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! ==Conspiracy theories== {{main|John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories}} {{multiple image | align = right | total_width = 500 | image1 = Grassy Knoll.jpg | caption1 = The wooden fence on the [[grassy knoll]], where many theories claim that a second gunman stood. | alt1 = The wooden fence on the grassy knoll | image2 = Badgeman.jpg | alt2 = A photo of the purported badgeman | caption2 = The "[[Badge Man]]" can purportedly be seen firing a weapon from the grassy knoll in this expansion of the [[Mary Moorman photograph]].<ref name="bug885"/> }} The Kennedy assassination has been described as "the mother of all conspiracies".<ref>[[#Broderick|Broderick (2008)]], p. 203.</ref> For decades, polls have consistently found that a majority of Americans believe there was a conspiracy;<ref name="Gallup, Inc">[[#Gallup|"Majority in U.S. Still Believe JFK Killed in a Conspiracy: Mafia, federal government top list of potential conspirators". Gallup.]]</ref><ref>[[#Chinni|Chinni (2017)]]</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Decades Later, Most Americans Doubt Lone Gunman Killed JFK |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/514310/decades-later-americans-doubt-lone-gunman-killed-jfk.aspx |last=Brenan |first=Megan |date=November 13, 2023 |access-date=November 25, 2023 |work=[[Gallup, Inc.|Gallup]] |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113122327/https://news.gallup.com/poll/514310/decades-later-americans-doubt-lone-gunman-killed-jfk.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> some 1,000 to 2,000 books—mostly pro-conspiracy—have been written about the killing.<ref>[[#Bugliosi2007|Bugliosi (2007)]], pp. xiv, 974.</ref> Across different theories, Oswald's role varies from co-conspirator to entirely innocent.<ref>[[#Posner|Posner (1993)]], p. ix.</ref><ref name="ARRB-C1"/> Common culprits include the FBI, the CIA, the U.S. military,<ref name="ARRB-C1">[[#ARRB|Assassination Records Review Board (1998)]], p. 6.</ref> the Mafia,<ref name="xlii">[[#Bugliosi2008|Bugliosi (2008)]], p. xlii.</ref> the [[military-industrial complex]],<ref name="xlii"/> Vice President Johnson, Castro, the [[KGB]], or some combination thereof.<ref>[[#Summers|Summers (2013)]], p. 238.</ref> Bugliosi estimated that a total of 42 groups, 82 assassins, and 214 people had been accused in various assassination theories.<ref>[[#Patterson|Patterson (2013)]]</ref> Conspiracy theorists often argue that there were multiple shooters—a "triangulation of crossfire"—and that the fatal shot was fired from the grassy knoll and struck Kennedy in the front of the head.<ref>[[#Bugliosi2007|Bugliosi (2007)]], pp. 390, 1012.</ref> Individuals present in Dealey Plaza have been the subject of much speculation, including the [[three tramps]], the [[umbrella man (JFK assassination)|umbrella man]], and the purported [[Badge Man]].<ref>[[#nym|"Oswald Didn't Kill Kennedy". ''New York Magazine''.]]</ref><ref>[[#Michaud|Michaud (2011)]]</ref><ref>[[#Bugliosi2007|Bugliosi (2007)]], pp. 903–904.</ref> Conspiracy theorists argue that the autopsy and official investigations were flawed or, at worst, complicit,<ref>[[#Bugliosi2007|Bugliosi (2007)]], pp. xiv, 385, 440, 1057–1059.</ref> and that witnesses to the Kennedy assassination met mysterious and suspicious deaths.<ref>[[#Bugliosi2008|Bugliosi (2008)]], p. 1012.</ref> Conspiracy theories have been espoused by notable figures, such as [[L. Fletcher Prouty]], Chief of Special Operations for the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] under Kennedy, who believed that elements of the U.S. military and intelligence communities had conspired to assassinate the president.<ref>[[#Carlson|Carlson (2001)]]</ref> Governor Connally also rejected the single-bullet theory,<ref>[[#Ogg|Ogg (2004)]], p. 134.</ref><ref>[[#Posner|Posner (1993)]], p. 333.</ref> and President Johnson reportedly expressed doubt regarding the Warren Commission's conclusions prior to his death.<ref>[[#Ogg|Ogg (2004)]], pp. 134–135.</ref> According to [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]], his father believed that the Warren Report was a "shoddy piece of craftsmanship" and that John F. Kennedy had been killed by a conspiracy, possibly involving Cuban exiles and the CIA.<ref>[[#Shenon|Shenon (2023)]]</ref> Communist rulers like Castro and Soviet leader [[Nikita Khrushchev]] believed that Kennedy had been killed by right-wing Americans.<ref>[[#Sabato|Sabato (2013)]], pp. 29–30.</ref> Former CIA director [[R. James Woolsey]] has argued that Oswald killed Kennedy as part of a Soviet conspiracy.<ref>[[#Russo|Russo (2021)]]</ref> 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