Who Was Lee Harvey Who Was Lee Harvey Oswald?Oswald?

Choices:Choices:

Lone nutLone nut Just plain nut, involved in conspiracy, used Just plain nut, involved in conspiracy, used

in conspiracy and/or set up as patsyin conspiracy and/or set up as patsy Just plain patsyJust plain patsy

Famous Backyard Photos: Real or Fake?

The first person to say they were fake? Lee Harvey Oswald, himself. However, his wife testified to taking them.

Questions to PonderQuestions to Ponder

Did Oswald shoot Kennedy?Did Oswald shoot Kennedy? If he shot Kennedy, did he do it alone or as If he shot Kennedy, did he do it alone or as

a part of a conspiracy?a part of a conspiracy? If there was a conspiracy:If there was a conspiracy: What kind of conspiracy was it?What kind of conspiracy was it? If he didn’t, who did?If he didn’t, who did?

Did Oswald shoot Kennedy?Did Oswald shoot Kennedy?1.1. He didn’t do it. He didn’t do it.

1.1. Opportunity: YesOpportunity: Yes• Is it possible no shots came from the Is it possible no shots came from the

book depository?book depository?• Was someone else was at the book Was someone else was at the book

depository shooting his rifle?depository shooting his rifle?2.2. Motive: QuestionableMotive: Questionable• Did he blame Kennedy for his personal Did he blame Kennedy for his personal

troubles?troubles?• Did he do it to impress Castro/the Did he do it to impress Castro/the

Soviets?Soviets?

If he did it, did he do it alone?If he did it, did he do it alone?1.1. Evidence pointing to conspiracyEvidence pointing to conspiracy Location and timing of eventLocation and timing of event Magic BulletMagic Bullet AutopsyAutopsy Possible Ruby-Oswald connectionPossible Ruby-Oswald connection Leads not followed by Warren CommissionLeads not followed by Warren Commission

2.2. Evidence pointing to Lone NutEvidence pointing to Lone Nut Assassin profileAssassin profile Previous erratic and violent behaviorPrevious erratic and violent behavior Left wing beliefsLeft wing beliefs

If he did it, did he do it aloneIf he did it, did he do it alone??

Option 1: Yes. Option 1: Yes. His desire was to return to Russia or live in His desire was to return to Russia or live in

Cuba.Cuba. He was either a fantastic shot, a lucky shot, He was either a fantastic shot, a lucky shot,

or it wasn’t such a difficult shot as it was or it wasn’t such a difficult shot as it was made out to be.made out to be.

If a conspiracy, a conspiracy of If a conspiracy, a conspiracy of whomwhom??

1.1. Left Wing: CommunistsLeft Wing: Communists Consistent with Oswald’s beliefsConsistent with Oswald’s beliefs New Orleans press had recently run story New Orleans press had recently run story

on Castro’s reaction to alleged plot of on Castro’s reaction to alleged plot of Kennedy administration to assassinate the Kennedy administration to assassinate the Cuban leaderCuban leader

Trip to Mexico CityTrip to Mexico City

2.2. Right Wing: Anti-Castro Cubans/CIARight Wing: Anti-Castro Cubans/CIA Motives: ManyMotives: Many Bay of Pigs InvasionBay of Pigs Invasion Kennedy administration’s relaxation of Kennedy administration’s relaxation of

its fight against Communism in Cuba its fight against Communism in Cuba and Viet Namand Viet Nam

Oswald link to CIA: De MohrenshildtOswald link to CIA: De Mohrenshildt To Cubans: Camp Street Address To Cubans: Camp Street Address David Ferrie: the link to everybodyDavid Ferrie: the link to everybody

David Ferrie:David Ferrie: Pilot for Carlos Marcello, New Orleans mob Pilot for Carlos Marcello, New Orleans mob

bossboss Rabid anti-CommunistRabid anti-Communist CIA contractor who flew missions into Cuba CIA contractor who flew missions into Cuba Associate of ex-FBI agent Guy Bannister, Associate of ex-FBI agent Guy Bannister,

whose detective agency was in the building whose detective agency was in the building Oswald’s Fair Play for Cuba Committee listed Oswald’s Fair Play for Cuba Committee listed as its addressas its address

Trainer and equipper for anti-Castro Trainer and equipper for anti-Castro underground run from Bannister’s agencyunderground run from Bannister’s agency

Official story: “They never met.”Official story: “They never met.”

