The Kennedy Assassination

• First elected in 1960 – youngest American President, Catholic, age 43.
• Very wealthy family, WWII vet, wounded in action
• Married Jackie
• Symbolized a new eager generation, member of the Democratic party
• Defeated Richard Nixon in the closet race in history
• Had many fights with Congress over Civil Rights Legislation – opportunities for Blacks.
• Most of his legislation passed after his death through Lynden Johnson.

The Assassination:

• Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas, November 22, 1963
• Lee Harvey Oswald was immediately blamed as the shooter
• It was said he was the lone gunman who took 3 shots from the 6^th floor of the Dallas Book Depository building
• However, “Incomplete and inaccurate evidence leads to conspiracy theories”

Lee Harvey Oswald:

• Claimed innocence, and called himself a “patsy”, someone who was set up
• Had spent time living in Russia, renounced his citizenship
• Returned to the USA, married to the niece of a KGB officer, and received his passport immediately, where it takes most people several weeks
• Joins the “Fair play for Cuba” committee, a group of Castro supporters
• Had been a US Marine and served in Southeast Asia
• It is claimed that he took 3 shots using a mail-order Italian rifle, then calmly walked out of the Book Depository, went home, was confronted by a Dallas Police officer, killed the officer, and then went to the movies where he was found watching a film.
• Never was able to defend himself, as Jack Ruby (mafia) shot Oswald dead on national TV.
• Ruby dies in prison, never saying a word.

Conspiracy or a misguided Oswald?

• Organized crime saw Kennedy as a threat because of tough anti-crime bills
• Anti-Black Americans did not like the civil right legislation
• Communists saw Kennedy as a tough President
• The CIA was loosing power under Kennedy.

The Warren Commission:

• 1964 – Chief Justice Warren filed the investigation on the assassination
• Results: The shots that killed Kennedy and wounded Governor Collenly came from the 6^th floor of the Book Depository – the 3 bullets recovered were from the rifle found on the 6^th floor, cartridge casings found on the 6^th floor matched the bullets found, Oswald was therefore the assassin.

Problems:

• The bullet found on JFK’s hospital stretcher was in pristine condition – How? After going through bone it did not have any impact signs.
• 2 different autopsies: Parkland Hospital in Dallas showed that the neck wound on Kennedy was an entry wound. The head wound must have come from a low trajectory.
• While Bathesda Naval Hospital in Washington said the neck wound was an exit wound and the head wound came from a high trajectory.
• Kennedy’s brain went missing; they lost it somehow and could not do any tests.
• Kennedy left Dallas Hospital in a body bag, but left Air Force One in a Casket.
• Witnesses saw figures on the grassy knoll, thought they heard shots from that direction
• Dallas Police officers running towards the Knoll were stopped by men claiming to be Secret Service Agents, but they never produced ID.
• Several witnesses died mysteriously before completely telling their story (car crashes, etc..)
• Oswald’s rifle, a single shot rifle, must be pulled back after each shot. The eye was also taken away from the scope. So how was Oswald able to shoot three accurate shots in 7 seconds??? Military sharp shooters who reenacted the shooting could not do it in time.