Who Killed Kennedy?Who Killed Kennedy?

Mr. BachHudson High SchoolUnited States History

The Lone Assassin – Lee The Lone Assassin – Lee Harvey OswaldHarvey Oswald

• Official conclusion of the Warren Commission

• Motive: Had ties to the Soviet Union and Communist Cuba

• Means: Had the skill as a former Marine sharpshooter

• Benefit: Crazed Gunman

The MafiaThe Mafia• Motive: Mob helped

get JFK elected; Betrayed by RFK (went after Mob as Attorney General); Betrayed over refusal to invade Cuba

• Means: Skilled in assassinations

• Benefit: Removes RFK from AG Office

The Cuban ExilesThe Cuban Exiles• Motive: Hated JFK

for betrayal over Bay of Pigs Invasion

• Means: Members trained by CIA as skilled marksmen

• Benefit: Hard-liner, anti-Castro back in office?; Revenge?

The Soviet Union/CastroThe Soviet Union/Castro• Motive: Humiliation

in Cuban Missile Crisis; Repeated assassination attempts on Castro

• Means: Access to KGB assassins

• Benefit: Sends a message of Soviet strength

The Federal ReserveThe Federal Reserve• Motive: Kennedy’s

Executive Order 11,110 to print Silver Certificates (Bypasses Fed)

• Means: Huge wealth of international bankers (unlimited resources)

• Benefit: Maintains authority of Fed over U.S. monetary policy

The Central Intelligence The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)Agency (CIA)

• Motive: Perceived weakness of JFK vs. Soviets; Threat to break up CIA after Bay of Pigs

• Means: Skilled in assassinations and “denying all knowledge”

• Benefit: Hard-line anti-Communist as President; maintains agency

The Military-Industrial The Military-Industrial ComplexComplex

• Motive: Would stand to lose a lot of money if JFK pulled U.S. forces out of Vietnam

• Means: Access to advanced weapons and people who would know how to use them

• Benefit: LBJ increases involvement in Vietnam War

Lyndon Baines JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson• Motive: Would

become president after assassination; hated the Kennedys

• Means: Had close ties to powerful people in Defense Industry and CIA

• Benefit: Presidency!