Twenty months later, Cuba released the captured exiles in exchange for $53 million worth of food and medicine.[157] The incident made Castro feel wary of the U.S. and led him to believe that another invasion would take place.[158]
Biographer Richard Reeves said that Kennedy focused primarily on the political repercussions of the plan rather than military considerations. When it proved unsuccessful, he was convinced that the plan was a setup to make him look bad.[159] He took responsibility for the failure, saying, "We got a big kick in the leg and we deserved it. But maybe we'll learn something from it."[160] He appointed Robert Kennedy to help lead a committee to examine the causes of the failure.[161]
In late-1961, the White House formed the Special Group (Augmented), headed by Robert Kennedy and including Edward Lansdale, Secretary Robert McNamara, and others. The group's objective—to overthrow Castro via espionage, sabotage, and other covert tactics—was never pursued.[162] In November 1961, he authorized Operation Mongoose.