The JFK assassination Persuasive Essay Example
The JFK assassination Persuasive Essay Example

The JFK assassination Persuasive Essay Example

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  • Pages: 16 (4233 words)
  • Published: November 4, 2017
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There have been two tragic occurrences on this street. The first was the murder of the youngest president of the United States who was with a stunning woman, making him the third president to be killed by an assassin's bullet. The second happened twenty-seven years earlier when one or more assailants attacked a vehicle carrying multiple people.

As the presidential car SS100X, an enormous black Lincoln Continental limousine weighing over three tons and measuring twenty-one feet in length, slowly moved down Elm Street at a speed of ten to twelve miles per hour, a tragic event unfolded. Secret Service Agent Clinton J. Hill was seen frantically leaping towards the rear of the open car while Mrs. Kennedy desperately reached out for some part of her husband's head that had been blown off by a bullet. The disturbing sight of the partially decapitated

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head remained on the street until medical student Billy Harper discovered it and turned it over to authorities the next day.

Amidst the chaos of people screaming and throwing themselves onto the grass to avoid gunfire, Abraham Zapruder stood on a four-foot-high concrete block to the right of the John Neely Bryan Pergola steps. He held an 8mm Bell and Howell Movie Camera, steadied by his receptionist Marilyn Sitzman. Zapruder captured a 26-second, 500-frame film that became known as the holy grail for what New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison called "murder at the heart of the American dream." This assassination was quintessential, setting a standard against which all other conspiratorial murders would be measured. Kennedy's death has generated more words than any other event in history. Although his apparent killer was arrested within hours,

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he himself fell victim to a bullet within forty-eight hours. This second killing only increased confusion and suspicion surrounding Kennedy's death, demanding explanation that it never really received.

Although comparatively insignificant, the shooting of a man in Dealey Plaza is surrounded by mystery. Following the assassination of President Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued executive order 11130 one week later, initiating the first official government investigation. Chief Justice Earl Warren was appointed to investigate and his findings were published as the Warren Commission Report a year after Kennedy's death, consisting of twenty-six unindexed volumes.

For 37 years, the question of who or what was responsible for President John Kennedy's assassination has remained unsolved and has only led to more inquiries than solutions. The mystery surrounding this event seems improbable that we will ever have concrete evidence. There are so many unresolved issues related to this event that they could occupy every room on all seven floors of the book depository. This long-standing issue of "What is truth?" dates back to when Pontius Pilate posed it to Jesus.

There are many unanswered questions surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy, including the number of gunmen involved (with some sources suggesting over fifty potential shooters), whether Harvey Oswald was linked to the FBI and CIA, the identities of the Black Dog and Badge men, and the purpose of the Umbrella Man on the grass verge. The presence of three tramps on the overpass also contributes to this mystery. Despite numerous groups such as Mafia, CIA, Russians, Cubans, and radical right-wing movements being possible culprits for this assassination's motive remaining unknown. Furthermore, it is questionable whether Oswald could have achieved such

accuracy with a $25 rifle equipped with a misaligned telescopic sight and slow single bolt action when professional marksmen using stationary targets were unable to achieve similar results. Experts also question why Oswald chose to use a mail-order weapon under an alias when he could have easily purchased a more accurate weapon in Dallas or why he chose a bolt-action rifle over an automatic one offering more rapid firing options. Even so, satisfactory answers remain elusive for all these questions. At 11:40 am., JFK's plane landed at Love Field which is Dallas' primary airport.

m. Central Standard Time, the President and his wife, Texas Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie, and Senator Ralph W. were on board.

The Yarborough party had arrived in Dallas after a busy tour of Texas, starting in San Antonio and then moving on to Houston and Fort Worth before ending up in Dallas.

During the morning of November 22nd, the day that the party was scheduled to end, President Kennedy and his wife were at the Texas Hotel speaking with White House assistant Kenneth O'Donnell, who was managing the trip. The President remarked that it would be easy for someone with a telescopic rifle to shoot him if they truly wished to. Tragically, this prediction came true later that day when he was assassinated. Coincidentally, the Dallas Morning News featured a full-page advertisement paid for by oil magnate H.

