Greetings Gold and Silver Level Templar Knights! It’s sixty years since President John F Kennedy was assassinated at Dallas, Texas, while in a motorcade. A senseless killing that shocked the world. But of course, it’s given rise to many theories including a questioning of the view that a single bullet went through the President and another occupant of the car. Why is that important?
It’s 60 years since President John F Kennedy was assassinated. A shocking event that shaped the 1960s and has divided opinion ever since – spawning a cottage industry of conspiracy theories. Watching the Zapruder tape – the home video of a spectator that day – never ceases to shock. The first magic bullet, as it came to be known, followed by a second more devastating hit that finished off the president.
The first bullet is referred to as “magic” by some because its supposed trajectory even provoked dissenting views on the Warren Commission, set up to investigate the assassination during a presidential motorcade in Dallas, Texas in November 1963. This video below I’ve just put up looks at the issues with some visuals – my blog post continues below.
What did the magic bullet do that has divided opinion?
As I explain in the video, the magic bullet had to pass through Kennedy’s back, exit under his Adam’s Apple, and then pass through the Governor of Texas, John Connally, who was seated in front of Kennedy in the limousine. The bullet shattered one of Connally’s ribs, broke his wrist radius bone and landed in his left thigh. Some think the bullet had to zig-zag – implausibly – to do that while others have confirmed one shot could have done all that.
The single magic bullet theory is important because it confirms that only one man fired at President Kennedy. There were no mysterious armed figures on the now infamous grassy knoll – just the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository in Dealey Plaza. The magic bullet incapacitated Kennedy and injured Connally. Then the second blew open the President’s head.
This is a diagram of the bullet behaving as the Warren Commission described:
And this diagram summarises the view of opponents of the magic bullet theory who ridicule the supposed trajectory:
It’s clear that only one view can prevail and the majority opinion has tended to favour the Warren Commission analysis.
Criticisms of the magic bullet theory
From the moment the Warren Commission concluded its investigations, critics moved in to try and tear apart the JFK magic bullet theory. Their arguments included the following:
The bullet hole in Kennedy’s neck was an entry wound, not an exit wound
Governor Connolly is quoted stating that he did not believe the first bullet struck him
Witnesses on the day said they heard shots coming from a nearby “grassy knoll”
The assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was said to be a poor marksman
Oswald’s gun was of poor quality and the ammunition was unreliable
Three bullets could not have been fired in 5.6 seconds
There had to be 2.3 seconds between each shot given the nature of the weapon
More fundamentally, what underlies criticism of the magic bullet theory is the view that Kennedy’s assassination was part of a wider plot. That Lee Harvey Oswald was a fall guy, a patsy, delivered up to hide darker forces at work. These forces are claimed to have been either the mafia, Cuban exiles, the Soviet Union, and even figures within the US establishment and intelligence services.
So, disproving the JFK magic bullet theory isn’t just about ballistics but is intended to confirm a much broader theme of Kennedy having murderous enemies who were out to kill him.
It's certainly fascinating and of course as we get closer to the anniversary in November - expect huge amounts of discussion. I find the magic bullet theory a problem. Even more, the role of Jack Ruby - what was he all about?
This topic is so incredible to look back on, look at all the conspiracy, look at the players... The three hour video interviewthat has stood out to me has been taken down, but here's some short clips from, 'I killed JFK'. James Files has info that no one else could have known... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpfh_M9Gjck
Thanks for the great work, Tony!