Contents

Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .......................... vii
FOREWORD. ......................................... ix
CHAPTEIi I. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ........... 1
Narrative of Events. ................................ 1
Conclusions ......................................... 18
Recommendations ................................... 25
CHAPTER II. THE ASSASSINATION. ................... 28
Planning the Texas Trip. ............................ 28
Advance Preparations for the Dallas Trip. ............. 29
Preventive Intelligence Activities. ................. 29
The Luncheon Site. ............................. 30
The Motorcade Route. .......................... 31
Dallas Before the Visit ............................... 40
Visits to Other Texas Cities. ......................... 42
Arrival at Love Field. ............................... 42
Organization of the Motorcade .... : ................... 43
The Drive Through Dallas. .......................... 46
The Assassination. .................................. 48
TheTime ...................................... 48
Speed of the Limousine. ......................... 49
In the Presidential Limousine ..................... 49
Reaction by Secret Service Agents ................. 50
Parkland Memorial Hospital. ......................... 52
The Race to the Hospital. ....................... 52
Treatment of President Kennedy. ................. 53
Treatment of Governor Connally. ................. 56
Vice President Johnson at Parkland. .............. 56
Secret Service Emergency Security Arrangements. .. 57
Removal of the President’s Body. ................. 58
TheEndof the Trip.. ............................... 59
Swearing in of the New President. ................ 59
Return to Washington, D.C ...................... 59
The Autopsy. .................................. 59
CHAPTER III. THE SHOTS FROM THE TEXAS SCHOOL
BOOK DEPOSITORY. ............................... 61
The Witnesses ...................................... 61
NeartheDepository ............................. 63
On theFifthFloor .............................. 68
At the Triple Underpass. ........................ 71
The Presidential Automobile. ......................... 76

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CHAPTER III. THE SHOTS FROM THE TEXAS SCHOOL
BOOK DEPOSITORY-Continued Page
Expert Examination of Rifle, Cartridge Cases, and Bullet
Fragments................................’. ....... 79
Discovery of Cartridge Cases and Rifle. ............ 79
Discovery of Bullet at Parkland Hospital ........... 79
Description of Rifle. ............................. 81
Expert Testimony. .............................. 84
The Bullet Wounds .................................. 85
The President’s Head Wounds. ................... 86
The President’s Neck Wounds. ................... 87
The Governor’s Wounds. ........................ 92
The Trajectory. .................................... 96
Films and Tests. ................................ 96
The First Bullet That Hit. ....................... 97
The Subsequent Bullet That Hit. ................. 109
NumberofShots .................................... 110
The Shot That Missed. .............................. 111
The First Shot. ................................. 111
TheSecondShot ................................ 115
TheThirdShot ................................. 115
Time Span of Shots. ................................. 117
Conclusion. ........................................ 117
CHAPTER IV. THE ASSASSIN. .......................... 118
Ownership and Possessionof Assassination Weapon. ..... 118
Purchase of Rifle by Oswald. ..................... 118
Oswald’s Palmprint on Rifle Barrel. ............... 122
FibersonRifle .................................. 124
Photograph of Oswald With Rifle. ................ 125
Rifle Among Oswald’s Possessions................. 128
Conclusion. .................................... 129
The Rifle in the Building. ............................ 129
The Curtain Rod Story. ......................... 129
The Missing Rifle. .............................. 130
The Long and Bulky Package. .................... 131
Location of Bag. ................................ 134
Scientific Evidence Linking Rifle and Oswald to
PaperBag...: ................................ 135
Conclusion ..................................... 137
Oswald at Window, ................................. 137
Palmprints and Fingerprints on Cartons and Paper
Bag ......................................... 140
Oswald’s Presence on Sixth Floor Approximately
35 Minut,es Before the Assassination. ............ 143
Eyewitness Identification of Assassin. ............. 143
Oswald’s Actions in Building After Assassination. ... 149
Conclusion. .................................... 156
...
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CHAPTBR IV. THE ASSASSIN-Continued Page
The Killing of Patrolman J. D. Tippit. ................ 156
Oswald’s Movements After Leaving Depository
Building ..................................... 157
Description of Shooting. ......................... 165
Eyewitnesses. .................................. 166
MurderWeapon ................................ 171
Ownership of Revolver. .......................... 172
Oswald’s Jacket. ................................ 175
Conclusion ..................................... 176
Oswald’s Arrest. .................................... 176
Statements of Oswald During Detention. .............. 180
Denial of Rifle Ownership: ....................... 180
TheRevolver ................................... 181
The Aliases “Hidell” and “0. H. Lee”. ............ 181
The Curtain Rod Story. ......................... 182
Actions During and After Shooting. ............... 182
PriorAttemptToKill.. ...................... . ...... 183
The Attempt on the Life of Maj. Gen. Edwin A.
Walker ....................................... 183
Richard M. Nixon Incident. ...................... 187
Oswald’s Rifle Capability. ............................ 189
The Nature of the Shots. ........................ 189
Oswald’s Marine Training. ....................... 191
Oswald’s Rifle Practice Outside the Marines. ....... 192
Accuracy of Weapon ............................. 193
Conclusion. .................................... 195
Conclusion ..-....................................... 195
CHAPTER V. DETENTION AND DEATH OF OSWALD. .. 196
Treatment of Oswald in Custody. ....... : ............. 196
Chronology ..................................... 198
Interrogation Sessions. ........................... 199
Oswald’s Legal Rights. .......................... 200
Activity of Newsmen. ............................... 201
On the Third Floor. ............................. 201
Oswald ‘and the Press. ........................... 206
The Abortive Transfer. .............................. 208
Possible Assistance to Jack Ruby in Entering the Base-
ment ............................................ 216
Adequacy of Security Precautions. .................... 225
News Coverage and Police Policy. .................... 231
Responsibility of News Media. ....................... 240
CHAPTER VI. INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE CON-
SPIRACY ............................................ 243
Circumstances Surrounding the Assassination. .......... $245
Selection of Motorcade Route. .................... 245
Oswald’s Presence in the Depository Building ....... 246
Bringii Rifle Into Building. ..................... 247

