JFK Assassination Essay, Research Paper
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JFK Assassination
John F Kennedy was shot down unlawfully in his prime. That is a
pin that has been in the nations back since it happened back on
November 22, 1963. A theory that has lead the race of who killed JFK
was the Lone Gunman theory of Lee Harvey Oswald. Since this theory
has been so inconclusive, other theories have appeared and are catching
up to Lee Harvey Oswald. Some of these theories are just ridiculous
but on the other hand ,some are very possible. The most plausible
theory is that Lee Harvey Oswald shot John F Kennedy during his drive
through Dallas, there is not enough evidence to convict Oswald, so
other theories have come about.
On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy took a trip to Dallas,
Texas to mend some old news with the democrats and to gain votes for
the upcoming 1964 election. In Dallas, JFK was greeted by over
200,000 spectators through the uptown and downtown Dallas area. A
motorcade had driven them to the Dallas Trade Mart where JFK was to
make a speech, later on that day. JFK, along with his wife Jackie,
traveled with Texas Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie drove
to Dallas Love Field, where they arrived at 11:37 A.M. The motorcade
then took a right from Harwood St., onto Main Street, headed towards
Dealey Plaza, a park built to celebrate the birthplace of Dallas. The car
then made a right turn onto Houston Street. Nellie Connolly, at this
point turned to President Kennedy, and said ?you can?t say Dallas
doesn?t love you?.(Moore NP) Then the gunshot fired that woke up
the world.
At 12:30 P.M., on November 22, 1963, shots rang out in Dealey
Plaza. To some of the witnesses on the scene, the first sounded like a
firecracker. (Kritzberg 63) President Kennedy had wounds on his back,
his throat, and numerous shots to the head. Governor Connally
suffered a wound in his back, his chest, two wounds in his right wrist,
and a wound in his left thigh. Fortunately, these wounds were not fatal
for the Governor. (Donnelly 116-120) A bystander named James
Tague was wounded on his cheek by a bullet and/or concrete fragments
caused by a missed shot. (Kritzberg 63) Witnesses at the scene heard
anywhere from 2 shots to 7 shots. It was concluded these shots came
out a rifle. The rifle was later found hidden behind some boxes as well
as three empty cartridge cases in the same room as the suspected
shooting, in the Texas School Book Depository Building. The police
were later accused of planting the rifle and cartridge cases. President
Kennedy was pronounced dead at 1 p.m., central standard time.
(Donnelly 69)
The most suspected shooter was Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald
belonged to the Marine Corp for most of his life. Oswald was trained
in radar electronics, and had a background in security clearance. Oswald
had experience with rifles, contacts in the CIA, possibly the Soviet
Union and the KGB. The government claims that Oswald was just
someone off the street who had a grudge against Kennedy. (Benson
190-193)
Oswald was a communist, which would mean the Oswald believed
that the president was no better than any other man. His beliefs made
him an instant suspect for the CIA. (Benson 147) A major point in the
discussion if Oswald did it or not is that the parade was running 6
minutes late. This means Oswald wouldn?t have known, which he
means he was waiting at the window for at least 6 minutes which he
wasn?t. Throughout the assassination Oswald was said to have been in
the lunch room, however, no one could provide proof that they had
seen him in the room where the shots were fired.
Police swarmed the Texas School Book Depository Building
believing the shots came from the third floor. On their way, they found
Oswald sitting in the Lunch Room composed and quietly eating his
lunch. (Kritzberg 60, 61, 69)Officer Baley was the police officer who
entered the building after the shots were fired. When he did, he found
Oswald in the Lunch Room. This created a problem in the timing
element of the assassination. If Oswald were the shooter, then he would
have needed to run four floors to the window where the shots were
fired, then run back in 90 seconds to the lunch room. Oswald?s arrest
seems suspicious at this point because had he fired 4 shots and ran four
floors as well as hiding a rifle then he must of at least broke a sweat.
