The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most traumatic and debated events in American history. Decades later, the question “Who shot John F. Kennedy?” still echoes in the minds of many, fueling countless theories and investigations. While official reports point to Lee Harvey Oswald as the lone gunman, the complexities and controversies surrounding the event continue to captivate and confound. This article delves into the events of that fateful day in Dallas, the immediate aftermath, and the enduring quest to understand exactly who was responsible for the death of the 35th President of the United States.
The Road to Dallas: Campaigning in Texas
In the autumn of 1963, President Kennedy was actively preparing for his re-election campaign in 1964. Despite not formally announcing his candidacy, his intentions were clear. He embarked on a series of travels, including a significant trip to the American West in late September, focusing on conservation and natural resources, while also subtly testing campaign themes like national security and world peace.
A month later, he continued his political engagements with addresses in Boston and Philadelphia. November 12 marked a crucial political strategy meeting where Kennedy emphasized the importance of securing Florida and Texas in the upcoming election. Plans were made for a visit to both states within the next couple of weeks. Texas, in particular, was deemed critical, despite internal Democratic party divisions that could potentially hinder his chances.
Accompanying him on this Texas tour was First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, marking her return to public life after the tragic loss of their infant son, Patrick, in August. On November 21, Air Force One departed for a two-day, five-city campaign swing through Texas.
President Kennedy was acutely aware of the political landscape in Texas. A rift among prominent Democrats threatened party unity, and he hoped his visit could bridge these divides. He also knew about the presence of extremist groups in Texas, particularly in Dallas, where just a month prior, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson had been attacked after a speech. Despite these potential challenges, President Kennedy seemed eager to engage directly with the public and navigate the political intricacies of Texas.
President Kennedy waves to the welcoming crowd in Fort Worth on the morning of November 22, 1963.
The first Texan stop was San Antonio, where Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Governor John Connally, and Senator Ralph Yarborough greeted the presidential party. At Brooks Air Force Base, President Kennedy dedicated the Aerospace Medical Health Center. He then proceeded to Houston, addressing the League of United Latin American Citizens and attending a dinner honoring Congressman Albert Thomas, before concluding the day in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth and the Flight to Dallas
November 22, 1963, began with a light rain in Fort Worth. Despite the weather, a large crowd gathered outside the Texas Hotel, where the Kennedys had stayed overnight. President Kennedy, braving the rain without an overcoat, addressed the crowd from a makeshift platform. He began with an appreciative remark about the Fort Worth spirit, acknowledging the crowd’s enthusiasm despite the weather. He also playfully mentioned the First Lady’s meticulous preparations, drawing warm laughter. His speech touched upon national defense, space exploration, economic growth, and the responsibilities of American leadership in the world. The audience responded warmly, and President Kennedy spent time shaking hands with the smiling crowd.
Later that morning, inside the hotel, he spoke at a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce breakfast, focusing on military strength and preparedness. He emphasized America’s role as a “keystone in the arch of freedom” and acknowledged Texas’s leading role in national endeavors.
The presidential entourage then departed for Carswell Air Force Base for the short thirteen-minute flight to Dallas. Upon arrival at Love Field in Dallas, President and Mrs. Kennedy immediately approached a fence where supporters had gathered, spending several minutes greeting and shaking hands with them. Mrs. Kennedy received a bouquet of red roses, which she carried to the waiting limousine. Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie, were already seated in the open convertible. The Kennedys joined them, with the President and First Lady in the back. The plastic bubble top was removed as the rain had stopped. Vice President and Mrs. Johnson followed in another car as the motorcade prepared to proceed.
President and Mrs. Kennedy are greeted by crowds upon arrival at Love Field in Dallas on November 22, 1963.
The motorcade embarked on a ten-mile route through Dallas, heading towards the Trade Mart where President Kennedy was scheduled to deliver a luncheon address.
The Tragedy at Dealey Plaza: Who Fired the Shots?
Excited crowds lined the streets of Dallas, eager to catch a glimpse of President and Mrs. Kennedy. As the motorcade turned onto Elm Street at Dealey Plaza around 12:30 p.m., the atmosphere was celebratory. However, as the limousine passed the Texas School Book Depository, the unthinkable happened: gunfire erupted in Dealey Plaza.
