A Suspicious Pattern in Presidential Assassinations
Ken Pealock
3/4/20259 min read
What are the theories behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy?
The assassination of John F. Kennedy (JFK) on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, has given rise to some of the most persistent and debated conspiracy theories in history. While the official government position—as stated in the Warren Commission Report—is that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, numerous pieces of evidence and eyewitness testimonies suggest a broader conspiracy. Here are the most popular theories:
1. The Second Shooter (Grassy Knoll) Theory
One of the most famous theories is that Oswald was not the only shooter, and that at least one more gunman fired from the Grassy Knoll, a small hill in Dealey Plaza.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Multiple eyewitnesses reported hearing gunfire from the Grassy Knoll.
The Zapruder film (a home movie capturing the assassination) shows Kennedy’s head snapping back and to the left, suggesting a shot from the front.
The House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) in 1979 concluded that "there was probably a conspiracy" and that at least one additional gunshot came from another shooter.
2. The CIA’s Role (Operation Mockingbird, Anti-Castro Operations)
Many believe the CIA played a role in the assassination due to Kennedy’s attempts to rein in their power after the Bay of Pigs failure and his push for peace with the Soviet Union and Cuba.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Kennedy reportedly wanted to dismantle the CIA after their botched operations against Cuba.
E. Howard Hunt, a former CIA operative, allegedly admitted on his deathbed that he was involved in a CIA plot to kill Kennedy.
The CIA was working with anti-Castro Cuban exiles, many of whom were angry at Kennedy for not supporting an invasion of Cuba after the Bay of Pigs.
3. The Mafia’s Revenge
The Mafia had strong motives to kill JFK, as his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), was cracking down on organized crime. Some believe the Mafia was used as a cutout for a larger conspiracy involving intelligence agencies.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Mafia bosses like Carlos Marcello, Sam Giancana, and Johnny Roselli were all under RFK’s investigations.
The Mafia was deeply involved in CIA plots to assassinate Fidel Castro.
Giancana was later found murdered right before he was supposed to testify about his involvement with the CIA and the assassination.
4. The Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Coup Theory
Some believe that Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) orchestrated the assassination to become president. LBJ was known for his ruthless political ambition and had motive, since Kennedy had allegedly planned to drop him from the ticket in 1964.
🔹 Key Evidence:
LBJ had close ties to Texas oil magnates, who were unhappy with Kennedy’s push for ending the oil-depletion tax break.
Several insiders, including former Nixon aide Roger Stone, claimed LBJ was directly involved.
After JFK’s death, LBJ immediately reversed some of Kennedy’s policies, especially regarding Vietnam.
5. The Federal Reserve & Banking Cartel Theory
This theory suggests Kennedy was assassinated for attempting to weaken the Federal Reserve’s control over U.S. money. In Executive Order 11110, JFK authorized the Treasury Department to issue silver-backed currency, which some claim was a move against the privately owned Federal Reserve.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Executive Order 11110 was never enforced after JFK’s death.
Some believe Kennedy was threatening the power of the global banking system, making him a target.
6. The Military-Industrial Complex & Vietnam War Theory
JFK had begun to pull U.S. troops out of Vietnam, directly opposing the interests of the military-industrial complex that profited from war. His assassination conveniently allowed escalation in Vietnam, which led to billions in defense contracts.
🔹 Key Evidence:
National Security Action Memorandum (NSAM) 263, signed by JFK, ordered 1,000 troops withdrawn from Vietnam.
After JFK’s death, LBJ reversed this order and escalated the war.
General Curtis LeMay and other top military officials despised Kennedy for his reluctance to use force, especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
7. The Secret Service’s Involvement or Incompetence
Some theories suggest that rogue elements within the Secret Service either participated in or allowed the assassination to happen. Others believe Kennedy’s protective detail was deliberately pulled back.
🔹 Key Evidence:
The night before the assassination, several Secret Service agents were seen drinking at a Dallas nightclub.
The Zapruder film shows the lead Secret Service car slowing down, possibly making Kennedy an easier target.
Some agents lied about their actions that day, raising suspicions.
