# So did Lee Oswald act alone or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 3, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185 "2010-05-03T18:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/61 "2010-05-04T18:30:04Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Third hand references to a memory of an interview, (on which date?), without the exact text of the question and answer will necessarily be scorned as woo. And this just ain’t the thread for pitching woo. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/62 "2010-05-04T18:46:22Z")
Here is a non-good reference to Bush not knowing where he was. [IRC #news\_garden: Chatter Columns: Bush & the Assassination of JFK](http://www.newsgarden.org/columns/bush&jfk.shtml) And Bush was in Dallas. [http://www.internetpirate.com/bush.htm](http://www.internetpirate.com/bush.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/63 "2010-05-04T19:18:10Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Oswald was certainly an actor J.D. Prewitt: No, but those two lookers on the Grassy Knoll sure were. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/64 "2010-05-04T19:18:13Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > And Bush was in Dallas. [http://www.internetpirate.com/bush.htm](http://www.internetpirate.com/bush.htm) According to that link, assuming the memo is accurate, Bush was in Tyler, about 100 miles away from Dallas, at the time of that report. JFK was shot around 12:30, and according to the memo, the report came in at 1:45. So if he was in Dallas at the time of the assassination, he must have hauled ass, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/65 "2010-05-04T19:19:48Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > The second I think is a slam-dunk. At the time Oswald was scheduled to be transferred, Ruby was down the street at the Western Union office, wiring some money to an employee. We know this because Western Union keeps accurate records. After finishing that business, he headed over to the police station, and the only reason he happened to get to see Oswald was that the police were running behind schedule in the transfer. Clearly Ruby and the Dallas police worked things out so it would look like he should have missed the tansfer and just lucked out. (There’s the minor detail that one of the things delaying the transfer was Oswald demanding different clothing before he was paraded in front of the press.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/66 "2010-05-04T19:56:12Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’d dearly love to see your evidence that the investigation “set out to show no conspiracy.” Suggesting to the rifle shot witnesses that they couldn’t determine where the sound was coming from is evidence. Do you dispute that was done? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/67 "2010-05-04T19:58:45Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > According to that link, assuming the memo is accurate, Bush was in Tyler, about 100 miles away from Dallas, at the time of that report. JFK was shot around 12:30, and according to the memo, the report came in at 1:45. So if he was in Dallas at the time of the assassination, he must have hauled ass, so to speak. Yes, a man who has stated that he doesn’t know where he was self reports that he was 100 miles away and by the way heard about a supposed assassination attempt on the President of the US, didn’t report it until after and still doesn’t remember where he was when he heard. Which lie do we believe? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/68 "2010-05-04T20:06:07Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Yes, a man who has stated that he doesn’t know where he was self reports that he was 100 miles away and by the way heard about a supposed assassination attempt on the President of the US, didn’t report it until after and still doesn’t remember where he was when he heard. Which lie do we believe? Where are the lies? I’m really not seeing it. Bush, on the day Kennedy was shot, reports to the FBI another possible assassination plot somewhere else. And then, at some later date, says he doesn’t remember where he was when Kennedy was killed. I mean, you and I know where he was, based on this report. He was in Tyler. But that doesn’t mean he remembers that now. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/69 "2010-05-04T20:18:47Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Suggesting to the rifle shot witnesses that they couldn’t determine where the sound was coming from is evidence. Lionel Hutz: “Well, Your Honor. We’ve plenty of hearsay and conjecture. Those are _kinds_ of evidence.” > [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Here is a non-good reference to Bush not knowing where he was. [Bizland](http://www.newsgarden.org/columns/bush&jfk.shtml) You have a knack for understatement! ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4af34b/32.png) [@Umbriel2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel2)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/70 "2010-05-04T23:04:54Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > There are two facts that I think point very strongly to Ruby simply being an impulsive hothead who acted on his own. For one, he left his best friend, his dog, in his car when he did the shooting. That one’s not a slam-dunk, but I think it does point to Ruby not having a plan when he set out. > > The second I think is a slam-dunk. At the time Oswald was scheduled to be transferred, Ruby was down the street at the Western Union office, wiring some money to an employee. We know this because Western Union keeps accurate records. After finishing that business, he headed over to the police station, and the only reason he happened to get to see Oswald was that the police were running behind schedule in the transfer. Fair enough. My only point was that even if there was evidence that Ruby was encouraged or ordered to kill Oswald to keep him quiet, that wouldn’t necessarily prove a conspiracy to kill Kennedy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/71 "2010-05-05T00:54:24Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Where are the lies? I’m really not seeing it. Bush, on the day Kennedy was shot, reports to the FBI another possible assassination plot somewhere else. And then, at some later date, says he doesn’t remember where he was when Kennedy was killed. I mean, you and I know where he was, based on this report. He was in Tyler. But that doesn’t mean he remembers that now. Nonsense. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that Reagan was shot. Everybody old enough to remember, remembers. He lies about it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/72 "2010-05-05T00:56:25Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Lionel Hutz: “Well, Your Honor. We’ve plenty of hearsay and conjecture. Those are _kinds_ of evidence.” > You have a knack for understatement! Yes, but hearing shots is not hearsay, a real objection and where someone thinks the shots came from is not within the legal definition of conjecture. Those are things people are allowed to testify to. The jury may decide for themselves how much weight that evidence gets. When the investigator convinces the witness to change the story, that is, frankly, witness tampering, not investigating. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/73 "2010-05-05T01:31:07Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Nonsense. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that Reagan was shot. Everybody old enough to remember, remembers. He lies about it. First of all, you don’t know that. Maybe he doesn’t remember. And secondly, even if he’s lying about it, that doesn’t mean he was involved. Maybe all he’s hiding is that he was in bed with a mistress or high on goofballs or something. Your big evidence is that Bush says he doesn’t know where he was when he heard and that a tall white man was in Dallas. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/74 "2010-05-05T01:39:10Z")
[QUOTE=The Second Stone] Nonsense. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that Reagan was shot. Everybody old enough to remember, remembers. He lies about it. [/QUOTE] Dude…I was alive when Kennedy was shot (I was probably out in the back yard chasing chickens), and I haven’t a clue where I was when Reagan was shot. I’m not even sure which STATE I was in (or if I was even in the US) at the time. Does that mean I was involved in shooting Reagan?? -XT ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/75 "2010-05-05T03:08:14Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > high on goofballs or something. Now there’s a Dana Carvey skit for you. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/76 "2010-05-05T03:26:33Z")
I was an adult at the time, but I don’t remember where I was when I heard Reagan was shot. I know what apartment I was living in at the time, because I can remember watching the news on my 13" TV set with a mechanical tuner knob, and which still works like new! I agree with Captain Amazing - you’re basing your conclusion on George Bush not remembering where he was (and has this been credibly established as a fact yet?), and that there was a tall white man in Dallas. Is that all you got? Oh, and Captain Amazing, the proper phrase is “hepped up on goofballs.” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/77 "2010-05-05T04:19:41Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I agree with Captain Amazing - you’re basing your conclusion on George Bush not remembering where he was ( **and has this been credibly established as a fact yet?** ), and that there was a tall white man in Dallas. Is that all you got? Bolding: Not in this thread. Final question: almost certainly. In this thread we have exactly one reference that is a paraphrase from an unnamed source in a link that **The Second Stone** admits is not very good and, when opened, turns out to be one long, uncited, fact free harangue. I doubt that GHWB ever claimed to not know where he was when JFK was shot. (Interestingly, while I can tell you exactly where I was at the news regarding JFK and RFK, because the activities in which I was engaged were interrupted for the announcements, I can only describe my general location and do not have clear memories of hearing of the attacks on King, Wallace, Ford, and Reagan–all of which I heard as simply news reports on the radio–even though I followed the news on those attacks very closely after they had first been reported.) ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/78 "2010-05-05T05:35:07Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Nonsense. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that Reagan was shot. Everybody old enough to remember, remembers. He lies about it. Yeah, I have to agree with **xtisme** here, I’m old enough to remember when JFK was shot (I was in first grade, but couldn’t possibly remember the details of what we were doing when they announced it) and I have absolutely no idea what I was doing when Reagan was shot. If it weren’t for doing math on the dates, I couldn’t even tell you by memory if it was during my first or second marriage. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/79 "2010-05-05T10:14:17Z")
It might be more appropriate to ask if you remember where you were when the Challenger exploded, or when 9/11 happened. (For me, at home, sick, watching the launch on TV and driving to work, making a left turn on exit 9 on the Major Deegan, going ‘That’s funny, that plane’s flying kind of low…’ ) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185/80 "2010-05-05T16:46:29Z")
I remember exactly where I was when those events happened. Challenger, taking a shower and someone knocked on the door to tell me. 9/11, sitting on the toilet and someone called my cellphone to tell me. Neither of those events, or Reagan being wounded is nearly as searing as JFK’s assassination. I’ve taken hundreds of depositions of elderly men who could remember little other than their names, discharge from the army and where they were when JFK was shot. Someone who does not remember is very, very far gone or a liar. Sr not remembering is a lie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-did-lee-oswald-act-alone-or-not/538185.md?page=5)