Coincidence and the death of a President President Kennedy Governor Connally Jackie Kennedy There have been two official commissions into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Warren Commission (1963-64) concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing JFK, while the House Select Committee on Assassinations (1976-79) concluded that there was a high probability that two shooters fired at Kennedy and the assassination was very likely a conspiracy LEE HARVEY OSWALD Oct 18, 1939: Born in New Orleans, youngest of three brothers. Oswald is raised in children’s home David Ferrie 1955: Fifteen-year-old Oswald joins Louisiana Civil Air Patrol. Cadets learn rifle shooting in squadron commanded by David W. Ferrie DAVID W. FERRIE Eastern Airlines pilot – dismissed 1961 on “morals” charge 1962-63: Works for New Orleans lawyer G. Wray Gill, defending Louisiana Mafia boss Carlos Marcello CARLOS MARCELLO Fighting deportation case brought by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. HSCA establishes Marcello associates have close ties to Jack Ruby CAREER IN MARINES Assigned to Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan. Works as radar operator supporting secret CIA U2 surveillance flights over Soviet Union Sep 1959: Released from active duty 1956-59: Enlists in U.S. Marine Corps Oct 1959: Oswald defects to Soviet Union Allegedly provides U2 radar secrets to Soviets. Oswald sent to city of Minsk to work in radio factory. Here he meets and marries Marina Prusakova May 1960: U2 flown by Gary Powers is shot down over Soviet Union May 1962: U.S. renews Oswald’s passport GEORGE DE MOHRENSCHILDT Jun 1962: Oswald, Marina, and baby daughter Jane are granted exit visas to return to United States. Russian-born Dallas socialite George de Mohrenschildt befriends family in Fort Worth and introduces them to local Russian community. De Mohrenschildt debriefs Oswald on behalf of CIA Jun: Oswald family returns to United States De Mohrenschildt’s personal friend, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, agrees to become honorary chairman of his Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Feb 1963: Oswald becomes remote, abusive and violent towards Marina as marriage falls apart De Mohrenschildt introduces family to Ruth Paine (above). Marina and daughter move in with Paine Mar 1963: Oswald buys hand gun and rifle Oswald buys .38 calibre Special Smith & Wesson revolver from Seaport Traders, Inc. and Mannlicher Carcano 6.5mm rifle with scope from Klein’s Sporting Goods. Purchases, by mail order to Dallas PO Box 2915, in name of Alek James Hidell Apr: Oswald moves back to New Orleans Apr 5, 1963: Marina Oswald gives De Mohrenschildt inscribed photograph of Oswald posing with rifle. Five days later Oswald attempts to shoot retired General Edwin Walker. De Mohrenschildt passes photograph to CIA Aug: Oswald starts Fair Play for Cuba Committee Sep: Oswald attends party at David Ferrie’s apartment CLAY SHAW Director of International Trade Mart in New Orleans. Links to CIA from 1948-1956 Sep 1963: Party-goers include Clay Shaw and Perry Russo (inset). Russo claims that Shaw, Ferrie and Oswald discuss plans to assassinate JFK Sep 26: Oswald travels to Mexico City Sep 26-Oct 3, Mexico: Oswald visits Cuban and Soviet Consulates in unsuccessful attempts to obtain visas However, Cuban Consulate employee Sylvia Duran describes man identifying himself as Oswald as short with sparse blond hair. Surveillance photos confirm her description Oswald’s ease in buying murder weapons by mail order leads to profound changes to U.S. gun laws and eventually to Gun Control Act 1968 Oct: Paine tells Oswald of job vacancy at Texas School Book Depository Nov 19: Route of presidential motorcade published Nov 22, 12:30: Open-top motorcade enters Dealey Plaza, Dallas Oswald fires three rifle shots from sixth-floor window of Texas School Book Depository, killing President Kennedy and seriously wounding Texas Governor John Connally JACK RUBY Dallas nightclub owner Nov 24,1963: Following arrest of Oswald, Ruby shoots him in stomach as he is led out of police headquarters. Oswald later dies JIM GARRISON District Attorney of New Orleans 1967: Arrests and charges Clay Shaw with conspiring to assassinate President Kennedy with help of Oswald and Ferrie. David Ferrie commits suicide before trial begins Mar 1969: Shaw is acquitted WARREN COMMISSION’S SINGLE-BULLET THEORY Report concludes that one of Oswald’s three shots misses target, wounding spectator. One bullet hits Kennedy in head, fatally wounding him. All other wounds are caused by single bullet – exhibit CE-399 – which passes through JFK’s neck and Connally’s chest, breaking rib, before shattering his wrist and and embedding itself in his thigh Exhibit CE-399 Sources: Warren Commission, HSCA, National Archives, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Clay Shaw Trial Transcripts Pictures: Bettmann via Getty Images, U.S. Library of Congress (main picture), Commission exhibits © GRAPHIC NEWS