claviger
2018-05-03 19:57:01 UTC
NATIONAL ARCHIVES
JFK Assassination Records
FINDINGS
C. The Committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that President John F. Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result
of a conspiracy. The Committee is unable to identify the other gunman
or the extent of the conspiracy.
• The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that the Soviet Government was not involved in the assassination of
President Kennedy
• The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that the Cuban Government was not involved in the assassination of
President Kennedy
• The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that anti-Castro Cuban groups, as groups, were not involved in the
assassination of President Kennedy, but that the available evidence
does not preclude the possibility that individual members may have
been involved
• The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that the national syndicate of organized crime, as a group, was not
involved in the assassination of President Kennedy, but the available
evidence does not preclude the possibility that individual members
may have been involved
• The Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and
Central Intelligence Agency were not involved in the assassination
of President Kennedy
Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once simply defined
conspiracy as "a partnership in criminal purposes."
(1) That definition is adequate.
Nevertheless, it may be helpful to set out a more precise definition.
If two or more individuals agreed to take action to kill President Kennedy,
and at least one of them took action in furtherance of the plan, and it
resulted in President Kennedy's death, the President would have been
assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.
The committee recognizes, of course, that while the work "conspiracy"
technically denotes only a "partnership in criminal purposes," it also, in
fact, connotes widely varying meanings to many people, and its use has
vastly differing societal implications depending upon the sophistication,
extent and ultimate purpose of the partnership.
For example, a conspiracy to assassinate a President might be a complex
plot orchestrated by foreign political powers; it might be the scheme of a
group of American citizens dissatisfied with particular governmental
policies; it also might be the plan of two largely isolated individuals with
no readily discernible motive.
Conspiracies may easily range, therefore, from those with important
implications for social or governmental institutions to those with no
major societal significance. As the evidence concerning the probability
that President Kennedy was assassinated as a result of a "conspiracy"
is analyzed, these various connotations of the word "conspiracy" and
distinctions between them ought to be constantly borne in mind. Here,
as elsewhere, words must be used carefully, lest people be misled.
A conspiracy cannot be said to have existed in Dealey Plaza
unless evidence exists from which, in Justice Holmes' words,
a "partnership in criminal purposes" may be inferred.
The Warren Commission's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald was not
involved in a conspiracy to assassinate the President was, for example,
largely based on its findings of the absence of evidence of significant
association
(2) between Oswald and other possible conspirators and no physical evidence
of conspiracy.
(3) The Commission reasoned, quite rightly, that in the absence of association
or physical evidence, there was no conspiracy.
Even without physical evidence of conspiracy at the scene of the assassination,
there would, of course, be a conspiracy if others assisted Oswald in his efforts.
Accordingly, an examination of Oswald's associates is necessary. The Warren
Commission recognized that a first premise in a finding of conspiracy may be
a finding of association. Because the Commission did not find any significant
Oswald associates, it was not compelled to face the difficult questions posed
by such a finding. More than association is required to establish conspiracy.
There must be at least knowing assistance or a manifestation of agreement
to the criminal purpose by the associate.
[It might be suggested that because of the widely varying meanings attached
to the word "conspiracy," it ought to be avoided. Such a suggestion, however,
raises another objection--the search for euphemistic variations can lead to a
lack of candor. There is virtue in seeing something for what it is, even if the
plain truth causes discomfort.]
Page 96
It is important to realize, too, that the term "associate" may connote widely
varying meanings to different people. A person's associate may be his next
door neighbor and vacation companion, or it may be an individual he has met
only once for the purpose of discussing a contract for a murder. The Warren
Commission examined Oswald's past and concluded he was essentially a loner.
(4) It reasoned, therefore, that since Oswald had no significant associations
with persons who could have been involved with him in the assassination,
there could not have been a conspiracy. (5)
With respect to Jack Ruby, the Warren Commission similarly found no significant
associations, either between Ruby and Oswald or between Ruby and others who
might have been conspirators with him. (8) In particular, it found no connections
between Ruby and organized crime, and it reasoned that absent such associations,
there was no conspiracy to kill Oswald or the president. (9)
The committee conducted a three-pronged investigation of conspiracy in the Kennedy
assassination. On the basis of extensive scientific analysis and an analysis of the
testimony of Dealey Plaza witnesses, the committee found there was a high probability
that two gunmen fired at President Kennedy.
