On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration declassified thousands of documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy (JFK), a case that has been surrounded by conspiracy theories for over six decades. This release provides a deeper glimpse into the tragic event that forever changed America’s history.
Key Details of the Release:
In total, 2,182 PDF documents, amounting to about 63,400 pages, were made public, uploaded to the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration’s website. Released in two rounds a few hours apart, these documents were previously classified and are now fully accessible online or in-person. Many of the documents are handwritten or typewritten, providing an intimate look at the investigation and its aftermath.
Trump had ordered the declassification of documents not only related to JFK but also his brother, Senator Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Initially, the public was told to expect around 80,000 pages to be released. It could take months for historians and conspiracy theorists alike to analyze the documents and draw their own conclusions.
The Assassination of JFK:
JFK, elected as President in 1961, was tragically killed on November 22, 1963, at the age of 46, while riding in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas, alongside his wife Jacqueline Kennedy, Texas Governor John Connally, and Connally’s wife Nelly. The assassination also left Governor Connally severely wounded. Following his death, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President and initiated an investigation led by Chief Justice Earl Warren.
The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old former marine and communist activist, acted alone in the assassination. However, many questions and doubts remain about the official account.
Conspiracy Theories and Skepticism:
The official narrative has long been questioned, especially given the political climate of the Cold War. A Gallup poll in November 2023 revealed that two-thirds of Americans still believe Oswald was not acting alone. This skepticism is partly fueled by the fact that many documents were withheld for decades, keeping the public in the dark.
Oswald’s famous words, “I’m just a patsy!” captured in a video after his arrest, have led many to believe that he was framed. Just days later, Oswald was shot dead by nightclub owner Jack Ruby before he could stand trial, further igniting conspiracy theories that Oswald was silenced to prevent him from revealing others involved in the plot. (More read: Nepal’s Royal Revival: Could the Monarchy Make a Shocking Comeback Decades After Its Collapse?)
Additionally, the Warren Commission’s conclusion that a single bullet caused both JFK’s death and Governor Connally’s injury has been criticized as implausible by many experts. Furthermore, shocking footage filmed by Abraham Zapruder shows a second bullet striking JFK’s skull, which wasn’t made public until 1975, deepening the mystery surrounding the assassination.
Are All the Kennedy Files Now Available?
While a majority of the documents have been released, not all have been made public yet. Prior to Tuesday’s release, nearly 3,500 documents were still redacted. Just over 2,000 of these documents were made available recently.
Moreover, the FBI has uncovered 2,400 new records related to JFK’s assassination, but these were not part of this latest release. Previous administrations, including Trump’s first term and Biden’s in 2023, have declassified large batches of documents. However, some files, particularly those under review by the CIA and FBI, remain classified. As new files continue to surface, it will take time to uncover the full truth behind JFK’s death.
This declassification provides a significant step towards understanding one of the most puzzling moments in American history, but many questions remain unanswered, keeping the mystery alive.
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