The assassination of President John F. Kennedy marks its 60th year in 2023 and remains one of the most significant and tragic events in American history. The details and facts surrounding the assassination, as well as the aftermath, have captivated the interest of people around the world for decades.
Before the assassination, President Kennedy embarked on a political trip to Texas. On November 21, 1963, he arrived in Dallas accompanied by his wife Jacqueline Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Texas Governor John Connally. The motorcade route was carefully planned to pass through Dealey Plaza, where crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the President.
Meanwhile, Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine who was disgruntled and had communist sympathies, was working at the Texas School Book Depository on the sixth floor. Oswald had access to a rifle, which would later become a central piece of evidence in the investigation.
As the motorcade made its way through Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963, at around 12:30 p.m., shots rang out. The official investigation, known as the Warren Commission, concluded that three shots were fired. The first shot missed its mark, the second shot struck both President Kennedy and Governor Connally, and the third shot fatally struck Kennedy in the head. The chaos and confusion that followed were indescribable as the motorcade raced to Parkland Hospital, where doctors tried desperately to save the President’s life. Tragically, their efforts were in vain, and Kennedy was pronounced dead at 1:00 p.m.
In the aftermath of the assassination, an intensive investigation was launched to determine who was responsible for the tragic event. Lee Harvey Oswald, quickly identified as the prime suspect due to his connection to the Texas School Book Depository, was arrested on November 22. However, two days later, as Oswald was being transferred from the Dallas Police Headquarters to the county jail, he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner with alleged ties to organized crime. Ruby’s motive for killing Oswald remains a subject of speculation and conspiracy theories.
Here are some of the notable theories, including some of the more unusual ones:

1. Multiple Shooters: One of the most common conspiracy theories suggests that there were multiple shooters involved in the assassination. This theory challenges the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Oswald acted alone. Some proponents of this theory claim that shots were fired from the grassy knoll in Dealey Plaza, suggesting the involvement of another shooter or group of shooters.
2. CIA Involvement: Another theory suggests that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was involved in the assassination. Proponents argue that Kennedy’s foreign policies, such as his handling of the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, might have angered elements within the CIA, leading them to conspire against him.
3. Mafia Conspiracy: This theory proposes that organized crime, specifically the Mafia, was involved in Kennedy’s assassination. Supporters of this theory believe that Kennedy’s brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s efforts to crack down on organized crime, prompted the Mafia to seek revenge by assassinating the President.
4. Alien Involvement (obviously…): Among the more outlandish theories is the suggestion that extraterrestrial beings were involved in Kennedy’s assassination. Proponents of this theory argue that the government wanted to prevent Kennedy from disclosing classified information about UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
5. The Umbrella Man: One peculiar theory revolves around a man known as the “Umbrella Man.” In a widely known film footage, a man can be seen standing near the street with an open umbrella, despite the sunny weather. Some conspiracy theorists speculate that the umbrella was a signal or weapon, connecting the man to a broader conspiracy.
6. Time Travel and Parallel Universes: This highly imaginative theory proposes that Kennedy’s assassination was a result of time travel or interference from a parallel universe. Supporters of this theory suggest that someone traveled through time or from a parallel universe to alter history by assassinating Kennedy.

Despite all these conspiracy theories, the Warren Commission, established to investigate the assassination, concluded in 1964 that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President Kennedy. According to their findings, Oswald fired the shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository using the rifle that had been discovered at the scene.
Today, sixty years later, this event continues to be studied, analyzed and remembered as a pivotal moment in American history. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of leadership, the impact of violence on a nation, and the enduring fascination with unsolved mysteries. The memory of John F. Kennedy and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death remain deeply etched in the collective consciousness, ensuring that his legacy endures and that the search for the truth persists.