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Many Eagerly Awaiting Release of Classified Files on JFK Assassination After Trump Says He Won't Block Them

President Donald Trump says he doesn't plan to block the scheduled release of thousands of never publicly seen government documents related to President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

It's a big day, especially in Boston where there are such strong ties to JFK.

Current Massachusetts Congressman and great nephew of the former president, Joe Kennedy III has responded as the world is getting ready to learn more about his great uncle's assassination.

The National Archives is preparing to release a trove of documents pertaining to the November 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, after President Donald Trump said he has no plans to block their release. Current Massachusetts Congressman and great nephew of the former president, Joe Kennedy III said he tends toward disclosure of government-held documents but that it would...

"These are documents that obviously have been kept behind closed doors for an awful long time, and I absolutely tend towards disclosure of government-held documents. That being said, it would have been nice if there were some communication between this Administration and members of our family."

A presidential historian we spoke to said he doesn't expect any major shocking developments, but that the files could answer some decades-old questions.

"I think for a lot of Americans this is long overdue."

Thomas Whalen, a Boston University presidential historian, is among those eagerly anticipating the release of thousands of documents.

The National Archives has held these never-before seen documents for decades. But now, under a 1992 law, all these documents must be released by Thursday.

"I wouldn't expect any major smoking guns out of us, but I think it could provide a larger context, and fill in a lot of details about the events of November 22, 1963."

Over the decades, several commissions, including the famous Warren Commission, have concluded Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating the president but that hasn't quelled conspiracy theorists.

"Maybe if there is some light shed on foreign involvement, I think there is no doubt among Historians that Oswald was the assassin, but was he working in conjunction with other foreign powers? That would be a real eye-opener."

President Trump does have the power to block or redact certain documents. The White House said the President will release everything unless he's provided a compelling reason not to. 

The National Archives has until Thursday to disclose the remaining files related to Kennedy's 1963 assassination.

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