8. The Soviet Union or Cuban Retaliation Theory
Since JFK was involved in Cold War conflicts with Fidel Castro’s Cuba and the Soviet Union, some believe that either Castro or Soviet operatives orchestrated the hit.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Oswald defected to the Soviet Union for a time and was openly pro-Castro.
The CIA had been actively trying to assassinate Castro, giving him motive for revenge.
However, both the Soviets and Cubans denied involvement, fearing massive U.S. retaliation.
9. The "Umbrella Man" and Strange Witnesses Theory
Several unusual figures were present at Dealey Plaza that day, fueling speculation about hidden conspirators.
🔹 Key Figures & Oddities:
The "Umbrella Man"—a man standing near the motorcade with an open umbrella on a sunny day. Some believe he was signaling shooters.
The Babushka Lady—a woman who filmed the event but disappeared before investigators could talk to her.
The "Three Tramps"—three men arrested near the railway tracks who looked like intelligence operatives but were never fully identified.
Final Thoughts
Despite the Warren Commission’s "lone gunman" conclusion, many Americans reject the official story due to conflicting evidence, missing records, and suspicious actions by government agencies. Even former FBI agents, CIA officers, and U.S. officials have admitted that the case is far from settled.
The JFK assassination remains one of the greatest mysteries in American history, with no single theory fully explaining everything—which is why the speculation continues to this day.
What are the theories behind the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy?
The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) on June 5, 1968, has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, as many people believe there was more to the story than the official account that Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian, acted alone. Here are the main conspiracy theories surrounding his death:
1. The Second Gunman Theory
One of the most persistent theories is that Sirhan Sirhan could not have been the only shooter. Autopsy reports show that RFK was shot from behind at point-blank range, but witnesses saw Sirhan standing in front of him, several feet away. Some believe a second gunman fired the fatal shots from behind, possibly from the security guard standing near Kennedy.
🔹 Key Evidence:
The autopsy report by Dr. Thomas Noguchi found that the fatal shot entered Kennedy’s head from behind at close range, which contradicts Sirhan’s position.
Several witnesses claim to have seen another shooter or heard more shots than Sirhan's gun could have fired.
2. The Hypnosis/Mind Control Theory
Some believe Sirhan Sirhan was a Manchurian Candidate, brainwashed through hypnosis or mind control to kill RFK without fully realizing what he was doing. This theory is based on:
🔹 Key Evidence:
Sirhan has repeatedly claimed he has no memory of the shooting.
Some researchers believe his behavior was robotic or programmed and that he may have been a victim of MKUltra, the CIA’s real-life mind-control experiments.
Witnesses say Sirhan appeared to be in a trance-like state during and after the assassination.
3. CIA/Military Industrial Complex Involvement
Some theorists argue that the CIA or the military-industrial complex had Kennedy killed because he posed a threat to their power. Like his brother JFK, RFK had enemies in the intelligence community, especially after he vowed to end the Vietnam War and crack down on the CIA’s secret operations.
🔹 Key Evidence:
RFK was on track to win the presidency, and many believe he would have reopened the investigation into JFK’s assassination.
The CIA had a history of covert assassinations, including plots to kill foreign leaders.
Thane Eugene Cesar, the security guard behind Kennedy, had connections to right-wing groups and worked for a military contractor, raising suspicions.
4. The 13 Shots & Audio Evidence Theory
Sirhan’s gun only held 8 bullets, but some audio analysts claim to have detected at least 13 gunshots in a recording of the assassination.
🔹 Key Evidence:
An audio recording made by journalist Stanislaw Pruszynski was analyzed by forensic experts, who claim it captures more than 8 shots.
This supports the idea of multiple shooters.
5. Mafia Retaliation Theory
RFK, as Attorney General, led a major crackdown on organized crime, targeting figures like Jimmy Hoffa and the Mafia bosses who had connections to the CIA. Some believe the Mafia, possibly in coordination with intelligence agencies, ordered his hit.
🔹 Key Evidence:
The Mafia had motive—Kennedy’s presidency would have likely meant further prosecution of crime bosses.
The Mafia had ties to previous assassination plots, including against JFK.
