Letter of Transmittal | Page vii |
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Foreword | Page ix |
The Commission and its powers | Page x |
The Investigation | Page xi |
Commission Hearings | Page xiii |
The Commission's Function | Page xiv |
The Commission's Report | Page xv |
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Contents | Page xvii |
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CHAPTER I - Summary and Conclusions | Page 1 |
NARRATIVE OF EVENTS | Page 1 |
CONCLUSIONS | Page 18 |
RECOMMENDATIONS | Page 25 |
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CHAPTER II - THE ASSASSINATION | Page 28 |
PLANNING THE TEXAS TRIP | Page 28 |
ADVANCE PREPARATIONS FOR THE DALLAS TRIP | Page 29 |
Preventive Intelligence Activities | Page 29 |
The Luncheon Site | Page 30 |
The Motorcade Route | Page 31 |
DALLAS BEFORE THE VISIT | Page 40 |
VISITS TO OTHER TEXAS CITIES | Page 42 |
ARRIVAL AT LOVE FIELD | Page 42 |
ORGANIZATION OF THE MOTORCADE | Page 43 |
THE DRIVE THROUGH DALLAS | Page 46 |
THE ASSASSINATION | Page 48 |
The Time | Page 48 |
Speed of the Limousine | Page 49 |
In the Presidential Limousine | Page 49 |
Reaction by Secret Service Agents | Page 50 |
PARKLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | Page 52 |
The Race to the Hospital | Page 52 |
Treatment of President Kennedy | Page 53 |
Treatment of Governor Connally | Page 56 |
Vice President Johnson at Parkland | Page 56 |
Secret Service Emergency Security Arrangements | Page 57 |
Removal of the President's Body | Page 58 |
THE END OF THE TRIP | Page 59 |
Swearing in of the New President | Page 59 |
Return to Washington, D.C. | Page 59 |
The Autopsy | Page 59 |
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CHAPTER III - The Shots From the Texas School Book Depository | Page 61 |
THE WITNESSES | Page 61 |
Near the Depository | Page 63 |
On the Fifth Floor | Page 68 |
At the Triple Underpass | Page 71 |
THE PRESIDENTIAL AUTOMOBILE | Page 76 |
EXPERT EXAMINATION OF RIFLE, CARTRIDGE CASES, AND BULLET FRAGMENTS | Page 79 |
Discovery of Cartridge Cases and Rifle | Page 79 |
Discovery of Bullet at Parkland Hospital | Page 79 |
Description of Rifle | Page 81 |
Expert Testimony | Page 84 |
THE BULLET WOUNDS | Page 85 |
The President's Head Wounds | Page 86 |
The President's Neck Wounds | Page 87 |
The Governor's Wounds | Page 92 |
THE TRAJECTORY | Page 96 |
Films and Tests | Page 96 |
The First Bullet That Hit | Page 97 |
The Subsequent Bullet That Hit | Page 109 |
NUMBER OF SHOTS | Page 110 |
THE SHOT THAT MISSED | Page 111 |
The First Shot | Page 111 |
The Second Shot | Page 115 |
The Third Shot | Page 115 |
TIME SPAN OF SHOTS | Page 117 |
CONCLUSION | Page 117 |
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CHAPTER IV - The Assassin | Page 118 |
OWNERSHIP AND POSSESSION OF ASSASSINATION WEAPON | Page 118 |
Purchase of Rifle by Oswald | Page 118 |
Oswald's Palmprint on Rifle Barrel | Page 122 |
Fibers on Rifle | Page 124 |
Photograph of Oswald With Rifle | Page 125 |
Rifle Among Oswald's Possessions | Page 128 |
Conclusion | Page 129 |
THE RIFLE IN THE BUILDING | Page 129 |
The Curtain Rod Story | Page 129 |
The Missing Rifle | Page 130 |
The Long and Bulky Package | Page 131 |
Location of Bag | Page 134 |
Scientific Evidence Linking Rifle and Oswald to Paper Bag | Page 135 |
Conclusion | Page 137 |
OSWALD AT WINDOW | Page 137 |
Palmprints and Fingerprints on Cartons and Paper Bag | Page 140 |
Oswald's Presence on Sixth Floor Approximately 35 Minutes Before the Assassination | Page 143 |
Eyewitness Identification of Assassin | Page 143 |
Oswald's Actions in Building After Assassination | Page 149 |
Conclusion | Page 156 |
THE KILLING OF PATROLMAN J. D. TIPPIT | Page 156 |
Oswald's Movements After Leaving Depository Building | Page 157 |
Description of Shooting | Page 165 |
Eyewitnesses | Page 166 |
Murder Weapon | Page 171 |
Ownership of Revolver | Page 172 |
Oswald's Jacket | Page 175 |
Conclusion | Page 176 |
OSWALD'S ARREST | Page 176 |
