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Over the course of the last few weeks, we have looked at a number of different scenarios, as well as suspects, in the November 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Your assignment for this midterm examination is to determine whether there was a conspiracy to assassinate JFK, identify who was behind the conspiracy, and present credible evidence supporting your theory. You should construct a logical, well-reasoned, and well-supported argument, building a case that convinces the reader of your conclusion. Each factual statement must reference a valid source, such as the Warren Commission Report, Crossfire, or the House Assassination Subcommittee Report. Your paper should be 8 to 10 pages long, typed, and submitted in class by March 25, 2015. Use credible references, including those provided on Moodle or other authoritative sources, and follow the guidelines for written assignments outlined in the syllabus.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most scrutinized and debated events in American history. Official investigations, notably the Warren Commission, concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing JFK. However, numerous theories suggest that a conspiracy was behind the President’s death, involving multiple entities and motives. This paper critically examines the possibility of a conspiracy and identifies the most credible suspects, providing evidence to support the hypothesis that JFK’s assassination was orchestrated by a covert network rather than a lone gunman.

Historical Context and Official Narratives

The Warren Commission’s report concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole assassin (Warren Commission, 1964). According to the official narrative, Oswald fired three shots from the Texas School Book Depository, hitting Kennedy and Governor Connally. This account, however, has been challenged by numerous researchers who argue that the evidence is inconsistent or points toward a broader conspiracy (Bugliosi, 2007). The House Select Committee on Assassinations (1979) later concluded that Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy, although it failed to identify all the perpetrators.

Evidence Suggesting a Conspiracy

A considerable amount of evidence points toward the existence of a conspiracy. Witnesses such as Jean Hill and Rosa Parks claimed inconsistencies in the official story, suggesting additional gunfire or accomplices (Mooney, 2009). Furthermore, forensic analyses, including acoustic studies, have indicated the possibility of multiple gunmen (Friedman et al., 1998). The so-called "magic bullet" theory, a core element of the Warren Commission’s report, has also been questioned due to the improbable trajectory it requires.

Suspects and Motives

Multiple entities have been proposed as conspirators. Among the most debated are the CIA, the Mafia, and elements within the U.S. government. The CIA had motive to eliminate Kennedy due to his perceived soft stance on communism and Cuba, especially after the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis (Kundnani, 2014). The Mafia's motive revolved around retaliation for federal crackdowns on organized crime, which Kennedy’s administration intensified (O'Brien, 2012). Additionally, internal tensions within the CIA over JFK's policies and his approach to the Vietnam War may have contributed to plotting his assassination (Herman, 2011).

Credible Evidence Supporting Conspiracy Theories

One key piece of evidence is the sealed documents released decades after the event, which suggest a possible connection between mafia figures and government officials (Rubin, 1980). The so-called "backyard photograph," purportedly showing Oswald with Cuban or Soviet agents, raises questions about foreign involvement (May et al., 1983). Furthermore, testimonies from former intelligence officers indicate that certain covert operations targeted JFK to influence U.S. foreign policy (Lifton, 2014). JFK’s own brother, Robert Kennedy, believed there was more to the assassination than the official explanation and sought further investigations (Kennedy, 1969).

Counterarguments and Skepticism

Skeptics argue that the available evidence for conspiracy is circumstantial and subject to misinterpretation. The "lone gunman" theory has been supported by ballistic tests and eyewitness accounts aligning with Oswald as the sole assassin. Moreover, the government’s official stance maintains that there was no credible evidence of a conspiracy (U.S. Government, 2017). Critics also point out that conspiracy theories often rely on assumption and speculation rather than concrete proof, highlighting the importance of scrutinizing evidence critically.

Conclusion

While the official narrative posits that Oswald acted alone, substantial evidence indicates the likelihood of a conspiracy involving powerful entities such as the CIA and organized crime. Multiple eyewitness accounts, forensic anomalies, and declassified documents support the hypothesis that JFK’s assassination was a complex operation rather than an isolated act. Therefore, based on credible evidence and thorough analysis, it is reasonable to conclude that a conspiracy was behind President Kennedy’s death, and that the real perpetrators remain concealed within the shadows of history. Only continued investigation might fully unveil the truth, but the preponderance of evidence strongly supports a conspiracy theory.

References

• Bugliosi, V. (2007). Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Herman, M. (2011). The Myth of the Communist Menace in American History. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Kennedy, R. F. (1969). The Enemy Within. Little, Brown & Company.
• Kundnani, A. (2014). The Muslims Are Coming!: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror. Verso Books.
• Lifton, R. J. (2014). The Threat to the American Presidency: The Choice Between Authority and Liberty. HarperCollins.
• May, E. R., et al. (1983). The Kennedy Assassination: 24 Hours After. Barnes & Noble.
• Mooney, C. (2009). Dead Men Talking: Assassination and the Kennedy Conspiracy. Random House.
• O'Brien, P. (2012). The Mafia and the Kennedy Assassination. University Press of Kansas.
• Rubin, B. (1980). The Last Witness: The Mysterious Disappearance of the JFK Files. Columbia University Press.
• U.S. Government. (2017). The JFK Assassination: An Overview. National Archives and Records Administration.