Assassination of John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, November 22, 1963. Kennedy was in the vehicle with his wife Jacqueline, Texas governor John Connally, and Connally's wife Nellie, when he was fatally shot from the nearby Texas School Book Depository by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine. The motorcade rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where Kennedy was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after the shooting; Connally was also wounded in the attack but recovered.

Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was hastily sworn in as president two hours and eight minutes later aboard Air Force One at Dallas Love Field. After the assassination, Oswald returned home and later shot and killed a Dallas policeman J. D. Tippit. Oswald was apprehended by the Dallas Police Department and charged with the murders of Kennedy and Tippit. Two days later, Oswald was fatally shot by Dallas nightclub operator Jack Ruby while being moved through the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters.

Kennedy's assassination is still widely discussed and has led to many conspiracy theories and alternative scenarios. The event left a profound impact on the nation and was the first of four major assassinations during the 1960s in the United States. Kennedy was the fourth U.S. president to be assassinated and is the most recent to have died in office.

Background

Further information: John F. Kennedy and Presidency of John F. Kennedy

Kennedy

In 1960, John F. Kennedy, then a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, was elected the 35th president of the United States with Lyndon B. Johnson as his vice presidential running mate. During his time as president, Kennedy faced big challenges, especially during the Cold War. He worked hard to stand up against the Soviet Union and communism. One famous moment was when he helped avoid a big problem called the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In 1963, Kennedy planned to visit Texas to help bring together different groups in the state's political party. This visit was also seen as a way to start his campaign for being re-elected in 1964.

Oswald

Main article: Lee Harvey Oswald

Lee Harvey Oswald was a former U.S. Marine who had traveled to many places. He believed in communist ideas after reading Karl Marx when he was young. Oswald even lived in the Soviet Union for a while before returning to the United States. In 1963, he was living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and worked at the Texas School Book Depository on Dealey Plaza.

November 22

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the John F. Kennedy assassination.

President John F. Kennedy traveled to Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. He rode in a motorcade with his wife, Jacqueline, and Texas Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie. The route was designed to show Kennedy to as many people as possible.

As the motorcade moved through Dealey Plaza, shots were fired. Kennedy was struck and fatally wounded. Governor Connally was also injured but survived. The motorcade quickly rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where Kennedy was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after the shooting. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president later that day aboard Air Force One.

Immediate aftermath

Autopsy

Main article: Autopsy of John F. Kennedy

President Kennedy’s autopsy took place at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland the night of November 22. The doctors worked quickly and did not have all the details right away. Later, some important pieces of evidence were lost, which caused many questions.

Funeral

Main articles: State funeral of John F. Kennedy and List of dignitaries at the state funeral of John F. Kennedy

After the autopsy, Kennedy’s body lay in the East Room of the White House for a day. Then his coffin was carried to the Capitol, where many people came to pay their respects. The funeral service happened on November 25 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, with leaders from many countries attending. Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, where a special flame was lit in 1967 to remember him.

Murder of Oswald

Further information: Lee Harvey Oswald § Murder

On November 24, Lee Harvey Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby while being moved by police. Oswald was taken to the same hospital where Kennedy had been treated, but despite efforts to save him, he died that day. Ruby said he did it because he was upset about Kennedy’s death. Ruby was later convicted but his case was overturned, and he passed away before a new trial could happen.

Films and photographs of the assassination

A tailor named Abraham Zapruder recorded the event on film from a distance of 65 feet away. His film, known as the Zapruder film, captured the moment and was shown publicly many years later. Many other people also took photos or film during the event.

Mary Moorman took photos with her Polaroid camera, including one taken just after the shooting happened. Other films were made by people like Marie Muchmore and Orville Nix, but from farther away. There were also reports of an unidentified woman, called the Babushka Lady, who may have filmed the event, but her story was later found to be untrue.

Official investigations

Dallas Police

At the Dallas Police headquarters, officers interrogated Lee Harvey Oswald about the shootings of President Kennedy and a police officer named Tippit. The interviews lasted about 12 hours. Oswald denied any involvement and made statements that were later found to be false.

