Imagine being the man of the hour, powerful, wealthy, and loved by your people. John F. Kennedy, the youngest elected president of the United States, knew this feeling. Sadly, his title nor power could save him from the fatal bullet that struck him while crusading through a parade in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged for the assassination of John F. Kennedy; the court claimed that Oswald acted alone. After Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby a man linked to shady business, many were left with doubts.
Was this a larger conspiracy or did Oswald act alone?
Was the CIA behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy?
Let’s examine the theories behind the killing of one of America’s most powerful men, the most probable being he was killed by the CIA.
John F. Kennedy was more than a great leader he was an author, a friend, and a father John F. Kennedy the youngest and first Catholic elected president, was a man of high class. His father was a wealthy Irish man named Joseph Kennedy. John F. Kennedy had a total of nine siblings and he was popularly known as “Jack” growing up.(John F. Kennedy 1). Throughout his childhood, he was recorded with many illnesses(John F. Kennedy 1 ). His family always made sure that he had the proper treatments and found the best doctors (John F. Kennedy 1). Although he wasn’t the healthiest child, his family was wealthy so he enjoyed a comfortable life. He grew up in Boston, with his brothers and sisters. He attended private schools, alongside his older brother Joe Kennedy, who set high standards for him. (John F. Kennedy, President 1). His classmates described him as charismatic and popular. Len Billings a classmate of Kennedy's recalled “Jack was more fun than anyone I've ever known, and I think most people who knew him felt the same way about him" (John F. Kennedy 1).
John F Kennedy was intelligent, charismatic, and capable of achieving the things that interested him. Kennedy attended multiple Ivy league schools and enlisted in the navy during WWII, in his early years. Although he was not at the top of his class, he showcased his intelligence through successful writings like his senior thesis called Why England Slept (John F. Kennedy, President 1). This book sold more than 80,000 copies proving his talent for writing (John F. Kennedy 1). Later in his life he won the Pulitzer Prize from the book Profiles in Courage written by him and his colleagues (John F. Kennedy 1). During his time in the navy he accomplished important missions and was awarded for his leadership (John F. Kennedy 1).
His road to presidency started with the running for the positions of Congressmen and later U.S senate, which he won (John F. Kennedy, President 1). After winning the presidency he continued to display that he was competent and skilled. The approach he took to manage the Cuban missile crisis demonstrated his capacity in handling critically defining moments (John F. Kennedy President 1). John F. Kennedy also advocated for African American equality and the reinforcements of desegregation (John F. Kennedy President 1). President Kennedy even proposed a civil rights bill and supported the March On Washington. (History 1). The foundation of the Peace Corps, which is still in place today, was another one of President John F. Kennedy’s legacies. The peace corps is a volunteer organization that helps people from different countries; this organization depicts Kennedy’s interest in being a helping hand for those who are in need.
At the age of 36 he married the dashing Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. Together they had a total of three children. John F Kennedy was not only a devoted president but also a devoted father. Even though he was busy leading the country, he put aside time to spend with his kids.
Jacqueline Kennedy expressed moving memories of her husband, “He'd always come out in the garden during their recess in the morning and clap his hands, and all the little things from school would come running," (Mooney 1). Making it clear that John F. Kennedy’s charisma wasn’t just an act he put on to gain publicity, because he was that same charismatic leader at home for his children.
Apart from being known for his academic and social achievements, John F. Kennedy also made time for entertainment. He was a fun and entertaining man.
He played baseball in school for multiple years ( Fast 1). His love for sports didn’t stop at baseball he also played golf, tennis, swimming, and sailed (1). He enjoyed watching movies, his top favorites included the movie Spartacus, which he watched as president (1). He even had many pets in the White House. Overall John F. Kennedy wasn’t just an ordinary politician, he had a fun personality which was demonstrated by the way he chose to invest his time.
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The ambiguity behind the idea that Oswald acted alone in killing president Kennedy comes from a simple question, how could a single man succeed in killing a man who is constantly under protection? Governor John Connally, rode with John F. Kennedy and others in the black car that drove John F. Kennedy past the school depository building where Lee Harvey Oswald patiently waited on the sixth floor (Gillon 1). “The magic bullet” theory showcases the high possibility of there being a second shooter. Mysteriously, one of the bullets shot is claimed to have traveled through Kennedy’s back, exiting through his throat, onto Governor Connally breaking his rib and wrist, and finally landing on his right thigh ( 1 ). “Skeptics often say it would have been impossible for Mr. Oswald to fire fast enough to hit both Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Connally, or for the same “magic bullet” to strike both men.” (Victor 1).
It is speculated that the second shooter was hiding behind the “grassy knoll” (1).