Second, the committee explored Oswald's and Ruby's contact for any evidence
of significant associations. Unlike the Warren Commission, it found certain of
these contacts to be of investigative significance. The Commission apparently
had looked for evidence of conspiratorial association. Finding none on the face
of the associations it investigated, it did not go further. The committee, however,
conducted a wider ranging investigation. Notwithstanding the possibility of a
benign reason for contact between Oswald or Ruby and one of their associates,
the committee examined the very fact of the contact to see if it contained
investigative significance. Unlike the Warren Commission, the committee took
a close look at the associates to determine whether conspiratorial activity in the
assassination could have been possible, given what the committee could learn
about the associates, and whether the apparent nature of the contact should,
therefore, be examined more closely.
Third, the committee examined groups--political organizations, national
governments and so on--that might have had the motive, opportunity and
means to assassinate the President.
The committee, therefore, directly introduced the hypothesis of conspiracy
and investigated it with reference to known facts to determine if it had any
bearing on the assassination.
[The Warren Commission devoted its Appendix XVI to a biography of Jack
Ruby in which his family background, psychological makeup, education and
business activities were considered. While the evidence was sometimes
contradictory, the Commission found that Ruby grew up in Chicago, the son
of Jewish immigrants; that he lived in a home disrupted by domestic strife;
(6) that he was troubled psychologically as a youth and not educated
beyond high school; and that descriptions of his temperament ranged
from "mild mannered" to "violent."(7) In 1963, Ruby was 52 and unmarried.
He ran a Dallas nightclub but was not particularly successful in business.
His acquaintances included a number of Dallas police officers who
frequented his nightclub, as well as other types of people who comprised
his clientele.]
[The committee found associations of both Ruby and Oswald that were
unknown to the Warren Commission.]
Page 97
The committee examined a series of major groups or organizations that
have been alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy to assassinate
the President. If any of these groups or organizations, as a group, had
been involved in the assassination, the conspiracy to assassinate
President Kennedy would have been one of major significance.
As will be detailed in succeeding sections of this report, the committee
did not find sufficient evidence that any of these groups or organizations
were involved in a conspiracy in the Kennedy assassination. Accordingly,
the committee concluded, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that the Soviet government, the Cuban government, anti-Castro Cuban
groups, and the national syndicate of organized crime were not involved
in the assassination.
Further, the committee found that the Secret Service, the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, and the Central Intelligence Agency were not involved in
the assassination.
Based on the evidence available to it, the committee could not preclude
the possibility that individual members of anti-Castro Cuban groups or
the national syndicate of organized crime were involved in the assassination.
There was insufficient evidence, however, to support a finding that any
individual members were involved. The ramifications of a conspiracy
involving such individuals would be significant, although of perhaps less
import than would be the case if a group itself, the national syndicate,
for example had been involved.
The committee recognized that a finding that two gunmen fired
simultaneously at the President did not, by itself, establish that there
was a conspiracy to assassinate the President. It is theoretically possible
that the gunmen were acting independently, each totally unaware of the
other.
It was the committee's opinion, however, that such a theoretical possibility
is extremely remote. The more logical and probable inference to be drawn
from two gunmen firing at the same person at the same time and in the same
place is that they were acting in concert, that is, as a result of a conspiracy.
The committee found that, to be precise and loyal to the facts it established,
it was compelled to find that President Kennedy was probably killed as a
result of a conspiracy.
The committee's finding that President Kennedy was probably assassinated
as a result of a conspiracy was premised on four factors:
(1) Since the Warren Commission's and FBI's investigation into the
possibility of a conspiracy was seriously flawed, their failure to
develop evidence of a conspiracy could not be given independent
weight.
(2) The Warren Commission was, in fact, incorrect in concluding
that Oswald and Ruby had no significant associations, and
therefore its finding of no conspiracy was not reliable.
(3) While it cannot be inferred from the significant associations
of Oswald and Ruby that any of the major groups examined
by the committee were involved in the assassination, a more
limited conspiracy could not be ruled out.
(4) There was a high probability that a second gunman, in fact,
fired at the President. At the same time, the committee candidly
stated, in expressing it finding of conspiracy in the Kennedy
assassination, that it was "unable to identify the other gunman
or the extent of the conspiracy.
