Lee Harvey Oswald: An American Tragedy

• Documentary

Episode overview

Lee Harvey Oswald was a former U.S. Marine who assassinated U.S. President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Oswald had a turbulent youth, joining the Marines before defecting to the Soviet Union in 1959. Disillusioned with Soviet life, he returned to the U.S. in 1962 with his Russian wife, Marina. He became an active supporter of Marxist causes, including the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. On the day of the assassination, Oswald fired three rifle shots from the Texas School Book Depository, fatally wounding JFK. Shortly after fleeing, he also shot and killed Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit. He was arrested hours later at the Texas Theatre. Two days later, on November 24, 1963, while being transferred through the Dallas Police Headquarters basement, Oswald was shot and killed by local nightclub owner Jack Ruby on live television. The Warren Commission later concluded that Oswald acted entirely alone.

60 minutes