Masters of the Apocalypse: Holy Crown Doctrine, JFK, and the Cold War Rodeo – Part II

By the Power of the Crown

ROME, ITALY – The first time Mindszenty probed American officials about the possibility of restoring the Holy Crown of St. Stephen to its rightful place occurred on or sometime after February 19th, 1946, the date he was escorted to Rome by Maj. General Key and ACC executive officer, Lawrence Hagy, for his official consecration ceremony as Cardinal and Prince Primate.

Of anyone, Mindszenty might have been the most interested in its return since the quasi-feudal laws governing Hungary until the Soviet occupation designated the Prince Primate as de facto head of state in the absence of a king, and despite the fact that the Hungarian monarchy had been legally abolished in the election that created the provisional government in November, the Cardinal had no intention of honoring that vote and resented any political leader who did not travel to the Archdiocese of Esztergom to consult with him on matters of national policy.