

I plan to continue this course for as long as they'll have me and will post periodically about how it's going. If anyone has ideas that can help this program succeed, please leave a comment or drop me an email at michaeljcain@gmail.com

More later...

2009-03-16T13:04:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, March 14, went to see a new documentary film called Brothers at War, by Jake Rademacher. Jake is a filmmaker whose two brothers, Isaac and Joe, are members of the U. S. Army. Jake wanted to understand what motivated them to serve, and what it was like to serve in a combat zone, so he made two trips to Iraq and embedded with four different units. He shot over three hundred hours of video which he condensed into this spectacular film that I hope gets wide distribution and much success.

The average Joe in America hasn't a clue what life in a war zone is like. I'm one of them, but I keep trying to learn. This movie premiered in Fayetteville, NC (Ft. Bragg) where I saw it, Columbus, GA (Ft. Benning), Jacksonville, NC(Camp LeJeune), Wahsington, D.C. and Chicago. This week it should roll out to 15 more cities. If you see it pop up in your town, go see it. Tell your friends about it.

While I was at the theater I had an opportunity to meet Gary Sinise, who is the executive producer of this film, which means he's signed on to help make it succeed. He's been very supportive of our troops and deserving of our thanks for all he's done.

I took advantage of the opportunity to give Gary a copy of The Tangled Web in hopes that he'll consider it for his next leading role.

Go see the movie!

The Tangled Web Released in Paperback

2009-02-27T17:38:00.005-05:00

It's been almost two years since The Tangled Web was released and despite the best efforts of the naysayers, it's been a success. This coming Monday (March 2) it will be released in paperback a full week ahead of schedule.

I'm excited to begin this next phase, though it isn't likely to include as many appearances as the hardcover. The best thing about the paperback, besides the obvious opportunity to offer the book to a new group of readers, is that it includes new information about Richard Cain's deal with Sheriff Ogilivie to fix the election in return for Richard's appointment as chief of the Special Investigations Unit. There's also an interesting introduction by Jack Clarke, a famous Chicago area private investigator who was a contemporary of Richard's.

Meanwhile, I've made some changes to the course I'm teaching at Ft. Bragg. I started out focusing on creative writing, thinking that some of the soldiers might be interested in telling their war stories. As it turns out, what they really needed was an outlet to tell the stories not for publication, but for healing.

So, what started out as an evening course in the Wounded Warriors Battalion has evolved into a daytime course in therapeutic journal writing. Soldiers who have been injured in battle have to fight many emotions as they transition from healing back to active duty and it's always hard for them to talk about their experiences. Journaling gives them an outlet that can deliver the benefits of talking through their issues without the pain or the risk of actually telling someone what they've been through.

Regardless of whether their perception of the risk is real or not, it's undeniable that they have a difficult time in sharing. I've seen a wide range of emotions from these heroes; anger, survivor's guilt, and fear, to name a few. My goal is to show them that writing about those feelings, more than the events that caused them, is a valuable part of their healing process. It's been very productive for them and extremely rewarding for me.

Thoughts on a Do-nothing Congress

2009-01-23T10:59:00.002-05:00

So, now that we have a new president, I feel compelled to share some thoughts about the process we’ve just witnessed. Much has been made of President George W. Bush’s approval ratings of 27%. There were certainly a good many reasons for it and I’m not here to suggest that is was unfair. The fact is, he made mistakes and the price he paid was declining approval, the price our soldiers have paid for his mistakes was far greater.

But I’m not going to dwell on that (yet), I want to explore the curious nature of polls and approvals. It seems that as much as we disapprove of the job George W. Bush has done, we are in far greater agreement about the job our congress has done. A July 8, 2008 Rasmussen poll concluded that the approval rating for congress was 9%, one-third of the president’s approval rating. Or said another way, Bush had three times as much approval as congress.

And yet, we just keep re-electing these people to go back to Washington and do nothing of note and spend our money without even asking how it’s being spent, as in the three hundred fifty billion we gave to the banks. With a 9% approval rating, we still sent 96% of them back to Washington to continue doing a lousy job. If we are so unhappy with the job our congressional representatives are doing, why did we re-elect them at a rate of nearly 96% in 2008. In fact, since 1964 the lowest re-election rate was 85% in 1970.

