| Letter of Transmittal | Page vii |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| CHAPTER I - Summary and Conclusions | Page 1 |
| NARRATIVE OF EVENTS | Page 1 |
| CONCLUSIONS | Page 18 |
| RECOMMENDATIONS | Page 25 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| APPENDIX V - List of Witnesses | Page 483 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| APPENDIX VIII - Medical Reports From Doctors at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Tex. | Page 516 |
| COMMISSION EXHIBIT NO. 392 | Page 516 |
| |
| APPENDIX IX - Autopsy Report and Supplemental Report | Page 538 |
| COMMISSION EXHIBIT No. 387 | Page 538 |
| COMMISSION EXHIBIT NO. 391 | Page 544 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| APPENDIX XVIII - NOTES TO PAGES IX-39 | Page 817 |
| Footnotes | Page 817 |
| Index | Page 880 |
