The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most shocking and debated events in American history. The 46-year-old president was in Dallas, Texas, riding in an open-top motorcade when he was fatally shot. His wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, sat beside him as he was struck by two bullets—one in the neck and another in the head.
The horror of the moment was captured on film and broadcast across the world, sending the nation into mourning. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president hours later aboard Air Force One.
The official explanation was swift and direct. Authorities identified Lee Harvey Oswald as the lone gunman. Oswald, a former Marine with ties to both the Soviet Union and Cuba, was arrested shortly after the shooting. However, before he could stand trial, nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald as police escorted him through a Dallas police station.
This shocking turn of events fueled widespread speculation that Kennedy’s murder was more than just the act of one man. Many Americans believed—and continue to believe—that a larger conspiracy was at play. Over the years, investigations and commissions, including the Warren Commission and the House Select Committee on Assassinations, examined the case. The latter concluded in 1979 that there was a “high probability” that more than one gunman was involved.
Since then, the demand for full transparency has only grown. The government has gradually declassified documents related to the case, but some files have remained hidden from public view. In 1992, Congress passed the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act, which required the full release of all assassination-related records by 2017.
However, when the deadline arrived, both the Trump and Biden administrations delayed full disclosure, citing national security concerns. This year, former President Donald Trump ordered the release of a large set of these files, reigniting public interest in what they might contain.
One of the most important documents in the JFK files is MISSING.
The testimony of CIA counterintelligence chief-turned Israeli spy, James Angleton, before a secret session with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities.
The document number is:
157-10014-10006 pic.twitter.com/ux85F4Javj
— Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) March 19, 2025
The National Archives made 2,182 documents available in PDF format, adding up to nearly 64,000 pages. The files were not arranged in any particular order, making it difficult for researchers to sift through the information quickly. Despite Trump’s initial claim that all records would be released without redactions, early reviews found that some details remained obscured. Experts, however, believe that the remaining redactions primarily protect intelligence-gathering methods rather than conceal explosive secrets.
Historian Jefferson Morley, a leading expert on the assassination, expressed optimism about the release. He stated that the new records provide insight into Kennedy’s distrust of the CIA, the agency’s surveillance of Oswald in Mexico City, and assassination plots against Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Morley called the document drop the most important step in declassifying JFK files since the 1990s.
ABC News reporter Steven Portnoy noted that the records reveal the specifics of Cold War espionage tactics the CIA had fought to keep hidden. One document outlined instructions on wiretapping, including the use of chemicals that could create markings visible only under ultraviolet light.
Another unredacted memo from 1961 revealed Kennedy aide Arthur Schlesinger urging the president to exert greater control over the CIA following the Bay of Pigs invasion. A previously blacked-out section of the memo disclosed that the agency had nearly as many personnel operating undercover overseas as the State Department.
JFK FILES REVEAL CIA-ISRAELI INTEL PIPELINE
Newly released files expose a secret CIA-Israeli intelligence link, personally overseen by counterintelligence chief James Angleton.
This wasn’t routine intel sharing—it was a covert pipeline, bypassing standard channels to shield… pic.twitter.com/XJuZmaI1L2
— ADAM (@AdameMedia) March 19, 2025
One of the most intriguing documents was a 1966 internal CIA memo recommending a “certificate of distinction” for James McCord, a security expert who later became infamous for his role in the Watergate scandal. McCord was credited with developing X-ray imaging techniques that helped the CIA detect listening devices for the first time. His later involvement in Nixon’s reelection campaign and the Watergate break-in adds another layer of historical intrigue to his earlier intelligence work.
The release has sparked fresh discussions about the files that remain classified. While Trump and Biden have both overseen partial disclosures, thousands of documents are still withheld or heavily redacted. Some were kept secret due to court orders, while others involve classified intelligence methods. The Biden administration stated last year that 99 percent of the files had been released, though some researchers argue that key pieces of information are still missing.
The public has long suspected that intelligence agencies have concealed critical details about Kennedy’s death. The House Select Committee on Assassinations determined in the 1970s that the CIA and FBI failed to provide full transparency during the Warren Commission’s investigation. Over the years, various government reports have maintained that Oswald acted alone, but inconsistencies in witness testimonies and forensic evidence continue to fuel skepticism.
The new declassifications come amid broader efforts to make government records more accessible. A new congressional task force, led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, aims to push for greater transparency on issues ranging from 9/11 to UFOs and the origins of COVID-19. The committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer, has pledged to build on Trump’s efforts to declassify historical records and ensure that the public gets answers to lingering questions.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of John F. Kennedy and son of Robert F. Kennedy, has been vocal about his belief in a conspiracy surrounding his uncle’s assassination. He praised the recent document release as a step toward exposing decades of government secrecy.
🚨BREAKING UPDATE: JFK Files
Groundbreaking document shows Oswald’s Commander went on Record to state that Oswald was in-fact Recruited by the CIA IN JAPAN
• This declassified CIA cable from 1996 provides compelling evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald was, in fact, a CIA asset,… https://t.co/e6gvGsyNLJ pic.twitter.com/D1CQ1mU496
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) March 19, 2025
He has repeatedly accused the CIA of involvement in the killing, arguing that the agency’s history of disinformation and classified operations has eroded trust in American democracy. In a statement, Kennedy claimed that the same tactics used to obscure the truth about JFK’s assassination have been employed in other crises, including Vietnam, 9/11, and the Iraq War.
Despite the latest disclosures, many historians do not expect a “smoking gun” to emerge from the files. The Warren Commission’s conclusion that Oswald acted alone remains the official position of the U.S. government. However, the 1979 House Select Committee report suggesting the possibility of multiple shooters has given conspiracy theorists ample reason to continue questioning the official narrative. The existence of unreleased tapes featuring Jacqueline Kennedy and then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy—sealed until 2067—only adds to the uncertainty.
