On Friday, November 22nd, 1963 The 35th President Of The United States

On Friday, November 22nd, 1963 the 35th President of the United States of America, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated. This unfortunate tragedy has created more controversy than any other single event. Today, the people of the United States of America are asking the same questions that the people who witnessed this tragic event. Who did it? Why did they do it? Was there a cover up? In this essay I will try to show who had a motive to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. When President Kennedy took the oath of office on January 20th, 1961, I don't think he thought he would have to make any key decisions so early in his term. On April 17, 1961 the President's first international crises turned out to be a disastrous one. There were 1200 anti-Castro refugees that were trained by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. Once the invasion began at the Bay of Pigs, Kennedy decided to pull back the air support. Kennedy gave the order to reduce the three air strikes down to one air strike. Right before the only air strike at the Bay of Pigs, Kennedy decided to cut the number of planes involved in the air attack. The reason for the cut in the number of air strikes and planes was because the word of American participation got out. The 1200 anti-Castro refugees that were involved in the Bay of Pigs were either killed or held hostage. The hostages were later released after Kennedy was forced to pay ransom for Castro's 1113 prisoners. After this disaster was over Kennedy approved an anti-Castro Operation which was called Operation Mongoose. This operation was an attempt to assassinate Castro by using Mafia hit men and exploding cigars. Kennedy later called off Operation Mongoose.(library.thinkquest.org) In my opinion, Kennedy's reducing of planes and air strikes during the Bay of Pigs, turning his back on the CIA trained refugees, and the ending of Operation Mongoose is enough for me to believe that the CIA/Mafia would have a motive to assassinate President Kennedy. When you are trying to show who had a motive to assassinate President Kennedy you should ask yourself these questions. Who would gain the most by President Kennedy's death? Who had several strong motives to kill President Kennedy? Whose sole obsession in life was to become the U.S. President? And finally, What Vice-President had a short expected life span? The answer to all the above questions is Lyndon B. Johnson. When Rep. Bryce Harlow was asked to describe Lyndon B. Johnson he was quoted "Larger than life character. Had to hold stage center, needed to dominate and control. He couldn't stand not being the cynosure of all eyes. He had to be at the head of the table...And people had to do what he thought they should do."(Dyer.pg.433) Being the Vice President there was no way LBJ could do or be any of these. As long as Kennedy was President, LBJ would never hold stage center, and be head of the table. Knowing that LBJ was like this, Kennedy made LBJ Head of Committee in five different Committees. JFK sent LBJ on several foreign trips to help represent the U.S. in competition with communism. Johnson saw himself as a minor influence in a administration society to Conquer the "New Frontier".(Dyer.pg.435) LBJ later described his Vice Presidency as "filled with trips around the world, Chauffeurs, Men saluting, people clapping, Chairman ships of councils, but in the end it is nothing. I detested every minute of it."(Dyer.pg.435) This quote from the Vice President shows that LBJ didn't like doing what Kennedy thought he should do. If someone detested something so much, are they willing to do anything to get rid of it? If Kennedy wasn't assassinated and ended up finishing his first term in office, more than likely Kennedy would of ran again in 1964. Since the people of the United States and the Media loved Kennedy, I feel there is no way JFK would lose the Presidency. I also feel that LBJ sensed this too. Lyndon B. Johnson knew that he wasn't getting any younger, matter of fact, LBJ didn't think he would live a very long life. When LBJ was analyzing himself