Newly released documents breathe life into a decades-old question: was the lone gunman theory ever enough?
By Carlos Taylhardat
“I’d rather live dreaming, and die dreaming, than live a life defeated.”
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, has remained one of the most scrutinized moments in American history. The official account—first released within days—claimed that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. A lone gunman. A troubled man with Soviet ties, allegedly disillusioned and angry, who fired three shots from the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas.
It was a story that, on the surface, fit neatly into Cold War fears. Oswald had defected to the Soviet Union and later returned to the U.S., fitting the profile of a possible double agent. Some believed the Kremlin was exacting revenge for Kennedy’s hardline stance during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The first narrative was clean. Contained. Convenient.
But now, 60 years later, newly declassified government documents are cracking open that tidy account. A new wave of doubt is taking shape—one with evidence, not just paranoia. And that new narrative is calling into question the very foundation of what we’ve believed.
The Second Narrative: What If It Wasn’t Just Oswald?
There have always been questions: Could a lone shooter really pull off three shots with deadly precision in under eight seconds using a bolt-action rifle? Why was Oswald himself murdered just two days later in a police station teeming with law enforcement?
In Oliver Stone’s film JFK (1991), New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison—played by Kevin Costner—lays out a scenario suggesting Kennedy’s murder was a coup d’état from within. In a remarkable twist, the real Jim Garrison even appears in the film, playing Chief Justice Earl Warren, whose commission bore his name.
Stone’s theory? The CIA had motive and means. Kennedy had threatened to “splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the winds” after the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion. He was considering disengagement from Vietnam and speaking of peace with the Soviet Union—moves that allegedly enraged powerful interests in intelligence and military circles.
What We’ve Learned From the New Files
The recent batch of declassified files—released between 2017 and 2022—include thousands of documents from the FBI, CIA, and other agencies. Some confirm what conspiracy theorists had long suspected: the government withheld key details, and the CIA knew more about Oswald before the assassination than previously admitted.
According to historian Jefferson Morley, “The CIA was running a psychological warfare operation against Oswald before the assassination.” That information was kept secret for decades.
Also revealed were reports of two additional assassination attempts on Kennedy in the weeks leading up to Dallas—one in Chicago and one in Tampa—both with eerily similar patterns: a lone suspect, a high-powered rifle, and vanished paper trails.
This isn’t just “conspiracy theory.” These are threads that suggest coordination, silence, and intent—perhaps not a single smoking gun, but a mosaic of shadows.
So Who Could, and Who Wanted To?
The answer is uncomfortable. The new evidence points to an intersection of motive and power. The CIA, disgruntled by Kennedy’s diplomacy and anti-aggression policies. High-ranking military officials, angered by his reluctance to escalate in Vietnam. Even powerful figures on Wall Street who feared his economic policies.
Could they have done it? The means were certainly available. The new files show how tightly information was controlled, how quickly narratives were shaped—and how those in power had both motive and machinery.
Why It Still Matters
In a time when trust in media and government is at an all-time low, revisiting history through new eyes is essential. 3 Narratives exists for this very reason—to examine every story with humility and complexity, offering at least two angles so you can form the third: your own.
Who Wanted JFK Dead—and Could?
Newly released documents breathe life into a decades-old question: was the lone gunman theory ever enough?
On March 18, 2025, the U.S. National Archives released over 63,000 pages of previously classified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, following an executive order by President Donald Trump. This significant release has provided new insights into the events surrounding the assassination.AP News
Key Revelations from the March 2025 JFK Files Release
1. CIA Surveillance of Lee Harvey Oswald
The newly unredacted documents confirm that the CIA had been monitoring Lee Harvey Oswald well before the assassination. Notably, Oswald’s interactions with Soviet and Cuban embassies were documented, shedding light on his activities leading up to November 22, 1963 .The Washington PostAP News
2. Exposure of Personal Information
The release included sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers and birth dates of individuals still living. This has raised concerns about privacy and the potential for identity theft, leading to criticism of the administration’s handling of the declassification process .ABC NewsPeople.com
3. Insights into Intelligence Operations
The documents provide a deeper understanding of CIA operations during the Cold War era. They reveal the extent of the agency’s activities and its presence in various international contexts, offering a more nuanced view of the intelligence landscape at the time .
4. Public Reaction and Ongoing Research
Historians and researchers have expressed cautious optimism about the release. While the documents offer valuable information, many believe that further analysis is necessary to fully comprehend their implications. The release has reignited public interest in the assassination and the various theories surrounding it .
For those interested in exploring the documents, the National Archives has made them available online:
👉 JFK Assassination Records – 2025 Documents Release
But now, 60 years later, newly declassified government documents are cracking open that tidy account. A new wave of doubt is taking shape—one with evidence, not just paranoia.
Now with an additional release of 60,000 files released March 26, 2025 – who could have assassinated Kennedy?
The answer is uncomfortable. The CIA had motive. So did senior military leaders and elements within organized crime—each with something to lose under Kennedy’s administration. The new documents suggest, not a singular “smoking gun,” but a web of suppression and shared intent.
Could they have done it? The capacity to manipulate narratives, restrict information, and orchestrate complex operations existed then—and still does.
Why It Still Matters
In an era plagued by misinformation and distrust, history remains one of our few remaining mirrors. Revisiting the JFK assassination isn’t about chasing ghosts—it’s about understanding how power, secrecy, and narrative intersect.
That’s why 3 Narratives exists. Not to tell you what to believe—but to offer at least two versions of the story, so you can discover the third: your own.
References
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Sources & Footnotes
- National Archives – JFK Assassination Records Collection
🔗 https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk - Warren Commission Report (1964)
🔗 https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report - JFK (1991) – Oliver Stone Film (IMDb)
🔗 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102138/ - House Select Committee on Assassinations Report (1979)
🔗 https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/select-committee-report - CIA Files on Lee Harvey Oswald (Example PDF Release)
🔗 https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/docid-32134334.pdf - Oswald in Mexico City – CIA Surveillance (National Security Archive)
🔗 https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB435/ - Secret Service – Earlier JFK Assassination Threats (History.com article)
🔗 https://www.history.com/news/jfk-assassination-previous-attempts-secret-service - Kennedy’s Quote on CIA Dismantling (The Atlantic)
🔗 https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1992/12/the-legacy-of-jfk/376354/
