The Jfk Assasination Essay, Research Paper
John F. Kennedy was the bright future for the American
people. He brought youth to the White House for the
first time in our nation’s history. Not only did John
F. Kennedy bring youth, but he also brought change and
new ideas to improve the nation. Kennedy, during his
first term in office, improved peace talks with the
Soviet Union. He also was working on ideas to halt the
Vietnam War. His work could not be done in a single
term as president. Kennedy had to start campaigning
for reelection, and decided to make trip a to hostile
Dallas to campaign. The President arrived in Dallas to
a crowd of happy people hoping to get a glimpse of the
President. As his motorcade proceeded down Elm Street,
Governor Connally’s wife said “You can’t say that
Dallas isn’t friendly to you today.” John F. Kennedy
was assassinated (Untied Press International 14).
November 22, 1963, would be the day Camelot would come
crumbling down. Our nation and the world mourned the
death of our young, inspiring President.
It has been thirty years since the assassination of
John F. Kennedy, and people are still uncertain as to
who assassinated him. There have been theories that
the CIA and the FBI were linked to the assassination.
All of these theories have been disproven by other
theories. The government’s theory is that Lee Harvey
Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Lee
Harvey Oswald’s past may answer some questions as to
why he is considered to be the assassin of John
Kennedy. Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President John
F. Kennedy.
Lee Harvey Oswald was born on October 18, 1939, to a
lower middle class family. His father died two months
before he was born. This left Oswald to be taken care
of by his mother, Marguerite. Marguerite had a hard
time dealing with the death of Lee’s Father because
she was left all alone to raise Lee and his two
brothers, Robert and John Pic, a son from her first
marriage (Beck 71).
Marguerite checked Robert and John into an orphanage,
so that she could find work for her family. Marguerite
wanted to put Lee into an orphanage, but he was too
young. After Lee turned three years old, he was placed
in the same orphanage that Robert and John were put in
earlier. After two years Lee’s mother took Lee and his
brothers out of the orphanage (Posner 6).
Marguerite informed Lee that she would marry, Edwin
Ekdahl, a local businessman, whom she had known for
about six months. Lee and Edwin became close friends,
but this came to a halt as Edwin and Marguerite
started arguing. They divorced in the summer of 1948.
Marguerite was forced to move Lee and her family to a
poor house. Lee never stayed in school long because
his family was on the move so much (Posner 8).
Merguerite kept her family moving arouattitude nd from
Texas back to Louisiana. His mother also had a
depressed toward life. In January of 1950, John Pic
left to join the Coast Guard. Soon after, Robert left
to join the Marines (Posner 10).
In the summer of 1952, Merguerite and Lee moved to New
York. This caused problems for Lee because New York
did not allow children to skip school. He was put on
probation and was evaluated by psychiatrist who said
“Vivid fantasy life, turning around topics of
omnipotence.” (Parshall 72) Lee was in his own world.
He was asked once if he liked the company of boys or
girls, he said, “I dislike everybody” (Parshall 72).
Lee was more of a loner as a child.
To keep Lee from being put into a shelter, Marguerite
fled New York and went to Texas. Oswald started to
read books on Marxism (Parshall 72). He also wanted to
join the Marines.
Oswald then joined the Marines a week after he turned
17. Oswald would never obtain a high school diploma.
He scored a below average score on his aptitude test.
Oswald was assigned to Second Training Battalion.
Three weeks after training had begun, Oswald scored a
212 on his rifle test. He qualified as a
“sharpshooter” (Posner 21). Oswald never became
friends with the other Marines because they made fun
of him calling him “Ozzie Rabbit” (Parshall 72).
Oswald also received two court marshals, while he was
in the Marines. After two years of service, he was
given an early discharge (Parshall 72).
After Oswald’s discharge, he began his plans to become
a Russian citizen. Oswald sailed to England and then
went on to Moscow (Beck 71). Oswald went to the USSR
embassy. He then offered to tell them everything he
knew about the US (Beck 71). Nosenko, a KGB agent
assigned to watch Oswald said “The KGB was not at all
interested in him.” (Posner 48). The KGB felt Oswald
had nothing to offer them.
Oswald asked for citizenship but was denied. He went
back to his hotel to commit suicide. Oswald slashed
his wrists and stuck them in cold water to relieve the
pain. Oswald was later revived. The Russians had two
psychiatrists observe him. They found him unstable.
The KGB did not want to be held responsible for the
death of an American tourist in Russia so they allowed
Oswald to stay in Russia (Parshall 65).
Oswald received an apartment in Minsk. He also was
given a job at a Radio factory. While in Russia,
Oswald met his first love, Ella Germann. He was going
to propose to her, but she would not accept. His
opinion of Russia started to change; he started to
feel it wasn’t what he dreamed it would be (Posner
60). Oswald also met his future wife, Marina. Marina
was a Pharmacology student who worked at a hospital.
Lee and Marina married and had one child in Russia.
Oswald soon grew tired of life in Russia. He asked the
US embassy for help in allowing him to leave Russia.
After filling out forms in triplicate, Oswald and his
family were allowed to leave for the US (Posner 71).
