The Warren Commission and the Assassination of President Kennedy
The Warren Commission, officially known as the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, was established in 1963 to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The commission was headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren and consisted of seven members, including two attorneys general, a biologist, a psychiatrist, and two journalists.
Background and Preparations
The Warren Commission was formed after President Kennedy’s death on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. The commission was tasked with determining who was responsible for the assassination. The commission’s preparations began immediately, with the Justice Department and other government agencies working to gather evidence and interview witnesses.
The Assassination of President Kennedy
On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was riding in an open-top car in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. At around 1:00 PM Central Standard Time, the car sped up to the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building, where shots were fired from the sixth floor. Golf club: One of the shots fired came from the sixth floor of the building, and Lee Harvey Oswald was seen firing a shot from the sixth floor. The second shot came from the rear of the car, and Lee Harvey Oswald took cover and continued driving the car. The third and fourth shots came from the grassy knoll, and Lee Harvey Oswald was again seen firing shots from the sixth floor.
The Aftermath
The shooting killed President Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally, who was riding in the car with Kennedy. Dr. Malcolm Wyatt, a physician and member of the commission, was on the telephone when the shooting occurred. Dr. John McCloy, a physicist and member of the commission, was on the telephone and told the president, "The President is dead, and Dr. Lee Harvey Oswald is shot." The commission immediately adjourned and began its investigation.
The Warren Commission’s Investigation
The Warren Commission investigated the assassination through a series of hearings and interviews. The commission gathered evidence, including ballistic analysis, hair samples, and eyewitness testimony. The commission also interviewed numerous witnesses, including Lee Harvey Oswald, Lee Harvey Oswald’s mother, and Deana Laurentino, the widow of Lee Harvey Oswald’s first wife.
Findings of the Warren Commission
The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President Kennedy. The commission’s findings were based on the majority of the evidence and testimony, but some investigators and witnesses disputed the commission’s conclusions.
Ballistic Analysis
The Warren Commission concluded that the shots fired from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building hit the President and Governor Connally. The commission also concluded that the shots were fired from the rear of the car, which suggests that Lee Harvey Oswald was involved.
Eyewitness Testimony
The Warren Commission concluded that Jesse Garfinkel, a witness who was standing next to Lee Harvey Oswald during the shooting, did not see Oswald fire shots from the sixth floor. The commission also concluded that Earl Warren’s daughter, Jane Warren, was present in the area and could have witnessed the shooting. However, the commission’s conclusions about the witness’s testimony were disputed.
The Assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald
The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was responsible for the assassination of President Kennedy. The commission concluded that Oswald fired the shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building, and that he was shot by Willie Santos, a 26-year-old former Marine who was a former employee of the building.
Summary of the Warren Commission’s Findings
- Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President Kennedy.
- Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building.
- Willie Santos shot Oswald from the rear of the car.
- The assassination was a single shooting event, and there was no conspiracy to kill President Kennedy.
The Impact of the Warren Commission’s Findings
The Warren Commission’s findings were widely criticized by many in the Kennedy administration and the American public. The commission’s conclusion that Oswald acted alone sparked widespread protests and riots, and it remains one of the most contentious topics in American history.
Conclusion
The Warren Commission’s investigation into the assassination of President Kennedy was marked by controversy and criticism. While the commission’s findings were widely accepted, many questions about the events of November 22, 1963, remain unanswered. The Warren Commission’s conclusions have been disputed by many, and the assassination of President Kennedy remains one of the most enduring mysteries in American history.
Timeline of Events
- November 22, 1963: President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
- November 24, 1963: The Warren Commission begins its investigation into the assassination.
- December 7, 1963: The Warren Commission releases its first report, concluding that Oswald acted alone in the assassination.
- May 1979: The Warren Commission releases its final report, which concludes that Oswald acted alone in the assassination.
Key Figures
- John F. Kennedy: The 35th President of the United States.
- Lee Harvey Oswald: The assassin of President Kennedy.
- Willie Santos: The person who shot Lee Harvey Oswald from the rear of the car.
- Earl Warren: The Chief Justice of the United States and the head of the Warren Commission.
- Jesse Garfinkel: A witness who was present in the area where the shots were fired.
- Dr. John McCloy: A physicist and member of the Warren Commission.
Key Terms
- Assassination: The act of killing a person.
- Conspiracy: A secret agreement between two or more people to kill a person.
- Lead bullet: A bullet that is believed to have been fired from the barrel of the gun.
- Ballistic analysis: The study of the trajectory of a bullet in flight.
- Eyewitness testimony: The testimony of people who were present at the time of the assassination.
Sources
- Warren Commission. (1964). President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy.
- Kiehl, L. (2013). Assassination of JFK: The Official Government Report.
- Kiehl, L. (2017). The Warren Commission and the Assassination of President Kennedy.
- National Archives. (n.d.). The Warren Commission Report.