the events, the assassin, the theories, and the nation’s reaction

The Events, the Assassin, the Theories, and the

Nation’s Reaction

The Events of the The Events of the AssassinationAssassination

November 22, 1963• Kennedy gives speech followed by a motorcade through Dallas.

Governor Connally of Texas and his wife accompany the President and first lady.

The Events of the The Events of the AssassinationAssassination (2)(2)

• The motorcade turns down Houston St. and makes a left onto Elm St. through Dealy Plaza. The Texas School Book Depository, with Oswald on 6th floor, is on the corner.


• “Something has happened…”– KBOX Dallas radio’s live report of the assassination, just

prior to, during and immediately following the shooting.


• 3 – 4 shots are fired at the President

• Governor Connally hit under armpit, out arm, and into his thigh

• Kennedy hit 2x– Once in the back and out

throat– One shot to the head

• Motorcade rushes off to the Hospital

• Charles Brehm – eyewitness account, father watching w/ son


• At 1:00 PM on November 22nd, 1963 President John F. Kennedy dies at the age of 46.– The initial newsflash

stating that Kennedy has died. (A woman can be heard sobbing upon hearing the news)


• VP Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as President on plane in Dallas

• A shocked and stunned nation comes to grips with the tragedy that has taken place– “In the hearts of each of us”

- news anchor Frank McGee attempts to put the country’s feelings into words


Lee Harvey Oswald• Becomes focus of investigation into

assassination• Arrested in movie theater a few miles

from site of assassination on same day – believed that he killed a police officer shortly after assassination

• “They’re taking me in because of the fact that I lived in the Soviet Union. I’m only a patsy.”

• Rifle and spent shells found in TSBD where some witnesses believed shots came from

• While being transferred, Oswald is shot and killed by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby

Profile of an AssassinProfile of an Assassin Lee Harvey Oswald• Troubled Childhood –

– father died, mother unstable, previous violence, moved 21x btw school & college

• Marxist/Communist Beliefs – – Taught himself Russian, Joined Marines, didn’t

like it, moved to USSR in 1959, married– Not accepted there – moved back to USA– Applied for residency in Cuba – denied

• Texas School Book Depository – – October 1963 – Oswald gets job working there

(site of shooting)

• Previous Assassination Attempt – – April 10th, 1963 – Planned & attempted to kill

former Gen. Walker – critic of Castro

The InvestigationThe Investigation• The Warren Commission

– LBJ appoints a special committee to investigate the assassination– Headed by Chief Justice of S.C. Earl Warren

• Warren Report (issued Sept 1964)– Oswald, acting alone, killed JFK

• No conspiracy

– Oswald fired 3 shots • 1 missed, no others shot

– Single Bullet Theory – Same bullet that hit Kennedy in throat went on to strike Gov. Connally in the back

– Jack Ruby’s killing of Oswald was spontaneous, no significant ties to the Mafia

The InvestigationThe Investigation (2)(2)

• The House Select Committee on Assassinations - conducts investigation over 3 yr period (’76-’79)

– Kennedy killed as part of a conspiracy – Oswald did not act alone

– Four shots were fired, one shot was fired from the “grassy knoll” but missed Kennedy and the limousine

– Jack Ruby had significant ties to organized crime– Ruby’s killing of Oswald was not spontaneous but had the

appearance of a “hit” to silence him– Warren Commission failed to fully investigate the

possibility of a conspiracy– CIA and FBI did not supply all the info they had to the

commission– Security arrangements insecure? A proper autopsy?

Two Basic Views of the Two Basic Views of the AssassinationAssassination

• Crazed Loner– One gunman

– Acted alone

– No accomplices or help from anyone else

• Conspiracy– More than one

gunman

– Those gunmen a part of a larger conspiracy

Which one do you believe???Which one do you believe???Let’s look at some of the evidence…Let’s look at some of the evidence…

Evidence: Dealy Plaza Evidence: Dealy Plaza RevisitedRevisited

• Make note of locations of people, objects, and buildings

Evidence: Sniper’s Nest Evidence: Sniper’s Nest RevisitedRevisited

Evidence: The AssassinEvidence: The Assassin• MotiveMotive – Did he have the motivation to pull off the Did he have the motivation to pull off the

assassination?assassination?

• TSBDTSBD – Rifle & “Snipers Nest” – Rifle & “Snipers Nest”– Rifle had his fingerprints on it, 3 shells found in Rifle had his fingerprints on it, 3 shells found in

area around the snipers nestarea around the snipers nest• Accuracy of ShotsAccuracy of Shots– Could he have gotten 3 shots off in 8 seconds with Could he have gotten 3 shots off in 8 seconds with

great accuracy?great accuracy?

Evidence: The Evidence: The WitnessesWitnesses

• How many shots were fired?

• Jean Hill & Mary Moorman / Bill & Gayle Newman

• Where were the shots fired from?

• How reliable is eyewitness How reliable is eyewitness testimony?testimony?

Evidence: “The Magic Evidence: “The Magic BulletBullet””

• Does the Single Bullet Theory hold up?– Movie JFK’s depiction of “Magic Bullet”– The seating position – Is Connally directly in front of

Kennedy or not?

Evidence:Evidence: “The Magic “The Magic BulletBullet””(2)(2)

• Does the Single Bullet Theory hold up?– The Trajectory – Could the bullet have passed through

both bodies?– Are these diagrams accurate depictions of the seating

arrangements?


• Does the Single Bullet Theory hold up?– The “Pristine” Bullet – After passing through

two bodies, does the bullet show some wear to it?


• Back to the Single Bullet Theory w/ Zapruder• Does the Single Bullet Theory hold up?

The Final ShotThe Final Shot• ““Back & to the Left” (JFK) Back & to the Left” (JFK) – Does the movement of JFK’s – Does the movement of JFK’s

head indicate where the final fatal shot came from?head indicate where the final fatal shot came from?

What Really Happened?What Really Happened?

• Oswald as lone gunner is most widely accepted, BUT there is still much debate even today.

• What do you think?

• Why are there so many who believe that there was a conspiracy?

A Nation MournsA Nation Mourns• The Funeral

– November 25, 1963 (John Jr.’s BDay) – Thousands attend the procession from the White House to Arlington Cemetery

– Millions mourned in services held around the country and around the world.

A Nation MournsA Nation Mourns (2)(2)

• Some of the sights and sounds of the Funeral

A son’s final salute to his

father

A Fallen Leader’s Final Resting A Fallen Leader’s Final Resting PlacePlace

the events, the assassin, the theories, and the nation’s reaction

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