The US gave Oswald a loan to get him and his family
back to the US. The loan was also used to get them
started (Posner 72). While back in the US Oswald held
many jobs. He always seemed to lose them for either
not working or saying the job was degrading.
Oswald worked to pay his loan off as fast as he could.
Once the loan was paid off, he started to buy some
material things. He purchased a revolver and a
Mannlicher-Carcano Rifle from a mail order catalog
known as Klein’s Sporting goods (Posner 103).
Oswald met a man by the name of George de
Mohenschildt, an aristocratic Russian left winged
person. Mohenschildt taught Oswald to hate right
winger people (Beck 72). Oswald and Mohenschildt
became good friends. Mohenschildt would go over to
Oswald’s home often to talk about politics (Posner
100).
Oswald learned of a Gen. Walker, a right winged
person, who was going to run for Governor of Texas.
Oswald started to take photos of Walker’s home and
plotted out ways of getting to his home (Posner 112).
Oswald crept up to Walker’s home with his
Mannlicher-Carcano rifle (Parshall 72). He saw Gen.
Walker sitting in his home; Oswald aimed his rifle up
to Gen. Walker and fired a shot at him. Gen. Walker
thought it was a firecracker. The shot hit the wood
going across the double window in his home (Posner
114). Oswald then ran and buried his rifle. After
burying his rifle, he ran home. The police were
looking for a rifle with a .30-06 shell size. On
Easter Sunday, Oswald went to retrieve his rifle
(Posner 115-116).
Oswald and his family moved to New Orleans to look for
work. Oswald was forced to apply for unemployment
money which was $33 a month. Oswald decided that he
wanted to defect to Cuba by going to the Cuban Embassy
in Mexico City. During this time, Oswald’s wife Marina
returned to Dallas to live with Ruth Paine. Oswald
saved some money so that he could make the trip to
Mexico. Oswald left New Orleans by Greyhound bus on
his way to Mexico City (Posner 170).
Once Oswald arrived in Mexico, He traveled to the
Cuban Embassy to ask for visa to go Cuba. The Cubans
told Oswald that he needed a Soviet Visa in order in
gain a Cuban Visa. Oswald then traveled to the Soviet
Embassy in Mexico City. He then told the Soviets that
his life was in danger if he did not gain access to
the Soviet Union. The Soviets at the embassy found him
to be unstable (Beck 72). The Cubans showed no
interest in what Oswald had to say (Parshall 72).
Oswald returned to Dallas; where he was disappointed
that the Cubans did not want him. He lived in a
rooming house, while Marina lived with Ruth Paine.
Oswald got a job working at a school book depository
in down town Dallas (Beck 72).
At this time, President John F. Kennedy had made his
motorcade route for the Dallas trip. The motorcade
route was publis
and 20th of November (Beck 72). The motorcade route
would ride up Houston Street, and then make sharp turn
on to Elm street passing right in front of the book
depository.
On the evening of November 21, 1963, Oswald asked
Marina to move back in with him. She refused; she said
she wanted to stay with Ruth. The next morning she
woke up, and he was gone. He left his wedding ring and
$170 (Beck 72).
On the morning of November 22, 1963, Oswald went to
Buell Frazier’s home. He was caring a long object
wrapped in paper. He then put the object into the back
seat of Frazier’s car. Frazier asked him what was in
the package? Oswald replied curtain rods (Sniper’s
nest p71).
Frazier and Oswald always walked together to the book
depository, but On November 22, Oswald walked swiftly
to the depository. Other workers said that he did not
follow his normal routine of reading yesterday’s news
paper (Posner 224).
Oswald went up to the sixth floor of the depository
where he learned the direction in which the president
would be coming. One of the worker, Charles Givens
asked Oswald “Boy, are you going downstairs? Its near
lunch time” Oswald said “No, sir.” Oswald is now alone
in the sixth floor of the book depository to assemble
the Mannlicher-Caracano rifle and move the boxes of
books into the position to make a three side shield so
that no one could see him firing at the president
(Sniper’s Nest 76). Oswald was set and ready to fire
at the president.
During this time, the motorcade came up Houston Street
and turned down on Elm Street. The first shot was
fired; it misses the president. The people around
think that one of the motorcycles on the motorcade
backfired. The second shot fires; it hit President
Kennedy. Governor Connally smashes back into his jump
seat and falls into his wife’s lap. The driver then
slows the car down to a near stop. The President’s
head tilts to the left where the final shot hit him on
the right side of his head.
Howard L. Brennan was watching the motorcade on Elm
Street. He notice a rifle on the sixth floor of the
book depository. He saw the rifle fire at the
president’s car. He later told the police; this gave
the police the description of Oswald (Warren Report
5).
After Oswald fired the final shot, he leaves the
sniper’s nest towards the rear stair case. Oswald
drops the rifle between two boxes on the sixth floor
of the depository. He then proceeds down the stairs to
the second floor. He enters the lunch room. A police
officer stops Oswald. Oswald’s supervisor told the
police officer that Oswald works here (Sniper’s Nest
82). Oswald then stops to purchase a coke and figure
out how he is going to escape. He decides to go out
the front entrance on Elm Street (Posner 264).
