JFK Assassination

Tragedy in Dallas

• Kennedy and his wife travelled to Dallas to attend a political fundraising event• Public opinion polls indicated Kennedy was losing popularity because

of his support of civil rights• Kennedy was warmly received in Dallas• Dallas honored Kennedy with a parade – rode in an open air limousine• Shot twice – in the back and in the head• Taken to the hospital – tried to revive him; Kennedy died

Television becomes “the window of the world”• Vice President Johnson takes the oath of office to take over the

presidency• Lee Harvey Oswald charged with murdering President Kennedy• Oswald’s palm print had been found on the rifle used to kill Kennedy• Oswald had been dishonorably discharged from the Marines; briefly

lived in the Soviet Union; voiced support for Castro• Oswald shot and killed by nightclub owner, Jack Ruby• The assassination and funeral became historical events

Warren Commission

• An investigation into what was thought to be a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy was launched• The commission concluded that Oswald acted alone• Later investigated again in 1979, concluded that Oswald was a part of

a conspiracy• Two people may have fired at Kennedy• Numerous other investigations – anti-Castro Cubans, Communist

sponsored attack, CIA involvement