L. Hunt posed a series of pointed questions to the President, one of which questioned why the CIA was orchestrating coups and eliminating staunch anti-Communist allies in a bloody manner, causing Kennedy to remark that they were entering "nut country." This premonition was

significant given that America was predisposed to violence and Kennedy had been spared encounters with dangerous individuals until that day. The Vice President and his spouse greeted the Presidential party, and shortly thereafter, the convoy embarked on its trip through Dallas, known for being the "southwest hate capital of Dixie" and an atypical location in many respects.

In 1963, the number of murders in this city's metropolitan area exceeded the entire Great Britain. It relied heavily on oil and armaments, and was extremely politically right-wing, to the extent of aligning with the John Birch Society and Minutemen. Its population was largely anti-Communist, anti-left wing, and comprised of extremist groups.

President Kennedy, who had recently signed a nuclear test-ban treaty with Communist nations, approved the sale of excess American grain to the Soviet Bloc, resolved the Cuban Missile Crisis without military intervention, and aimed to withdraw troops from Vietnam, arrived in Dallas. He also demanded an investigation into the oil depletion allowance tax benefit that had made oil tycoons in Texas millions. The motorcade included sixteen cars, three buses, and multiple Dallas police motorcycles. JFK and his wife, along with Governor Connally and his wife, rode in the third car of the procession.

The group traveled in a Lincoln Continental limousine custom-made with a detachable plastic shield. However, due to the pleasant weather, they opted not to use it, leaving everyone fully exposed. The President sat on the right side at the back with his spouse on the left. In front of him, Governor Connally sat in a jump seat, with his wife next to him on the left. William R.

Greer, a Security Service top agent,

drove the car with Assistant Special-Agent-in-Charge Roy H. Kellerman, who led the White House Secret Service detail. The motorcade's path would cut through the city center from the airport to Dallas Trade Mart where the President was set to give a speech. Main Street, Houston and Elm Street were part of the route.

At 12:30 p.m., the convoy drove past a seven-story rust-colored building situated at 411 Elm and Houston. This building was built in 1901 and later leased to the Texas School Book Depository in 1961. Established in 1927, the Book Depository offered educational books for schools located across the Southwest region. Additionally, the Stemmons Freeway was located only a few hundred feet from this building, allowing direct access to the Trade Mart complex through an underpass.

At approximately ten to twelve miles an hour, the President's car was travelling down Elm Street when the assassination occurred, as stated by the clock atop the Depository Building. The most significant words written about Kennedy's assassination are those concerning the zone in which it took place. This investigation had an unparalleled amount of confusion, disbelief, and misinformation as two concentric circles overlapped around him. These circles created a presumption of uncertainty. The events occurred just before and after 12:30 p.m., within a few seconds.

The assassination of the President resulted in his death, as well as injuries sustained by Governor Connally and a bystander. The source of the shots has remained a mystery for over 37 years, giving rise to numerous theories. This modern-day enigma has captured our imagination, much like other famous mysteries such as the Abominable Snowman, Loch Ness Monster, Bermuda Triangle, and Mary Deare shipwreck. However,

unlike these examples, the assassination occurred during daylight hours and in front of witnesses including police officers and government officials- all documented on film and photographs.

The question of who was responsible for the mysterious death of President Kennedy is closely linked to his murder. There are several possible scenarios, including a single shooter behind him, one or two shooters in front, or a combination thereof. It's also possible that the assassination involved either a lone gunman or one or two co-conspirators. Based on an analysis of the Zapruder film and eyewitness accounts, it seems that as the motorcade turned onto Elm Street and passed Book Depository, Jacqueline Kennedy acknowledged onlookers with a wave while Mrs. Connally had just addressed them by saying "Mr."

As the President received praise from a local, he acknowledged that Dallas certainly loves him. Sadly, these were the last words he spoke. Jackie Kennedy heard a disturbance resembling a motorcycle backfire and Governor Connally's cry from ahead. The President had a confused expression while making a gesture known as the "Thorburn's Position," which is a reflex to a spinal injury. This was possibly the first or second gunshot fired at the President and may have been the initial one that hit him.

During the event, an additional explosion occurred resulting in her husband's right skull side exploding and emitting blood and matter. As a result of the blast, two Dallas Police motorcycle officers situated to the left and behind the car were hit by the remains of the President and were overwhelmed with blood and brain matter all over their uniforms, helmets, and windshields. Either as part of the initial shot or amid

the first and second bullet influences on the President, the Governor Connally was hit by a bullet that entered his back close to the left of his right armpit.

