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Date:         Mon, 23 Nov 1992 13:12:00 EST
From:         MCCLELLAN@URVAX.BITNET
Subject:      J'Mac discource on JFK
Comments: To: history@rutvm1.bitnet

   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
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