Shots rang out, and President Kennedy was struck in the neck and head. He slumped towards Mrs. Kennedy. Governor Connally, seated in front of him, was also hit, wounded in the back. The limousine accelerated rapidly towards Parkland Memorial Hospital, just minutes away.
Despite immediate medical attention, there was little that could be done for the President. A Catholic priest was called to administer last rites. At 1:00 p.m., John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead. Governor Connally, though seriously injured, would survive.
President Kennedy’s body was taken to Love Field and placed aboard Air Force One. Before departing Dallas, a somber Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President in a cramped compartment of the aircraft, with U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Hughes administering the oath of office at 2:38 p.m.
Less than an hour prior to this, police had apprehended Lee Harvey Oswald, a recent employee at the Texas School Book Depository. He was arrested for the assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent fatal shooting of Dallas Patrolman J.D. Tippit.
Two days later, on Sunday, November 24, as Oswald was being transferred from police headquarters to the county jail, millions watching live television witnessed another shocking event. Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner, stepped forward and fatally shot Oswald at point-blank range. Oswald died two hours later at Parkland Hospital, the same hospital where President Kennedy had passed away.
Lyndon B. Johnson takes the oath of office aboard Air Force One.
The Nation Mourns: President Kennedy’s Funeral
The same day Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald, President Kennedy’s flag-draped casket was moved from the White House to the Capitol. Drawn by six grey horses, accompanied by a riderless black horse, the caisson proceeded in a solemn procession reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral, as requested by Mrs. Kennedy. Crowds lined Pennsylvania Avenue, many openly weeping as the cortege passed. For 21 hours, President Kennedy lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, where approximately 250,000 people paid their respects.
On November 25, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Heads of state and representatives from over 100 countries attended the funeral, while countless millions watched on television around the world. At the gravesite, Mrs. Kennedy and the President’s brothers, Robert and Edward, lit an eternal flame.
Among the most poignant images of that day were John F. Kennedy Jr.’s salute to his father (on his third birthday), Caroline Kennedy kneeling beside her mother at the bier, and Jacqueline Kennedy’s remarkable grace and dignity amidst profound grief.
In the aftermath of this senseless act, as the world grappled with the loss of President Kennedy, his inaugural address resonated deeply, particularly the words:
All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days, nor in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration. Nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
The eternal flame burns at President Kennedy’s grave site in Arlington National Cemetery.
The Quest for Answers: Investigations and Lingering Questions
The Warren Commission and the Lone Gunman Theory
In the immediate aftermath of the assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy on November 29, 1963. This commission, known as the Warren Commission after its chairman, Chief Justice Earl Warren, was tasked with investigating all aspects of the assassination and the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald.
After a ten-month investigation, the Warren Commission concluded in its 1964 report that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President Kennedy and that Jack Ruby acted alone in killing Oswald. This “lone gunman theory” became the official explanation for the assassination.
The House Select Committee on Assassinations and the “Probable Conspiracy”
In 1976, the U.S. House of Representatives formed the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) to re-examine the JFK assassination, prompted by persistent doubts and allegations that previous investigations had not been thorough enough.
In 1979, the HSCA issued its report, which, while supporting the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Oswald fired the shots that killed President Kennedy, also stated that there was a “high probability that two gunmen fired” at the President. This conclusion was largely based on acoustic evidence from a Dallas police radio recording, which supposedly indicated four or more shots were fired. However, the acoustic evidence was later discredited by experts, casting doubt on the HSCA’s “probable conspiracy” finding.
Despite the Warren Commission’s findings and the subsequent HSCA report, the question of “who shot John F. Kennedy?” continues to be debated. Conspiracy theories abound, questioning the lone gunman theory and suggesting involvement from various groups, including the Mafia, the CIA, and even foreign governments.
While official investigations have consistently pointed to Lee Harvey Oswald as the assassin, the lingering questions and unresolved ambiguities surrounding the events in Dealey Plaza ensure that the mystery of who truly shot John F. Kennedy will likely endure for generations to come. The assassination remains a pivotal moment in history, prompting ongoing reflection on its causes, consequences, and the unanswered questions that continue to haunt the American psyche.