JFK Assassination Records
FINDINGS
C. The Committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that President John F. Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result
of a conspiracy. The Committee is unable to identify the other gunman
or the extent of the conspiracy.
• The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that the Soviet Government was not involved in the assassination of
President Kennedy
• The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that the Cuban Government was not involved in the assassination of
President Kennedy
• The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that anti-Castro Cuban groups, as groups, were not involved in the
assassination of President Kennedy, but that the available evidence
does not preclude the possibility that individual members may have
been involved
• The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that the national syndicate of organized crime, as a group, was not
involved in the assassination of President Kennedy, but the available
evidence does not preclude the possibility that individual members
may have been involved
• The Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and
Central Intelligence Agency were not involved in the assassination
of President Kennedy
Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once simply defined
conspiracy as "a partnership in criminal purposes."
(1) That definition is adequate.
Nevertheless, it may be helpful to set out a more precise definition.
If two or more individuals agreed to take action to kill President Kennedy,
and at least one of them took action in furtherance of the plan, and it
resulted in President Kennedy's death, the President would have been
assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.
The committee recognizes, of course, that while the work "conspiracy"
technically denotes only a "partnership in criminal purposes," it also, in
fact, connotes widely varying meanings to many people, and its use has
vastly differing societal implications depending upon the sophistication,
extent and ultimate purpose of the partnership.
For example, a conspiracy to assassinate a President might be a complex
plot orchestrated by foreign political powers; it might be the scheme of a
group of American citizens dissatisfied with particular governmental
policies; it also might be the plan of two largely isolated individuals with
no readily discernible motive.
Conspiracies may easily range, therefore, from those with important
implications for social or governmental institutions to those with no
major societal significance. As the evidence concerning the probability
that President Kennedy was assassinated as a result of a "conspiracy"
is analyzed, these various connotations of the word "conspiracy" and
distinctions between them ought to be constantly borne in mind. Here,
as elsewhere, words must be used carefully, lest people be misled.
A conspiracy cannot be said to have existed in Dealey Plaza
unless evidence exists from which, in Justice Holmes' words,
a "partnership in criminal purposes" may be inferred.
The Warren Commission's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald was not
involved in a conspiracy to assassinate the President was, for example,
largely based on its findings of the absence of evidence of significant
association
(2) between Oswald and other possible conspirators and no physical evidence
of conspiracy.
(3) The Commission reasoned, quite rightly, that in the absence of association
or physical evidence, there was no conspiracy.
Even without physical evidence of conspiracy at the scene of the assassination,
there would, of course, be a conspiracy if others assisted Oswald in his efforts.
Accordingly, an examination of Oswald's associates is necessary. The Warren
Commission recognized that a first premise in a finding of conspiracy may be
a finding of association. Because the Commission did not find any significant
Oswald associates, it was not compelled to face the difficult questions posed
by such a finding. More than association is required to establish conspiracy.
There must be at least knowing assistance or a manifestation of agreement
to the criminal purpose by the associate.
[It might be suggested that because of the widely varying meanings attached
to the word "conspiracy," it ought to be avoided. Such a suggestion, however,
raises another objection--the search for euphemistic variations can lead to a
lack of candor. There is virtue in seeing something for what it is, even if the
plain truth causes discomfort.]
Page 96
It is important to realize, too, that the term "associate" may connote widely
varying meanings to different people. A person's associate may be his next
door neighbor and vacation companion, or it may be an individual he has met
only once for the purpose of discussing a contract for a murder. The Warren
Commission examined Oswald's past and concluded he was essentially a loner.
(4) It reasoned, therefore, that since Oswald had no significant associations
with persons who could have been involved with him in the assassination,
there could not have been a conspiracy. (5)
With respect to Jack Ruby, the Warren Commission similarly found no significant
associations, either between Ruby and Oswald or between Ruby and others who
might have been conspirators with him. (8) In particular, it found no connections
between Ruby and organized crime, and it reasoned that absent such associations,
there was no conspiracy to kill Oswald or the president. (9)
The committee conducted a three-pronged investigation of conspiracy in the Kennedy
assassination. On the basis of extensive scientific analysis and an analysis of the
testimony of Dealey Plaza witnesses, the committee found there was a high probability
that two gunmen fired at President Kennedy.