As he fell into his wife's embrace, Mrs. Kennedy was pushing herself up from the back seat and stretching over the car's back. Onlookers believed she was trying to reach out to Special Agent Clinton Hill, who had jumped off the running board of the car behind and dashed towards the Presidential limo when he heard the initial shot. As he arrived at the vehicle, the driver hit the accelerator, causing Hill to stumble; however, he quickly regained his footing and leaped onto the car.

According to Hill's recollection, while he was on duty, he witnessed Mrs. Kennedy suddenly stand up and reach out towards something coming from the right rear bumper of the car, specifically the right rear tail. He concluded that it was only when she noticed his attempt to climb onto the car that she shifted her focus towards him. Hill then proceeded to take hold of Mrs. Kennedy and returned her to the back seat before climbing onto the top of the back seat where he stayed put. Later on, it was believed that Mrs. Kennedy's intention was to retrieve a part of her husband's head which had been blown off due to gunshots; however, in reality, she had no memory of what occurred during those crucial moments.During the unfolding events, Roy Kellerman communicated via radio in the lead car, urging them to leave and get to the hospital urgently as they had been hit. The Dallas Police Chief, Jesse E. Curry, and motorcyclists

led the way to Parkland Hospital, a distance of four miles or five minutes away at high speed across the Stemmons Freeway and Harry Hines Boulevard. Upon arrival at the hospital, preparations had been made with two trauma rooms prepared and twelve standby doctors awaiting the wounded men's arrival. However, following examination of the President, it became evident that no surgical intervention would be able to revive him. This occurred at approximately 1 p.m.

While the events were ongoing, specific surgeons made attempts to rescue the President's life. Nonetheless, Governor Connally necessitated medical care as well. Dr. William Kemp Clark, the chief neurologist, confirmed that the President had expired. Meanwhile, Governor Connally suffered numerous injuries such as a significant wound on his right chest and an elliptical injury on his back. Furthermore, he also sustained wounds on his right wrist and palm in addition to his left thigh.

After receiving medical attention at 5 p.m., the deceased President's condition was stable. Then, at 2:15 p.m., his body was placed in a coffin and transferred to Air Force One.

Lyndon Baines Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States by Federal Judge Sarah T. Hughes at 2:38 p.m. He then departed for Washington, while more than 500 photographs were taken by both amateur and professional photographers in Dealey Plaza. Small groups of people could be observed on the grass near Elm Street, with some crouching or lying down.

Although police officers responded quickly to the sound of gunfire, they were not guided towards the Book Depository and instead went towards the grassy knoll. Nonetheless, law enforcement officials remained curious about the building located on Elm Street.

At approximately 12:34 to 12:35 p.m., motorcycle officer Robert Hargis was informed of gunshots emanating from that structure. Officer Clyde Haygood subsequently confirmed this as a likely location for the shooting and pinpointed the specific window where the shots had originated.

While charging the grassy knoll, two police officers transmitted information that drew interest. This is because they named the Book Depository as the location of the shooting and did not disclose their sources. Despite a search by several officers, it took 40 minutes to locate the shooter's position on the sixth floor. By 12:45 p.m., soon after finding this spot, everything seemed resolved.

The police released an All Points Bulletin for Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old man from New Orleans who stood out in his environment. The bulletin characterized him as a white male, about five feet ten inches tall and weighing approximately 165 pounds. Oswald's father passed away two months prior to his birth, and he was sent away at the age of three. His mother relocated him to different cities and schools frequently, resulting in his notoriety as a troublesome individual who never quite achieved success.

Following two court martial proceedings, a former Marine renounced his allegiance to the United States and became a communist. He escaped with his family to Russia but was refused citizenship. Ultimately, he returned to America with his wife and child, taking up a position as an order filler at Texas School Book Depository earning $1.25 per hour starting on October 15th. Subsequently, he departed from work after the shooting incident and traveled by bus and taxi to Oak Cliff - approximately two miles away from downtown Dallas - where

he secured lodgings at 1026 North Beckley which can be confirmed by his previous landlady Mrs. [insert name].