6. The Palestinian Revenge Theory (Official Narrative)
The official story is that Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian nationalist, killed RFK because of Kennedy’s support for Israel.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Sirhan wrote in his diary about his hatred for RFK over Israel’s military aid.
He confessed to the crime initially but later claimed he had no memory of the event.
Critics argue that while Sirhan may have had a motive, the evidence doesn’t add up, and he may have been a patsy for a larger conspiracy.
Final Thoughts
To this day, many believe RFK’s assassination was not just the work of a lone gunman. The strange evidence, missing memories, and contradictory reports fuel suspicions that a more powerful force orchestrated his death, whether it was the CIA, Mafia, military-industrial complex, or a hidden second gunman.
Even RFK’s own family members, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have pushed for a new investigation, believing the official story is a lie.
What are the theories behind the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr?
The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, has long been surrounded by conspiracy theories, with many believing that James Earl Ray was not the sole assassin—or that he was merely a patsy. Here are the most common conspiracy theories surrounding his death:
1. Government Involvement (FBI, CIA, or Military)
Many believe that the U.S. government, particularly the FBI, played a role in King’s assassination. The FBI under J. Edgar Hoover saw King as a threat, frequently surveilling him, attempting to discredit him, and even sending him an anonymous letter urging him to commit suicide.
🔹 Key Evidence:
FBI memos labeled King as a "Black Messiah" who needed to be neutralized.
Hoover despised King, and the FBI actively worked to ruin his reputation.
The House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) in 1979 found that there was a "likelihood of conspiracy" but did not implicate the FBI directly.
Military intelligence units were reportedly tracking King in the days leading up to his assassination.
2. James Earl Ray as a Patsy
The official story states that James Earl Ray, a career criminal, acted alone in killing King. However, many believe that Ray was just a scapegoat for a larger conspiracy.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Ray initially confessed but later recanted, claiming he was set up by a mysterious figure named "Raoul."
King’s family publicly believes Ray was innocent, with Coretta Scott King stating that her husband’s assassination was "a major high-level conspiracy."
Eyewitnesses reported seeing suspicious figures near the Lorraine Motel who were not investigated.
3. The Mafia’s Role
Another theory suggests that the Mafia played a role in King's murder, possibly at the behest of government agencies. The Mafia had ties to CIA and FBI operations and could have been used as a "cleaner" to distance the government from the hit.
🔹 Key Evidence:
New Orleans mob boss Carlos Marcello and other Mafia figures reportedly had ties to King’s surveillance.
Some researchers believe that the Mafia was involved in both JFK’s and MLK’s assassinations as part of a larger plot.
4. The Memphis Police and Local Conspiracy
Some theories suggest that the Memphis Police Department and local officials were involved in the assassination.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Memphis police withdrew King’s security detail just before the assassination.
A local police informant, Loyd Jowers, claimed in 1993 that he helped arrange the hit as part of a larger conspiracy involving the government and the Mafia.
King’s room was moved to a more exposed location shortly before the shooting.
5. The Military Sniper Team Theory
Some researchers believe that a special military sniper unit (often referred to as the Operation Detachment Alpha 184 team) was in Memphis on the day of the assassination as part of a contingency plan. This theory suggests that multiple shooters were in place, with Ray merely being a cover story.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Soldiers were reportedly stationed nearby and watching King’s movements.
Former military officials have claimed that backup snipers were in position.
6. The U.S. Civil Lawsuit and Verdict (1999)
In 1999, a civil jury trial found that King was assassinated as part of a conspiracy involving the U.S. government. The case was brought by the King family, and the jury ruled in their favor after hearing testimony from Loyd Jowers and other witnesses.
🔹 Key Evidence:
Jowers claimed that he was part of a conspiracy to set up a shooter other than Ray.
The jury concluded that the assassination involved the Memphis police, the FBI, and the Mafia.
Final Thoughts
While the official story says that James Earl Ray acted alone, there is strong evidence that a larger conspiracy may have been at play. Whether it was the FBI, CIA, Mafia, local police, or military, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. remains one of the most controversial and suspicious political murders in U.S. history.
Even King’s own family rejects the official narrative, believing the government was directly involved in his death.