# Did Castro Have JFK Killed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 23, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391 "2018-02-23T04:18:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/41 "2018-02-26T02:28:11Z")
Can anyone give me any more info on the USSR deliberately propagating (not sure if creating) conspiracy theories on JFK’s death? I’ve heard of that before, but without details or cites. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/42 "2018-02-26T03:54:53Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > Let’s see, so difficult to know where to begin, so many points… how about one tiny aspect of the murder: J.D. Tippit. Why was his body moved from Methodist Hospital, after being pronounced dead, to Parkland Hospital? What was his nickname on the Dallas Police force? You could start by explaining why you would pick this conspiracy theory nutcase to follow…other than the fact that he tells you what you already believe, of course. Are you just going to handwave away the links I provided? ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/43 "2018-02-26T13:59:14Z")
I’ve failed greatly I’m afraid. ☹ I could only get through four minutes. I had to quit when I learned there were actually 8 gunmen in Dealey Plaza. I’ve been wrong for so long!:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/44 "2018-02-26T14:38:23Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > Other than the Warren Commission, what are these “multiple investigations”. More to the point, if you are convinced of the truth of it why even debate it? > > You may have missed this investigation: > > “The United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) was established in 1976 to investigate the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. The HSCA completed its investigation in 1978 and issued its final report the following year, concluding that Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.” > > Bunch of conspiracy theorists No, they relied on actual evidence, the [Dictabelt recording](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_assassination_Dictabelt_recording), to reach their conclusion. They were merely mistaken, as was discovered a year after their investigation. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/45 "2018-02-26T15:14:54Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > I’ve failed greatly I’m afraid. ☹ > > I could only get through four minutes. I had to quit when I learned there were actually 8 gunmen in Dealey Plaza. I’ve been wrong for so long!:smack: [There were actually 43 gunmen.](https://www.theonion.com/november-22-1963-1819587981) ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/46 "2018-02-26T16:15:11Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > …I had to quit when I learned there were actually 8 gunmen in Dealey Plaza. I’ve been wrong for so long!:smack: “[H]ow the fuck many people does it take to kill a President these days?” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/47 "2018-02-26T16:29:03Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > No, they relied on actual evidence, the [Dictabelt recording](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_assassination_Dictabelt_recording), to reach their conclusion. They were merely mistaken, as was discovered a year after their investigation. [The United States House Select Committee on Assassinations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Select_Committee_on_Assassinations) was a weird and political creature. That Wikipedia article doesn’t cover its origins but my memory is that they went into it hoping for glory to disprove the Warren Commission. Instead, they let themselves be swayed by a ridiculously phony piece of non-evidence and came out looking like utter fools, giving the conspiracy theorists reason to live on. What’s truly ironic is that the real part of the investigation confirmed the Warren report all the way down the line. > [@](#): > > Forensic analysis confirmed that the mostly-intact stretcher bullet, bullet fragments from the presidential limo and the three cartridge casings from the sniper’s nest were all fired from Oswald’s rifle to the exclusion of all others. > > Additionally, the location of the shooter (at the 6th floor Texas School Book Depository window) was determined using trajectory analysis. > > Forensic anthropologists as well as photographic and radiographic experts, based on unique anatomical details, verified that JFK’s autopsy photos and x-rays were only of the late president. > > They verified that the backyard photos (showing Oswald holding the rifle used to kill the president) depicted the same rifle found in the Texas school book depository building after the crime.[5]:Vol VI, 64–66 The panel of photographic experts were also used to verify the authenticity of the assassination-related photos and to analyze for any tampering or fakery; none was detected. > > Although the HSCA medical panel was critical of the thoroughness and methodology of the original autopsy, they unanimously concurred with the previous analysis of the late president’s wounds: the cause of death being two, and only two bullet wounds, both of which entered from above and behind (the direction of Oswald in the Book Depository). But no. All that CT’s cite is the fucking dictabelt, which has been disproved by multiple investigations using different techniques by different labs over many decades. Exactly as all the other supposed “evidence” they continue to cite (or invent) have been. It’s just that this one stupid item, with the imprimatur of Congress, provides them cover _even though they profess to disbelieve all other formal governmental findings and would have cried whitewash if the House confirmed Warren as it should have_. The lies, the deceit, the cherrypicking, the lack of critical thinking, the ignorance of science, the arrogance, the damage done by conspiracy theorists is maddening. When people lose their minds sufficiently to believe in one they go down the drain with all the rest. The shitstain that did the “documentary” bardos cited also posts such goodies as [SANDY HOOK HOAX – Pedophiles and Child Trafficking?](https://chemtrailsplanet.net/2018/02/16/sandy-hook-hoax-pedophiles-and-child-trafficking/) and [Exposing the Sandy Hook Charade – Deep State Strikes Back](https://chemtrailsplanet.net/2018/01/12/exposing-the-sandy-hook-charade-deep-state-strikes-back/) and [Sandy Hook: Does David Wheeler’s Son Have 2 Fathers?](https://chemtrailsplanet.net/2018/01/19/sandy-hook-does-david-wheelers-son-have-2-fathers/), all from _this year_. There are no words of contempt foul enough for the sickos who perpetuate this. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/48 "2018-02-26T16:45:47Z")
My point was that the HSCA can’t be compared to conspiracy theorists, as **bardos** does. They examined actual evidence, and reached a reasoned conclusion based on that evidence. As it happens, that evidence was badly misinterpreted (not phony, the recording was genuine, and is indeed evidence) by the committee and its acoustics experts, but their process was not at all the same as a conspiracy theorist like **bardos** ’s “documentarian”. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/49 "2018-02-26T20:19:59Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > My point was that the HSCA can’t be compared to conspiracy theorists, as **bardos** does. They examined actual evidence, and reached a reasoned conclusion based on that evidence. As it happens, that evidence was badly misinterpreted (not phony, the recording was genuine, and is indeed evidence) by the committee and its acoustics experts, but their process was not at all the same as a conspiracy theorist like **bardos** ’s “documentarian”. > > That is all. My point is that they wanted to believe, and that was caused by the atmosphere of conspiracy theorists who just could not let reason take over. It’s that poison they release that despoils everything it touches. Life is messy. There is always a point or two unaccounted for, a piece that doesn’t fit. Those should not be pounced upon as aha gotcha moments that disprove everything else. The HSCA was not itself a CT but I didn’t say it was. I said it was botched because of CTs. That’s a win they obviously still celebrate. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/50 "2018-02-26T20:30:24Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > _ **No one cared anymore?** _ You know, one tenant of rational thought is that you should focus your mental resources on things that ‘pay rent’. A theory of physics can ‘pay rent’ because it lets you predict what a moving object will do and you can actually do something with it if you’re an aerospace engineer or something. Basic arithmetic pays rent many ways. But the ‘truth’ about an event that we have uncertain evidence of - how does that help? We will never accumulate enough evidence to be absolutely certain of what happened to Mr. Kennedy. The highest probability theory we have, there are lesser theories with much lower probabilities that probably didn’t happen, but in any case, we only have so much evidence and that’s all we’re gonna get. There will never be a way to ‘prove’ what happened, and even if we could, what does it matter now? Even if the ‘real assassin’ could be found, they already probably died. People just obsess over this because they have trouble accepting that the most powerful, best protected man in the world was just unlucky. If JFK had slipped on the stairs on air force 1 that morning and fallen and broke his neck, I wonder what conspiracy theories we’d have… ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/51 "2018-02-26T20:39:31Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > But the ‘truth’ about an event that we have uncertain evidence of - how does that help? We will never accumulate enough evidence to be absolutely certain of what happened to Mr. Kennedy. The highest probability theory we have, there are lesser theories with much lower probabilities that probably didn’t happen, but in any case, we only have so much evidence and that’s all we’re gonna get. > > There will never be a way to ‘prove’ what happened, and even if we could, what does it matter now? I won’t even go that far. Because you know what? We don’t have “uncertain evidence.” We have certain evidence. People are convicted each and every day in every western nation on less evidence than what we have proving that Oswald killed Kennedy. To any rational person, we can be certain of what happened to the President. Without going into every detail, we have the gun, the bullet, photographic evidence, film evidence, computer re-enactments, etc., etc., etc. And we have over fifty years of time spend agonizing over this, and you know what? Still no evidence to the contrary. This would be the biggest news story of the next fifty years if someone could prove a conspiracy. And it won’t happen because there isn’t one. If one isn’t convinced in 2018, it’s because no amount of evidence would prove it to them. It’s because they only want to believe in a conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/52 "2018-02-26T20:40:31Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > My point is that they wanted to believe, and that was caused by the atmosphere of conspiracy theorists who just could not let reason take over. It’s that poison they release that despoils everything it touches. Life is messy. There is always a point or two unaccounted for, a piece that doesn’t fit. Those should not be pounced upon as aha gotcha moments that disprove everything else. The HSCA was not itself a CT but I didn’t say it was. I said it was botched because of CTs. That’s a win they obviously still celebrate. Ok, I understand. I mistook your meaning in the previous post. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/53 "2018-02-26T22:41:16Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > Ok, I understand. I mistook your meaning in the previous post. No problem. I could have been clearer. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/54 "2018-02-27T02:31:15Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > Because you know what? We don’t have “uncertain evidence.” We have certain evidence. People are convicted each and every day in every western nation on less evidence than what we have proving that Oswald killed Kennedy. To any rational person, we can be certain of what happened to the President. > > Without going into every detail, we have the gun, the bullet, photographic evidence, film evidence, computer re-enactments, etc., etc., etc. And we have over fifty years of time spend agonizing over this, and you know what? Still no evidence to the contrary. This would be the biggest news story of the next fifty years if someone could prove a conspiracy. And it won’t happen because there isn’t one. Most conspiracy theories are simply that people don’t want to believe that some random nobody decided one day to kill the most powerful man in the world - and succeeded. Most theories assume that someone powerful helped Oswald, and then had him murdered to prevent him from tattling on them. Given that nobody has any way to prove that the CIA/Cubans/Mafia/Soviets \*didn’t \*meet with Oswald and goad/pay him into doing it, or that maybe there was another gunman who didn’t fire, or maybe they fired one shot and escaped, these theories persist. And they are all extremely unlikely, I’m just pointing out that the probability of any given theory being true isn’t zero, it’s just a very small chance. We know nothing in objective reality for certain. But it doesn’t matter at this point, even if it \*was \*one of Kennedy’s enemies, they are also all long dead. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/55 "2018-02-27T12:35:56Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > We know nothing in objective reality for certain. But it doesn’t matter at this point, even if it \*was \*one of Kennedy’s enemies, they are also all long dead. **SamuelA** , your argument is sound, I know what you mean and we aren’t that far apart. Here’s where I’m at. I’m a middle age guy who has been interested in this since I was a kid as a history buff and all around inquisitive person. Over time it’s just abundantly clear that the Warren commission was largely right, and the evidence (and lack of intelligent evidence to the contrary) of Oswald’s guilt is also so abundantly clear. So clear, in fact, that at this stage of my life I have little patience for conspiracy nut jobs. So I don’t even want to give them an absurd, Descartes-like opening to argue. The case is that closed to me. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/56 "2018-02-27T12:43:24Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > \*\*\*[SIZE=“7”]Depending on which theory you want to believe, JFK was assassinated by Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, the Mafia, the CIA, the KGB, Cuban communists, the John Birch Society, a rogue group of U.S. military officers, Jimmy Hoffa, George H.W. Bush, or Ted Cruz’s father. (I’m sure other Board members will add the suspects I missed.) > > Or maybe, just maybe, he was killed by a lone nut with a gun. Exactly. It’s hard to get excited about yet another one of the gazillion claims that have been made by people who “know” who murdered JFK. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/57 "2018-02-27T14:06:52Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Most conspiracy theories are simply that people don’t want to believe that some random nobody decided one day to kill the most powerful man in the world - and succeeded. Most theories assume that someone powerful helped Oswald, and then had him murdered to prevent him from tattling on them. > > Given that nobody has any way to prove that the CIA/Cubans/Mafia/Soviets \*didn’t \*meet with Oswald and goad/pay him into doing it For that matter, maybe Oswald told the Cubans or Russians he was willing to kill Kennedy and they said “Sure, knock yourself out” just to get him to go away. Has anyone claimed naming rights yet on the law “Any post involving a person saying ‘This link will show you the REAL truth and if you don’t watch it it’s because you’re afraid of the truth/shills for /sheeple’ will inevitably link to a YouTube video filled with insane nonsense”? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/58 "2018-02-28T02:47:10Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Has anyone claimed naming rights yet on the law “Any post involving a person saying ‘This link will show you the REAL truth and if you don’t watch it it’s because you’re afraid of the truth/shills for /sheeple’ will inevitably link to a YouTube video filled with insane nonsense”? It’s called “The Law of The Internet.” ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/59 "2018-02-28T05:44:18Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > For that matter, maybe Oswald told the Cubans or Russians he was willing to kill Kennedy and they said “Sure, knock yourself out” just to get him to go away. Or did something trivial for him like gave him a $20 or a box of ammo or something. “go for it, bro!” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391/60 "2018-03-01T14:32:58Z")
Stephen King did extensive research for his novel 11/22/1963. He is 100% certain that Oswald acted alone, as he was too much of a paranoid nutjob for anyone to use him as a tool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-castro-have-jfk-killed/809391.md?page=4)