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CHAPTER VI. INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE CON-
SPIRACY-Continued
Circumstances Surrounding the Assassination-Con. Page
Accomplices at the Scene of the Assassination. ...... 248
Oswald’s Escape. ............................... 252
Background of Lee Harvey Oswald. ................... 254
Residence in the Soviet Union. ................... 254
Associations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Community. . 280
Political Activities Upon Return to the United States. 287
Contacts With the Cuban and Soviet Embassies in
Mexico City and the Soviet Embassy in Washington,
D.C ......................................... 299
Investigation of Other Activities. ................. 312
Oswald Was Not an Agent for the U.S. Government. 325
Oswald’s Finances. .............................. 328
Possible Conspiracy Involving Jack Ruby. ............. 333
Ruby’s Activities From November 21 to November
24,1963 ...................................... 333
Ruby and Oswald Were Not Acquainted. .......... 359
Ruby’s Background and Associations. ............. 365
Conclusion ......................................... 374
CHAPTER VII. LEE HARVEY OSWALD: BACKGROUND
AND POSSIBLE MOTIVES. ......................... 375
The Early Years. ................................... 377
New YorkCity ..................................... 378
Return to New Orleans and Joining the Marine Corps. .. 383
Interest in Marxism. ................................ 388
Defection to the Soviet Union. ....................... 390
Return to the United States. ......................... 394
Personal Relations. .................................. 400
Employment ........................................ 402
Attack on General Walker ............................ 404
Political Activities. .................................. 406
Interest in Cuba. .. , ........ ;. ...................... 412
Possible Influence of Anti-Kennedy Sentiment in Dallas. . 415
Relationship With Wife. ............................. 416
The Unanswered Questions. .......................... 421
Conclusion ......................................... 423
CHAPTER VIII. THE PROTECTION OF THE PRESIDENT. 425
The Nature of the Protective Assignment. ............. 426
Evaluation of Presidential Protection at the Time of the
Assassination of President Kennedy. ............... 428
Intelligence Functions Relating to Presidential Pro-
tection at the Time of the Dallas Trip. ......... 429
Liaison With Other Government Agencies. ......... 444
Other Protective Measures and Aspects of Secret
Service Performance. .......................... 444

