Read:
Jim Marrs’s Crossfire: Part II, "Means, Motives, and Opportunities," pp. 90–155.

Answer these questions (briefly):
In "Means, Motives, and Opportunities," Jim Marrs discusses eight major groups who might have wanted to kill JFK and how they could have done it. In Assignments 17–19, we will consider these groups.

1. How many pages of text does Marrs allot to each of the eight theories? Does this tell you anything about his views on possible conspirators?

2–4. Write a paragraph on each of the three groups: Lee Harvey Oswald, "Russians" (Soviets at that time), and Cubans. First state the theory succinctly (1–2 sentences). Then consider (a) why the group might have wanted to kill JFK (motives), and (b) how the group could have done it and covered it up for 33 years (means). (Presumably the "opportunities" were the same for all groups.) Last, consider (c) the inherent plausibility of the conspiracy, (d) the nature and strength of the evidence presented by Marrs for or against each group, and (e) what his opinion on the group was and why. Try to be critical but objective, i.e., fair to Marrs.

Back to list of assignments