JFK Papers

We never really know about the past or the present. In the 50s & 60s it seemed great because we were quite ignorant of how things worked in the corridors of power. Now we are submerged in data & theories & 24/7 news so that we still don't know anything worth knowing but it keeps us little people distracted & gives us something to chat about, while those in power get on with business!

Spot on Saggi

Yes!?

There are also secret papers regarding the Profumo case in our country, which are locked away. They will be opened in the future but obviously most of the people involved will be long gone.

I'll tell you why Anniebach 'knows -all-this' minesaprossecco' because she's lived long enough to know that however much the Americans preach freedom of speech and/ or 'openness' they don't actually want it!! Nothing important will come out of these newly released papers because 'THEY' don't want it too! End of!

Democrats are close to socialism, socialism is not communism . Communism was greatly feared in the fifties and sixties

Iam64, what is the series you're watching? It sounds really interesting.

morgana it's because 50 years have elapsed since the assassination like the period we have here when documents are released.

Yes, I think the truth needs to come out (but what will be happening in those six months?).

So many theories abound that it should put an end to speculation even though it is now part of history.

Oswald was the compulsory "red under the bed" America had and still does have issues with anyone who has socialist tendencies...they think socialism and communism is the same thing
But wasn't JFK a Democrat? Or is an American Democrat far to the right of a socialist?

Cheating is a character flaw to me. Shows ones capabilities.

Iam64
Re JFK ending the Vietnam war. 'One of the conspiracy theories was that that was what he wanted, but the arms manufacturers who were making sqillions out of the war weren't going to have it, so, JFK had to die.

Why are they releasing the papers now? What bad news is being buried!

There is an interesting novel by Stephen King about the assassination of Kennedy.

A lot of people in public life are not all that they appear, far from it! but JFK, whatever his skeletons fitted the bill at that time and enthused a weary nation on both sides of the Atlantic, so different from the usual rather stuffy, worthy and dull leaders that had been churned out since who knows when, mind you Eisenhower cheated (during WW2) as did FDR , Lady Dorothy and Lord Boothby, (poor old Macmillan!) Can't think that Alec Douglas-Home cheated, but who knows, - no one is immune!!

The Kennedy brothers were like their father it seems, fidelity wasn't high on their agenda. I feel that's their business and my interest is in their contribution to politics. I don't expect they were much better or worse than so many politicians. What they did bring was youth and enthusiasm and what seemed like a genuine desire to improve the lives of Americans that the Republicans didn't focus on.

They were articulate, persuasive, dedicated and yes, attractive .

I'm with those who prefer documents to be open. I'd seen one of Kennedy's speeches on Communism and America's 'duty' to save the world from it during a visit to the Kennedy museum last year. Vietnam was part of that. I'm finding the documentary series compelling and very moving. It's so much a part of our generations coming of age. I'd known how bad the war was, I hadn't honestly known how bad the generals were - it's reminding me of WW1. Young men as cannon fodder with the mantra that as long as we kill more of them than they kill of us, all will be well. I wonder if JFK had lived whether he'd have had the courage to stop the war earlier than Johnson did.

But revelations or opinions and rumours ?

Cheaters.

Never liked or trusted JFK or his brother. Revelations since have proved they were not what they appeared to be at the time.

Same for me niggly, we will never know if the Mafia and JFK were connected, who is around to deny or confirm it.

I do think his murder caused Jackie to marry Onassis , safety for her children and herself , she must have been so fearful

Nothing surprises me about politicians any more and I'm sure they're all perfectly capable of arranging just about anything. I too remember the feeling of hope and excitement at the election of such a charismatic young President, and his very attractive young family. They radiated a new modern forward way of thinking which died that day in Dallas. Not only did they look delighted to be there, but the crowds were genuinely delighted that they were. However, the Kennedy's had ties with the Mafia (allegedly) so who knows who or what was behind this murder, and Bobby's too. Perhaps it's better that we don't know, it could destroy Camelot and that would really be a pity.

But if the CIA were involved then we do need to know. And some of the revelations about their plans to kill leaders of other countries makes my blood run cold. Some people may already be aware of this, but I wasn't (although I'm not overly surprised).

Agree niggly, most are dead .

Being in a me me mood, I don't want to be reminded of that time. We were young and looked on JFK as almost the second coming, we would change the world . We wore Jackie Kennedy suits and hats too? And then that day in Dallas robbed us young of hopes and dreams . I loved 'the Camelot years' we had Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King too ?

Oswald was the compulsory "red under the bed" America had and still does have issues with anyone who has socialist tendencies...they think socialism and communism is the same thing.Personally I always thought he was a very convenient person to have around to lay the blame on.The facts coming out that BEFORE the assasination the CIA/FBI contacted the UK with a statement saying they would have BIG news within hours says it all really.There was far more to this than a lone wolf

Apparently parts of the papers are being withheld for another six months, at the request of the CIA, I think. I would imagine it has more to do with the methods they employed at the time, rather than anything they discovered.
Saw a clip of the Kennedys arriving at Dallas; they looked thrilled to be there, full of smiles. So different from the Trumps , with their scowls, pouts and blank faces.