The JFK Assassination at 60 November 15-17, 2023

Prepare to immerse yourself in captivating presentations, thought-provoking discussions, and the opportunity to connect with experts and fellow enthusiasts alike. The Annual Symposium promises a dynamic and comprehensive experience that paves the way for new perspectives, lasting connections, and the exchange of knowledge that will shape the future. All presentations are scheduled to take place in the Duquesne University's Union Ballroom, unless otherwise noted.

View full program (PDF) for more details; please note that some presentations may have shifted since the program was finalized on 11/10/23. The agenda below is the most current.

Wednesday, November 15

• 5:30 p.m. Reception
• 7:00 p.m. Welcome and Introductions: Benjamin E. Wecht, M.A.
• 7:10 p.m. Opening Remarks: Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D.
• 7:20 p.m. Keynote Introduction: Ken Gormley, J.D.
• 7:30 p.m. Keynote Address: 'Why JFK's Camelot Endures – and Why It Still Matters', Barbara Perry, Ph.D.
• 8:30 p.m. 'Why JFK's Assassination Will Not Go Away', Alec Baldwin
• 9:00 p.m. Adjourn

Thursday, November 16 - Criminalistics, Forensic Science and Medicine

• 8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions: Benjamin E. Wecht, M.A., Pamela Marshall, Ph.D.
• 8:45 a.m. 'Converging Lines of Evidence in the Case for Two Headshots', Gary Aguilar, M.D., Josiah Thompson, Ph.D., Doug DeSalles, M.D., Bill Simpich, Esq.
• 10:00 a.m. 'The Final Witness: A Kennedy Secret Service Breaks His Silence After Sixty Years', Paul Landis (USSS Ret.); James Robenalt, Esq.
• 10:45 a.m. Break
• 11:00 a.m. 'Forensic Reactions to an Historical Revelation', P. Landis, C. Wecht, Ken Gormley, J.D.
• 11:30 a.m. 'Two Brain Exams Following JFK’s Autopsy', Douglas Horne (USN Ret.)
• Concurrent Session (613) 'Forensic Modeling of Human Reactions and a JFK Assassination Timeline', Brian Roselle, M.S.
• 12:30 p.m. Lunch   
• 12:35 p.m. Special Brownbag Session 1: 'Four Died Trying' (Film Screening and Q&A), Libby Handros and John Kirby 
• 1:45 p.m. 'Acoustical Analysis of the JFK Assassination', Donald B. Thomas, Ph.D.
• Concurrent Session (613) 'A Closer Look at the Zapruder Film: The Case for Alteration', David Mantik, MD, PhD
• 2:45 p.m. 'Analyzing the General Walker Shooting and Gauging the Authenticity of the Walker Bullet', Lawrence Schnapf, Esq., Ben Cole (by Zoom)
• Concurrent Session (613) 'The Oswald Letter: An Analysis of Dyslexia and How It Changes our Understanding of the Assassination', Jerry Kroth, Ph.D. (by Zoom)
• 3:45 p.m. Break
• 4:00 p.m. 'Unmasking the Rockefeller Committee Medical Panel', Russell Kent
• 5:00 p.m. Adjournment
• 6:00 p.m. CAPA Dinner Reception (Registration for Dinner Closed)

Friday, November 17 - History, Politics and the Future

• 8:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions: Benjamin E. Wecht, M.A., Pamela Marshall, Ph.D.
• 9:00 a.m. The Assassination of President Kennedy: Understanding the Cold War Context, John Newman, Ph.D.

• 10:00 a.m. The CIA and JFK: What 30 Years of Reporting Tell Me, Jefferson Morley  

• Concurrent Session (AR) Carousel Contortionista: Jack Ruby, His Strippers, and their Moving Horses, Mark de Valk, Ph.D., M.A.
• 11:00 a.m. Break
• 11:15 a.m. 'New Findings About TSBD Building Owner David Harold Byrd', Daniel Alcorn, Esq.
• Concurrent Session (AR) J. Edgar Hoover and Lyndon Johnson and how they Obstructed Justice, R. Andrew Kiel
• 12:15 p.m. Lunch 
• 12:30 p.m. Special Brownbag Session: 'Documenting the Authenticy of the Zapruder Film', Robert Groden
• 1:00 p.m. Special Brownbag Session 2: 'Who Killed JFK?', Rob Reiner (by Zoom)
• 1:30 p.m. 'The Death of JFK and the Rise of the Neocons in U.S. Foreign Policy', James DiEugenio, M.A.
• Concurrent Session 1 (AR) An Inside Perspective on the Relationship between Lee Oswald and the Paines, Robert Manz, M.A.
• Concurrent Session 2 (613) 'Lee Oswald: The Patchwork Kid', Greg R. Parker (Pre-recorded by Zoom)
• 2:30 p.m. 'Lessons from the Assassination Records Review Board: The Value of Investigative Research with Respect to National Security', David Montague, Ph.D.
• Concurrent Session 1 (AR) 'Our Method of Teaching the Assassination: Inspiring the Next Generation of Researchers', Ronald Burda, J.D. and Michael Vollbach, MA, MS
• 3:30 p.m. Break
• 3:45 p.m. 'Why Our Side is Winning/Losing the Media War', David Talbot (by Zoom)
• 4:45 p.m. 'Closing Remarks', Ellen Gawalt, Ph.D.
• 5:00 p.m. Adjournment

The following experts and researchers will contribute to advancing and enhancing our shared knowledge, shedding light not only on the circumstances surrounding JFK's death but also on its significance and relevance in the present day.

