By Smartencyclopedia Newsdesk
Dallas, TX – Sixty years after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, theories about the tragic event continue to grip the United States. During his reelection campaign, former President Donald Trump has renewed his pledge to declassify the remaining government records related to the assassination should he return to the White House.
Trump had previously made a similar promise during his first term in office but ultimately conceded to requests from the CIA and FBI to withhold some records for reasons of national security. Experts, however, caution that even if these final documents are released, they are unlikely to yield any groundbreaking revelations.
A Legacy of Conspiracy and Secrecy
On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was fatally shot while his motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza in Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old former Marine, was arrested shortly after but was himself killed two days later by nightclub owner Jack Ruby during a prison transfer.
In 1964, the Warren Commission, led by President Lyndon B. Johnson, concluded that Oswald acted alone and found no evidence of a conspiracy. Despite this, alternative theories about Kennedy’s assassination have proliferated over the decades, fueled by secrecy and lingering doubts.
Unreleased Records and the Push for Transparency
Following public demand for transparency, a law passed in the early 1990s required all assassination-related documents to be stored in the National Archives. This collection, totaling over 5 million records, was slated for full release by 2017 unless a sitting president determined otherwise.
Trump, who assumed office in 2017, initially vowed to release all remaining records but ultimately withheld some, citing potential risks to national security. While the Biden administration has continued to release documents, thousands remain classified.
Experts estimate that approximately 3,000 to 4,000 documents are still partially or entirely redacted. These include tax records and other sensitive information related to Oswald and Ruby. Gerald Posner, author of Case Closed, noted that around 500 of these documents are heavily redacted, while others feature minor omissions such as Social Security numbers.
What the Released Documents Reveal
In recent years, the declassified documents have shed light on Cold War-era intelligence operations rather than uncovering new details about the assassination. For instance, some records detail Oswald’s visits to the Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City weeks before the assassination.
Oswald’s defection to the Soviet Union and subsequent return to the U.S. have long fueled speculation about his motives and potential connections to foreign governments. However, researchers argue that the existing evidence supports the conclusion that he acted alone.
Commemorating a Tragic Anniversary
This week marks the 60th anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination, which is being commemorated with events across the nation. On Friday, a moment of silence was observed at Dealey Plaza, where the fatal shots were fired.
As Trump’s pledge to release the final documents reignites public interest, historians and conspiracy theorists alike are left pondering whether these records will finally resolve lingering questions or simply reinforce the enduring mystery surrounding Kennedy’s death.