VOL. XVI, NO. 13
MAY 16, 1975
November 22, 1963, Assassination
Stirs More Controversy
Stirs More Controversy
The most explosive and controversial film of our time was recently shown on the ABC news special, "Goodnight America." It is not "Mechanized Death," "Soldier Blue," or "Death Wish." No, it is the eight‑second strip of an 8mm amateur film taken by a Dallas industrialist, Abraham Zapruder. With grim reality the film records the assassination of President John Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.
Seven days after Kennedy's death President Johnson appointed the Warren Commission to evaluate all the facts and circumstances surrounding the assassination. The central finding of the commission was that the assassination of President Kennedy was the work of one man, Lee Havey Oswald; there was no conspiracy, foreign or domestic.
The commission specifically concluded: that three, and only three, shots were fired at the President by one rifle and one riflemen; that the President was hit by two bullets; that the first bullet that hit the President also caused injury to Texas Governor John Connally; that the shots were all fired from the Texas Book Depository building; that the rifle used was the Mannlicher‑Carcano found at that site; that the rifle belonged to Lee Harvey Oswald; and that Oswald had never before met his killer, Jack Ruby.
Another controversial question concerns the accuracy of the alleged murder weapon and Oswald's ability as a marksman. Gregory and others argue that the alleged murder weapon in the hands of Oswald was not mechanically capable of firing three shots with two hits in the time span described in the Warren Report (4.5 to 7.0 seconds). The technical evidence involved in this question is difficult for a layman to interpret. The Warren Commission critics, however, point out that Oswald was certainly not a qualified marksman.
Seven days after Kennedy's death President Johnson appointed the Warren Commission to evaluate all the facts and circumstances surrounding the assassination. The central finding of the commission was that the assassination of President Kennedy was the work of one man, Lee Havey Oswald; there was no conspiracy, foreign or domestic.
The commission specifically concluded: that three, and only three, shots were fired at the President by one rifle and one riflemen; that the President was hit by two bullets; that the first bullet that hit the President also caused injury to Texas Governor John Connally; that the shots were all fired from the Texas Book Depository building; that the rifle used was the Mannlicher‑Carcano found at that site; that the rifle belonged to Lee Harvey Oswald; and that Oswald had never before met his killer, Jack Ruby.
Another controversial question concerns the accuracy of the alleged murder weapon and Oswald's ability as a marksman. Gregory and others argue that the alleged murder weapon in the hands of Oswald was not mechanically capable of firing three shots with two hits in the time span described in the Warren Report (4.5 to 7.0 seconds). The technical evidence involved in this question is difficult for a layman to interpret. The Warren Commission critics, however, point out that Oswald was certainly not a qualified marksman.
Another highly publicized issue of the assassination is the relationship, if any, between Oswald and his killer, Jack Ruby. The Assassination Bureau says that Jack Ruby killed Oswald because he was going to reveal "the real story" behind the assassination. What was Oswald going to tell that made Ruby kill him? Gregory also points out that he has eyewitness reports from people who testified that they saw Oswald and Ruby together in a bar just a week before the assassination. This remains to be proven, though, because Gregory will not release the names of his witnesses.
But Gregory's action is not unreasonable. In a previous, unsuccessful investigation conducted by James Garrison, the District Attorney in New Orleans, several witnesses allegedly testified that Oswald and Ruby were long time friends and associates. All of these witnesses mysteriously disappeared or died accidentally shortly after providing information.
As Jack Kennedy said in his Inaugural Address, "And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides now join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure, and the peace preserved."
Don't we at least owe this great and unforgettable man that much?
But Gregory's action is not unreasonable. In a previous, unsuccessful investigation conducted by James Garrison, the District Attorney in New Orleans, several witnesses allegedly testified that Oswald and Ruby were long time friends and associates. All of these witnesses mysteriously disappeared or died accidentally shortly after providing information.
As Jack Kennedy said in his Inaugural Address, "And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides now join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure, and the peace preserved."
Don't we at least owe this great and unforgettable man that much?
