Assassination of John F. Kennedy: Truth or Conspiracy

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The twenty-four-year-old man eagerly stared down at the street below through the scope mounted on his Italian-made, bolt action, 6.5 caliber rifle until his target appeared. John F. Kennedy was in Dallas, Texas, to campaign ahead of the 1964 election. Lee Harvey Oswald, “a twenty-four-year-old drifter,” was the shooter that ended John F. Kennedy’s life on November 22, 1963. He acted alone to end the life of the United States President that many Americans believed had the potential to be great. At the age of only 46, the life of this energetic President had been abruptly ended by the act of a lone sniper. Despite the fact that this highly esteemed President died so brutally and unexpectedly, his legacy and call for change has not been forgotten. For many Americans, “Kennedy remains a hero cut down in his prime, immortalized as forever young, charismatic, and full of potential.” What really happened on that fateful day during which John F. Kennedy and Governor John Connally of Texas were shot as they waved to the excited crowds that lined the Dallas streets? Many have speculated for years in an effort to answer this complex question. From the efforts of those curious about the assassination have come numerous conspiracy theories that question the number of assassins, shots fired, location of shooter(s), and motives. The Cubans under Fidel Castro, the mafia, and the CIA have all been blamed as the real culprits behind Kennedy’s death. The next question one may ask is whether or not anyone will ever know the undeniable truth about what happened on that unforgettable day in United States history. That question will be answered in the context that follows. Detailed information will be provided that supports the true story about ... ... middle of paper ... ..., or will theories continue to rise up out of the dusty case files? Although theories may continue to arise, one theory will remain the most conceivable: the lone assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, killed John F. Kennedy. Works Cited Commission, Warren. The Official Warren Commission Report on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1964. Harris M. Lentz, III. Assassinations and Executions: An Encyclopedia of Political Violence. Jefferson: McFarland and Company, Inc., 1988. Jack Ruby Documentary (Mobsters) - NationalCrimeSyndicate.com. 2012. http://all4pierce.com/watch_video/jack-ruby-documentary-mobsters-nationalcrimesyndicate-com (accessed December 5, 2013). Kent, Zachary. Encyclopedia of Presidents: John F. Kennedy. Chicago: Childrens Press, 1987. Ross, Brooke. "The Death of a President." upfront, November 18, 2013: 16-19.

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