Over the years, some rather far out theories have been put forth to explain the how and why of the assassination of President John Kennedy. They include:

THE JACKIE CONNECTION

According to this theory, Jackie, heartbroken over Kennedy's extra-marital affairs, had a contract put out to have Kennedy "hit."

THE SUICIDE ANGLE

This theory has JFK discovering he has some incurable disease. Rather than suffer the painful depilation of the disease, he arranges to have himself shot, allowing him to go out as a hero.

THE STAND-IN PROPOSAL

According to this theory, Kennedy had feared for his life for some time. Unwilling to cancel his trip, he sends a Kennedy look-a-like in his place. As unlikely as this may sound, Hitler apparently had several look-a-likes who stood in for him at some functions. Proponents of this theory state that what was thought to be part of Kennedy's skull, knocked off by the shooting, was actually a piece of the look-a-like's wig.

As to the possibility of a look-a-like to Kennedy existing, it should be noted that a Kennedy look-a-like sat for the portrait that was the basis of the JFK half dollars. The only real difference between this man and Kennedy, is that the look-a-like had a crew cut, mostly, he said, to reduce the commotion his appearance sometimes created. Food for thought.

According to John Cottrell, author of "Anatomy of an Assassination: The Murder of Abraham Lincoln," "It would seem that John Wilkes Booth first resolved to kidnap Lincoln at the time of his re-election. But his fanatical hatred of the President had smoldered and flamed for years before, at least since Lincoln's first election in 1860 and his proclaimed intent to maintain the Union. Now. possibly with a deep sense of guilt, since he had never risked his life for the Southern cause, he was set on his plan.

Booth spent four thousand dollars of his own money, in the first three months of 1865, attempting to set up the kidnapping of Lincoln. Some of his co-conspirators included Michael O' Laughlin (27), and Sam Arnold (28), both former school friends. Other conspirators included: John Harrison Surratt; David E. Herold (23); George A. Atzerodt (29); and Lewis Thornton Powell (20), AKA Lewis Paine.