Slightly over a century now since John F. Kennedy died, and much controversy still surrounds his assassination. Different people and organizations are accused of playing a central role in the death of one of the U.S.’s most ambitious presidents. Although the commission of inquiry (Warren Commission) in 1964 blamed Lee Harvey Oswald for single-handedly firing the shot that killed Kennedy, numerous theories have emerged. Some conspiracy theorists link the government to significant events in American history, including the JFK assassination, and are not convinced that Oswald acted alone, while others accuse the CIA.
The fateful event occurred in Dallas’s Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963, while the newly elected president was riding in a motorcade. Numerous questions were asked about the reasons for his assassination, but the answers seem to be inconclusive to date. As a result, many conspiracies developed concerning the involved individuals and reasons for executing such an atrocious act. To the surprise of many, the government has been linked, not only to JFK’s death but to substantial landmark happenings in U.S history (Schudel). Apart from the JFK assassination, some of the significant events perceived to have been executed by the government secretly include falsification of landing on the moon and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rebert Kennedy.
However, the single most ploy resonating with the majority of the conspiracy theorists and skeptical citizens is the action of Lee Harvey Oswald. Many individuals disagree with the claim that Oswald acted alone. For instance, Mark Lee, a lawyer and prolific writer of the account of JFK’s assassination, maintains that Oswald could not and did not act alone (Schudel). Additionally, Lee faulted the methods and conclusions of the Warren Commission by arguing that at least one other hitman had fired fatal shots at the president as his motorcade was passing through Dealey Plaza. Hence, according to Lee, the president was not killed by a single bullet, as the Warren Commission claimed (Schudel). Moreover, Lee maintained that Jack Ruby, who killed Oswald a few days later, was part of the extensive conspiracy, including law enforcement officials.
Nonetheless, the most frightening theory explaining the JFK assassination links the CIA to the gruesome event. During the tumultuous Cold War era, Cuba’s Fidel Castro was a menace due to his connection with the Soviets. Unfortunately, John F. Kennedy, in collaboration with his brother, Robert Kennedy, had failed significantly to overthrow Castro. Hence, the CIA was afraid that JFK would disband the spy agency (Schudel). As a result, the CIA secretly formed a conspiracy network that planned and executed JFK and later his brother. Immediately after JFK’s assassination, his brother Robert Kennedy’s first suspicion was the CIA’s rogue officials (Talbot 176). At the time of JFK’s death, his relationship with the CIA was strained, which could have possibly led the agency to conspire and eliminate the president.
In short, the questions about the actual culprit responsible for the JFK assassination still lingers with most Americans. Even though Lee Oswald was publicly blamed for the president’s death, the conclusion did not satisfy most conspiracy theorists. Some still believe that the government played a significant role in Kennedy’s death. Others claim that the CIA is entirely accountable due to the strained relationship between the agency and the president regarding Fidel Castro. However, the majority of the people hold the view that Oswald acted alongside other shooters who have been kept secret from the public. All these are mere conspiracies trying to find the solution to the puzzle, which appears elusive more than fifty years after the actual incident.
Work Cited
Schudel, Matt. “Mark Lane, Gadfly Lawyer, Author who Promoted JFK Conspiracy Theory, dies at 89.”The Washington Post, 2016.
Talbot, David. Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years. Simon and Schuster, 2007.