To me, several things are clear - they’re not doing their jobs; the American voters don’t seem to care that they’re not doing their jobs; and not much is going to change just because we have a new president. The sad reality is that the same people who didn’t do their jobs during the Bush administration are going to continue not doing their jobs during the Obama administration. They didn't decide to ignore their responsibilities because they didn't like Bush, they ignore their responsibilities because it's a way of life for them.

One of the reasons for this is that we have allowed congress to become populated by professional politicians who, once they get there, spend a tremendous amount of energy seeing to their re-election instead of looking after the needs of the people. Gone are the days when serving in congress was considered public service, we now have a congress whose purpose is heavily weighted towards protecting one another’s seat. Deals are made to solidify power without consideration of what’s best for the country. Votes are traded not to ensure anything more than support for one another. Secret deals are covered up by burying them in amendments that are not debated or disclosed until after they become law.

Longevity is an effective way to become a powerful force in congress, but the flip-side is that the more powerful a congressman or a senator becomes, the less likely they are to be defeated. The more powerful they become, the less likely they are to respond to the wishes of their constituents because they know they’re no longer being judged by how well they serve the public but by how many important committees they chair.

Along the way, feeling impervious to opposition at the polls, it seems that congress has lost its moral compass. Not all of them, to be sure, but certainly too many have decided their position entitles them to behave in ways that are simply unacceptable. Whether it’s stashing cash bribes in the freezer or accepting home renovations, these are acts of people who feel they’re entitled to something more than a good salary and a great medical plan.

Term limits would help the problem, but only congress can make that happen and what motivation do they have? The only way it can be fixed is through grass roots efforts on the part of the voters. If you work to fix it in your district, you will be a part of the solution. It’s not about finding fault with your congressman, it’s about recognizing that the longer a person serves, the less effective they become in representing your interests.

If you’re among the 91% of Americans who believe that congress is not doing its job, remember that your congressman and your senators are among the people not doing their jobs. It’s not just the other guys who are failing us, it’s the whole flippin’ lot of them. They’re not going to fix the problem, it’s up the voters, are you doing your part?

Newspapers

2008-12-23T12:35:00.003-05:00

Chicago has long been one of my favorite cities in the world. It is a place where interesting things happen and its proclivity for corruption is, of course, legendary. The latest scandal in the Windy City is actually a statewide issue involving Governor Rod Blagojevich. The story is fascinating in its absurdity. If you haven't read the complaint, it's worth the time to download it from the Trib's website - click here - it's fascinating reading.

A more important issue at play in this story is the role of newspapers. The Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times have both played an important role in reporting this story and it occurred to me that it's worth taking some time to reflect on the future of the newspaper industry. We've all seen evidence of their plight; declining ad revenues, declining circulation, and cutbacks in staffing and features. The internet is the major culprit in their plight, and while I certainly support the internet and am a regular user, I am also a regular newspaper reader.

The major point of consideration is that the Blagojevich investigation was actually initiated by reports in the Trib as a result of their own investigation. The story may have broken anyway, but consider all the important stories in the past that were uncovered by investigative journalists (think Watergate), and that without their efforts many corruption stories would never have been pursued. As much as the internet has become an important supplement to news availability, it's mostly reporting and commenting on issues that were first reported in a newspaper. So where is this leading? If we lose our newspapers, who is going to do the research and the investigations to uncover stories like this? It's not going to happen.

What can you do? Buy a newspaper and read it, tell your retailers that you read the papers and that their advertising is important. Send an email to the reporters whose work you appreciate and tell them thank you. Write to their editor and offer encouragement.

When I travel, I usually travel by car and every time I stop I make it a point to buy the local papers. That may be extreme, I'll admit to being a news junkie, but it has given me an interesting insight into the diversity across this great land of ours.

So, go buy a paper and let these guys know that we not only need them, but we recognize the value of what they do.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah and Happy New Year!

Here Come the Holidays

2008-12-13T14:05:00.002-05:00

Here it is closing in on Christmas, then New Year's eve and we're into a brand new year. New president, new hopes for economic growth and peace on the planet. It all makes my head hurt. The holiday season gives me plenty of time to contemplate how things went and how they might go next year; those are not things I particularly want to think about, but there you go.