STATEMENTS OF OSWALD DURING DETENTION | Page 180 |
Denial of Rifle Ownership | Page 180 |
The Revolver | Page 181 |
The Aliases "Hidell" and "O. H. Lee" | Page 181 |
The Curtain Rod Story | Page 182 |
Actions During and After Shooting | Page 182 |
PRIOR ATTEMPT TO KILL | Page 183 |
The Attempt on the Life of Maj. Gen. Edwin A. Walker | Page 183 |
Richard M. Nixon Incident | Page 187 |
OSWALD'S RIFLE CAPABILITY | Page 189 |
The Nature of the Shots | Page 189 |
Oswald's Marine Training | Page 191 |
Oswald's Rifle Practice Outside the Marines | Page 192 |
Accuracy of Weapon | Page 193 |
Conclusion | Page 195 |
CONCLUSION | Page 195 |
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CHAPTER V - Detention and Death of Oswald | Page 196 |
TREATMENT OF OSWALD IN CUSTODY | Page 196 |
Chronology | Page 198 |
Interrogation Sessions | Page 199 |
Oswald's Legal Rights | Page 200 |
ACTIVITY OF NEWSMEN | Page 201 |
On the Third Floor | Page 201 |
Oswald and the Press | Page 206 |
THE ABORTIVE TRANSFER | Page 208 |
POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE TO JACK RUBY IN ENTERING THE BASEMENT | Page 216 |
ADEQUACY OF SECURITY PRECAUTIONS | Page 225 |
NEWS COVERAGE AND POLICE POLICY | Page 231 |
RESPONSIBILITY OF NEWS MEDIA | Page 240 |
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CHAPTER VI - Investigation of Possible Conspiracy | Page 243 |
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ASSASSINATION | Page 245 |
Selection of Motorcade Route | Page 245 |
Oswald's Presence in the Depository Building | Page 246 |
Bringing Rifle Into Building | Page 247 |
Accomplices at the Scene of the Assassination | Page 248 |
Oswald's Escape | Page 252 |
BACKGROUND OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD | Page 254 |
Residence in the Soviet Union | Page 254 |
Associations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Community | Page 280 |
Political Activities Upon Return to the United States | Page 287 |
Contacts With the Cuban and Soviet Embassies in Mexico City and the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.C. | Page 299 |
Investigation of Other Activities | Page 312 |
Oswald Was Not an Agent for the U.S. Government | Page 325 |
Oswald's Finances | Page 328 |
POSSIBLE CONSPIRACY INVOLVING JACK RUBY | Page 333 |
Ruby's Activities From November 21 to November 24, 1963 | Page 333 |
Ruby and Oswald Were Not Acquainted | Page 359 |
Ruby's Background and Associations | Page 365 |
CONCLUSION | Page 374 |
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CHAPTER VII - Lee Harvey Oswald: Background and Possible Motives | Page 375 |
The Early Years | Page 377 |
New York City | Page 378 |
Return to New Orleans and Joining the Marine Corps | Page 383 |
Interest in Marxism | Page 388 |
Defection to the Soviet Union | Page 390 |
Return to the United States | Page 394 |
Personal Relations | Page 400 |
Employment | Page 402 |
Attack on General Walker | Page 404 |
Political Activities | Page 406 |
Interest in Cuba | Page 412 |
Possible Influence of Anti-Kennedy Sentiment in Dallas | Page 415 |
Relationship With Wife | Page 416 |
The Unanswered Questions | Page 421 |
Conclusion | Page 423 |
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CHAPTER VIII - The Protection of the President | Page 425 |
THE NATURE OF THE PROTECTIVE ASSIGNMENT | Page 426 |
EVALUATION OF PRESIDENTIAL PROTECTION AT THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY | Page 428 |
Intelligence Functions Relating to Presidential Protection at the Time of the Dallas Trip | Page 429 |
Liaison With Other Government Agencies | Page 444 |
Other Protective Measures and Aspects of Secret Service Performance | Page 444 |
RECOMMENDATIONS | Page 454 |
Assassination a Federal Crime | Page 454 |
Committee of Cabinet Officers | Page 456 |
Responsibilities for Presidential Protection | Page 457 |
General Supervision of the Secret Service | Page 460 |
Preventive Intelligence | Page 461 |
Liaison With Local Law Enforcement Agencies | Page 465 |
Manpower and Technical Assistance From Other Agencies | Page 467 |
CONCLUSION | Page 468 |
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APPENDIX I | Page 471 |
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APPENDIX II | Page 472 |
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APPENDIX III | Page 473 |
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APPENDIX IV - Biographical Information and Acknowledgments | Page 475 |
MEMBERS OF COMMISSION | Page 475 |
GENERAL COUNSEL | Page 476 |
ASSISTANT COUNSEL | Page 476 |
STAFF MEMBERS | Page 479 |
Acknowledgments | Page 481 |
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APPENDIX V - List of Witnesses | Page 483 |
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APPENDIX VI - Commission Procedures for the Taking of Testimony | Page 501 |
RESOLUTION GOVERNING QUESTIONING OF WITNESSES BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION STAFF | Page 501 |
RESOLUTION | Page 502 |
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APPENDIX VII - A Brief History of Presidential Protection | Page 504 |
BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR | Page 504 |
LINCOLN | Page 505 |
THE NEED FOR PROTECTION FURTHER DEMONSTRATED | Page 507 |
DEVELOPMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL PROTECTION | Page 510 |
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APPENDIX VIII - Medical Reports From Doctors at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Tex. | Page 516 |
COMMISSION EXHIBIT NO. 392 | Page 516 |
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APPENDIX IX - Autopsy Report and Supplemental Report | Page 538 |
COMMISSION EXHIBIT No. 387 | Page 538 |
COMMISSION EXHIBIT NO. 391 | Page 544 |
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APPENDIX X - Expert Testimony | Page 547 |
FIREARMS AND FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION | Page 547 |
General Principles | Page 547 |
The Rifle | Page 553 |
Rifle Cartridge and Cartridge Cases | Page 555 |
The Rifle Bullets | Page 557 |
The Revolver | Page 558 |
Revolver Cartridges and Cartridge Cases | Page 559 |
Revolver Bullets | Page 559 |
The Struggle for the Revolver | Page 560 |
The Paraffin Test | Page 560 |
The Walker Bullet | Page 562 |
FINGERPRINTS AND PALMPRINTS | Page 563 |
General Principles | Page 563 |
Objects in the Texas School Book Depository Building | Page 565 |
QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS | Page 566 |
The Mail Order for the C2766 Rifle, the Related Envelope, and the Money Order | Page 569 |
Mail Order for the V510210 Revolver | Page 570 |
Post Office Box Applications and Change-of-Address Card | Page 570 |
The Spurious Selective Service System Notice of Classification and U.S. Marine Corps Certificate of Service | Page 571 |
The Hidell Notice of Classification | Page 571 |
The Hidell Certificate of Service | Page 576 |
The Vaccination Certificate | Page 577 |
The Fair Play for Cuba Committee Card | Page 578 |
The Unsigned Russian-Language Note | Page 578 |
The Homemade Wrapping Paper Bag | Page 579 |
WOUND BALLISTICS EXPERIMENTS | Page 580 |
Purpose of the Tests | Page 580 |
The Testers and Their Qualifications | Page 580 |
General Testing Conditions | Page 581 |
Tests on Penetration Power and Bullet Stability | Page 581 |
Tests Simulating President Kennedy's Neck Wound | Page 582 |
Tests Simulating Governor Connally's Chest Wounds | Page 582 |
Tests Simulating Governor Connally's Wrist Wounds | Page 583 |
Conclusions From Simulating the Neck, Chest, and Wrist Wounds | Page 584 |
Tests Simulating President Kennedy's Head Wounds | Page 585 |
HAIRS AND FIBERS | Page 586 |
General Principles | Page 588 |
PHOTOGRAPHS | Page 592 |
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APPENDIX XI - Reports Relating to the Interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald at the Dallas Police Department | Page 598 |
REPORT OF CAPT. J. W. FRITZ, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT | Page 599 |