Second, the committee explored Oswald's and Ruby's contact for any evidence
of significant associations. Unlike the Warren Commission, it found certain of
these contacts to be of investigative significance. The Commission apparently
had looked for evidence of conspiratorial association. Finding none on the face
of the associations it investigated, it did not go further. The committee, however,
conducted a wider ranging investigation. Notwithstanding the possibility of a
benign reason for contact between Oswald or Ruby and one of their associates,
the committee examined the very fact of the contact to see if it contained
investigative significance. Unlike the Warren Commission, the committee took
a close look at the associates to determine whether conspiratorial activity in the
assassination could have been possible, given what the committee could learn
about the associates, and whether the apparent nature of the contact should,
therefore, be examined more closely.
Third, the committee examined groups--political organizations, national
governments and so on--that might have had the motive, opportunity and
means to assassinate the President.
The committee, therefore, directly introduced the hypothesis of conspiracy
and investigated it with reference to known facts to determine if it had any
bearing on the assassination.
[The Warren Commission devoted its Appendix XVI to a biography of Jack
Ruby in which his family background, psychological makeup, education and
business activities were considered. While the evidence was sometimes
contradictory, the Commission found that Ruby grew up in Chicago, the son
of Jewish immigrants; that he lived in a home disrupted by domestic strife;
(6) that he was troubled psychologically as a youth and not educated
beyond high school; and that descriptions of his temperament ranged
from "mild mannered" to "violent."(7) In 1963, Ruby was 52 and unmarried.
He ran a Dallas nightclub but was not particularly successful in business.
His acquaintances included a number of Dallas police officers who
frequented his nightclub, as well as other types of people who comprised
his clientele.]
[The committee found associations of both Ruby and Oswald that were
unknown to the Warren Commission.]
Page 97
The committee examined a series of major groups or organizations that
have been alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy to assassinate
the President. If any of these groups or organizations, as a group, had
been involved in the assassination, the conspiracy to assassinate
President Kennedy would have been one of major significance.
As will be detailed in succeeding sections of this report, the committee
did not find sufficient evidence that any of these groups or organizations
were involved in a conspiracy in the Kennedy assassination. Accordingly,
the committee concluded, on the basis of the evidence available to it,
that the Soviet government, the Cuban government, anti-Castro Cuban
groups, and the national syndicate of organized crime were not involved
in the assassination.
Further, the committee found that the Secret Service, the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, and the Central Intelligence Agency were not involved in
the assassination.
Based on the evidence available to it, the committee could not preclude
the possibility that individual members of anti-Castro Cuban groups or
the national syndicate of organized crime were involved in the assassination.
There was insufficient evidence, however, to support a finding that any
individual members were involved. The ramifications of a conspiracy
involving such individuals would be significant, although of perhaps less
import than would be the case if a group itself, the national syndicate,
for example had been involved.
The committee recognized that a finding that two gunmen fired
simultaneously at the President did not, by itself, establish that there
was a conspiracy to assassinate the President. It is theoretically possible
that the gunmen were acting independently, each totally unaware of the
other.
It was the committee's opinion, however, that such a theoretical possibility
is extremely remote. The more logical and probable inference to be drawn
from two gunmen firing at the same person at the same time and in the same
place is that they were acting in concert, that is, as a result of a conspiracy.
The committee found that, to be precise and loyal to the facts it established,
it was compelled to find that President Kennedy was probably killed as a
result of a conspiracy.
The committee's finding that President Kennedy was probably assassinated
as a result of a conspiracy was premised on four factors:
(1) Since the Warren Commission's and FBI's investigation into the
possibility of a conspiracy was seriously flawed, their failure to
develop evidence of a conspiracy could not be given independent
weight.
(2) The Warren Commission was, in fact, incorrect in concluding
that Oswald and Ruby had no significant associations, and
therefore its finding of no conspiracy was not reliable.
(3) While it cannot be inferred from the significant associations
of Oswald and Ruby that any of the major groups examined
by the committee were involved in the assassination, a more
limited conspiracy could not be ruled out.
(4) There was a high probability that a second gunman, in fact,
fired at the President. At the same time, the committee candidly
stated, in expressing it finding of conspiracy in the Kennedy
assassination, that it was "unable to identify the other gunman
or the extent of the conspiracy.