The JFK Assassination…solved?

All it took was a ticket to the “Book Depository Museum,” and a dream.

The JFK Assassination...solved?

There have been several great murder mysteries in the 20th century that are likely to go unsolved, and there are at least three that come to mind.

One that has perplexed experts for decades now was of course the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Lord knows the authorities will never solve that one. ( In fact, if they would only let O.J. out of prison, he could be spending his precious time looking for the real killers. He’s already eliminated all of the suspects that could be lurking on America’s golf courses and in its strip clubs.)

There was the infamous JonBenet Ramsey case. JonBenet was the adorable little beauty contestant who was found murdered in her own parents’ basement. (This case proves that rich white people can literally kill anyone they want without getting caught.) But in my humble opinion, the creme’ de la creme’ of unsolved murders is the one that may have changed the entire fate of this nation. I am speaking of course about the murder of our 35th President. A crime committed right in broad daylight. The assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Ah, there he is. The thick wavy hair, the youthful energy, bronze tan, hazel eyes, um, ahem…never mind. (You Tube)

On our way to Houston last week, we made a pit-stop in “Big D”, better known as Dallas. I begged my wife for us to go to the famed Texas School Book Depository so we could investigate and solve, (after breakfast of course) the question that has been on the mind of everybody from Lyndon B. Johnson to every amateur sleuth who ever picked up an oversized magnifying glass: Who killed John F. Kennedy?

The scene of the crime…or is it? (Hoffman Collection)

For those of you who live under a rock, or have a “social life”, I will briefly describe the history. (Try to at least pay the same amount of attention that my students do in class, which granted isn’t that much.) JFK scheduled a trip to Texas in November of 1963 in order to shore up his reelection chances.

He was also hoping to heal a rift in the Texas Democratic party (Yes there once was a Texas Democratic party) between conservative democrats, (Henceforth known as Republicans) and liberal democrats. (Henceforth known as dinosaurs) Kennedy along with his vice-president, Lyndon Baines Johnson, their wives, and the governor of Texas, John Connelly and his wife were to meet at the airport, greet supporters, and travel by open-air limousine through the streets of Dallas, before finally stopping at the Trade Mart so JFK could make a speech. All of this was fairly routine stuff. Kennedy liked for people to see himself along with his wife Jackie, since people enjoyed their “radiance”. Therefore, the limo had to remain uncovered.

I begged my wife to at least get a hat like that for when we landed in Dallas, but some people can be soooo difficult. (Times Union)

The official account of the story based on the findings of the Warren Commission basically stated that three shots were fired from the Texas School Book Depository. The first shot missed the limo and ricocheted off the ear of James Tague, an innocent and apparently semi-fortuitous bystander. The second shot hit the president in the back of the neck, exited through the front of his throat, and then tumbling through midair hit Governor Connelly in the chest, wrist and thigh.

The bullet was later found on a stretcher at Parkland Hospital, and appeared to be in suspiciously pristine condition. Finally, the third shot appeared to hit the president in the side of the head, literally blowing out half of his brain, thereby bringing his life to a close. Some key moments from this scene were caught on film by a dressmaker by the name of Abraham Zapruder. (Probably the most famous dressmaker in history, although, his fashions don’t seem to have caught on. When was the last time you heard someone at the Academy Awards say that they were wearing a “Zapruder”?

The shots were determined to have come from the 6th floor of the Texas School Book Depository, and when the employees were gathered after the shooting, one was conspicuously missing. His name was Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald was a former marine, a defector to the Soviet Union during the heart of the “Cold War”, a member of the Communist “Fair Play for Cuba Committee”, and went by three names. All famous murderers have three names: Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth, Mark David Chapman, Hans Christian Anderson etc… Oswald went back to his boarding house, grabbed a pistol, shot police officer J.D. Tippit, and then, perhaps most heinous of all, went into a movie theater, without paying for his ticket! (Dirt-ball!) He was arrested, booked, questioned, paraded in front of the press, as well as one curious strip-club owner who was standing in the same room:

Jack Ruby, shooter of Lee Harvey Oswald, was present during Oswald’s press conference. He is standing all the way to the right with the black suit and glasses. (You Tube)

