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Stephen Norris
Professor Batra
Intro to Mass Media
November 13, 2016
Dangerous Ideas: Conspiracy Theories
From assassinations to talk of an apocalypse and much more, conspiracy theories have
always been a part of American society. This paper will explore deeper into specific conspiracy
theories and the impact they have had in society. Specific theories will include the assassination
of John F. Kennedy, September 11th 2001, NASA’s fake moon landing, and the existence of
aliens.
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas by a
man named Lee Harvey Oswald. Many Americans believe this assassination was a plotted
attack. In fact, Russell Goldman author of the article, “The Top 5 John F Kennedy Assassination
Conspiracy Theories” writes, “According to a 2003 ABC News Poll, 70 percent of Americans
believe Kennedy’s death was “the result of a plot, not the act of a lone killer.” (Goldman). One
conspiracy is that The Soviets did it. The reasoning behind this was that America and the Soviet
Union were in the middle of the Cold War. Also, Oswald had visited there twice with his
Russian-born wife, therefore giving him a close relationship with the Soviets. Another theory
was the Cubans did it. The reason for this theory was because of what President Lyndon Johnson
(the man who succeeded Kennedy after the assassination) said following Kennedy’s death.
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Johnson said, “Kennedy was trying to get to Castro, but Castro got to him first.” (Goldman).
Fidel Castro, referenced simply as Castro by Johnson was the Cuban President at the time.
Speaking of Johnson another theory is that Lyndon Johnson was the one who had Oswald kill
Kennedy so that he could become president.
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 better known as 9/11 is one of the most
widely debated conspiracy theories there is. On 9/11 the two Twin Towers in New York were
crashed into by two different planes and both collapsed, the Pentagon was crashed into by a third
plane, and a fourth plane was taken back over by passengers and crashed into a field. The reason
it’s so widely debated is because many people believe the American government wanted to go to
war with Iraq but needed a reason for the American people to support war. There are multiple
facts to back up this conspiracy as well for example, jet fuel can’t melt steel beams. Clark