I know that you will have time for thought as well and I hope that you will give some thought to the future of our wounded warriors. As of last week there were more than thirty thousand soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines that have been wounded in action in Iraq. Some of their injuries were devastating, and life changing. What I'd like to ask of you is to remind your congressman and senators how important it is that we take care of these courageous men and women. About one third of the wounded were injured badly enough to be evacuated by air for medical treatment. Here are the detailed numbers if you're interested - click here.

The future for these heroes is going to require that we step up and help in any way that we can. Helping can take many forms, I think the most important thing is to let them know that they're not forgotten. America Supports You is a web site - click here - that provides information on the many ways you can help, if only to send a card. And remember this shouldn't be just a Christmas effort, many of these guys are going to need our support for a long time.

Taking care of our soldiers has to be recognized as an issue that is completely separate from your political views about the Global War on Terrorism. Soldiers don't make decisions about where to fight or who to fight, soldiers volunteer to protect you and I at sometimes a very high price. Thank a soldier for their sacrifice whenever you see them.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah to all my friends.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T13:31:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I hope you all had a wonderful day of family celebration and over-indulging in food and drink. I spent the day with family in Durham, NC and had the opportunity, like all of you, to reflect on those things I'm thankful for. Not that you were waiting for this, but I am thankful for two sons who are a constant source of pride, a daughter-in-law who completes a beautiful family, including two of my three grandchildren. I am thankful for the safe return of my soldier son from his seventh trip to Iraq and for his daughter, my third grandchild.

I hope to have news soon about a new book I've been working on and with any luck, progress reports on the screenplay based on The Tangled Web.

I continue to work with the troops in the Wounded Warriors Battalion at Ft. Bragg, we're working on some ideas for a fresh approach that will hopefully make the classes available to a wider group in the battalion.

The Tangled Web will soon be out of print, in anticipation of the release in paperback. Anyone who wishes to acquire the last round of autographed copies of the hardcover, send me an email at michaeljcain@gmail.com and we'll work to make that happen.

2008-11-14T11:17:00.002-05:00

This month voters in the U.S. elected the first black president in it's history. Who'd a thunk it? I hope he does well and I hope all the new voters who were energized to support him prove to be more than flash in the pan voters. This country works best when the people are in charge, and less well when congress is in charge.

My son has returned from Iraq and I'm glad to have him back in the good old U.S. of A. Thanks to all of you for your good thoughts during his deployment.

I'm still working with the wounded warriors at Ft. Bragg and am enjoying the experience. I was honored to receive a certificate of appreciation from the Wounded Warriors Battalion during their recent Octoberfest event held at Moon Hall on Fr. Bragg.

We're still on track to release The Tangled Web in paperback in March 2009. Amazon.com is taking pre-orders now for any of you that are so inclined.

I've been hard at work on a couple of other projects. First on my list is a screenplay based on The Tangled Web. It's not under contract yet, but there is some interest and we're working hard to make it happen. Leave a comment to let me know what you think of the idea, or send me an email - michaeljcain@gmail.com -

My second project is fiction, which tells an interesting story dealing with current events. I'm really excited about it, and will release more information about it as it comes closer to publication.

More on the Wounded Warriors

2008-09-23T16:01:00.002-04:00

Geez, where does the time go.

Since my last post, I've begun teaching a writing class with a group of wounded warriors at Ft. Bragg, NC. I don't think I've ever done anything in my life that has given me so much gratification in such a short time. These guys are the real American heroes we've heard about. They have much to say and much to teach us about dedication to duty, humility and courage.

I'm going to continue working with these guys at least through the end of the year and I will treasure every minute of the time. It's clear to me that our soldiers are not only deserving of our respect and support, but that we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. Thank you, come home safe.

In other news, the paperback edition of The Tangled Web is off to the presses in the next few weeks, I've updated the epilogue with new information and am looking forward to the next wave of promotional work, coming up in March.

I've been invited to do an interview about the book for the Mary Ferrell Foundation, which will be taped in Dallas this November during the annual JFK symposium sponsored by JFK Lancer. I would encourage any of you who have an interest in the JFK assassination to learn more about both groups. JFK Lancer's website Click here provides access to important historical information about the Kennedy assassination as well as Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

The Mary Farrell Foundation Click here is dedicated to the dissemination of information about these assassinations as well. They have the largest collection of documents gathered anywhere and they have recently added a searchable copy of my book to that collection. I encourage you to check them out.