According to Mary Bledsoe, a man, believed to be Oswald, got on a bus around seven blocks from the Book Depository after grabbing a .38 caliber revolver and leaving his room. Shortly after at 1:15 p.m., the same man was spotted near Tenth Street and Patton Avenue by police officer J.

Following a summons from D. Tippit, Oswald spoke briefly with the officer through the vent window of his vehicle. However, once the policeman departed and moved towards the front of the car, Oswald fired three shots into his chest.

In an act of violence, Oswald fatally shot Tippit from behind a car while lying on the sidewalk. The number of Dallas policemen who had died while on duty only amounted to three within ten years. Although it is uncertain where Oswald was headed, Warren Commission lawyer David Belin's theory suggests he was heading towards a bus stop four blocks away. This bus stop provided access to a number 55 bus scheduled for departure at 1:40pm, transporting him to a Greyhound bus stop located on Lancaster Road. From there, another bus was set to leave at 3:30pm and travel to Monterey, Mexico.

When Oswald was arrested, he had only $13.87 which was just sufficient for his bus fare. He had walked and jogged southwards before entering the Texas Theatre located on West Jefferson Street. Johnny Calvin Brewer, who was the manager of Hardy's Shoe Shop, observed Oswald loitering around the shop and behaving strangely. Following him for around 50 yards to the cinema building, Brewer reported him to the police.

According to

him, the man appeared frightened and comical as if he had been running.

Remaining stationary and facing forward, he waited until the authorities arrived at the theatre to apprehend Oswald. The arrest was prompt but forceful, during which Oswald persistently questioned the reason for his detainment as they escorted him to the Dallas police station. Although maintaining his innocence regarding the assassination of President Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald was formally accused on November 24th.

Despite being questioned several times about his whereabouts during the Presidential motorcade, Oswald maintained that he was on the first floor of the Texas School Book Depository and drinking a soft drink on the second floor when it happened. Mr. Truly confirmed Oswald's presence in the building to a police officer who arrived after the shooting occurred. Even though he left thinking work would be cancelled and went to change before going to a movie, Oswald continued to insist that he was innocent despite ongoing questioning.

Moreover, he experienced four separate identity lineups and subsequently, at midnight on Friday, was taken to the police basement for a concise fifteen-minute press conference. On Sunday morning, he was relocated from the city jail to the county jail's maximum-security unit. The relocation took place exactly at 11:21 a.m.

While being escorted through the basement of the police headquarters, the protagonist was unexpectedly attacked by a murderer. The protagonist was restrained by handcuffs and accompanied by Detective J.R. Leavelle, who was dressed in a light-coloured suit and a white Resistol cowboy hat, as well as Detective L.C.

As Graves was quickly escorted to the basement with other officers, he held his left arm. In the midst of reporters and photographers,

a stout man wearing a dark suit and fedora suddenly emerged. He approached Oswald and produced a Colt Cobra .8 Special revolver with a snub-nose, shooting him in the left chest. This caused extensive damage to his spleen, stomach, kidneys, diaphragm, and aorta resulting in severe haemorrhaging. Approximately 80 million people throughout America witnessed this event on television.

Detective Graves swiftly disarmed and subdued the perpetrator - who was later identified as Jack Ruby, a prominent strip club proprietor from the area. The victim, Oswald, was promptly transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he passed away at precisely 1:07 p.m., just about two days after the President's demise. On Friday, Officer B.R. of Fort Worth Police was among those standing guard over the President's remains.

According to Everett, the individual responsible for his murder was presently under surveillance. Conversely, Ruby contended that he had simply visited the Western Union office to transfer funds to his stranded stripper in Fort Worth before impulsively stopping at the police station to investigate. Additionally, reports indicate that Officer W.J. "Blackie" Harrison - one of Ruby's primary contacts within the DPD - called him at 9:30am on that day to apprise him of his duty guarding Oswald during transportation from the station.

Ruby was reportedly standing behind police officer Harrison when Oswald was shot. Allegedly, Sergeant Patrick Dean of the Dallas Police Department (who was said to be a close ally of Dallas Mafia boss Joe Civello) reassigned police guards on that day, giving Ruby unrestricted access to the elevators and the door leading to the stairway into the basement garage. Ruby grew up as a street fighter, small-time gambler, and ticket scalper

in Chicago's east side before establishing permanent residence in Dallas in 1947. In December of that year, he changed his name from Jacob Rubenstein.

