History’s Secret Groups

History’s Secret Groups book cover — HISTORY’S SECRET GROUPS by Tammy Gagne STORY LIBRARY

History’s Secret Groups — page 1 — 1 Skull and Bones Not Just a College Club Members of the Order of the Skull and Bones have included three US presidents More than 20 US senators have belonged So have dozens of well-known business leader Members are called Bonesmen Skull and Bones was formed at Yale University in 1832 as a social club One of its founders was Alphonso Taft future father to US President William Howard Taft Only Yale students can be Bonesmen And they can’t just decide to join They have to be invited Most members have been white men from rich and powerful families They must swear complete allegiance to the club Many conspiracy theories have sprung up about Skull and Bones Some people believe members take part in crimes or other shady activities Some even think Bonesmen were behind the assassination of US President John F Kennedy in 1963 4

History’s Secret Groups — page 2 — The Skull and Bones headquarters in Connecticut Over time Skull and Bones has changed Women are now allowed to be members So are people of different races Family wealth and influence are no longer the most important qualifications But the order is still very secretive Its headquarters 15 Number of Yale students invited to join Skull and Bones each year Skull and Bones was established in 1832 as a social club Many rich and powerful people have been part of the group Skull and Bones has changed but it’s still very secretive in New Haven Connecticut is a windowless building called the Tomb Skull and Bones owns a private island near the university where only members can go A SHORT LIST OF SKULL AND BONES MEMBERS Members of Skull and Bones have included US presidents William Howard Taft George H W Bush and George W Bush US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart was a member So was former US senator secretary of state and presidential candidate John Kerry And Steven Mnuchin US treasury secretary under President Donald Trump 5

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