With three shot to the head in the matter of 8.6 seconds, could one man act alone in the death of John F. Kennedy? November 22, 1963, shortly after noon on main street at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, a motorcade was passing by Texas School Book Depository when 36th president John f. Kennedy was shot in the head. Could John f. Kennedy have been assassinated by lee Harvey Oswald? Was the CIA angry about the Bay of Pigs? Or did the Mafia kill him because of Robert Kennedy’s mob ties? Let’s investigate the conspiracy theories for the assassination of John f. Kennedy.
John F. Kennedy was optimistic as a president. He claimed, “If greater effort is made by the government to win popular support, the war can be won” (“CBS-TV Interview with President John Fitzgerald Kennedy...”). President Kennedy has hope that the government will see the people are going to help end the war. Before his presidency and in his senator days, John F. Kennedy’s optimism was still there. He also points out while he was a senator in 1953-1960:
Most of them are quiet and serious and interested in their work. It's a very - the issues we deal with, compared to the issues which were before us in the Nineteenth Century, Daniel Webster and Calhoun, all the great figures in the Nineteenth Century, really dealt with about four or five great issues in their whole career - tariff, the expansion of the West, slavery; and we deal with matters which are extremely technical and sophisticated, they come across our desk day by day and week by week. I think the needs of politicians have changed. I think there must be a good deal of serious interest in the complexities of the problems which face the United States and people aren't as interested in back-slapping politicians. (“Address of John F. Kennedy”)
He explains that politicians have been through a lot in the earlier days with slavery, population growth, and major economic issues, and now politicians are pushed away because they aren't facing as much now, but when or if he were to run as president, he would make politicians more hands on and investigate problems. John F. Kennedy also observes, “British put the tax cut in one month when we have been talking about it for years and cut unemployment, I use that as one example of the difficulties of managing the affairs of government” (“Address of John F. Kennedy”). Change can be made sooner, but the government doesn’t want things that are holding back the power that they can really do to help the United States’ issues.
John F. Kennedy (JFK) is encouraging; for example, he thinks, “There is no sense in trying to do anything unless you give it your maximum effort. You may not succeed, but at least the effort and dedication and interest should be there” (“Address of John F. Kennedy”). Kennedy's father Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. set the example to always put your best effort forward, JFK lived by this and is showing others to do your best. Another example Joseph P. Kennedy believed, “If I didn't really feel you had the goods, I would be most charitable in my attitude toward your failings ... I am not expecting too much, and I will not be disappointed if you don't turn out to be a real genius, but I think you can be a really worthwhile citizen with good judgment and understanding." (“John F. Kennedy.” Biography.com,). John F. Kennedy’s father was generally encouraging him to be better, he was not pressuring him, but simply encouraging him and putting faith in him to be an intelligent, hard-working citizen. Some of JFK’S best known quotes are during his inaugural address on January 20, 1960. He stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” (“Historical Documents”). JFK wants the people to make the change to become better together. Another example is when he notes, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest form of appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." (Keane). John F. Kennedy was advising the people to live by what you are saying you will do.
John F. Kennedy was inclusive. An example of that was when during JFK’s civil rights address, he states, “Every American should be able to enjoy the privileges of being an American regardless of his race or his color.” (Eidenmuller, Michael E). Kennedy was implying that we as Americans should let every race be themselves. He didn’t just include color. He also included people’s mental abilities. JFK remarked,
It was said, in an earlier age, that the mind of a man is a far country which can neither be approached nor explored. But, today, under present conditions of scientific achievement, it will be possible for a nation as rich in human and material resources as ours to make the remote reaches of the mind accessible. The mentally ill and the mentally retarded need no longer be alien to our affections or beyond the help of our communities. (“John F. Kennedy and People with Intellectual Disabilities”)
Having a mental illness was frowned upon and unusual. President Kennedy felt that just because it wasn’t common that didn’t mean we shouldn’t learn about it. He got scientists to research more into the unknown of the humans mentally and physically.
