ROOKSTOOL Statement on the March 18, 2025, JFK DocuMENTS
By Farris Rookstool III
Today’s release of 80,000 previously classified records related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedyprovides significant new details on Lee Harvey Oswald’s movements, foreign intelligence concerns, and U.S. government responses before and after November 22, 1963. While these documents do not offer a definitive “smoking gun,” they clarify longstanding questions about Oswald’s activities, intelligence failures, and the broader geopolitical context of the assassination.
Key Takeaways from the Release
1. Oswald’s Foreign Contacts
- New CIA and FBI documents confirm Oswald’s visits to the Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City before the assassination.
- Additional surveillance reports indicate heightened intelligence interest in Oswald’s activities before November 22, 1963.
2. Intelligence Community Knowledge & Response
- Declassified memos reveal internal disputes between the CIA and FBI regarding Oswald’s threat level before the assassination.
- Some files confirm that key intelligence reports were withheld from the Warren Commission and other investigations.
3. Jack Ruby & Organized Crime
- New records strengthen previous links between Jack Ruby and organized crime figures, particularly in Texas and Louisiana.
- FBI surveillance suggests Ruby may have had prior knowledge of Oswald’s movements before November 24, 1963.
4. Potential Cover-Ups & Information Gaps
- Certain CIA and FBI communications discuss deliberate withholding of files from congressional inquiries in the 1970s.
- Reports suggest internal debates on how much information to disclose to the public for fear of diplomatic repercussions.
5. Cold War Implications
- U.S. officials feared that Oswald’s Soviet and Cuban ties could be used as justification for military action.
- Declassified State Department memos show concern over how the assassination would be exploited by foreign adversaries.
Final Assessment
While these documents do not conclusively prove a conspiracy, they highlight intelligence failures, bureaucratic missteps, and the continued complexity surrounding JFK’s assassination. This release provides new leads for historians and researchers, reinforcing the need for further scrutiny of the case.