Rumors were going around that he had moved to Dallas to oversee criminal operations for the Chicago Syndicate after living in the city for sixteen years. During this time, his main source of income was managing nightclubs and dance halls but it wasn't very successful, requiring him to often rely on financial support from his siblings. His last establishment, the Carousel, made around $5000 monthly with most of the earnings being used for overhead costs and employee salaries before he passed away.

Despite being labeled as a profanity-laced, cantankerous moralist with a loathing for racial humor and an affection for children, numerous dubious financial dealings were reportedly associated with him, leading to scrutiny from the IRS for outstanding tax debts. Eventually, he asserted responsibility for the assassination of Oswald, citing the desire to alleviate the agony felt by Mrs. Kennedy and the entire nation.

"I have the hope that I have eliminated the individual of questionable reputation," exclaimed Ruby following the shooting. "This will reduce complications for you guys," he said. In a conversation with District Attorney Bill Alexander, Ruby stated, "You guys were unable to take action. Somebody had to do it. That reprehensible person was responsible for assassinating my commander in chief." There is a likelihood that Ruby aimed to be perceived as a hero for the people.

It is possible that Ruby saw the financial benefit of being known as the person who killed President Kennedy's assassin. There is also a high probability that he was following orders when he fatally shot

Oswald. Detective Leavelle suggests that everyone wants to be a hero, and Ruby may have had similar aspirations. Despite being found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to death in March 1964, Ruby died from cancer while awaiting appeal on January 3, 1967.

At the age of 56, police motorcycle officer Marion Baker quickly entered the Book Depository building after the shots were fired. Within one minute, Baker found Lee Harvey Oswald in the Domino Room, relaxing and drinking a soft drink on the building's second floor. The Commission concluded that during this one-minute period, Oswald descended from the sixth floor by foot (since the elevator was jammed open on the fifth floor), obtained change for the drink machine, operated it, and began drinking just as Baker found him. Despite allegations that Oswald shot from the sixth-floor window, no one witnessed him there. Furthermore, there was no evidence linking him to the gun or gunshot residue on his cheeks. Ultimately, there was nothing to prove Oswald had fired any shots.

One photo taken on the day of President Kennedy's assassination shows Oswald in the doorway of the building, as captured by press photographer James Altgens. Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry later stated that there is no evidence that Oswald fired the rifle and that nobody has proven he was in the building with a gun. Three policemen who found the rifle identified it as a German Mauser. However, two of them, Seymour Weitzman and Luke Mooney, later changed their testimony and said it was a Mannlicher-Carcano.

The Commission's findings were that Oswald discharged at least three shots, with one missing the target and striking a

bystander named James Tague. Roy Kellerman, a Secret Service Agent who was seated in the front of the limousine, testified that he heard President exclaim "My God, I am hit" following the first shot. However, it is improbable that he would have been able to speak after being struck in the throat which also pierced his windpipe. Roger Craig, the third officer implicated in this incident was released from duty and refused to withdraw his testimony; eventually taking his own life on May 15th of 1975.

The President's head was partly destroyed by the second bullet, while another bullet took a downward path into his back, but then amazingly changed direction and went upwards by at least five inches before exiting through his throat. Although this bullet left only a small wound, it then made a right turn, stopped in mid-air for two seconds, made a left turn and then curved steeply downwards, eventually lodging itself in Governor Connally's body. The bullet passed through his back, broke a rib, travelled through his chest and wrist, and then landed in his left thigh. Fragments of the bullet remained there until his death. It remains unexplained why the bullet that injured Tague was at least twenty feet off target if it was intended for the President and fired from the Book Depository.

Tague stood on Main Street, almost a block away, while the bullet's path from the curb stone to the sixth floor of the Book Depository traced above the Presidential motorcade. However, if a line were drawn from that same position on the footpath, passing near President Kennedy's head and extending onward, it would reach the second floor

of the Dal-Tex building directly across Houston Street. The Dal-Tex building was a potential sniper's site with no obstruction to the line of fire. The following day, the curb stone was replaced after being removed. This is just one of many frustrating loose ends that remain unresolved.

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