JFK assassination: clear facts, key evidence, and where to start

Three shots. One home movie. A nation changed in under a minute. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas. The Warren Commission concluded Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, but the event still sparks debate, new research and strong opinions.

Quick timeline and key evidence

The basics are short and easy to follow. Kennedy was shot while riding in an open motorcade through Dealey Plaza. The Zapruder film — a frame-by-frame home movie — captured the whole sequence and is the single most important visual record. The Warren Commission (1964) and later the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA, 1979) offered different takes: Warren said lone gunman; HSCA suggested a probable conspiracy based on acoustic evidence, a finding later questioned by others.

Core pieces to look at when you read reports: the Zapruder frames, the official autopsy and medical reports, the Warren Commission transcripts, Dallas Police notes, FBI files, and HSCA files. Pay attention to chain of custody for physical evidence and to how testimonies were collected. Forensic claims often hinge on bullet paths, timing between shots, and where witnesses placed sounds or flashes.

How to research smartly — sources and steps

Want to dig in without getting lost? Start with primary documents. The National Archives holds the Warren Commission report, the Zapruder film, and many FBI and Secret Service records. These are public and searchable. Read the Warren summary first for a clear baseline. Then watch the Zapruder film slowly — you’ll see why it matters.

Next, compare the HSCA report. Note why the committee revisited acoustic evidence and why later analysts disputed that work. Look for original documents, not just articles summarizing them. FBI and Dallas Police reports give day-to-day details that matter when checking timelines.

Balance your reading. For pro-conspiracy perspectives, Jim Douglass’ JFK and the Unspeakable explains motives and players. For a skeptical view, Gerald Posner’s Case Closed argues Oswald acted alone. Vincent Bugliosi’s Reclaiming History is exhaustive if you want a heavy, footnote-rich study. Pair one critical book with one skeptical book to see the debate clearly.

Watch documentaries and mainstream films with care. Oliver Stone’s JFK is persuasive drama, not a primary source. Use films to understand public feeling, not to prove forensic points.

Quick checklist when evaluating new claims: is the source primary or secondary? Is evidence verifiable (photos, film frames, documents)? Has the claim been peer-reviewed or independently reproduced? Does the author note uncertainty and gaps? If you keep these questions in mind, you’ll move past sensational headlines and toward useful understanding.

Ready to start? Watch the Zapruder film, skim the Warren Commission summary, then pick one modern book that challenges that view. You’ll soon see why the JFK assassination still sparks study and strong debate more than sixty years later.