On January 23, 2020, President Donald Trump made headlines by signing an executive order aimed at declassifying thousands of government documents related to the assassinations of three pivotal figures from American history: President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. This directive marks yet another chapter in the longstanding public interest surrounding these tragic events and the conspiracy theories they have spawned over the decades.
President Trump’s decision to release these documents has been met with enthusiasm as many people have been clamoring for transparency surrounding these assassinations for years. “A lot of people are waiting for this, for long, for, for decades,” Trump said during his announcement, indicating the anticipation surrounding the forthcoming revelations.
John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, as his motorcade passed the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas. It was there, from the sixth-floor window, where 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot the 35th president of the United States. Just two days after Kennedy's assassination, Oswald himself was killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby, raising even more questions about the motives and circumstances surrounding the assassination. Over the years, numerous conspiracy theories have suggested various alternative narratives implicate government agents and organized crime.
The executive order signed by Trump also encompasses files related to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., who were both killed within months of each other in 1968. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel, right after delivering his victory speech following the Democratic primary election. The assailant, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of first-degree murder and has been serving life imprisonment since. On April 4 of the same year, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot outside the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, by James Earl Ray, who also maintained innocence until his death. These tragic events not only changed the course of American history but also shook the very foundation of civil rights advocacy and political discourse.
With Trump’s signature, the director of national intelligence and the attorney general are tasked with developing plans to release the remaining records related to Kennedy's assassination within 15 days and the files relevant to RFK and MLK within 45 days. Although thousands of documents have been disclosed since the 1992 Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act mandated the opening of such records, researchers have noted approximately 3,000 records are still redacted, primarily originating from the CIA. Trump's efforts highlighted the discrepancies between his earlier promises to make all files public during his first term and the reality of continued classification due to national security concerns.
Trump emphasized the need for transparency, stating, "Continued secrecy is not consistent with the public interest," as it resonates with the very essence of the executive order. This notion of openness is not only favored by the public but also has the potential to shed light on hidden aspects of these high-profile incidents. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, commented on the matter, saying, “There’s always the possibility...that would be the tiny tip of a much larger iceberg.” This perspective reflects the hopes of researchers and historians who eagerly await any new details unearthed from these files, no matter how small.
The declassification is set against the backdrop of the federal government’s previous measures to compartmentalize information. Following major releases of documents over the years, many detailed how intelligence services operated during the era of JFK's assassination, including CIA memos discussing Oswald's visits to Soviet and Cuban embassies before the tragic event. The document releases have often been incremental, prompting questions about what has been kept hidden and why.
Historically, the releases of such documents have fueled speculation about governmental oversight and possible conspiracies, raising questions about the boundaries of operational secrecy versus public knowledge. The national narratives surrounding the killings of these three figures have continued to evolve, fueled by popular media portrayals and enduring public fascination with conspiracy theories. With Trump’s commitment to transparency through document declassification, the expectation is set high for what previously sealed records may reveal.
Given the historical significance of the figures involved and the consequences of their untimely deaths, the impending release of the documents promises to impact discussions of government accountability and transparency. This action also raises questions about not only the responsibility of lawmakers to protect the public interest but also the role of citizens in demanding answers from their government.
While the future release of records may not lead to earth-shattering revelations, it serves as a reminder of the public’s enduring interest and the need for accountability from those entrusted with power. Observers await the final declassification as it could provide groundbreaking insights or at least contribute to the broader narrative of American history surrounding these pivotal assassinations.