Umbrella Man

The Umbrella Man is a mysterious figure who was present during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. The man, who was captured in photographs and films taken during the assassination, has become the subject of numerous conspiracy theories and speculation. Despite extensive investigation and analysis, the true identity and motives of the Umbrella Man remain unknown.

The Umbrella Man was first noticed in a film taken by Abraham Zapruder, a bystander who captured the assassination on his home movie camera. In the film, the Umbrella Man can be seen standing on the sidewalk near the intersection of Elm and Houston streets, holding an open umbrella despite the clear and sunny weather. As the presidential motorcade passes by, the man can be seen raising and lowering the umbrella several times.

The presence of the Umbrella Man has led to numerous theories and speculation regarding his identity and motives. Some have suggested that he was a member of a conspiracy to assassinate the president, using the umbrella as a signal or weapon. Others have suggested that he was a protester or a symbol of resistance, as the umbrella had been used as a symbol of protest against British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in the years leading up to World War II.

In the years since the assassination, numerous investigations have been conducted to try and determine the identity and motives of the Umbrella Man. In 1978, the House Select Committee on Assassinations conducted a thorough investigation of the assassination, including the role of the Umbrella Man. They identified the man as Louie Steven Witt, a resident of Dallas who had brought the umbrella to the parade as a form of protest against Kennedy's father, Joseph Kennedy, who had been ambassador to Britain during Chamberlain's appeasement policy.

Despite the identification of Louie Steven Witt as the Umbrella Man, the conspiracy theories and speculation surrounding his role in the assassination have persisted. Some have suggested that Witt was part of a larger conspiracy and that his protest was a cover for his true intentions. Others have pointed to the unusual movements of the umbrella in the Zapruder film as evidence that it was being used as a signal to other members of the conspiracy.

In recent years, new technology has been applied to the investigation of the Umbrella Man. In 2011, researchers used photo-enhancement software to study the images of the Umbrella Man, revealing that he was wearing a lapel pin that may have been associated with a far-right political group. This discovery has led to renewed speculation regarding the identity and motives of the Umbrella Man, with some suggesting that he may have been part of a right-wing conspiracy to assassinate the president.

Despite the ongoing speculation and investigation, the true identity and motives of the Umbrella Man remain unknown. While it is possible that future research may provide more definitive answers, for now, the Umbrella Man remains a mysterious and enigmatic figure, forever associated with one of the most significant events in American history.