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CH&‘TER VIII. THE PROTECTION OF THE PRESI-
DENT-Continued Page
Recommendations ................................... 454
Assassination a Federal Criie. ................... 454
Committee of Cabinet Officers. ................... 456
Responsibilities for Presidential Protection. ........ 457
General Supervision of the Secret Service. .......... 460
Preventive Intelligence. .......................... 461
Liaison With Local Law Enforcement Agencies. .... 465
Inspection of Buildings. .......................... 466
Secret Service Personnel and Facilities. ............ 466
Manpower and Technical Assistance From Other
Ag encies ..................................... 467
Conclusion ......................................... 468

APPENDIX I. EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 11130. ......... 471

APPENDIX II. WHITE HOUSE RELEASE. ............... 472

APPENDIX III. SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 137. ..... 473

APPENDIX IV. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION AND

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. ............................. 475
Members of Co mmission ............................. 475
Gene&Counsel ..................................... 476
Assistant Counsel .................................... 476
Staff Members ...................................... 477
Acknowledgments. ............................. 481

APPENDIX V. LIST OF WITNESSES. .................... 483

APPENDIX VI. COMMISSION PROCEDURES FOR THE

TAKING OF TESTIMONY. .......................... 501
Resolution Governing Questioning of Witnesses by Mem-
bers of the Commission Staff. ...................... 501
APPENDIX VII. A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRESIDENTIAL
PROTECTION ....................................... 504
Before the Civil War. ............................... 504
Lincoln ............................................ 505
The Need for Protection Further Demonstrated ......... 507
Development of Presidential Protection. ............... 510
APPENDIX VIII. MEDICAL REPORTS FROM DOCTORS
AT PARKLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, DALLAS,
TEX ................................................. 516
APPENDIX IX. AUTOPSY REPORT AND SUPPLE-
MENTAL REPORT. ................................ 538
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 Page
APPENDIX X. EXPERT TESTIMONY. .................. 547
Firearms and Firearms Identification. ................. 547
General Principles. .............................. 547
TheRifle ....................................... 553
Rifle Cartridge and Cartridge Cases. .............. 555
The Rifle Bullets. ............................... 557
TheRevolver ................................... 558
Revolver Cartridges and Cartridge Cases. .......... 559
Revolver Bullets. ............................... 559
The Struggle for the Revolver. ................... 560
The Paraffin Test. .............................. 560
The Walker Bullet. ............................. 562
Fingerprints and Palmprints. ......................... 563
General Principles. .............................. 563
Objects in the Texas School Book Depository Build-
ing .......................................... 556
Questioned Documents. ............................. 566
The Mail Order for the C2766 Rifle, the Related En-
velope, and the Money Order. .................. 569
Mail Order for the V510210 Revolver .............. 570
Post Office Box Applications and Change-of-Address
Card ......................................... 570
The Spurious Selective Service System Notice of
Classification and U.S. Marine Corps Certificate
of Service. ................................... 571
The Hidell Notice of Classification. ............... 571
The Hidell Certificate of Service. ................. 576
The Vaccination Certificate. ...................... 577
The Fair Play for Cuba Committee Card ........... 578
The Unsigned Russian-Language Note. ............ 578
The Homemade Wrapping Paper Bag .............. 579
Wound Ballistics Experiments. ........................ 580
Purpose of the Tests ............................. 580
The Testers and Their Qualifications. .............. 580
General Testing Conditions. ...................... 581
Tests on Penetration Power and Bullet Stability. ... 581
Tests Simulating President Kennedy’s Neck Wound. 582
Tests Simulating Governor Connally’s Chest Wounds. 582
Tests Simulating Governor Connally’s Wrist Wounds. 583
Conclusions From Simulating the Neck, Chest, and
Wrist Wounds ................................ 584
Tests Simulating President Kennedy’s Head Wounds. 585
Hairs andFibers .................................... 586
General Principles. .............................. 588
Photographs ........................................ 592

