The charismatic US President John F. Kennedy (JFK) was shot dead on 22nd November 1963 while riding in an open car in Dallas by a lone gunman named Lee Harvey Oswald. It took Oswald only seven seconds to fire three shots into the presidential motorcade. The first shot entirely missed the President’s limousine. The second shot hit the President and the Texas governor. And the third shot was the fatal one which hit the President on the head blowing his brain out of his skull killing him instantly on the spot.
History is abound with instances of leaders been assassinated by resentful citizens. But none comes anywhere near the assassination of JFK. JFK was not just another American president. He was a beacon of hope and change for many. He was young, dashing, charismatic, dynamic, rich, powerful and famous. He had everything going on for him and it seemed like he had the whole world at his feet.
To top all these, JFK was a master of words and an excellent deliverer of speeches. His speeches are still a source of inspiration and enlightenment to many around the world. In fact, JFK is remembered more for his words than for his deeds. He is especially remembered for his many memorable outdoor speeches during his political career. On a personal note, I have also seen many video footages of JFK delivering outdoor speeches at different locations within and outside America. With his boyish smile and the wind blowing against his soft hair, it is always fascinating and nostalgic to see this charismatic US President standing in front of thousands of people under clear blue skies and captivating people with his well-drafted and well-spoken speeches.
The United States achieved many feats and outstanding accomplishments during the late 1960s and 1970s – the most illustrious being the landing of man on the moon in July 1969. Of course, by that time, JFK was no more. But it is important to note that many of the astonishing things which the US accomplished in the late 1960s and 1970s were set in motion during the short tenure of JFK. Therefore, it is no wonder that JFK is considered one of the greatest US presidents even though he was in the White House for only about 2 years and 10 months.
On the other hand, the assassin Lee Oswald came from a completely different world. He was a total failure, a loner, a looser, a wretched, a misfit and a nobody who had nothing in front of him to look forward to. His marriage was already on the rock about to collapse anytime. Perhaps Oswald was not affiliated with anybody or to any organization because he lacked the sociable human qualities that are required for such liaisons and affiliations. But he did know one thing and that was how to fire a rifle. Oswald fired those three shots into the president’s motorcade from the sixth floor of the nearby Texas school book depository building when the president’s limousine was less than a 100 yards from him. And with a high powered rifle in his hands, it was no big deal for someone like Oswald who had been a marine sharpshooter.
If we look at it, we can see that the assassination of JFK had everything to shock, surprise, frighten, captivate as well as inspire, depress and demoralize anybody even today. Firstly, the target was none other than the most powerful man in the world. Second, it took place on a bright sunny day in an open motorcade with thousands of people on both sides of the street. Thirdly, the charismatic president had his young and glamorous wife riding along with him in the open car. Fourthly, it was a long motorcade with many bike riders, cars, a couple of buses and the best and most efficient security personnel manning the whole affair. And lastly, it had a lone crazy gunman who had nothing against the charismatic leader or any of his policies but simply decided to use the US president as his target practice on that fateful day.
Since that day, many conspiracy theories cropped up and abound to this day. Many still find it difficult to grasp the idea that a wretched and lonely young man could just come out of the blues and kill an iconic figure of the 20th century in just seven seconds like that without any outside support or back-up. Over the years, many conspiracy theories have tried to frame the most obvious suspects like the mafia, the Russian KGB and even Fidel Castro. But now, it is beyond doubt that Oswald acted alone. He simply decided to use the US President as his target practice because he wanted people to remember his name forever.
JFK was on a three day visit to Texas and it had been raining intermittently. In fact it rained even on the morning of the fateful 22nd November. But by the time Air Force One landed in Dallas, the sky had totally cleared up. And so just like 9/11 happened under a clear blue sky, on 22nd November 1963 also, tragedy was given a beautiful clear stage.
Many also have speculated whether there was more than one gunman that day. But the unbelievable truth is that there was only one and it took him only seven seconds to change history that day. And indeed, it is hard to believe that a wretched misfit like Oswald could change the 20th century in such a blink of an eye. And the world would never come to know why Oswald killed the President because Oswald himself was gunned down by a local nightclub owner two days later.
This article is not to glorify or condone what Lee Oswald did that day. Far from it, I totally condemn and censure his actions. I am pained and saddened by the thoughts of how much JFK would have contributed to history and the world if he had lived at least for some more years. Certainly, the 20th century could have been very different if those seven seconds did not take place.
But I want to conclude by focusing on why, in my opinion, Oswald succeeded in his crazy mission. As cited above, Oswald was a failure and a misfit. He had nothing to look forward to. When he left home that day, he had left his wedding ring at home because he probably knew that he would not come home again. To go to the Texas Book Depository building where he was working, Oswald took a 20 minutes car ride from a friend. When the friend asked him about the big bag in which he was carrying his rifle, Oswald diplomatically replied that he was carrying curtain rods for his office.
It is said that “even walls have ears”. And probably the seven seconds would not have happened if Oswald had in any way hinted or communicated his thoughts and plans to anyone. The deal-breaker here was the fact that Oswald never confided in anyone. And I believe that this is the reason why Oswald succeeded splendidly.
If Oswald had acted at the behest of some mafia, the KGB or Fidel Castro’s administration, as alleged by many, he would have certainly come under the scanner at one point or the other. But he did not come under the radar because he kept his thoughts and plans to himself. He thought out in his heart, planned out in his head and put his hands into action without ever uttering a word to anybody. It was a perfect and solid coordination of the head, heart and hand. And this was the prime reason why he accomplished his task even in the midst of the most sophisticated security system accompanying the target. And this reminds me of the power of ‘Individualism’. There are things which we need to do with others and with the help, support and consent of others. But there are also things which we can accomplish splendidly only when we never reveal our thoughts and plans to others and act alone. I believe there is power when our head, heart and hands can come into agreement with each other even though there is nobody to agree with us.
The lingering question in many minds is still “how can someone like JFK who was at the pinnacle of power, fame and glory be brought down so quickly and so tragically by a wretched outcast like Oswald without any powerful persons or organization pulling the strings from behind?”But, maybe, this story is another illustration of the maxim “truth is stranger than fiction”. Yes, contrary to what many people believe, I am of the opinion that Lee Harvey Oswald succeeded that day not because he was backed up by someone but because he acted alone keeping all his secrets and plans to himself.
