Who Killed JFK?

Kennedy’s Assassination

Background as President

• ELECTION OF 1960:

• Many people questioned Kennedy’s experience- youngest president at age 43.

• First televised presidential debate- 70 million viewers thought that Kennedy won. Radio listeners Nixon won.

• Kennedy won by the slimmest of margins- won by 119,000 out of 69 million.

• First Catholic President

JFK’s Accomplishments• NEW FRONTIER- improve economy, aid

the poor and speed up the space program.

• 1961- Housing Act- Increased the federal minimum wage.

• 1962 - JFK proposed tax break to help economy.

• Authorized invasion of Cuba to overthrow Communist dictator, Fidel Castro

Kennedy is Assassinated• November 22, 1963- President in Dallas,

TX.

• Traveling in motorcade through downtown Dallas.

• Bullets rang out from the Texas School Book Depository.

• President is struck twice- once through neck, next in the back of the head.

• Governor Connelly is also wounded

JFK’s Assassination• The prime suspect was Lee Harvey

Oswald, a former marine and supporter of Fidel Castro.

• Two days later, Oswald was murdered by Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner.

• The Warren Commission was in charge of the assassination investigation. They determined that Oswald had acted alone.

JFK Conspiracy Theories• Conspiracy: an evil & unlawful plan

formulated in secret; plot • There are many arguments that JFK’s

assassination was a conspiracy.• After watching these video clips, you will have

to write a 2 paragraph response in which you argue your own opinions on the assassination.

• You must support your theory with evidence so pay attention and be ready to share the details!

JFK Conspiracy Theories -

FACTS1. Shots were fired from Texas School Book Depository

2. Weapon was a military rifle

3. 2.3 seconds required to operate rifle between shots

4. Oswald never testified or gave his story

5. Oswald was a member of the “Fair play for Cuba” Organization

6. Zapruder film is the only known video taken at the scene (released to public in 1975)

7. Shots took place between 6-9 seconds

8. 9 bullet wounds total (4 = JFK; 5 = Connelly)

9. Assassination records will be declassified in 2029

JFK Conspiracy Theories -

UNKNOWN1. Autopsy never released; investigation used medical

drawings

2. Kennedy’s brain was never found

3. Was Governor Connelly shot with the same bullet as JFK?

4. Ruby & Oswald’s relationship

5. Was the fatal shot fired from the front or back?

6. Was there more than one shooter?

7. Inconsistency between witnesses and investigation

8. The “Pristine Bullet”

Witness Accounts• Jean Hill: a woman who told of seeing a Grassy Knoll shooter,

of seeing Jack Ruby in Dealey Plaza, and of being intimidated by phony "Secret Service agents" in the minutes following the assassination

• Beverly Oliver: who claims to have seen Oswald and Ruby together in the Carousel Club, and to have photographed the assassination in Dealey Plaza (with the FBI confiscating the film).

• Robert Morrow: who claims to have been a CIA agent, and to have supplied weapons for the shooters in Dealey Plaza

• Gordon Arnold: claimed to have been on the Grassy Knoll during the shooting, to have heard a shot whiz past his left ear, and to have been confronted by a man who confiscated his camera

• 10 witnesses claim to have seen a grassy knoll shooter• President Johnson: After office, claimed more than one shooter

JFK Conspiracy Theories• Warren Commission: single gunmen - Oswald

• Magic bullet: There was more than one gun and more than one shooter

• Oswald: ties to communism and the mob

• CIA: used bogus evidence, tried to abduct tapes, and faked autopsy photos

• U.S. Government: wanted more profit from Vietnam and knew VP Johnson would do it

• Jack Ruby: ties to the mob, worked with Oswald and said he knew too much

Who Killed JFK?• Based on all the information and video

clips, your homework tonight is analyze Kennedy’s assassination.

• Must be 2 paragraphs long

• In YOUR opinion, who killed JFK?

• Use evidence to back up your opinion.• There is no right or wrong answer –

remember, no one knows exactly what happened.