The Assassination of John F. Kennedy

Oswald did it.

And he acted alone

An expert analysis of the JFK assassination evidence, debunking conspiracy theories with forensic ballistics and documented historical facts.

Okay — the JFK Files have been released. I have read over much of these files.

Yes, there were many people who were mad at JFK and the CIA did have contacts and activities all over.

But in the files there is not one evidence item that proves or supports the idea that the CIA had anything to do with the JFK assassination.

There is also nothing that supports the idea that there was anyone else involved besides Oswald

The Conspiracy Problem

Consider this fact: Any conspiracy would have required the participation of dozens or more individuals. Anyone involved could now come out with the truth, write a book, and become a media star, a hero.

No one has done this. Think about that.

Motivation: The Desperate Quest to Matter

Oswald acted alone. He was driven by the idea of "being someone"—of making a name for himself. This wasn't a secret agenda or part of a larger plot. It was a fundamental human desire, taken to its darkest extreme.

In September, two months before the assassination, he traveled to Mexico City because he wanted desperately to get to Cuba where, as he told his wife Marina, he believed his Marxist ideals would be valued. She remembered him saying things like: "They'll see what I'm worth."

This phrase captures Oswald's entire psychological profile. He felt worthless. He felt unappreciated.

He needed the world to recognize him as important.

Mexico City: The Failed Escape Plan

While in Mexico City, Oswald attempted to obtain travel visas—first to Cuba, then through the Soviet Union. His desperation was evident in his actions:

  • He tried to get a travel visa to Cuba from the Cuban embassy, but they told him it was impossible since he didn't know anyone in Cuba

  • He then tried to trick them into granting a visa by claiming he wanted to fly to Havana and then return to the Soviet Union

  • The woman at the Cuban embassy, Silvia Duran, told him he would need Soviet approval first

  • He went to the Soviet embassy and was told they would have to forward his request to DC for approval

  • He was very insistent, calling back a few days later and visiting again, clearly agitated

Note: Oswald's activities at both embassies are very well documented. The CIA had listening devices in the Cuban office and telephone intercepts on both embassies. The KGB officers who dealt with him later documented this in their book: "Passport to Assassination: The Never-Before-Told Story of Lee Harvey Oswald by the KGB Colonel Who Knew Him."

Oswald lied to the Russians about seeking a visa to return to the Soviet Union. He really wanted to use that as a means to get to Cuba, where he thought he would somehow be appreciated. He had even attempted to establish himself as an ally of Communist Cuba by creating a "Fair Play for Cuba Committee"—a one-man organization he operated in New Orleans from April 24 to September 25, 1963, just before his Mexico City trip.

The Opportunity: When Everything Aligned

If you examine Oswald's life before November 1963, his pathetic yearning to be an important person becomes unmistakable. He had failed in his attempts to reach Cuba. He had failed to impress anyone. He was a nobody.

Then he learned that JFK's travel route in Dallas would pass right below the building where he worked—the Texas School Book Depository. When he discovered this, he must have been thrilled.

This was an opportunity to finally do something important. This was his chance to matter.

The Pre-Assassination Indicators:

The night before the assassination, Oswald left Marina an unusually large amount of money—$170—and even his wedding ring. Marina later explained: "he never left so much money before."

These are the actions of someone saying goodbye.

A History of Violence: The Walker Assassination Attempt

This wasn't Oswald's first violent act. Keep in mind that Oswald had used his Mannlicher-Carcano rifle previously in an attempt to assassinate retired Major General Edwin Walker, a right-wing leader, several months earlier. His shot narrowly missed.

He told his wife Marina about this attempt. Significantly, the fired bullet recovered from the window matched Oswald's rifle—the same weapon he used to kill JFK. This demonstrates:

  • Oswald was capable of assassination

  • Oswald had already attempted it before

  • Oswald owned and could use the murder weapon

  • He was willing to confide in Marina about his violent impulses

Addressing the Skeptics: Why One Man Can Act Alone

I know the objection: "How could one unimportant loser in Dallas kill such an important person as JFK all by himself?"

For many people, there is a powerful desire to find some conspiracy—any conspiracy. It makes people feel intelligent and savvy. But this reasoning is flawed.

The answer is simple: It can happen. One man can do it.

In fact, it almost happened two other times in recent history—with attempted assassinations of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania and at Mar-a-Lago. Single individuals, acting alone, attempting to kill important people. This is not a rare impossibility. It is a documented reality.

The Ballistics Myth: Separating Fact from Fiction

As someone with over 30 years of professional experience in wound ballistics and shooting reconstruction:

Most of what you hear about such details as the location and size of JFK's head wound, and about what a Mannlicher-Carcano bullet could or could not do, is invalid nonsense promoted by people who have no real knowledge of ballistics and wound ballistics.

The film director Oliver Stone is absurdly wrong about pretty much everything regarding the ballistics.
His conspiracy theories have shaped public opinion far more than actual forensic evidence has.

For all you conspiracy fans and self-declared ballistic experts, there is a body of authoritative research prepared by one of the world's most knowledgeable experts in forensic ballistics.

These papers prove there is no "impossibility" or "problem" with the single bullet or shooter dynamic.

Authoritative Resources

If you are truly interested in the ballistic aspects of the JFK incident, read these papers to learn that there really is no “impossibility” or “problem” with the single bullet or shooter dynamic: