Vanity of Vanities; All is Vanity

The folly of vanity: it seems that a major cause of Kennedy's death (other than Oswald's bullets) was the elaborate corset he wore to straighten his posture and allow him to project the image of a vigorous leader.

The first bullet, it seems, passed relatively harmlessly through Kennedy's neck; if that had been the only injury he suffered, doctors probably would have been able to treat him. But because of his corset, his body was unable to crumple into the car, as a normal body would, and so he remained upright for another few seconds, giving Oswald the time to fire the second shot that shattered his skull and killed him.

Fascinating stuff. (via the Corner)