GOVERNMENT CONSPIRACIES
The government was very corrupt during the 60s and 70s, so it is plausible that some officials were involved in the shootings. Governor Rhodes was linked to the Mafia. Nixon was corrupt and guilty of several crimes against Americans, as was John Mitchell and Nixon’s top aids (“the plumbers”). If the government did influence, organize, or have any involvement in the shootings, “the question becomes, how high up did the order go?” (Canfora). It may have been commissioned by Nixon, but Jerry M. Lewis said he had found no evidence of such a conspiracy.
But then there is the question, "Why would the government choose Kent State?" Canfora thinks they chose Kent State because it is a working-class school. No one who goes there comes from a rich family, and the government probably thought that targeting this school would really subdue the anti-war efforts.
But then there is the question, "Why would the government choose Kent State?" Canfora thinks they chose Kent State because it is a working-class school. No one who goes there comes from a rich family, and the government probably thought that targeting this school would really subdue the anti-war efforts.