Making History Come Alive Newsletter offers Lee Harvey Oswald one of the most controversial figures in American history due to his alleged role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
His life, actions, and the circumstances surrounding the assassination have been the subject of extensive scrutiny, investigation, and conspiracy theories. Below is a detailed exploration of Oswald's background, the events leading up to the assassination, and the subsequent investigations.
Early Life and Background
- Birth and Upbringing: Lee Harvey Oswald was born on October 18, 1939, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father died before he was born, and his mother, Marguerite Oswald, had a significant influence on his upbringing. Oswald had a troubled childhood, marked by frequent relocations and behavioral issues.
- Military Service: At the age of 17, Oswald enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was trained as a radar operator and developed an interest in Marxism. While in the Marines, he was court-martialed twice and eventually received an early discharge in 1959, citing hardship due to his mother's health.
Defection to the Soviet Union
- Life in the USSR: After his discharge, Oswald traveled to the Soviet Union in October 1959. He intended to defect and even publicly declared his allegiance to communism. The Soviet government initially allowed him to stay and provided him with an apartment and a job in Minsk. However, Oswald became disillusioned with life in the Soviet Union and applied to return to the United States in 1961.
- Return to the U.S.: Oswald returned to the United States in June 1962 with his Russian wife, Marina, and their infant daughter. The family settled in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where Oswald struggled with employment and continued to express his Marxist beliefs.
The Assassination of President Kennedy
- Employment at the Texas School Book Depository: In October 1963, Oswald secured a job at the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas. This location would become a critical element in the events of November 22, 1963.
- The Assassination: On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas. Shots were fired from the Texas School Book Depository, and Kennedy was fatally wounded. Texas Governor John Connally was also injured but survived. Oswald was identified as the primary suspect.On November 24, 1963, two days after Kennedy's assassination, Oswald was being transferred from the Dallas police headquarters to the county jail. During this transfer, Jack Ruby stepped forward from a crowd and shot Oswald at point-blank range, killing him. This event was broadcast live on national television, further shocking the American public.