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For decades, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy has been shrouded in mystery, fueling endless conspiracy theories and speculation. Over 63,000 pages of government files have been recently declassified. This has shed new light on the events of November 22, 1963. It also reveals the intricate web of intelligence operations surrounding it. These files, released under the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (JFK Records Act), offer crucial insights into Lee Harvey Oswald. They also expose the CIA’s covert activities and detail the agency’s strained relationship with Kennedy.

A Push for Transparency and New Discoveries

The JFK Records Act was passed in 1992, largely due to public outcry after Oliver Stone’s film JFK. It mandated the creation of a collection at the National Archives. This collection was aimed at preserving government records. It also focused on releasing all records related to the assassination. The Act required full disclosure of these files by 2017, although subsequent administrations have postponed some releases citing national security concerns. As of March 2025, nearly all files have been declassified, offering the public an unprecedented look into the intelligence operations of the era. Among the most compelling revelations in the declassified documents are details surrounding Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities prior to the assassination. A November 24, 1963, CIA memo states:

“Although it appeared Oswald was then thinking only about a peaceful change of residence to the Soviet Union, it is also possible that he was getting documented to make a quick escape after assassinating the President.”

Oswald’s interactions with Soviet and Cuban officials in Mexico City have long been a subject of scrutiny. The new files confirm that the CIA was monitoring his movements, raising questions about why more wasn’t done to prevent the assassination. Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst at the National Security Archive, has highlighted how the declassified files reveal the CIA’s extensive global covert activities. Some of the most shocking details include:

• Election Interference: The CIA played a role in rigging elections, such as in Bolivia in 1966, to ensure pro-American outcomes.
• Sabotage Operations: Plans to disrupt the Cuban economy, including contaminating sugar shipments bound for the Soviet Union, were confirmed.
• Assassination Plots: Documents detail CIA-backed attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro and other foreign leaders.
• Vatican communications: Most surprising is the revelation of secret communications between the CIA and the Vatican, indicating high-level discussions with Popes John XXIII and Paul VI—an aspect of Cold War diplomacy previously unknown to the public.

The files also expose the deep rift between President Kennedy and the CIA following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. A declassified 1961 document reveals that Kennedy’s advisor, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., recommended stripping the CIA of some of its power, a move that was ultimately dismissed. This tension has fueled theories that rogue elements within the intelligence community may have played a role in Kennedy’s assassination. Despite the massive document dump, some files remain redacted, sparking continued debates about government transparency. Kornbluh and other researchers stress that full disclosure is vital for historical integrity, arguing that the American public deserves the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

A Step Closer to the Truth Which is Still Out There

While the newly declassified JFK files do not provide a definitive answer to all lingering questions, they offer a clearer picture of the intelligence landscape of the 1960s. They confirm the CIA’s extensive covert activities, highlight Oswald’s murky international connections, and deepen the mystery surrounding Kennedy’s adversarial relationship with his own intelligence agencies. Whether this will put conspiracy theories to rest or further fuel them remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: history is still being written…