Kennedy assassination files

Kennedy assassination files—released at dawn today. These documents, spanning 80,000 pages, are distilled here into key revelations that could reshape our understanding of one of history’s most enduring mysteries.

The Beginning

On November 22, 1963, the world reeled from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas—a moment that remains one of modern history’s greatest enigmas. More than 60 years later, a trove of newly declassified government documents promises to upend what we thought we knew.

Today, the startling details emerging from the latest secret files, opening doors to threads, figures, and events that might redraw the map of truths long obscured.

Key Players in the Saga

1. Lee Harvey Oswald – The prime suspect in Kennedy’s killing, shrouded in suspicion over ties to Soviet and Cuban intelligence.
2. Jack Ruby – A Jewish nightclub owner in Dallas who gunned down Oswald in a chilling scene broadcast live on television.
3. Valery Kostikov – A Soviet KGB officer who met Oswald in Mexico City before the assassination.
4. David Slawson – A Warren Commission investigator who raised doubts about Oswald’s suspiciously swift exit from the Soviet Union.

First: America in the 1960s

The United States in the early 1960s was locked in the Cold War with the Soviet Union—a tense standoff of politics, ideology, and indirect military clashes stretching from Berlin to Cuba to Vietnam. At home, fears of communism’s spread fueled paranoia about infiltration by foreign and domestic intelligence agencies. The CIA, FBI, and Secret Service juggled missions ranging from monitoring leftist movements to funding overseas opposition groups. Into this fraught landscape stepped John F. Kennedy, promising change while balancing confrontation with communism and cautious détente abroad.

Second: Lee Harvey Oswald – The Accused Assassin

1. Life Before the Assassination

Oswald’s story is a tangled one. A former U.S. Marine, he defected to the Soviet Union, drawn by communist leanings, only to return to America under murky circumstances in 1962. Newly released files deepen the mystery of his repatriation, with Warren Commission investigator David Slawson calling it suspiciously rapid. The documents hint at U.S. State Department officials smoothing his return despite his anti-American stance. Investigators compared 26 similar cases of Americans married to Soviets attempting to leave; Oswald was among the few who succeeded so quickly.

1. Movements in Mexico and Soviet Ties

The declassified files reveal the CIA was surveilling the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City, capturing photos of Oswald near the building. They confirm he met Valery Kostikov, a KGB assassination specialist, raising a pivotal question: Did Oswald discuss targeting Kennedy?

1. Obsession with Castro and Cuba

The files show Oswald believed the U.S. aimed to “destroy Cuba” and admired Fidel Castro’s revolution. He tried repeatedly to travel to Cuba—via its embassy in Mexico and covert means—but was rebuffed, fueling his anger. The FBI and CIA tracked him as a “malleable” figure susceptible to communist ideas amid America’s battle against the Red tide.

1. An Early Warning

Among the most striking documents is a letter attributed to “Sergei Tchouronoh,” who claimed a Soviet consul in Bulgaria warned him directly of Oswald’s plan to kill Kennedy—and that Oswald would be silenced afterward. Tchouronoh tried alerting U.S. officials, but his pleas were dismissed. Instead of support, he faced harassment. A British newspaper also received a cryptic call 20 minutes before the assassination, hinting at a looming event in the U.S.—a tip passed to British intelligence and then the Americans, its source still unknown.

Third: November 22, 1963 – The Setup and the Drama

1. The Political and Security Scene in Dallas

Kennedy arrived in Dallas that morning for a political tour ahead of the next election. While official probes later deemed security lax new files show British intelligence (MI5) tipped off the FBI about a British journalist’s anonymous call 25 minutes before the shooting, warning of “big news” from America. The timing, labeled an “extraordinary coincidence,” fuels speculation of foreknowledge.

1. The Fatal Shots

Records state the bullets came from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Oswald was seen that morning with a package he claimed held “curtains.” Fresh documents suggest the CIA knew of his hostile intent but failed to fully alert the Secret Service.

1. Kennedy’s Death

Struck fatally in the head and throat, Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Dallas police arrested Oswald, who denied the charges, insisting he was a “patsy.”

Fourth: Jack Ruby – Silencing the Killer or Patriotic Revenge?

Less than 48 hours after Oswald’s arrest, Jack Ruby—a nightclub owner tied to organized crime—shot him dead on live TV. His motives remain murky. Some reports cite a desire to avenge Kennedy; others, uncovered in the files, point to links with criminal networks. Ruby met Oswald weeks earlier at a club and later told an associate he “had to kill him” under pressure, fearing for his family. The FBI received a warning call about Oswald’s impending murder hours before but took no action—losing a chance to interrogate him.

Fifth: The Investigations – A Clash of Agencies

1. The FBI

Accused of negligence, the FBI failed to act on warnings, including the call about Oswald’s fate. Files suggest Director J. Edgar Hoover pushed to close the case swiftly after Oswald’s death, deeming further inquiry pointless.

1. The CIA

The agency tracked Oswald’s Mexico City meetings with KGB officers but withheld details from other authorities. Documents reveal surveillance chaos—photos of a supposed Oswald at the Soviet Embassy didn’t match his likeness.

1. The Warren Commission

Formed by President Lyndon Johnson, it concluded Oswald acted alone. Yet investigators like David Slawson questioned his Soviet return and ties to Soviet and Cuban embassies. Other files hint at pressure on nations like Australia to suppress evidence.

Sixth: The Global Stakes and Nuclear Fears

One document shows the Soviets feared a reckless U.S. nuclear retaliation after Kennedy’s death, viewing the assassination as evidence of an internal plot or coup—pushing Cold War tensions to a perilous peak.

Seventh: Lingering Questions

1. Was Oswald truly a lone wolf? Files cast doubt, suggesting a broader network tied to KGB contacts and his Cuba obsession.
2. Why did Ruby kill Oswald? Revenge, or external pressure? Why his fear for his family?
3. The CIA and Warren Commission: Did the agency withhold key data? How much did it steer the probe?
4. Other Players: Why did the FBI ignore warnings? Why did the State Department ease Oswald’s return despite his Soviet leanings?

Conclusion: Where Does the Truth Lie?

What we know today about Kennedy’s assassination is far from complete. The newly released files, unveiled on March 20, 2025, add layers of complexity, raising urgent questions about intelligence coordination and the Warren Commission’s credibility.

Was Oswald a front for hidden forces? Why wasn’t he protected despite explicit warnings of his murder? How did a Soviet consul know of his plans—and that he’d be killed afterward?

The answers remain elusive, ensuring this controversy endures as one of America’s most debated chapters. With each disclosure, old certainties may crumble—or the puzzle may persist, unsolved.