APPENDIX XI. REPORTS RELATING TO THE INTER-

ROGATION OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD AT THE
DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. ................. 598

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 Page
APPENDIX XII. SPECULATIONS AND RUMORS. ....... 637
The Source of the Shots. ............................. 639
The Assassin ........................................ 642
Oswald’s Movements Between 12:33 and 1:15 p.m ....... 648
Murder of Tippit. ................................... 650
Oswald After His Arrest. ............................. 654
Oswald in the Soviet Union. .......................... 655
Oswald’s Trip to Mexico City. ........................ 658
Oswald and U.S. Government Agencies. ............... 659
Conspiratorial Relationships. ......................... 661
Other Rumors and Speculations. ...................... 664
APPENDIX XIII. BIOGRAPHY OF LEE HARVEY
OSWALD ............................................ 669
Early Years. ....................................... 669
Marines ............................................ 681
Soviet Union ........................................ 689
Fort Worth, Dallas, New Orleans ..................... 713
MexicoCity ........................................ 730
Dsllas .............................................. 737
APPENDIX XIV. ANALYSIS OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD’S
FINANCES FROM JUNE 13, 1962, THROUGH NO-
VEMBER 22, 1963 ................................... 741
APPENDIX XV. TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN LEE HAR-
VEY OSWALD AND MARINA OSWALD, AND THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THE IMMIGRA-
TION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE OF THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ................... 746
Issuance of Passport in 1959 .......................... 746
Oswald’s Attempts To Renounce His U.S. Citizenship. ... 747
Return and Renewal of Oswald’s 1959 Passport. ........ 752
Negotiations Between Oswald and the Embassy. .... 752
Legal Justification for the Return and Reissue of
Oswald’s Passport. ............................ 759
Authorization for Marina Oswald To Enter the United
states. ........................................... 761
Negotiations Between Oswald and the Embassy. .... 761
Legal Justification for the Decisions Affecting Marina
Oswald. ...................................... 766 ’
Oswald’s Letter to Senator Tower. .................... 769
The Loan From the State Department. ................ 770
Oswald’s Return to the United States and Repayment of
HisLoan ......................................... 773
Issuance of a Passport in June 1963. .................. 773
Visit to the Russian Embassy in Mexico City. .......... 777
Conclusion ......................................... 777
.. .
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APPENDIX XVI. A BIOGRAPHY OF JACK RUBY. ...... 779
Family Background. ................................ 779
Childhood and Youth (1911-33). ...................... 780
Psychiatric Report. ............................. 781
Placement in Foster Homes. ..................... 782
Subsequent Home Life. .......................... 783
Education ...................................... 784
Activities. ...................................... 784
Temperament ................................... 785
Young Manhood (1933-43). .......................... 786
San Francisco (1933-37) ......................... 786
Occupations and Activities. ...................... 786
Chicago (193743) ............................... 787
Military Activities (1943-46) ......................... 790
Postwar Chicago (1946-47). .......................... 791
Dallas (1947-63) .................................... 792
TheMovetoDallas ............................. 792
The Change of Name. ........................... 793
Nightclub Operations. ........................... 794
Employee Relationships. ......................... 796
Financial Data and Tax Problems. ................ 797
Other Business Ventures. ........................ 799
Arrests and Violations. .......................... 800
Police Associations. ............................. 800
UnderworldTies ................................ 801
Travels ........................................ 801
Character and Interests. ............................. 802
Family Relationships. ........................... 802
Social Relationships. ............................ 803
Affection for Dogs ............................... 804
Religious Interests. .............................. 804
Physical Activities. and Violence. .................. 804
Generosity to Friends and the Need for Recognition. 806
APPENDIX XVII. POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION OF JACK
RUBY. .............................................. 807
Preliminary Arrangements. ........................... 807
Administration of the Test. .......................... 809
Interpretation of the Test. ........................... 813
APPENDIX XVIII. FOOTNOTES. ........................ 817
INDEX ............................................... 880

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