Ft. Bragg's Wounded Warriors

2008-07-27T20:07:00.002-04:00

On Saturday (July 26) I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with a group of wounded warriors at Ft. Bragg, NC. I was there with retired Marine Lt. Col Jay Kopelman. The troops were quick to forgive Jay for having been a Marine since he brought copies of his book to share with them. One Army Lieutenant told a story about his having chosen the Marines initially, but his father told him that his grandfather would roll over in his grave if he didn't join the Army. He was happy with the Army, but still felt like he'd been shamed into it.

It was a moving experience, to say the least. These guys are real American heroes and they represent us well. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for taking on the jobs that must be done. Please keep them in your thoughts.

A Tribute To Our Wounded Warriors

2008-07-23T16:21:00.002-04:00

Taking a little different angle on this blog, I'd like to talk a little about the heroes that work to make our country safe.

Most of you know that my son, Jason, is currently serving in the Army and doing his part for all of us. He recently deployed to Iraq and is making me very proud. It's very disconcerting to know that he's in harm's way, but he loves what he does and he does it very well.

One of the tragedies of war is injuries sustained by our brave men and women of the military. There has been a lot of press about troubles at Walter Reed, but it's worth pointing out that we do take very good care of our wounded warriors. Last year the military instituted a new unit at most of the major bases around the country called a Warrior Transition Battalion. Like a combat battalion, the WTB has a typical command structure, but there is a difference. The soldiers of the WTB have all suffered severe injuries in the war. With their primary injuries treated and on the mend, these troops are receiving ongoing physical therapy and other treatments as needed. They are housed together which allows them to support one another during this difficult time.

It's called a transition battalion because this is a temporary place for them as they transition from injured status back to regular duty or back to civilian life. They are supported during this time by a tremendous staff of doctors, therapists, and others who not only help them to get well, but also to prepare for the next stage of their lives.

At Ft. Bragg, NC the WTB currently has about 300 members. I've been blessed with the opportunity to spend some time with members of this group of warriors along with retired Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman (USMC) on Saturday July 26. Jay is a decorated veteran of multiple combat deployments to Iraq and recently wrote a book (From Baghdad to America) which deals with his own transition to civilian life and his battle with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I'm honored to have a chance to tell these young men and women how much I appreciate the sacrifices they've made and to wish them well. Jay will be donating and signing copies of his book and I expect to do the same with my book, The Tangled Web.

I hope you'll one day have an opportunity to meet a soldier, sailor, marine or airman and that you will remember to thank them for their service.

I'll update in a few days to tell you about the visit.

The Latest News

2008-06-24T16:43:00.004-04:00

The Summer is upon us and despite dire predictions people are still buying books. My publisher recently announced they are releasing a paperback edition of The Tangled Web after the first of the year. I'm excited about it and am happy to announce that there will be updated information about Richard Cain that has come to light since publication of the hardcover edition in April 2007. There will also be a new foreword written by Jack Clarke, legendary Chicago investigator.

I'm still seeking a well-healed producer to pick up the movie rights to the book. Stay in touch.

I'll be in Chicago the week of August 11 and hope to schedule some interesting events while I'm there. If you're not already on my mailing list, drop me a note (using the comment function here) and I'll let you know what's coming up.

Amazon Recommends The Tangled Web, and we're in pretty good company. Thanks to The Beachwood Reporter for reporting it. For more than a year now, The Tangled Web has been on Amazon's best seller list in the organized crime category, against strong competition it has done well.

Thanks for your continued support and be sure to come back and visit

The Tangled Web lives on...

2008-03-28T10:56:00.002-04:00

Next week will mark the first anniversary of the release of The Tangled Web. I'm please to say that the book is still selling and still getting noticed. Most recently, a review was posted in my home town of Bay City, Michigan, written by Dave Rogers.

I don't have any immediate plans to go back to Chicago, but I'm working on it. I would like to spend a week or two as soon as the snow is gone. We'll see what happens.