REPORTS OF AGENTS OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION | Page 612 |
REPORTS OF INSPECTOR THOMAS J. KELLEY, U.S. SECRET SERVICE | Page 626 |
REPORT OF U.S. POSTAL INSPECTOR H. D. HOLMES | Page 633 |
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APPENDIX XII - Speculations and Rumors | Page 637 |
THE SOURCE OF THE SHOTS | Page 639 |
THE ASSASSIN | Page 642 |
OSWALD'S MOVEMENTS BETWEEN 12:33 AND 1:15 P.M. | Page 648 |
MURDER OF TIPPIT | Page 650 |
OSWALD AFTER HIS ARREST | Page 654 |
OSWALD IN THE SOVIET UNION | Page 655 |
OSWALD'S TRIP TO MEXICO CITY | Page 658 |
OSWALD AND U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES | Page 659 |
CONSPIRATORIAL RELATIONSHIPS | Page 661 |
OTHER RUMORS AND SPECULATIONS | Page 664 |
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APPENDIX XIII - Biography of Lee Harvey Oswald | Page 669 |
EARLY YEARS | Page 669 |
MARINES | Page 681 |
SOVIET UNION | Page 689 |
FORT WORTH, DALLAS, NEW ORLEANS | Page 713 |
MEXICO CITY | Page 730 |
DALLAS | Page 737 |
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APPENDIX XIV - Analysis of Lee Harvey Oswald's Finances From June 13, 1962, Through November 22, 1963 | Page 741 |
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APPENDIX XV - Transactions Between Lee Harvey Oswald and Marina Oswald, and the U.S. Department of State and the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the U.S. Department of Justice | Page 746 |
ISSUANCE OF PASSPORT IN 1959 | Page 746 |
OSWALD'S ATTEMPTS TO RENOUNCE HIS U.S. CITIZENSHIP | Page 747 |
RETURN AND RENEWAL OF OSWALD'S 1959 PASSPORT | Page 752 |
Negotiations Between Oswald and the Embassy | Page 752 |
Legal Justification for the Return and Reissue of Oswald's Passport | Page 759 |
AUTHORIZATION FOR MARINA OSWALD TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES | Page 761 |
Negotiations Between Oswald and the Embassy | Page 761 |
Legal Justification for the Decisions Affecting Marina Oswald | Page 766 |
OSWALD'S LETTER TO SENATOR TOWER | Page 769 |
THE LOAN FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT | Page 770 |
OSWALD'S RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES AND REPAYMENT OF HIS LOAN | Page 773 |
ISSUANCE OF A PASSPORT IN JUNE 1963 | Page 773 |
VISIT TO THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN MEXICO CITY | Page 777 |
CONCLUSION | Page 777 |
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APPENDIX XVI - A Biography of Jack Ruby | Page 779 |
FAMILY BACKGROUND | Page 779 |
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH (1911-33) | Page 780 |
Psychiatric Report | Page 781 |
Placement in Foster Homes | Page 782 |
Subsequent Home Life | Page 783 |
Education | Page 784 |
Activities | Page 784 |
Temperament | Page 785 |
YOUNG MANHOOD (1933-43) | Page 786 |
San Francisco (1933-37) | Page 786 |
Occupations and Activities | Page 786 |
Chicago (1937-43) | Page 787 |
MILITARY ACTIVITIES (1943-46) | Page 790 |
POSTWAR CHICAGO (1946-47) | Page 791 |
DALLAS (1947-63) | Page 793 |
The Move to Dallas | Page 793 |
The Change of Name | Page 793 |
Nightclub Operations | Page 794 |
Employee Relationships | Page 796 |
Financial Data and Tax Problems | Page 797 |
Other Business Ventures | Page 799 |
Arrests and Violations | Page 800 |
Police Associations | Page 800 |
Underworld Ties | Page 801 |
Travels | Page 801 |
CHARACTER AND INTERESTS | Page 802 |
Family Relationships | Page 802 |
Social Relationships | Page 803 |
Affection for Dogs | Page 804 |
Religious Interests | Page 804 |
Physical Activities and Violence | Page 804 |
Generosity to Friends and the Need for Recognition | Page 806 |
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APPENDIX XVII - Polygraph Examination of Jack Ruby | Page 807 |
PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS | Page 807 |
ADMINISTRATION OF THE TEST | Page 809 |
INTERPRETATION OF THE TEST | Page 813 |
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APPENDIX XVIII - NOTES TO PAGES IX-39 | Page 817 |
Footnotes | Page 817 |
Index | Page 880 |