RENDEZVOUS WITH DEATH
The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Lee Harvey Oswald had a lonely childhood. He wanted attention. Lee Oswald’s brother, Robert, stated, “Here was a lonely boy, needing attention and not getting it” (JFK Assassination: Beyond Conspiracy, 2003). Their mother, Marguerite Oswald, was always saying that her kids were a burden to her. Robert Oswald said this about Lee, “Very early on, he learned he wasn’t wanted” (JFK Assassination: Beyond Conspiracy, 2003). As Lee Oswald grew older, he became more preoccupied with getting attention. Robert Oswald provided this example, “When he was in the Marine Corps, he was going the opposite direction from the rest of the troops. He wanted to be different from the crowd, stand out from the crowd, and whatever it took, he was willing to do it” (JFK Assassination: Beyond Conspiracy, 2003). In the spring of 1959, Lee Harvey Oswald seemed anxious to leave the Marine Corps. He applied to Albert Schweitzer College in Churwalden, Switzerland for admission to the spring term in 1960 (Warren et al., 1964, p. 688). Oswald’s tour of active duty with the Marine Corps was not scheduled to expire until Monday, December 7, 1959 (Warren et al., 1964, p. 688). However, Oswald requested a dependency discharge on Monday, August 17, 1959, stating that his mother needed his support. Oswald’s request was recommended for approval on Friday, August 28, 1959 (Warren et al., 1964, p. 688). On September 4, 1959, in anticipation of his discharge, Oswald applied for a passport to attend Albert Schweitzer College and to travel in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, and Russia. The passport was issued six days later on Thursday, September 10, 1959 (Warren et al., 1964, p. 689; Duffy, 1989, p. 25). The next day, September 11, Oswald was transferred from active duty to the Marine Corps Reserve (Warren et al., 1964, p. 688; Duffy, 1989, p. 25). Early on Sunday morning September 20, 1959, just nine days after his discharge from the Marine Corps, Oswald departed New Orleans aboard the Marion Lykes (Duffy, 1989, p. 30; Warren et al., 1964, p. 689; Meagher, 1992, p. 329). Following a circuitous route, Oswald arrived in Moscow on Friday, October 16, 1959, and took a room at the Hotel Berlin (Warren et al., 1964, p. 690; Duffy, 1989, p. 30). On Wednesday, October 21, 1959, Oswald was notified that his visa had expired, and he had two hours to leave Moscow (Warren et al., 1964, p. 692; Anson, 1975, p. 161). Fearing he was about to be forced out of the Soviet Union, Oswald attempted suicide in his hotel room. He was taken to the Botkinskaya Hospital and released the next Wednesday, October 28, 1959 (Warren et al., 1964, pp. 392 and 691-692; Anson, 1975, p. 161). Oswald remained in the Soviet Union until Saturday, June 2, 1962 (Warren et al., 1964, p. 712).
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
“After extensive research, the author presents some of the frequently conflicting findings of investigators and government committees over the decades along with many of the minute details associated with the case. In all, Underwood has constructed a highly readable and fact-filled compendium that should prove very useful to students of the tragedy.” —The US Review of Books Rendezvous with Death: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy presents the facts surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and a detailed explanation of the shooting as it occurred according to the factual evidence. A considerable amount of false trails and leads exist in the evidence, turning the case into a quagmire of contradictory and unreliable assertions. The major task undertaken was to sort out, as much as possible, fact from fiction, and determine truth from rumor and speculation. Numerous sources and materials were researched to provide the reader with a thorough and well-documented review of the facts presented in the JFK assassination literature. Still, the conclusions presented are my own and are not intended to be presumptuous in claiming a definitive or conclusive solution to the case. Therefore, the purpose of this book is not to convince the reader that I have finally found the answers for most of the puzzling and perplexing questions surrounding this highly controversial case. Rather, my intention was twofold: (1) to provide the reader with a comprehensive study that presented as many facts as possible regarding the JFK assassination gleaned from a wide variety of sources, and (2) devise a plausible explanation of the assassination based upon that factual information. My conclusions are based primarily on a close examination of the Zapruder film with documentation provided by numerous sources. Although the Zapruder film shows evidence of splicing, it still remains as one of the most significant pieces of JFK assassination evidence. It is hoped that this study will move us closer to the truth.
About the Author
H. R. Underwood is a native Texan and an Anglophile. His avid interest in history, intrigue, and interesting tales led to the writing of this book. Enjoy the journey! Thank you.