Directors: Kate Yau & Matthew Yang — Committee Type: Crisis Committee

“Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country”.

As the United States of America watched on in silence, echoes are all that remain of the American dream once promised to the people. In the aftermath of JFK’s death, a nation once inspired to stand united against its challenges now fractures internally. While many simply mourn the tragedy, others view the assasination as a rebirth of a nation into chaos and darkness, where political power is dominated by shadowy and unseen figures. The US Congress has brought together the Warren Commission to discuss the circumstances surrounding the assassination, yet boiling tensions between each faction jeopardize the ability for the commission to progress. Still, together they must race against time to restore faith in American governance, and more importantly, the American dream.

The skies and lights of Camelot have dimmed, American citizens now desperately seek answers in a time of confusion and conflict. As information now flows more freely than ever with the introduction of colour television, those in power are now held accountable by a nation hungry for explanations. With conspiracies, collusion, and misinformation all in contention, delegates are faced with one moral dilemma: do the ends justify the means? In the age of information, those who control knowledge now hold the ultimate monopoly of power over the narrative of a nation's future. Delegates will not only debate the moral importance and significance of information, but also the temptation of power and the various personal gains which can be made through exploitation of such resources. Through a delicate balance of structured guidelines, debate, and release of such information, the perspective of a nation on tragedy now hangs in the balance.
The silencing of President Kennedy has cast a shadow over the nation, in which citizens mark it as the symbolic end of the American dream. Within this dark and tragic time is a spark of urgency for presidential and policy reform. This is not the first time such tragedy had occurred, but rather the 4th, unveiling the cracks in seemingly flawless presidential safeguards and policies, while igniting debates on the power security and intelligence services like the CIA holds. Do they really serve the interests of the people rather than the state? Delegates will have to discuss their plans of reform, while delving into controversial debates of whether secrecy will only lead to the undermining of democracy. The critical question of secrecy vs. transparency hangs in the air, forcing intelligence to strike the equilibrium point. Reaching the balance is not only critical for public and presidential safety, but to ultimately reclaim the American Dream shattered by tragedy.
President Kennedy was a committed Western (First World) leader who had a tough stance against communism during the Cold War, which in the Eastern (Second World)’s eyes, were deemed as a major threat. His death now puts America at a vulnerable state, as possibilities of hostilities from foreign nations are being brought to light. This assassination at the peak of the cold war undermines determination in the ability of America to act as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union. With the unearthing of this leaderless country’s insecurities, delegates must debate and decide on the significant foreign threats before prioritizing the most consequential to act upon. Through the course of the committee, delegates will debate the most adequate course of political action, both for and against the interests of the people. Ultimately, the lives of the American people rest in the hands of the delegates, whose every move will be measured in the brutal human cost of playing politics.

The Assassination of John F. Kennedy