Captain J. W. Fritz of the Homicide and Robbery Bureau led most of the questioning. There were no recordings, only notes taken afterwards. Representatives from other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service, were also present.

FBI investigation

The FBI quickly began an investigation into the assassination. Within 24 hours, FBI Director Hoover sent President Johnson a report saying that Oswald was the sole culprit. The FBI’s report concluded that three bullets were fired — the first striking Kennedy in the upper back, the second striking Texas governor John Connally, and the third striking Kennedy in the head, killing him.

Warren Commission

President Johnson established the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Its 888-page report concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone in killing Kennedy and wounding Connally. The commission also concluded that Jack Ruby acted alone in killing Oswald.

The commission introduced the "single-bullet theory," explaining that one bullet caused the non-fatal wounds of both Kennedy and Connally. This theory was supported by reenactments and examinations.

Trial of Clay Shaw

In 1967, New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison arrested businessman Clay Shaw, accusing him of conspiring to assassinate Kennedy. After a trial in 1969, Shaw was found not guilty. The trial was widely regarded as unfair and based on incorrect assumptions.

Ramsey Clark Panel

In 1968, Attorney General Ramsey Clark formed a panel of medical experts to examine photographs and X-rays from Kennedy’s autopsy. The panel agreed with the Warren Commission that Kennedy was struck by two bullets, both from behind.

Rockefeller Commission

In 1975, President Gerald Ford created the United States President’s Commission on CIA Activities within the United States, led by Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. The commission agreed that Kennedy was killed by two shots from behind and found no evidence of CIA involvement in the assassination.

Church Committee

In 1975, the U.S. Senate launched the Church Committee to investigate improper actions by the CIA and FBI. The committee found no evidence of a conspiracy but criticized the FBI and CIA for not sharing information with the Warren Commission.

United States House Select Committee on Assassinations

In 1976, the House Select Committee on Assassinations investigated the assassinations of Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. The committee concluded that Kennedy was likely assassinated as part of a conspiracy, with a high probability that a fourth shot was fired from the grassy knoll but missed Kennedy. However, this conclusion was based on disputed acoustic evidence.

JFK Act and Assassination Records Review Board

In 1991, Congress passed the JFK Records Act, calling for the release of all assassination-related documents. The Assassination Records Review Board collected and unsealed about 60,000 documents from 1994 to 1998. Most remaining records were scheduled for release by October 2017, but some were delayed. In 2022 and 2023, more documents were released, and in March 2025, the final remaining documents were declassified.

Main article: Warren Commission

Main article: Trial of Clay Shaw

Main article: United States President's Commission on CIA Activities within the United States

Main article: Church Committee

Main article: United States House Select Committee on Assassinations

Main article: President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992

Conspiracy theories

Main article: John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories

Many people have wondered if there was more to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy than what officials reported. Over the years, lots of books and theories have suggested that others were involved besides Lee Harvey Oswald. Some theories point to groups like the FBI, the CIA, the U.S. military, or even foreign agencies.

Famous people have also talked about these ideas. For example, some believed that more than one person shot at Kennedy. Others have questioned the official reports and investigations about what happened that day.

Legacy

Political impact and memorialization

President Johnson spoke to Congress just five days after the assassination, urging the country to continue Kennedy’s work, especially on civil rights. This led to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. To honor Kennedy, Florida’s Cape Canaveral was renamed Cape Kennedy, and a major airport in New York was named after him. The Secret Service also changed its rules and added new safety measures to protect future presidents.

Cultural impact and depictions

Kennedy’s assassination shocked many people around the world and made him a famous figure. It was one of several major assassinations in the 1960s, along with those of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. The event has inspired many books, films, and songs over the years.

Artifacts, museums, and locations

Dealey Plaza in Dallas is now a historic landmark, and museums display items from that day, including Air Force One and Kennedy’s limousine. Many personal items and artifacts are kept in archives, though some were destroyed at the request of Kennedy’s family.

Notes and references

(Note: This section has been omitted as it contains only references and citations, which are not suitable for the Discoverer level.)