The Assassination of President John Kennedy in November 1963 is forever seared into to memories of those old enough to remember that time.  Years later that event remains the subject of controversy and conspiracy theories.  Olive Stone’s 1992 movie JFK did much to spread misinformation. Stone’s was a violent tale of conspiracy and corruption that alleged a plot to kill the President involving high-ranking members of the government. In the years before and after that film, other students of the assassination brought out their own versions of what had happened that fateful day.  Some were serious, others were charlatans simply seeking to exploit the general public’s credulity.

Many years ago I took a deep dive in to the evidence.  My main source was the exhaustive report issued by the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy.  The commission was chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren. I also looked at evidence and analyses presented by other examiners of the event.

After my study, I reached the following conclusions:

Lee Harvey Oswald fired three rifle shots at the Presidential limousine as it passed in front of the Texas Book Depository.  The first shot missed.  The second shot struck President Kennedy, exited his body,  and then wounded Governor Connelly.  The third shot caused the fatal head wound to the President. .No one other than Oswald fired shots at the President that morning.

Shortly following mortally wounding the President, Oswald killed Officer Tippit with a handgun, after which he was cornered and arrested in a theater.

The evidence that Oswald killed President Kennedy and Officer Tippitt is overwhelming and virtually beyond question.  Had he been brought to trial, there is no doubt that he would have been convicted.  Unfortunately, Ruby’s murder of Oswald prevented a trial.

Insofar as Oswald being part of a conspiracy, there is no way to disprove the existence of a conspiracy.  Thus far, however, there is no compelling evidence that a conspiracy existed or that Oswald was either party to or the agent of such a conspiracy.

If a conspiracy to kill the President did exist, it is possible that individuals in the Federal government may have been involved.  However, the belief promoted by some conspiracy theorists that there was a high-level government plot to kill Kennedy is simply not credible.  Such a plan would have involved a number of people and could not have been brought to a successful conclusion and afterwards concealed for months and years.  As a forty-year veteran of Government service, I can make that statement with some assurance.

Theories to explain the events in Dallas will be put forth for the next century or so.  After all, they are still coming out with new theories about the Lincoln assassination.  Nevertheless, I doubt that any new examination of the Kennedy assassination will shed new light on what really happened in Dallas on that fateful day in November 1963.