Thank you Chicago

2008-03-11T14:04:00.002-04:00

I had wonderful time in Chicago last Sunday and feel compelled to say thank you to the City of Chicago, to the Irish American Heritage Center and to all the people who attended the event. We had a good turnout, and the people who were there were interested and supportive. The IAHC hosted a small party afterwards where they served a wonderful luncheon and gave me an opportunity to meet with their members and talk about The Tangled Web and share some of their own stories.

Peg Reid of the Irish American Heritage Center was a gracious host and her husband, Joe, fixed the best cup of tea I've ever had.

One of the things I learned was that there is still a great deal of interest in the Chicago Outfit and their links the Chicago politics.

Stay in touch and we'll learn together about the late breaking news from the best city on the planet.

Sunday March 9

2008-03-04T14:26:00.002-05:00

I hope to see you all at the Irish American Heritage Center this Sunday. It should be a glorious day in Chicago. I'm expecting sunshine and 75 degrees. (I can expect that can't I?)

I'm told that I'll have an hour to speak, plus time for questions, so please bring your questions and hopefully we'll all have a good time. I plan to talk about Dick's relationship with Sheriff Richard Ogilivie and how they came to work together.

Also, as this event is hosted by the Irish American Heritage Center, I'll be talking about Dick's Irish heritage and how this played into his relationships in the Outfit.

Following the event there will be a reception where I'll have books for sale and will be available for further questions. Hopefully we'll have a chance to hoist a pint or a spot of Jameson's.

See you there!

Upcoming Event in Chicago

2008-01-28T20:12:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a while and was roundly chastised for it last night.

There hasn't been much activity lately, I've been stuck in Atlanta and haven't made any appearances since November in Dallas.

On March 9, 2008 at 2:00 PM I'll be appearing at the Irish American Heritage Center (4626 Knox Ave., Chicago). I'll be speaking about The Tangled Web and signing books afterwards. I hope to see a big turnout. I'll be sharing the stage with Peter K. Fallon who will be talking about Why the Irish Speak English.

Directions

The Irish American Heritage Center is located at 4626 North Knox Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630, about seven miles north of downtown Chicago.

Mapquest for driving directions.

Northbound traffic should take the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) to Wilson Ave.(along the east side of the junction at which the Edens Expressway (I-94) separates from the Kennedy Expressway (I-90)). Take a right on Wilson and go one block East. The Heritage Center is located on the left.

Southbound traffic from the Kennedy Expressway (I-90) may exit at Lawrence Avenue, turn left, and take a right on Kilpatrick Avenue. The Heritage Center is a couple of blocks down on the left.

Southbound traffic from the Edens Expressway (I-94) may exit at Wilson Avenue. Take a left and go one block. The Heritage Center is located on the left.

CTA directions: Take the blue line L train to the Montrose station. Go East on Montrose to Kilbourn. Take a left on Kilbourn (north) to Wilson Ave. Take a left on Wilson (west) to Knox Ave. Take a right on Knox (north) and there we are.

View map (at Mapquest.com)

Dallas Report

2007-11-24T18:37:00.000-05:00

The JFK Lancer November in Dallas 2007 was a huge success. It's a marvel to me that after all these years we're still learning new things about the assassination of John Kennedy. Debra Conway and Larry Hancock and a host of other hard working people put together a tremendous program and I was honored to have been a part of it.
My talk was well received and I met some amazing people. Check the links in the previous post to get more details about JFK Lancer.
My next event will be in Chicago early next year when I'll be addressing the membership of the Irish-American Heritage Center on the north side. More details to follow.
I've added a clock to my page, showing the local time in Balad, Iraq where my son, Jason, is currently stationed. Please keep him and all of our soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines who are in harm's way in your thoughts.

JFK Lancer - Dallas, Texas

2007-11-10T12:15:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it's almost time to head to Dallas for the annual convocation of JFK researchers. I've been working feverishly on my presentation. I'll be talking to the group on Sunday November 18, hosted by JFK Lancer (see link below). This annual event is the largest gathering of researchers who are trying to resolve one of this country's greatest tragedies. I've spoken to the group in the past, trying to learn whether there was any actual link between Richard Cain and the Kennedy assassination.

