There is an alternate story of the JFK assassination that the government has offered, almost from the beginning. And it became official in 1979 with the release of the HSCA Final Report. That story is that Oswald killed Kennedy on behalf of the Mafia, that he did it for them and was working for them. It is so ridiculous and just plain stupid, and I'll tell you why.
But first consider that, from the beginning, when they polled the public about the JFK assassination, they always posed the question this way:
"Do you believe Oswald acted alone to kill the President, or was he involved in a conspiracy?"
They never offered the option of saying that Oswald was innocent. But surely, when presented with that Devil's Gambit, some people had to object and say, "Neither. Oswald didn't kill the President alone or with others. He didn't kill him, period. He was completely innocent."
So, what did they do with those responses? I guess they just chucked them. But, it shows you how cunning and malicious the polls have been.
So, why is it so ridiculous to think that Oswald killed Kennedy as a Mafia Hit Man?
First, being a hit man is a skilled profession. It requires not only the shooting ability, but the killing ability. It's not as though anyone and everyone is a killer. Oswald had no expertise at shooting or killing.
Much is made of Oswald's shooting ability, but don't be fooled. The record that is cited is that of "Lee" not "Harvey." It's not the shooting record of the Oswald of fame. But regardless, that record stinks. "Oswald" came very close to flunking his final marksmanship exam in the Marines. The Oswald of fame was the one who went to Russia, and all we know about his shooting ability is that his Russian pals said he was a lousy shot; that he couldn't hit a rabbit with a shotgun.
So, why would the Mafia hire Oswald to kill Kennedy? What about his "resume" impressed them? "Let's see: he worked in a radio factory in Russia for 3 years; came back here and flunked out at various low-paying odd jobs. Hmm, hasn't done any shooting at all since getting back from Russia, where he only went rabbit-hunting a few times. Was in the Marines but was never in combat. Yup. He's our man." Do you see what I mean? It's ridiculous.
So, the Mafia wouldn't want or choose Oswald, but, would he choose them? First, note that hired killers get paid. They do it for the money. What evidence is there that Oswald was paid by anyone to kill Kennedy? There isn't a speck of evidence for that.
So, after starting with the ridiculous idea that the Mafia would choose Lee Harvey Oswald to be their assassin, we have to move on to accepting that Oswald did it for nothing, that even though he was dirt-poor, and had to rely on the largess of others to feed his family, that when it came to the Mafia, he was a volunteer, that he killed Kennedy for them just because they asked him to. "You want Kennedy dead? Sure, I'll do it for you. I don't mind. I'm more than happy to. I'm just in it for the sport. Put your wallet away. Your money's no good today. You hear me?"
So, that's two absurdities, but there is a third. It's the fact that there isn't a stitch of evidence that Oswald had any connection with, or involvement with, or contact with the Mafia.
And keep in mind that "Oswald sightings" abound. Oswald went to the shooting range and shot at other people's targets. Oswald went to the car dealer and test-drove a car at 90 miles an hour. Oswald was seen with Jack Ruby and was a regular at the Carousel Club. Etc. Etc. Etc. You gotta stop believing that shit. And that's all it is is shit.
And the biggest bogus sighting of Oswald of all, of course, is that he went to Mexico City, which he didn't.
So, I'll put it this way: there's as much real evidence that Oswald was involved with the Mafia as there is that YOU have been involved with the Mafia.
Army sharpshooter and Tulsa Police SWAT Officer Craig Roberts said that he could not have pulled off the shooting from the 6th floor window that was attributed to Oswald. And once he realized, upon looking out that window, that he couldn't do it, he knew, instantly, that there is no way in Hell that Oswald could have done it. And, there is no reason whatsoever to think that the Mafia would have thought that Oswald could do it. Based on what?
But, despite the rank implausibility and absurdity of the Oswald as Mafia Hit Man hypothesis, it was proffered by the evil HSCA in 1979, and even today, there are a few people and a few books that spout the stupid, ridiculous, absurd nonsense.
It's just a way station- a way station between the Big Lie that Oswald killed Kennedy on his own and the truth that the government, itself, killed Kennedy. And there are no stops in-between those two platforms. Once you eliminate the Big Lie, it falls to the truth, that the "national security state" killed Kennedy; meaning the intelligence agencies, the Pentagon, and most certainly, the Vice President.
Lee Harvey Oswald (not his real name) was innocent. Completely, totally innocent. He was standing in the doorway of the Texas Book Depository during the shooting of JFK. All the rest is noise.