Yet, he appeared calm and answered officer?s questions without
hesitation or pauses. (Benson 69-70)
Their have been many groups that have filed reports on this case.
In 1979, the House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded that
Oswald did it, but they added there was probably a conspiracy. In
1964, The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald
fired 3 shots from the southeast corner of the sixth floor of the Texas
School Book Depository Building. (Moore 79, 80, 91)
They also concluded that he killed Dallas policeman JD Tippit
while fleeing from the scene of crime that he so proudly committed.
(Moore 80) Walking down the street, Oswald was confronted by a
police officer stopping all people who matched a description similar to
Oswald?s. He panicked and shot the officer in the head at point blank.
Witnesses believe that the weapon used to kill the Dallas police officer
was an automatic rifle, however after examination, the weapon used
turned out to be a 6 shot revolver, not an automatic. (Kritzberg 92)
Since there is no conclusive evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald shot
JFK, other theories have come about. Some of the theories are no
where near to being possible, but some of them could very well be true.
A theory is that Lyndon B. Johnson conspired to have JFK killed. It is
rumored that Lyndon B. Johnson disliked JFK. And that he was the
kind of man that would be selfish enough to do this. Another theory
that is out there, is that George Hickey, a secret agent driving behind
JFK?s car, accidentally shot his gun into JFK?s head as he tripped
forward. Another possible theory out there is that Richard Case Nagell,
an ex CIA agent, knew that Oswald was going to kill JFK. He tried to
tell 3 nations about it, but no one listened. (Vankin NP)
Some ridiculous theories have come about that seem totally
awkward and weird. One dumb one if that the driver of JFK?s limo,
shot him quickly then kept driving like nothing happened. Another one
is that JFK ordered a small group of insiders to dispatch as assassin in
Dallas, Texas. Another out of the blue theory is that a guy with an
umbrella standing near JFK shot a poisonous dart at JFK, stunned him,
allowing a gunman in the near to finish up the death. Another one is
that 3 bums, that were found in a railway boxcar, were the shooters.
Again a dumb one is that JFK?s body was switched, his brain was taken
out and disguised as a baby, put in a gurney and put back in his head at
Bethesda Naval Medical Center. The last one is that JFK?s body was
switched in route in a airplane and then disguised as luggage. (Vankin
NP)
Due to some of the theories and JFK?s death, a lot of unsolved
mysterious things have come about. William Whaley, the cab driver
who reportedly drove Oswald to Oak Cliff died in a motor collision.
He is the only Dallas taxi driver to die on duty. Rose Cheramie, was a
victim of a hit and run. She knew in advance of JFK?s assassination.
She was told by some Cubans on her ride to Dallas. Mary Pinchot, one
of JFK?s ?special friends? was murdered. Her diary was taken away by
CIA chief James Angleton. Very suspiciously, many people that were
close to the assassination, or had information on it, died. (Benson NP)
Mostly all of evidence points towards Lee Harvey Oswald. Some
of the aspects of the shooting are very shady but that is expected. Not
every case can be crystal clear. Oswald was found in the building where
the shooting happened. He had a lot of experience in rifles. Oswald
was a communist. His beliefs made him an instant suspect by the CIA.
Also, due to first hand witnesses, Oswald is believed to be the shooter of
a gun that killed a police officer as he was fleeing the scene. But as the
puzzles come together, more and more evidence spins towards the Lone
Gunman theory of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Works Cited
Benson, Micheal. Who?s Who in the JFK Assassination; An A-Z
Encyclopedia Baltimore, Citadel Press, 1983
Kritzberg, Connie. Secrets from the Sixth Floor Window Boston,
Undercover Press, 1994
Moore, Jim. Conspiracy of One; The Definitive Book on the
Kennedy Assassination Washington, D.C, The Summit
Group, 1991.
Vankin, Jonathan. Sixty Greatest Conspiracies of All Time
New York, Illuminet Press, 1988
Donnelly, Judy. Who Shot The President? The Death of John F.
Kennedy New York, Random House Publishing, 1988