On Sunday, November 24th, 1963, in front of the whole television viewing universe, Oswald was to be moved from his jail cell in Dallas to a safer location outside of the city. Right before he was to be transferred, he claimed to be cold, and asked if he could go back into his cell and put on a sweater. In that time, a short, stocky, hot-tempered strip-club owner named Jack Ruby walked right past dozens of Dallas police officers, as well as numerous reporters. He stepped forward, shouted, “Oswald!” and shot the alleged JFK gunman in the stomach. Oswald died almost instantly, and the world was denied a trial, and any chance for real justice in the murder of the leader of the free world. Millions of Americans who were used to seeing nothing more controversial on television than “The Beaver” getting teased by Eddie Haskell, saw one of the most shocking and famous images of the 20th century:

Oswald’s murder, (Ruby was convicted for murder, obviously, but he appealed, and won a chance at a second trial, but died of cancer in January of 1967 before that trial could take place.) coupled with the violent backwards jerking of Kennedy’s head that appeared to make a kill shot from the back of the presidential limousine highly unlikely, (The angle from the Book Depository) caused many people to suspect a conspiracy had taken place that may or may not have included Oswald. Countless books, movies, television programs, and even the digging up of Lee Harvey Oswald’s remains from his grave have only furthered the conjecture, hypothesizing, and theorizing over whether JFK was the victim of one deranged loner, or a massive conspiracy. Suspects in the death of the president include, but are not limited to…

1. The F.B.I.
2. The C.I.A.
3. The Mafia
4. Anti-Castro Cubans
5. Pro-Castro Cubans
6. Mark Cuban
7. L.B.J.
8. The Secret Service
9. Jackie Kennedy (He did fool around a lot)
10. Nixon
11. Right-Wing Businessmen
12. The Soviet Union
13. Texas Oilmen
14. Oh yeah, and Oswald

Clay Shaw, the only man ever tried for conspiracy in the murder of JFK. He was the subject of Oliver Stone’s film “JFK” and the investigation of New Orleans’ D.A. Jim Garrison. He was found not guilty by a jury in about an hour. (You Tube)

For many years I was a huge believer in the idea that there must have been a conspiracy. After I saw “JFK”, I figured the government was going to be after me too. (Maybe for hoarding Yodels?) Then I read “Case Closed”, by Gerald Posner, and I was now convinced that Oswald acted alone. In his book, Posner lays out Oswald’s sordid tale, and the overwhelming amount of evidence that tied Oswald to the crime. The conspiracies that others have attempted to expose according to Posner are a bunch of “maybe’s” “what-ifs”, “could-be’s”, but nothing concrete. However, Oswald worked in the building, owned the gun that the bullets came from, and his palm print was on the gun. He was at the scene of the crime, he was seen going to work with a long package, and was missing when workers were rounded up. This seems like pretty compelling evidence to me. Still, I had to see for myself, so I set out for Dealey Plaza with my wife, and we began our investigation.

Exhibit A: The Grassy Knoll. I don’t know who this guy thinks he is, but he’s blowing up my shot! (Hoffman Collection)

Exhibit B: I can now say, that it was entirely possible for Zapruder to use a movie camera from this spot. (Hoffman Collection)

Exhibit C: Is this the kill shot? Well, yes you could stand behind the picket fence, but there’s a huge parking lot and a train station behind where I’m standing, so not much room for anonymity. (Hoffman Collection)

Exhibit D: This is the alleged “kill-shot”. It is so close, that Kennedy’s head would have been vaporized by a high-powered rifle. (Hoffman Collection)

Exhibit E: From one floor above the alleged “sniper’s nest”, a shadowy figure looks out at history. Damn, are my ears that pointy? (Hoffman Collection)

Exhibit F: This is what Oswald would have seen from his vantage point. It’s incredibly close to the street. Much closer than it appears on television. Add a telescopic sight and a trained Marine, and really, what’s the big mystery? (Hoffman Collection)

The Texas School Book Depository is now a museum dedicated to the assassination of JFK. If you love history, then it’s a must see. They cover everything from Kennedy’s own history to the most recent updates in the investigation. I did learn that the building in 1963 was owned by Lady Bird Johnson’s foundation, the vice-president’s wife. Many have suspected that LBJ was involved. Think about it. Who stood to benefit more from JFK’s death? The murder took place in Texas, Johnson’s home state. He could have arranged the transfer of Oswald, and then have him silenced before his trial could take place. He then puts together a bogus commission led by enemies of JFK to “investigate” the assassination. They deceive and fool the public, and Johnson gets his dream job that he craved his entire life. Hmm? On second thought…nah!