Ken Gormley, Duquesne University President and Professor of Law

Gary Aguilar, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Stanford University; Independent Researcher

Daniel Alcorn, Esq., Private Attorney, Independent Researcher and President, Assassination Archives and Research Center

Alec Baldwin, Actor, Producer and Independent Researcher

Ronald Burda, J.D., Professor, Oakland Community College (Royal Oak, MI)

Doug DeSalles, M.D., Physician and Independent Researcher

Mark de Valk, Ph.D., M.A., Independent Researcher, Filmmaker and Former Professor of Film Production

James DiEugenio, M.A., Author, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass and Destiny Betrayed; co-editor, The Assassinations

Robert Groden, Independent Researcher, Author and HSCA Photographic Consultant

Libby Handros, Producer, Four Died Trying

Douglas Horne (USN Ret.), Former Chief Analyst for Military Records, Assassination Records Review Board; U.S. Navy Officer (Ret.)

Russell Kent, Independent Researcher and Author, JFK Medical Betrayal: Where the Evidence Lies

Andrew Kiel, Secondary Educator and Author, J. Edgar Hoover: The Father of the Cold War

John Kirby, Director, Four Died Trying

Jerry Kroth, Ph.D., Associate Professor Emeritus, Santa Clara University

Paul Landis (USSS Ret.), Author, The Final Witness: A Kennedy Secret Service Agent Breaks His Silence After Sixty Years

David Mantik, M.D., Ph.D., Radiation Oncologist and Former Physicist; Author, The JFK Assassination Decoded

Robert Manz, M.A., M.S., Management Consultant, Fine Art Photographer and Writer

Donald B. Thomas, Ph.D., Author, Hear No Evil; Career Scientist, U.S. Government

David Montague, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Student Success and Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; Former Senior Investigator, JFK Assassination Records Review Board

Jefferson Morley, Author, The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton, Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA and CIA & JFK: The Secret Assassination Files; former reporter, The Washington Post

John Newman, Ph.D. (USA Ret.), Author, Uncovering Popov’s Mole; Professor, James Madison University; Former Military Intelligence Officer

Greg Parker, Independent Researcher and Author, Lee Harvey Oswald’s Cold War (Vols. 1-2)

Barbara Perry, Ph.D., Gerald L. Bailes Professor and Director of Presidential Studies, University of Virginia; Author

Rob Reiner, Actor and Filmmaker

James Robenalt, Esq., Attorney, Presidential Historian and Author

Brian Roselle, M.S., Independent Researcher and Former Principal Scientist/Engineer, R&D, Procter & Gamble Co.

Lawrence Schnapf, Esq., Private Attorney and Professor, New York Law School

William Simpich, Esq., Private Attorney and Civil Rights Practitioner

David Talbot, Author, The Devil’s Chessboard and Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years

Robert Tanenbaum, Esq., Former Deputy Chief Counsel, House Select Committee on Assassinations; Author, Corruption of Blood

Josiah Thompson, Ph.D., Author, Last Second in Dallas and Six Seconds in Dallas; Former Private Investigator

Michael Vollbach, M.A., M.S., Professor, Oakland Community College (Royal Oak, MI)

Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D., Forensic Pathology Consultant, Independent Researcher and Co-Author, The JFK Assassination Dissected

At the Institute, we are dedicated to enhancing your learning experience by providing a wide range of continuing education opportunities that align with our programming.

As an Accredited Provider of Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education, we are excited to offer you the chance to earn up to 12 hours of Substantive CLE credit through this conference.

This course has been approved for eight (8) hours of continuing education by the Pennsylvania Coroners Education Board under the provisions of Act 22 of 1988. Coroners may receive up to all 8 hours online.

Physicians may self-report participation in this activity for AMA PRA Category 2 Credit™ that may be used for Pennsylvania re-licensure and other purposes. Further information may be found at The Physician's Recognition Award and credit system 2017 revision | AMA (ama-assn.org).

Please stay updated by checking this space regularly for more information on approved accreditations and the number of credit hours available.

Please review Duquesne University Campus Map to find your way to the Union Ballroom.

• Park at Duquesne's Forbes Garage (1180 Forbes Avenue); This garage is the closest to the Duquesne Union building.
• Take the elevator in the Forbes Garage to the 8th floor to access the walkway to the Union. 
• Upon entering the Union, please proceed to the elevators towards the back of the building.
• Take elevators to the Union Ballroom on Floor 4.

For those traveling to Pittsburgh to attend our symposium, please note that we have now filled the blocks of hotel rooms we were holding at the following hotels. Please feel free to contact them to inquire about additional vacancies, or else go to Visit Pittsburgh to find other options.

You can request a full refund for your registration, with a $25 processing fee deducted, if you cancel up to one week before the symposium begins. However, after Wednesday, November 8, refunds will only be granted with documented proof of a medical or other emergency. Additionally, please be aware that up until Monday, November 13, individuals registered for onsite participation have the option to switch to the virtual attendance option.