Oswald and Ferrie at a Civil Air Patrol campground, when Oswald was a youth in New Orleans

3.3. MobMob Motive: LotsMotive: Lots The delivery of Chicago vote to help The delivery of Chicago vote to help

Kennedy’s election (Sam Giancana's Kennedy’s election (Sam Giancana's Chicago family)Chicago family)

Kennedy Administration’s all out war on the Kennedy Administration’s all out war on the Mafia (Marcello, New Orleans boss, Mafia (Marcello, New Orleans boss, snatched from the streets and exiled to snatched from the streets and exiled to Colombia, without even a toothbrush)Colombia, without even a toothbrush)

The mob’s desire to return to Cuba (Santos The mob’s desire to return to Cuba (Santos Trafficante)Trafficante)

Ruby’s mafia connectionsRuby’s mafia connections Ferrie’s mafia connectionsFerrie’s mafia connections Oswald’s mafia connectionsOswald’s mafia connections

Link between Mob Link between Mob and Intelligence Communityand Intelligence Community

1.1. Began during WWII when Lucky Began during WWII when Lucky Luciano was released from prison to Luciano was released from prison to enlist the Marseilles mob in securing enlist the Marseilles mob in securing the port for the Allied Invasionthe port for the Allied Invasion

2.2. Trafficante was involved in Bay of Pigs Trafficante was involved in Bay of Pigs operationoperation

3.3. Giancana was involved in plot to kill Giancana was involved in plot to kill CastroCastro

““Think of two parallel lines,” he said. “One is the Think of two parallel lines,” he said. “One is the life of Lee H. Oswald. One is the conspiracy life of Lee H. Oswald. One is the conspiracy to kill the President. What bridges the space to kill the President. What bridges the space between them? What makes a connection between them? What makes a connection inevitable? There is a third line. It comes out inevitable? There is a third line. It comes out of dreams, visions, intuitions, prayers, out of of dreams, visions, intuitions, prayers, out of the deepest levels of self. It’s not generated the deepest levels of self. It’s not generated by cause and effect like the other two lines. by cause and effect like the other two lines. It’s a line that cuts across causality, cuts It’s a line that cuts across causality, cuts across time. It has no history that we can across time. It has no history that we can recognize or understand. But it forces a recognize or understand. But it forces a connection. It puts a man on the path of his connection. It puts a man on the path of his destiny.destiny.

David Ferrie to LHO, in the novel David Ferrie to LHO, in the novel Libra,Libra, by Don DeLillo(1988) by Don DeLillo(1988)

Did Oswald know Ruby?Did Oswald know Ruby?

– Beverly Oliver, a stripper who worked for Ruby, Beverly Oliver, a stripper who worked for Ruby, states that he introduced her to Oswald one states that he introduced her to Oswald one night not too long before Kennedy arrived in night not too long before Kennedy arrived in town.town.

– In LaFontaines’ (2002) book, an inmate of the In LaFontaines’ (2002) book, an inmate of the Dallas jail with Oswald, heard him refer to a gun Dallas jail with Oswald, heard him refer to a gun runner who was arrested while they were there runner who was arrested while they were there as someone “he’d met at Ruby’s.”as someone “he’d met at Ruby’s.”

– Both accounts have been refuted—but not by Both accounts have been refuted—but not by Ruby, since he’s dead.Ruby, since he’s dead.

– But look at this sequence of events…But look at this sequence of events…

Oswald spots Ruby off to the side of the police garage

I was watching this event as it unfolded in I was watching this event as it unfolded in 1963.1963.

I said to myself, “He sees someone he I said to myself, “He sees someone he knows.”knows.”

And then…And then…

Ruby pushes to the front and shoots Oswald at point blank range.

That doesn’t mean it’s true.That doesn’t mean it’s true.

You be the judge.You be the judge.

Photos: G. R. (1995). The search for Lee Harvey Oswald. New York: Penguin.