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- Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 13:12:00 EST
- Sender: History <HISTORY@PSUVM.BITNET>
- From: MCCLELLAN@URVAX.BITNET
- Subject: J'Mac discource on JFK
- Comments: To: history@rutvm1.bitnet
- Lines: 104
-
- I can see that my post of yesterday has sparked a string of discourse on JFK
- and his assassination. Quite a few people have e-mailed me asking for my
- theory. Before I go into it, I want to tell you about my fascination and
- ADMIRATION for the man.
- I was born nine years after JFK's assassination. When I was in 6th grade, I
- became interested in all the stuff coming out for the 20th anniversary of his
- assassination. After watching the Kennedy mini-series staring Martin Sheen, I
- had to know everything I could about him. I grew to admire him (not idolize him
- or worship him, I must point out). He was not perfect. But he overcame a lot of
- odds to become a great and charismatic man. He was never suppose to be
- President. His brother, Joe was the one. Joe was the Golden Boy. Jack was the
- sickly one who never really expected to grow old. Upon Joe's death, his
- father's ambitions were thrust upon Jack, who at first didn't really want them.
- But he grew to love politics. He was a brilliant politician, and as a political
- science student, I think I can recognize his genius.
- I realize many think he was a "weak" President. In some areas, I agree. He
- couldn't get his policies through Congress. But He did have wonderful ideas,
- some of which LBJ took the credit for (Civil Rights). But he was a good leader,
- something that can't be said of a number of other Presidents. He inspired an
- entire generation into politics and public service (Actually two, for he
- inspired me into it). He knew how to lead public opinion on certain things.
- And he had some damn impressive successes: US Steel, Cuban Missle Crisis,
- Difusing the Berline Crisis for the time being, the Peace Corps just to name
- a few. And I can't stress the Cuban Missile Crisis enough because we are just
- now learning how close to nuclear war we really came. I believe that JFK was
- perhaps the only person Kruschev could have worked with at the time in the
- quest for peace.
- I admire JFK as a person. I know he wasn't perfect. He was an unfaithful
- husband. But the son learns the habits he sees of his father. And I truely
- believe he and Jackie did love one another. He loved to take risks and the fast
- lane. But a a youth, he never expected to grow old or live long due to
- Addison's disease and various illnesses, and never expected to amount to
- greatness, so he could afford to be reckless. As he grew older, hard habits
- were hard to break. He lived every day of his life in pain, but never
- complained or let it stop him. He was a devoted father. Personally, I blame his
- parents for his faults, but that;s another matter.
- Anyway, enough praise, you get the idea.
-
- After becoming a "Kennedy-buff" I read everything I could get my hands on. I
- read a lot of the assassination stuff. I read biographies and memoirs written
- by his aids and friends. I read William Manchester's account of Nov. 22,
- authorized by Jackie, and I trust it because of his sources. I've even seen
- Oliver Stone's theory (Not that I sanction it, but it does make one think, and
- some of his ideas are plausible). From these sources I have pieced together my
- own theory. I warn you that it's not complete, because as mentioned before, no
- one will ever know the truth.
-
- I believe JFK was murdered by a coalition of the CIA and mafia. Why would
- they want him dead? The mafia was angry because of RFK's stepped up
- investigations and prosecutions. A well known New Orleans boss (whose name
- escapes me, but I could find if anyone wants) commented to his associates that
- if you cut off a dogs tail, the head can still bite you, but if you cut off its
- head, the tail will stop wagging. Translation: If you kill RFK, JFK can appoint
- another AG with the same policies. But if you kill JFK, RFK will be so
- distraught, he won't be effective as an AG, and LBJ won't replace him
- immediately. That's exactly what happened. After 11/22, RFK just went through
- the motions as AG. The mafia had other reasons to kill JFK. After all, he was
- having an affair with one of the boss's girlfriend.
- Why the CIA? JFK wanted to put an end to Operation Mongoose to kill
- Castro, an operation that CIA invested a lot of energy into. JFK also wanted to
- pull out of Vietnam after the '64 election. And he wanted to decrease the
- influence of the CIA and military industrial complex after the Bay of Pigs
- disaster because he did not trust them. I agree with Stone's hypothesis that
- JFK wanted to change too much too fast for some people's comfort, particularly
- CIA. Even RFK suspected CIA, for the not long after the assassination (I think
- even the next day) he asked the director, with tears in his eyes "Did you kill
- my brother" (or something to that effect). Who else but the CIA could pull off
- such a crime and coverup?
- What's the connection between CIA and mafia? CIA had long been hiring mafia
- guns to assist in its covert operations (Mongoose for example). I think CIA
- masterminded the hit, and the mafia executed it.
- What about Oswald? He is a mystery, but here's what I think. Many people
- think there was a CIA double for him. I think that is a distinct possibility.
- Whether or not the real Oswald or a fake Oswald, here's where I think he fits
- in. He was a decoy. He DID NOT fire the fatal shots. They came from either the
- knoll or the wooden fence behind the knoll (Stone's right in that regard).
- There were more than 3 shots. And there's no way one bullet his JFK's neck and
- went through Connaly, only to come out perfectly and be found on a hospital
- gurney.
- Here are a few reactions to other theories. The Secret Service wasn't
- involved. Some question JFK's driver, but he didn't realize what was happening
- when he slowed down, and was later guilt ridden, so unless he's an extremely
- good actor, I doubt he was in on it. Stone suggests that the reason JFK's body
- was rushed out of Dallas wothout an autopsy was part of the coverup. WRONG!
- Ken O'Donnel and other Kennedy aides wanted to get Jackie the Hell out of
- there, and she wouldn't leave without her husband. The decision to leave was
- Ken's. LBJ also wanted to get out of there because he was scared to death. (And
- no, I don't think he was involved, nor were any of the cabinet.) Some argue
- that between Parkland and Bethesda hospitals, JFK's wounds were altered. I
- don't see how that's possible, for Jackie stayed with the coffin from the
- minute they left Parkland to the minute they reached Bethesda. Any alterations
- would have to have been done at Bethesda. I doubt there were alterations, just
- a botched autopsy at Bethesda, part of the cover up. Part of the confusion
- surrounding the wounds could be due to the confusion at Parkland, and due to
- the tracheotomy performed.
- Anyway, this is my rough theory. I think I've covered all major points. If
- anyone wishes to take issue with anything or has any questions, I welcome them
- to contact me. I'm sorry this is so long, but I had quite a bit to say on the
- matter. I get pretty passionate talking about the Kennedy's.
- Just for the record, I think RFK was a more admirable man than his older
- brother, and I am sympathetic towards Teddy. But that would take another
- hundred or so lines to explain, so I'll sign off.
-
- J'Mac
-