Introduction: Understanding the Controversy
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most traumatic and debated events in American history. It was a moment that not only stole a charismatic leader but also shook the nation’s confidence to its core. The official investigation concluded that a lone gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, was responsible. Yet, for decades, a significant portion of the American public and a dedicated group of researchers and historians have questioned this conclusion. The controversy stems from a perceived disconnect between the official narrative and a collection of seemingly contradictory evidence, witness testimonies, and unanswered questions.
This article will not attempt to solve the crime that took place in Dealey Plaza. Instead, its purpose is to serve as a neutral historical overview of the enduring debate. We will explore the chasm between the dominant historical interpretation, primarily established by the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy (commonly known as the Warren Commission), and the challenging perspectives offered by critics and revisionist historians. The debate is fueled not by a single piece of evidence, but by a constellation of unresolved issues. We will focus on three of these foundational, lingering questions: the plausibility of the single-bullet theory, the identity of mysterious figures like the Babushka Lady, and the complex web of Lee Harvey Oswald’s associations. By examining these points of contention, we can better understand why the JFK assassination is not just a historical event, but a continuing source of cultural and political introspection.