It is argued that it would have been nearly impossible for Oswald to singularly shoot three bullets in such a short amount of time, 8.6 seconds to be exact, because of the time it takes to reload and shoot. ( 1). Both the “magic bullet” theory and the evidence that it is so difficult to shoot three shots in such little time, point to the high possibility of there being a second shooter. (1).
The second theory is that the CIA was behind the Assassination of John F. Kennedy because of political tensions between the two. There is evidence that points to the possible involvement of the CIA in John F. Kennedy’s Assassination. An important event during the Cold War, the Bay of pigs, was one of the main causes that caused friction between the two ( JFK Files 1 ). Although there were many other reasons, including the secretive attempts taken by the CIA to assassinate the Cuban leader Fidel Castro . (A Brief History 1). Failure in this mission caused the dispute between them to broaden ; to the point that President Kennedy threatened to eliminate the CIA (1). This threat gives the CIA motivation to kill president Kennedy. Dave Perry is known to be an “an anti-conspiracy guy” , but even he doesn’t discard the theory that the CIA was behind John F. Kennedy’s assassination. (Patterson 1). In an interview he stated, "The problem is, of all of them, this is one I can't debunk," (1). He backs up his suspicions by stating "Kennedy was fed up with the shenanigans that the CIA was pulling," (1). Strangely enough, a member of the Warren Commission, the commission in charge of the John F. Kennedy case, had served as head of the CIA ( 1). Conveniently the Warren Commission ruled that Oswald acted alone (Victor 1). Other evidence that suggests that the CIA was involved with the assassination is that they hid facts about a suspicious trip taken by Oswald to Mexico ( 1). In this trip to Mexico it is said that Oswald “contacted the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City” ( 1 ). Most evidence comes back to conflicts revolving around Cuban concerns. Cuban concerns were the root cause of the problems between John F. Kennedy and the CIA, suggesting that the CIA plotted the assassination, to get rid of the threats that came from President Kennedy.
Ultimately, both conspiracies give evidence that demonstrates that Harvey Lee Oswald didn’t act alone . After only two days of being in prison Harvey Lee Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby, leaving little evidence of why Lee Harvey Oswald killed the President ( Victor 1).
John F. Kennedy was powerful and could demolish the CIA, so the conclusion that the conspiracy behind this assassination is, that the CIA ordered the death of President Kennedy, is not shocking. The Magic Bullet theory also brings to light suspicious actions taken by the government, inclining us to further suspect that the verdict giving by the warren commission wasn’t completely true. According to the evidence found it is almost impossible for Oswald to have acted alone.
Many Americans doubt that Harvey Lee Oswald acted alone, 45% of the students polled at College of the Mainland believed that Oswald didn’t singularly organize the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Works Cited
"A brief history of the CIA." Gulf News [United Arab Emirates], 21 May 2017. World History in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A493869027/WHIC?u=j084901001&sid=WHIC&xid=40367600. Accessed 6 Nov. 2018.
“Fast Facts about John F. Kennedy.” John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum , www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/life-of-john-f-kennedy/fast-facts-john-f-kennedy.
Gillon , Steven M. “A J.F.K. Assassination Glossary: Key Figures and Theories.” History , History , 2017, www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/us/jfk-assassination.amp.html.
“John F. Kennedy.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 27 Oct. 2017, www.biography.com/people/john-f-kennedy-9362930.
"JFK files, though incomplete, are a treasure trove for answer seekers." Gulf News [United Arab Emirates], 27 Oct. 2017. World History in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A511678596/WHIC?u=j084901001&sid=WHIC&xid=cdd0f5b9. Accessed 6 Nov. 2018.
“John F. Kennedy .” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 9AD, www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/john-f-kennedy.
"John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, 1961--1963." The Cold War--1945-1991: Leaders and Other Important Figures in the United States and Western Europe, Gale, 1992. World History in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1605000139/WHIC?u=j084901001&sid=WHIC&xid=8b050e14. Accessed 4 Oct. 2018.
Mooney, Mark. “Jacqueline Kennedy's Audio Tapes: 'John John' Says 'He's Gone to Heaven'.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 13 Sept. 2011, abcnews.go.com/Politics/Jacqueline_Kennedy/jacqueline-kennedy-remembers-jfk-white-house-dad/story?id=14499391.
Patterson, Thom. “Redirect Notice.” Google , CNN, 21 Mar. 2018, www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/03/21/us/jfk-assassination-conspiracy-theories-debunked/index.html.
Victor, Daniel. “A J.F.K. Assassination Glossary: Key Figures and Theories.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2017, www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/us/jfk-assassination.amp.html.
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