This year I'll be talking about what I learned about his alleged involvment and I'll open it up a little more by talking about Richard's involvment with Cuban refugees, training them for the Bay of Pigs invasion and using CIA sponsored access to the Glenview (IL) Naval Air Station to conduct the training. I've attempted to get confirmation from the CIA about this program, but so far their response has been "we can neither confirm nor deny." More on that later.

http://jfklancer.com/index.html

Mostly what I'm going to talk about is how the research community helped me to deal with and ultimately to disprove the allegation that Richard Cain killed JFK. Without this group I doubt that I'd ever have gotten to meet the one guy who helped put it to rest.

The book fair in Washington on November 1 was a terrific event. and I'm grateful to the National Press Club for the invitation to participate.

http://www.press.org/

I'll post an update when I return from Dallas. Thanks for your interest and support.

National Press Club Book Fair - Nov. 1

2007-10-23T11:45:00.000-04:00

I had a great time in Chicago last weekend, now it's time to look forward to the next event.

On Thursday, November 1, I'll be at the National Press Club Book Fair in Washington, D.C. The book fair will be at the Press Club from 5:30 - 8:00 PM and should be a spectacular way to spend some time meeting authors and buying books. The club is located at 15th and G Street in downtown Washington, on the 13th Floor.

There will be 40 authors participating, with books on a variety of topics, so there's bound to be something for everyone. I am looking forward to participating and meeting some interesting new people. If you're going to be in Washington, please come by and introduce yourself.

Keep checking back here, my next stop will be Dallas on Nov 15-18 for the JFK Lancer symposium on the Kennedy assassination. I'll be speaking to the group on Sunday Nov 18, about the allegations that Dick Cain was involved in the Kennedy assassination and also about his involvement in a joint CIA/Mafia training exercise at the Glenview Naval Air Station in Glenview, Illinois. More details later.

Chicago Cultural Center - October 20

2007-10-11T16:49:00.000-04:00

I'll be at the Chicago Cultural Center on Saturday October 20 from 10-4. The Illinois Women's Press Association hosts this annual book fair to showcase Illinois authors. There will be nearly 90 authors on hand for this exciting event.

I hope to meet some of you there.

The Daily Herald - Chicago's Suburban Daily

2007-09-14T22:49:00.000-04:00

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/print/?id=20884

The more the Chicago mob changes, the more it stays the same
Daily Herald Staff Reports
Published: 8/20/2007 7:18 AM

