# A question to those who think Oswald killed Kennedy.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 22, 2010, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109 "2010-06-22T11:36:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/1 "2010-06-22T11:36:18Z")
What are your thoughts on why Oswald denied the killing of JFK?
It seems curious to me that a person supposedly of such a revolutionary bent, would not try to claim responsibilty immediately, but I’d like to see what others think.
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### Author:  [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/2 "2010-06-22T11:44:06Z")
Cause he didn’t want to go to prison.
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### Author:  [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/3 "2010-06-22T11:45:37Z")
I thought everyone knew that JFK was blasted by an alien death ray.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/4 "2010-06-22T12:41:10Z")
That was back in the day when people didn’t take pride in committing major crimes, or commit them in order to become famous. Decent criminals lied about their wrongdoings just like the rest of us.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/5 "2010-06-22T13:00:16Z")
Well, because he…I mean, the reason…
Holy crap, Oswald didn’t kill Kennedy!
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### Author:  [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/6 "2010-06-22T13:12:29Z")
Can we link this thread with the Jimi Hendrix saga?
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### Author:  [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/7 "2010-06-22T13:35:39Z")
I think any revolutionary, when faced with a choice to either
1. Attack his target and get away with it or
2. Attack his target and go to jail for life or be executed
is going to choose 1. Why wouldn’t he?
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### Author:  [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/8 "2010-06-22T13:43:36Z")
Years ago when I taught swimming lessons, I had a student who crapped in his bathing while practicing swimming motions on the apron of the pool. He denied that he was the perpetrator of the turds in his own swimsuit. This has profoundly influenced my reaction to all denials.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/9 "2010-06-22T14:48:14Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#):
>
> What are your thoughts on why Oswald denied the killing of JFK?
>
> It seems curious to me that a person supposedly of such a revolutionary bent, would not try to claim responsibilty immediately, but I’d like to see what others think.
Because he was a cowardly little shit who wanted fame in the worst way.
And got it.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/10 "2010-06-22T15:16:41Z")
Oswald wasn’t a revolutionary. His interest in communism was fleeting and by 1962 he had given it up.
He was basically a egomaniac – he wanted to do something big. He was already getting what he wanted without confessing: attention. It was clear that he loved being the center of attention; many people commented on his “smirk” while he was being questioned.
By denying his guilt, he could enjoy the trial as they brought out witnesses, all of which would be, in effect, testifying as to the brilliance of his actions.
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### Author:  [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/11 "2010-06-22T15:32:52Z")
Norman Mailer speculated that Oswald originally planned to confess to JFK’s killing, but then killed Officer Tippet in a panic, and he did not want to confess to that crime, so then he had to deny both crimes.
interesting idea I think, but just speculation. I guess we will just never know
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/12 "2010-06-22T15:32:58Z")
Crazy psychopathic serial killers deny killing people. It’s human nature to deny wrongdoing.
Oh, and the google ads say “Want to exit the Matrix?” Or something like that.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/13 "2010-06-22T16:01:09Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> Well, because he…I mean, the reason…
>
> Holy crap, Oswald didn’t kill Kennedy!
After all, it was you and me.
Ooo Ooo
Ooo Ooo
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/14 "2010-06-22T17:19:46Z")
Because “they” told Oswald to deny killing JFK.
Just like “they” told you to start this thread.
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### Author:  [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/15 "2010-06-22T17:52:02Z")
Some great insight into Doper’s thought processes here. Keep it up, gang.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/16 "2010-06-22T17:57:24Z")
I think I remember The Warren Commission saying it was the most determined case of suicide ever seen. My memory may be a little off.
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/17 "2010-06-22T18:15:31Z")
Can you even comprehend what the hell Oswald must have been going through to have just blown the President’s head to pieces, then to scurry down and out, seemingly escape and then be confronted by an officer who he suddenly killed (after just killing the president with a plan). The chaos and mayhem, and he is supposed to come out and admit it?
Based on his actions, from the moment he killed and thereafter, there is no indication that he was one of the types to take credit. His actions all scream “evade capture”.
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### Author:  [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/18 "2010-06-22T18:27:48Z")
Someone above described him as an “ego-maniac”. Can we decide one way or another?
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### Author:  [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/19 "2010-06-22T18:35:24Z")
The guy was in Texas, where premeditated murder was a capital crime. Confessing to a death eligible offense without an iron clad plea agreement in place is not wise. Oswald was smart enough to realize that.
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### Author:  [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-to-those-who-think-oswald-killed-kennedy/544109/20 "2010-06-22T18:39:30Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#):
>
> Some great insight into Doper’s thought processes here. Keep it up, gang.
You asked why somebody would kill a person and then deny doing so.
Post #2 nailed it.
Not sure what further “thought processes” you’re expecting here.
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