After the brutal assassination of John F Kennedy, the questions everyone wanted to know was who and why? The first conspiracy was Lee Harvey Oswald. Before Oswald spent his time advocating Fidel Castro and his Communist regime in the United States (“A Brief History of Lee Harvey Oswald's Connection to Cuba”1). In September he went to Mexico City, according to the Warren Commission, he tried vainly to get a visa for Cuba and to get Soviet permission to return to the U.S.S.R. (“Homicide”2). No one knew what was discussed in Cuba but soon after in October, Lee secured a job at the Texas School Book Depository (2). This raised a concern because of his background being a sharpshooter from his years in the Marine Corp and his new job overlooked the Dealy Plaza (2). The evidence gathered by the CIA and FBI before the assassination about Oswald should have put his name in “red lights”. “Without doubt JFK would not have died in Dallas and history would have taken a different turn”, stated retired FBI director Clarence Kelley (2).
The second conspiracy was the CIA. With the unfortunate Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Kennedy accepted responsibility publicly, however in private blamed the CIA and obtained resignation of Director Allen Dulles and others (“The CIA and the JFK Assassination” 3). The CIA didn’t plan for the invasion to backfire which may have caused many lives in danger. Senator Richard Russell, when informed of the situation, was among those who advocated immediate military action to remove the missiles (3). Many government officials didn’t agree with how JFK handled the Cuban Missel Crisis. Causing several CIA and Pentagon officers viewed the next sabotage program, Operation Herpestes, to overthrow the ever-stronger Fidel Castro (3). This leads to believe that the CIA wasn’t going to wait for any orders complied by President Kennedy and was done dealing with constant backlash by the people.
The third conspiracy was the Mafia. Organized crime leader's hostile after helping Kennedy win elections, then being unfaithful of keeping the Mafia connected to the higher power. Sam Giancana also helped funnel cash to buy votes and endorsements for the West Virginia Democratic primary election in May 1960 (“The Crazy Story of Frank Sinatra Playing A Club for A Week Straight Because Chicago's Mob Boss Was Mad At JFK”4). This was a move the mob saw as a good benefit for both parties but soon learned JFK wanted power not friends. John F. Kennedy as Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy raised the number of mob convictions from thirty-five in 1960 to two hundred eighty-eighty in 1963 (4). Kennedy rapidly closing in on stopping organized crime; could this have caused the mafia to act in an unreasonable way?
On November 22, 1963, our 35th president John F. Kennedy was brutally assassinated. With no clear evidence these are the most believed conspiracy theories:
- The CIA was furious over his crisis decisions, hiring one to assassinate him
- Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone killer, all because of his obsession with Fidel Castro
- Mafia was tired of his unloyalty and unfaithfulness, discreetly taking his life
Fifty-five years later and one of the most brutal homicides to exist, the assassination of our 35th president John F. Kennedy, is still a mystery.
Works Cited
“Address of John F. Kennedy upon Accepting the Liberal Party Nomination for President, New York, New York, September 14, 1960.” JFK Library, https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/liberal-party-nomination-nyc-19600914.
“CBS-TV Interview With President John Fitzgerald ... - YouTube.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOGWTEgta_w.
Eidenmuller, Michael E. American Rhetoric: John F. Kennedy -- Civil Rights Addess, https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkcivilrights.htm.
“Historic Documents.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, http://www.ushistory.org/documents/index.html.
“John F. Kennedy.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 17 July 2019, https://www.biography.com/us-president/john-f-kennedy.
“John F. Kennedy and People with Intellectual Disabilities.” JFK Library, https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/john-f-kennedy-and-people-with-intellectual-disabilities.
Keane, Caroline. “12 JFK Quotes That Prove His Wisdom Is as Legendary as His Presidency.” Town & Country, Town & Country, 11 Sept. 2017, https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/news/g1324/the-best-jfk-quotes-of-all-time/.
Kelley, Michael B. “The Crazy Story Of Frank Sinatra Playing A Club For A Week Straight Because Chicago's Mob Boss Was Mad At JFK.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 21 Nov. 2013,
Lewis, Danny. “A Brief History of Lee Harvey Oswald's Connection to Cuba.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 4 May 2016,
The CIA and the JFK Assassination,
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Homicide.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 15 July 2016,
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