Oswald decided to wait for a bus, but he thought it
would be to risky; so he walked east on Elm Street
away from the depository to the next bus stop
(Sniper’s Nest 83). He got the bus at the bus stop.
Traffic was backed up because of the shooting. Oswald
then asked if he could get off the bus. Oswald asked
for a cab (Posner 266). Oswald told the cab driver to
go the 500 block of North Beckley. This was where his
rooming house was. Oswald got off at the 700 block of
North Beckley. He was now five minutes from his
rooming house (267).
Oswald went his rooming house. While at his rooming
house, Oswald grabbed his jacket and a revolver. He
then walked out of the rooming house, and started
walking down the block. At this time his description
went over the dispatch. Officer J.D. Tippet stopped
Oswald. He asked Oswald a few questions. Tippet then
got out of the car; Oswald pulled out his revolver and
shot him down. Oswald then ran to the Dallas Theater
where he was apprehended (Sniper’s Nest 86-87).
Oswald was down to the police headquarters for
questioning. The police made a strong case against
Oswald. They proved the rifle was his and they found
the paper he had it wrapped in (United Press
International 63-65).
After the questioning, Oswald was being transferred.
As Oswald and the police officers exited the Police
station through the basement, Jack Ruby fired a shot
into Oswald. Oswald died at a hospital in Dallas. Jack
Ruby was then charged with the murder of Lee Harvey
Oswald.
The evidence found in the last thirty years has shown
some controversy over how Lee Harvey Oswald could have
assassinated John F. Kennedy. The contrasting ideas of
experts causes many theories as to how the president
was shot. The evidence that points to Lee Harvey
Oswald is that his finger prints were all over the
rifle and the boxes in the book depository (Sniper’s
Nest 79). This proves that Oswald was in the sniper’s
nest that he made.
The second bullet fired by Lee Harvey Oswald that hit
Kennedy and Connally has been debated because how can
a bullet travel through a person and still come out
looking like a unfired bullet. In the movie JFK,
Oliver Stone states a theory that one bullet went
through Kennedy’s neck through the front not the back.
He also believes that governor Connally was hit by a
totally different bullet coming from behind. In order
for Oswald to hit the president and Connally; he would
have had to hit Kennedy and Connally with one bullet.
This has become to be known as the “Single Bullet
Theory”. The Single Bullet Theory” states that the
shot fired from the book depository by Oswald went
through the back of Kennedy’s neck and come out just
below his Adam’s apple. Then the same bullet enters
Connally through the middle of the back. It then comes
out below his right nipple. The bullet ratchets off
Connally’s wrist into his thigh. The bullet is later
found on Connally’s stretcher at Parkland Hospital.
In order to prove the “Single Bullet Theory” an
autopsy was performed on President Kennedy. The
Doctors observed the wound in the neck around the
Kennedy’s Adam’s apple. Dr. Carrico said “With those
facts and the facts as I understand it no other bullet
was found this would be, this was, I believe, was an
exit wound. Dr. Perry “…I believe it was an exit
wound” (Warren Report 89). Since the wound near
Kennedy’s Adam’s apple was an exit wound, it would
prove that the shot was fired from the behind Kennedy.
This proves that the shot came from the book
depository.
The fatal shot to the head of Kennedy has been a
strong point to many theories. In the Movie JFK,
Oliver Stone states a theory that the fatal shot came
from the grassy knoll. He supported his theory by
using witnesses who said they saw a puff of smoke by
the grassy knoll. In contrast to Oliver Stone’s
theory, on the day of the assassination there was a 20
miles per hour wind which this would have caused the
puff of smoke to have been blown away. Also modern
ammunition is smokeless (Sniper’s nest 86). Oliver
Stone states that Kennedy’s head moves back and to the
left. Proving the shot came from the grassy knoll. In
the Autopsy, the report stated the shot entered the
lower portion of the head and exited out the right
side of Kennedy’s skull (Warren Report 109). In the
Zapruder film, it shows at frame 313 the bullet strike
Kennedy in the head. “It [Kennedy's head] moves
slightly to the left and downward, just for two or
three frames, which is consistent with a bullet
striking it from behind and nowhere else, because the
momentum of the bullet is imparted” (Cockburn 295).
With the entry wound coming from behind, this would
mean that the bullet had to have come from the book
depository.
The only unanswered question is why would Oswald
assassinate the president. This question has not been
answered by any of the top critics. Most critics do
not known he came from a broken family with only one
parent. In movie the JFK, Oliver Stone never shows an
actual history of Oswald as child. He never states
Oswald’s mother’s life or how Oswald tried to
assassinate Gen. Walker. These issues are important in
how Oswald’s personality is made up. He was a child
that never had many friends or had anyone real close
to him. The only person he had was his wife, and she
turned him away on the eve of the assassination. He
finally broke down and did something that he would be
noticed for.
Lee Harvey Oswald was a man with a mission in life to
be noticed. He now is noticed as the man who
assassinated the brightest president our country has
ever seen. Our country should put to rest the
assassination by releasing the classified documents
that list the information of the FBI and CIA findings.
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