Assassination of John F. Kennedy Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===United States House Select Committee on Assassinations=== {{Main|United States House Select Committee on Assassinations}} {{multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | total_width = 230 | image1 = HSCA-Connally-7-166.jpg | image2 = JFK Assassination - HSCA - Dr. Cyril Wecht's testimony.ogg | caption1 = The HSCA concurred with the [[Warren Commission]]'s [[single-bullet theory]]. (The figure illustrates how the oblong wound in Connally's back was indicative of a bullet which had been tumbling after striking an intervening object.) | caption2 = Of the nine-member medical panel, only Dr. [[Cyril Wecht]] (testimony above) rejected the theory.<ref>[[#Bugliosi2007|Bugliosi (2007)]], p. 859.</ref> | alt1 = A illustration shows the bullet, which had hit Kennedy a moment before, rotating and tumbling before entering Connally's skin, causing his entry wound. }} As a result of increasing public and congressional skepticism of the Warren Commission's findings and the transparency of government agencies,<ref name="thehorror"/> in 1976 the House Select Committee on Assassinations was created to investigate the assassinations of Kennedy and [[Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.|that of Martin Luther King, Jr.]]<ref>[[#Stokes|Stokes (1979)]], pp. 9β16.</ref> The HSCA conducted its inquiry until 1978 and issued its final report the following year, concluding that Kennedy was likely assassinated as a result of a [[conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]].<ref>[[#Stokes|Stokes (1979)]], p. 2.</ref> They concluded that there was a "high probability" that a fourth shot was fired from the grassy knoll, but they stated that this shot missed Kennedy.<ref name="bugxii">[[#Bugliosi2007|Bugliosi (1998)]], p. xxii.</ref> Concerning the conclusions of "probable conspiracy", four of the twelve committee members wrote dissenting opinions.<ref name="stokes2">[[#Stokes|Stokes (1979)]], pp. 483β511.</ref> The HSCA also concluded that previous investigations into Oswald's responsibility were "thorough and reliable" but did not adequately investigate the possibility of a conspiracy, and that federal agencies performed with "varying degrees of competency".<ref>[[#Stokes|Stokes (1979)]], pp. 2β3.</ref> Specifically, the FBI and CIA were found to be deficient in sharing information with other agencies and the Warren Commission. Instead of furnishing all relevant information, the FBI and CIA only responded to specific requests and were still occasionally inadequate.<ref>[[#Stokes|Stokes (1979)]], pp. 239β261.</ref> Furthermore, the Secret Service did not properly analyze information it possessed prior to the assassination and was inadequately prepared to protect Kennedy.<ref name="stokes2"/> The chief reason for the conclusion of "probable conspiracy" was, according to the report's dissent, the subsequently discredited acoustic analysis of a [[John F. Kennedy assassination Dictabelt recording|police channel Dictabelt recording]].<ref name="bugxii"/><ref name="CBAReport">[[#NRC|"Report of the Committee on Ballistic Acoustics". National Research Council.]]</ref><ref name="JusticeDeptMemo">[[#Weld|Letter from Assistant Attorney General William F. Weld to Peter W. Rodino Jr., undated.]]</ref> In accordance with the recommendations of the HSCA, the Dictabelt recording and acoustic evidence of a second assassin was subsequently reexamined. In light of investigative reports from the FBI's Technical Services Division and a specially appointed [[National Academy of Sciences]] Committee determining that "reliable acoustic data do not support a conclusion that there was a second gunman",<ref name="CBAReport"/> the Justice Department concluded "that no persuasive evidence can be identified to support the theory of a conspiracy" in the Kennedy assassination.<ref name="JusticeDeptMemo" /> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page