"Here is the difference between Dante, Milton, and me. They wrote about Hell and never saw the place. I wrote about Chicago after looking the town over for years and years."
Those were the profound words of Carl Sandburg, published in his book of "Chicago Poems" in 1916.
Ninety-one years later, Chicago's landscape may have changed, but the sordid souls, who poisoned Sandburg's time, live here in infamy.
That much is evident after sitting through last week's Operation Family Secrets trial in federal court in Chicago. Five elderly men connected to the Chicago Outfit are charged with running mob rackets and torturing and killing 18 people the past four decades by strangulation, beating and shooting, with ropes, ball bats, blowtorches, shotguns, fists and feet.
But the five hoodlums with witty nicknames such as the Clown, the Breeze, Little Jimmy and Twan, didn't operate without help from outside their secret organization.
Just as in Sandburg's day, when the hell-bent were called Big Jim and the Fox, the mobsters of our era admit they bribed police and public officials to protect their illegal businesses.
Two new books prove that nothing has changed. Despite the modernization of Michigan Avenue, lakefront beautification and regular police department announcements that crime is declining, the dirty business of public corruption at the behest of the Outfit thrives.
In her book "Sin in the Second City," author Karen Abbott writes about the open sex trade in Chicago's Levee District on the near South Side in the early 1900s. It focuses on the turn-of-the-previous-century whorehouse, the Everleigh Club. The story amounts to a blueprint for the modern rackets that the Calabrese/Lombardo Outfit is now on trial for allegedly running.
In 1900, dance hall operator Ike Bloom was in charge of making sure the police allowed bordello operators, call girls and pimps to freely conduct their business.
"So integral was Bloom to the web of Levee graft that his portrait, handsomely framed, hung in a prominent place of honor in the squad room of the 22nd Street police station," writes Abbott.
Below Bloom's picture was a price list of the appropriate bribes to be paid to police: "Massage parlors: $25 weekly; Larger houses of ill fame, $50-$100 weekly, with $25 additional each week if drinks are sold; Saloons allowed to stay open after hours, $50 per month; Sale of liquor in apartment houses without license …"
The architects were First Ward Alderman "Bathhouse" John Coughlin and Democratic Party boss Michael "Hinky Dink" Kenna.
In a second new book, "The Tangled Web," author Michael J. Cain reports on the devilish work of his brother Dick. In the late 1950s and '60s, Dick Cain was a Chicago police vice detective and then chief investigator for the Cook County Sheriff's Department.
Author Cain says his brother was also "a made Mafia soldier and a protégé and informer for legendary mob boss Sam Giancana."
Dick Cain was a Chicago mobster, groomed by the mob to be a Chicago cop.
"Dick was one of a very small number that reported directly to Sam 'Momo' Giancana," writes Michael Cain.
Dick Cain distributed weekly mob bribes to other cops, according to his brother, and tipped Outfit bosses to gambling and prostitution raids. When independent, non-mob rackets were raided, Cain would be seen in the next morning's newspapers posed with a Tommy gun, a la Eliot Ness.
Cain's mob work stretched to Mexico and Cuba and probably included murders, admits his brother. Dick Cain was killed in 1973, five days before Christmas. Two gunman ambushed him in a West Side sandwich shop.
Richard Cane and Sam Giancana's corrupt DNA was the same that Ike Bloom and his ilk had in 1900. And now a century later, the bad genes are on display in Operation Family Secrets.
Testimony revealed that modern-day Chicago cops were on the Outfit payroll. Mob informants testified they were tipped off by dirty cops about upcoming raids.
An alleged Chicago mob boss testified about his cozy relationship with politically connected labor union bosses and with the late First Ward Alderman Fred Roti, who was convicted of corruption.
Another accused mob boss, who once bribed a U.S. senator, last week implicated all 50 Chicago aldermen in a payoff scheme to allow illegal gambling in their wards.
An admitted Outfit hit man pinned a suburban firebombing on one of Mayor Daley's close friends.
So nothing changes. We just keep writing about Chicago, after looking the town over for years and years

Upcoming Events

2007-09-13T11:40:00.000-04:00

I'll be in Chicago on October 20 for the Illinios Women's Press Association Book Fair.

Also during that trip I'll be speaking at St. Malachy School, addressing the issue of integration in the sixties. I know this has nothing to do with The Tangled Web, but it's an important adjunct to another book I had a hand in writing and publishing - Herren's: An Atlanta Landmark by Ed Negri with Michael J. Cain (Roswell Publishing 2005).

On November 1 I'll be in Washington, D. C. to participate in the National Press Club Book Fair - details to follow.

November 16-18 is the annual gathering of the JFK research community sponsored by JFK Lancer. Held this year at Radisson Dallas Love Field, 1241 West Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. I'll be speaking to the group about the alegation of Dick's involvement in the Kennedy assassination and about the goings on at the Glenview Naval Airstation in the sixties. I'll also be signing books there at the resource center.

The next event on the horizon is the Spring Lecture Series at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago. The date's not fixed yet, but should be sometime in late January 2008. I'll keep you posted right here.

Family Secrets

2007-09-10T17:17:00.000-04:00

This afternoon a jury in federal court in Chicago convicted five men in what's come to be known as the Family Secrets trial. Joseph Lombardo, 78; Frank Calabrese, Sr., 70, James Marcello, 65, Paul Schiro, 70 and Anthony Doyle, 62 were convicted of a wide ranging number of charges including 18 Murders and a variety of conspiracy and racketeering charges.

The trial, which lasted nearly ten weeks, was the most important case of its kind in years. Lead prosecutors, Patrick Fitzgerald and John Scully wove together a substantial case and are to be commended for their efforts.

One of the documents prepared by the prosecution for trial, the Santiago Proffer, indicated their belief that Joseph Lombardo (known as "the Clown") was the triggerman who killed Richard Cain on December 20, 1973. Richard's murder was not included in the indictment because of a lack of physical evidence.

Sentencing will happen at some point in the future, but it's unlikely that Lombardo will see the light of day.

