Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question

Who killed John F. Kennedy?

On November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Decades later, his death is still considered one of the biggest mysteries of American history. Despite the Warren Commission concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated JFK, there is still a conspiracy surrounding whether or not he was the actual assassin, and if he was working alone. Who actually assassinated John F. Kennedy, and were they working for a larger organization?

Position 1 of 5
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Lee Harvey Oswald killed JFK

This position holds that Lee Harvey Oswald alone killed John F. Kennedy—the official Warren Commission finding. It points to Oswald's ties to the murder weapon and the scene, his history of violence, and his keen interest in communism as evidence of his guilt.

Position 2 of 5
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The CIA killed JFK

This position catalogues the theory that the CIA assassinated John F. Kennedy. It points to the agency's disagreements with the president, to gaps in the Warren Commission, and to oddities like the 'umbrella man' in the Zapruder film. It runs counter to the official finding.

Position 3 of 5
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The mafia killed JFK

This position catalogues the theory that the mafia killed John F. Kennedy. It points to the Kennedy family's alleged organised-crime ties, to Robert Kennedy's crackdown on the mob, and to figures like Jack Ruby and Sam Giancana, casting the assassination as mafia retribution.

Position 4 of 5
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Lyndon B. Johnson killed JFK

As vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson knew almost everything about JFK's political ideas and intentions. That combined with his unhappiness in his position as vice president makes him a suspect in the Kennedy assassination.

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The Soviet Union killed JFK

This position catalogues the theory that the Soviet Union was behind John F. Kennedy's assassination. It holds that Lee Harvey Oswald — who had defected to the USSR — acted as a Soviet agent, casting the killing as a Cold War operation. It runs counter to the official findings.