The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most controversial moments in American history. Now, with the recent declassification of over 31,000 pages of documents by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, new details have emerged, but questions still linger.
What’s in the Newly Released Files?
The documents, made public under the authorization of former President Donald Trump, include previously classified notes, interviews, and intelligence reports. While the majority of the six million pages related to the assassination had already been disclosed, these new files could provide further insight into the events surrounding Kennedy’s tragic death.
One key area of interest is Lee Harvey Oswald, the man officially accused of assassinating Kennedy from a sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas. Among the documents are intelligence reports examining whether Oswald had any ties to the Soviet KGB or if he had connections with Fidel Castro’s Cuba.
KGB Connection: Fact or Fiction?
One of the long-standing theories is that Oswald, who defected to the Soviet Union in 1959 and later returned to the U.S. in 1962, was part of a broader Cold War conspiracy. Some newly revealed files suggest that Soviet intelligence may have had concerns about Oswald’s mental stability but did not consider him a reliable asset.
A 1991 report by American professor E.B. Smith, based on interviews with a former KGB agent, claimed that Oswald was never an agent of the Soviet Union. This contradicts theories that he was acting on behalf of Moscow. However, conflicting files suggest that U.S. intelligence was wary of Oswald’s Soviet ties and saw him as a potential security risk.
CIA, Cuba, and Operation Mongoose
Another major revelation involves U.S. operations against Fidel Castro’s Cuba. Some documents reference Operation Mongoose, a CIA-led campaign of covert sabotage and espionage intended to destabilize Castro’s government in the early 1960s. Kennedy himself had authorized these actions, which led to tensions between the U.S. and Cuba.
The files suggest that, while there was no direct link between Castro and Kennedy’s assassination, the Cuban leader may have increased support for revolutionary movements across Latin America as retaliation for U.S. interference. This raises further speculation about whether Castro had any knowledge of, or involvement in, Oswald’s actions.
Trump’s Push for Transparency
Former President Donald Trump framed the release of these documents as a move toward “maximum transparency”, allowing Americans to see the intelligence behind the assassination. However, many experts remain skeptical about whether these files will significantly change the official narrative.
Historian Larry J. Sabato, who leads the University of Virginia Center for Politics, acknowledged that while these documents are valuable, it could take years to analyze their full implications.
“We have a lot of work to do, and people need to accept that,” Sabato told the Associated Press.
Will the New Files Change the Official Story?
Despite the release of new material, many Americans continue to doubt the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Oswald acted alone. Conspiracy theories about a second shooter, CIA involvement, and a broader government cover-up persist.
Experts caution against expecting a definitive answer from these documents. Instead, they provide a deeper look into the Cold War context in which Kennedy’s assassination took place, highlighting U.S. intelligence operations and geopolitical tensions.
Conclusion: More Questions Than Answers
The release of the JFK assassination files is an important step in uncovering the historical truth, but it does not end speculation. While some questions about Oswald’s ties to foreign intelligence and Cold War maneuvering may be addressed, the full story may never be completely known.
As historians and analysts continue to sift through these pages, the fascination with Kennedy’s assassination endures—perhaps proving that some mysteries remain unsolvable, even six decades later.
