Researching the goofy assasin

For my book, "Waiting to Run," (http://goo.gl/jloZ8w) I decided to bring in elements of the JFK assassination, since it featured one of the most botched investigations in history. Although fiction, my novel does carry some factual elements, which required a fair amount of research on my part. As I looked into the lives of the central characters involved in this real event, I was captivated by how they all were living subterranean lives before that dramatic event which brought them all into the spotlight.

The most interesting character was Lee Harvey Oswald. No surprise there. Researchers are still unclear what truly motivated him to shoot Kennedy, if in fact he actually did it at all, or did it while acting alone. In writing the book, I decided not to attempt to change history or add yet another conspiracy to the pile. If you Google "JFK Assassination Theory" hundreds of them come up, many of which are current, so new theories are constantly being thought up. My goal was to turn the event into a kind of paranormal, science fiction "mashup" that would be an entertaining read.

However, I did uncover some interesting elements about the key character in this monumental story, good 'ole Lee Harvey himself. There has been a lot published about LH's life: his Russian citizenship, carrying his rifle to work wrapped in brown paper and telling the person he rode in with each morning that it was a package of curtain rods, his total lack of a getaway plan (although Ruby probably was to play a part in that), the theft and replacement of his headstone, and the exhumation and sale of his original coffin. All these true elements are fascinating and each are worthy of their own posts, but the one thing I thought was a peek into the confused and conflicting mind of LH was the famous photo taken by his wife before the assassination. That shot has been exhaustively analyzed by various people claiming it was a fake, or it was authentic, or even that it proves that LH was an alien (he does lean way to his right in the rifle photo). LH is smiling at the camera while holding up his rifle and a newspaper. His pistol is holstered, but clearly there. It is claimed that the newspaper is Russian or at least some sort of Communist publication, but it really can't be read in the photo.

We don't exactly know what stimulated LH's desire to be photographed with his new rifle and pistol before killing people with them, but I think there is a general assumption that LH wanted to show his dark side to the world. However, did you know there were other shots taken in that backyard session? The most telling of these in my mind is LH holding not a weapon, but a banjo. Did we even know LH played banjo? Did we even know he owned one? And why a banjo? It's one of the least aggressive of all instruments. Some sort of death-metal, flying Vee guitar would have been more in character, except they weren't invented just yet.

What was LH's thought process here? What was his conversation with his poor beleaguered wife during this session? We can only imagine.

"Hey Marina! Get one of me holding my rifle in my left hand, and -- wait. Where's that Commie newspaper? Did you throw that out? Wait. I'll get in out of the garbage. It should still be there. Our trash pickup isn't scheduled for two more days. Okay. Back. Do I look menacing enough. Hey! Wait! I got a great idea. I'll be back in a second. Where's my banjo? Have you seen it? Where? Right where I left it? At the back of the hall closet? You're the best, Marina! I'll be right back. Just one more shot. Me holding my banjo..."

And so it went. The most overlooked and bazaar photo ever taken of LH. With his precious banjo. Why? It's one of the greatest mysteries of the entire event. We can only shake our collective heads and wonder. Wonder what in the world motivated that guy to do anything.