Illinois Women's Press Association Book Fair

2007-09-10T15:43:00.000-04:00

On October 20, 2007 I'll be appearing at the Illinois Women's Press Association Book Fair to be held at the Chicago Cultural Center.

The Chicago Cultural Center is located at 77 East Randolph Street in downtownChicago. The building occupies the block bordered by Michigan Avenue to the east, Randolph Street to the north, Garland Court to the west, and Washington Street to the south.

I'll look forward to meeting you and talking about The Tangled Web.

Decatur Book Festival

2007-09-07T16:58:00.000-04:00

For any of you who attended the Decatur Book Festival last weekend, you were subjected to one of the finest book events in the Southeast. Last year more than 50,000 people attended, that's pretty impressive when you consider that the Printer's Row Book Festival in Chicago only draws 70,000.

The crowd was impressive this year and, best of all, they bought lots of books.

I'm going back to Chicago in October, more on that later...

Update for September 6, 2007

2007-09-06T13:51:00.000-04:00

On my recent trip to Chicago to promote The Tangled Web, I was interviewed on WBEZ a Chicago affiliate of NPR by Richard Steele, a talented interviewer who clearly did his homework. You can listen to interview by clicking on this link:
http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Program_848_Segment.aspx?segmentID=12978

Another interview with a cable access station is now available on the web. They'll be running the interview in a week or so on Comcast channel 19 in Chicagoland.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4778540979621885458

The Family Secrets trial went to the jury on Tuesday (September 4) and it's anyone's guess how long it will take to reach a verdict. In the last two days they've asked the judge to define usury and intimidation. The judge refused to give them a dictionary and they later discovered that usury is actually defined in the indictment. I wonder what ever possessed them to read the indictment?

Family Secrets Trial

2007-08-25T13:16:00.000-04:00

I've been in Chicago for a week or so and have attended the ongoing Family Secrets trial in federal court here in Chicago. It's a pretty interesting experience, the spectators include retirees with time to kill, friends of the mobsters on trial, attorneys getting a glimpse of the big time cases that could make their careers, cops who want to see these guys go down the tubes and a host of others.

In addition to attending the trial, I've also done several interviews. One with Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ) and one for a cable access program that will air in a couple of weeks. On Tuesday, August 28, I'll be on WGN Radio with Milt Rosenberg. We're on after the Cubs game, about 10 PM.

I return home on Wednesday August 29 and will be at the Decatur (GA) Book Festival on September 1 & 2. I hope to see you there.

2007-08-17T14:56:00.000-04:00

This BLOG has been created to discuss and shamelessly promote my book "The Tangled Web"

It's a biography of Richard Cain, former Chicago cop and a made member of organized crime in Chicago. Richard's life was an enigma and involved close associations wtih Sam Giancana, Chicago boss at that time and later with the FBI and CIA. The book was released in April 2007.

I'm off now and then to promote the book and to tell the story of how it came about. Thanks for stopping by and let me know you were here.

Michael J Cain

Glenview Naval Airstation

2007-08-17T14:14:00.000-04:00

So, it seems there was more going on at Glenview NAS than people thought. In a joint operation with the Chicago Outfit and the CIA in early 1960, Fulgencio Batista was living in Glenview and directing the training of Cuban nationals in anticipation of the invasion of Cuba. Richard Cain and Dr. Anthony DeVarona were the principals in the operation, and when Batista wasn't on the scene getting involved himself, he was taking refuge in Richard Cain's home.

I've been in touch with the folks at the museum on the grounds, the station is closed now, and not surprisingly they had no idea that this activity had been going on.

August 19, 2007

2007-08-17T14:03:00.000-04:00

I'm off to Chicago this Sunday for another round of promotion for The Tangled Web and I can't wait to get there. I'll be on Chicago Public Radio with Richard Steele, we're taping on Monday the 20th and the air date is to be announced later. On Tuesday, August 28 from 10-11 PM I'll be on WGN Radio (720 AM) with Milt Rosenberg. In between I'll be taping a TV show with Frank Avila which will run on Comcast channel 15.

Besides those comfirmed appearances, I'll be visiting bookstores all over the Chicago area to sign their books and meet whoever I can meet.

I hope to see you in Chicago soon.