Ep 176. Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live

On November 22, 1963, American history was changed forever when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Although the events leading up to the assassination have been extensively studied and researched, the last 48 hours of Lee Harvey Oswald’s life, the man accused of the crime, remain shrouded in mystery. In the History Specials season 1 episode 176 titled Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live, viewers are taken on a journey back in time to explore the final days of Oswald’s life and attempt to unravel the enigma surrounding his actions.

The episode begins with a brief introduction to Oswald’s background, painting a picture of a troubled and unstable youth who was constantly moving from place to place with his family due to his father’s military postings. We learn that Oswald was a Marine Corps veteran who became disillusioned with the American government and society, eventually defecting to the Soviet Union in 1959 where he learned to speak Russian and married Marina Prusakova. The couple returned to the United States with their young daughter in 1962, settling in Dallas where Oswald quickly became involved with the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a pro-Castro group.

The bulk of the episode is dedicated to recounting the events of November 22 and 23, 1963, the two days leading up to Oswald’s death. Interviews with witnesses, historians, and law enforcement officials help to construct a timeline of Oswald’s movements and actions during this time period. We learn that Oswald was working at the Texas School Book Depository on the day of the assassination, and that he was seen on the sixth floor of the building with a rifle moments before shots rang out in Dealey Plaza.

After the assassination, Oswald fled the scene and made his way back to his rooming house. The police were able to track him down thanks to a description provided by an eyewitness and Oswald was arrested at the Texas Theatre after a brief scuffle with officers. From there, he was taken to the Dallas Police Department’s headquarters where he was interrogated for several hours.

The episode takes a deep dive into the details of Oswald’s interrogation, highlighting the conflicting stories that emerged from the questioning. For example, Oswald initially denied any involvement in the assassination, claiming that he was simply a bystander who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Later on, he changed his story, admitting to being a communist and stating that he had killed Kennedy as part of a larger conspiracy to overthrow the American government. Finally, he retracted this statement and insisted that he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

Throughout this section of the episode, viewers are presented with different perspectives on Oswald’s interrogation. Some experts feel that Oswald was being truthful when he denied involvement in the assassination, while others believe that he was a key figure in a larger conspiracy and that his interrogation was simply a way for authorities to cover up the truth.

Near the end of the episode, the focus shifts to Oswald’s shooting by nightclub owner Jack Ruby on November 24, 1963. The circumstances surrounding this event are equally mysterious, with many different theories and opinions about why Ruby felt compelled to take matters into his own hands. Some believe that Ruby was simply acting on his own, while others suggest that he was part of a larger conspiracy to silence Oswald before he could reveal too much.

Overall, Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live is a fascinating look at one of the most enigmatic figures in American history. Through interviews with experts and archival footage, viewers are able to gain a deeper understanding of Oswald’s motivations and actions in the days leading up to his death. The episode raises more questions than it answers, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions about one of the most debated events in modern history.