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Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy Flashcards

United States. Warren Commission · Public domain edition · 409 cards · 118 chapters

The Warren Commission's report argues that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President Kennedy and that no conspiracy was established. This deck covers the Commission's mandate, its investigative methods, witness testimony, and evidence from the Texas School Book Depository.

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Chapter 1 · Question

Why did President Johnson create the Commission by Executive Order 11130?

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Section 14 cards

Why did President Johnson create the Commission by Executive Order 11130?
The order, dated November 29, 1963, directed the Commission to evaluate all facts and circumstances surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent killing of the alleged assassin, and to report its findings and conclusions to the President. The foreword says Johnson sought to avoid parallel investigations and concentrate factfinding in a body with the broadest national mandate.
Chapter 1
What did Congress's Senate Joint Resolution 137 empower the Commission to do?
Enacted December 13, 1963, as Public Law 88-202, it empowered the Commission to issue subpoenas requiring witness testimony and production of evidence on any matter under investigation. It also authorized compelling testimony from witnesses claiming fifth amendment self-incrimination privilege by granting immunity — though the Commission granted immunity to no witness.
Chapter 1
Why could the full story not be established through a normal trial?
After Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald in the Dallas Police Department basement on November 24, 1963, less than 48 hours after Oswald's arrest, it was no longer possible to arrive at the complete story through normal judicial procedures during a trial of the alleged assassin. Alternative means were widely discussed, including a Texas court of inquiry and a Dallas County grand jury.
Chapter 1
How did the Commission treat the reports and conclusions of Federal and State agencies?
The Commission concluded the public interest in ascertaining truth could not be met by merely accepting agency reports or analyses. It critically reassessed the premises and conclusions of those reports and investigated all assertions or rumors relating to a possible conspiracy or complicity of others than Oswald that came to its attention.
Chapter 1

Section 23 cards

Where does the Commission commit its reports and working papers for permanent preservation?
The Commission states it is committing all of its reports and working papers to the National Archives, where they can be permanently preserved under the rules and regulations of the National Archives and applicable Federal law. It also submits the complete testimony of all witnesses who appeared before it or gave sworn depositions or affidavits, along with documentary exhibits and other investigative materials relied upon in the report.
Chapter 2
What does Chapter II's table of contents list as the first subsection under 'The Assassination'?
Chapter II, 'The Assassination,' begins with 'Planning the Texas Trip,' followed by 'Advance Preparations for the Dallas Trip,' which includes Preventive Intelligence Activities, The Luncheon Site, and The Motorcade Route. Later subsections cover Dallas Before the Visit, Visits to Other Texas Cities, Arrival at Love Field, Organization of the Motorcade, The Drive Through Dallas, and then The Assassination itself, with subsections on The Time, Speed of the Limousine, In the Presidential Limousine, and Reaction by Secret Service Agents.
Chapter 2
Which chapter covers the protection of the President and what recommendations does it include?
Chapter VIII, 'The Protection of the President,' examines the nature of the protective assignment and evaluates presidential protection at the time of the assassination, including intelligence functions relating to the Dallas trip, liaison with other Government agencies, and other protective measures and aspects of Secret Service performance. Its recommendations include making assassination a Federal crime, a Committee of Cabinet Officers, responsibilities for presidential protection, general supervision of the Secret Service, preventive intelligence, liaison with local law enforcement agencies, inspection of buildings, Secret Service personnel and facilities, and manpower and technical assistance from other agencies.
Chapter 2

Section 34 cards

What did Howard Brennan report seeing from his spot on Elm Street?
Brennan, watching the parade from Elm Street directly opposite the Depository, promptly told a policeman he had seen a slender man about 5 feet 10 inches, in his early thirties, take deliberate aim from the sixth-floor corner window and fire a rifle toward the President's car. He thought he might identify the man, having noticed him in the window minutes before the motorcade turned onto Elm Street.
Chapter 3
What did Patrolman Baker see and do immediately after hearing the shot?
Baker, a motorcycle patrolman several cars behind the President, was certain the shot came from a high-powered rifle. He saw pigeons scatter from perches on the Depository, raced to the building, and with superintendent Roy Truly ran toward the rear elevators. Finding both on an upper floor, they dashed up the stairs—not more than 2 minutes after the shooting.
Chapter 3
What happened when Baker and Truly reached the second-floor lunchroom?
Baker glimpsed someone through the door's glass window, rushed in with gun drawn, and saw a man about 20 feet away walking toward the other end of the lunchroom, empty-handed. At Baker's command the man turned and approached. Truly said the man worked in the building, so Baker proceeded upstairs. The man was Lee Harvey Oswald, who had started work there on October 16, 1963.
Chapter 3
What evidence did Deputy Sheriff Mooney find in the southeast corner of the sixth floor?
Mooney noticed a pile of cartons, squeezed through, and realized he had found the point from which the shots were fired. On the floor were three empty cartridge cases. A carton placed at the window side let a person sit and look down Elm Street, and three cartons between it and the half-open window were angled so a rifle resting on top would aim at the motorcade. A high stack of boxes screened the window from view.
Chapter 3

Section 44 cards

What rifle scores did Oswald record in the Marines, and how did they compare to minimums?
Oswald fired 212 with the M-1 rifle on December 21, 1956, during boot camp in San Diego—2 points over the minimum for "sharpshooter." On May 6, 1959, on a shorter course, he scored 191, only 1 point over the minimum required to be a "marksman." A fellow marine said Oswald was not particularly interested in his rifle performance.
Chapter 4
How did Oswald's attempt to renounce U.S. citizenship and gain Soviet citizenship turn out?
On October 31, 1959, Oswald told the American Embassy he wished to renounce U.S. citizenship and become a Russian citizen, saying "I am a Marxist." He never formally completed the legal steps to renounce American citizenship. The Soviet Government denied his citizenship request but let him stay year-to-year, sending him to Minsk to work as an unskilled laborer in a radio factory.
Chapter 4
What did Oswald do in New Orleans regarding the Fair Play for Cuba Committee?
Oswald formed a fictitious New Orleans chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, posing as secretary and naming A. J. Hidell as president—Hidell was a fictitious person Oswald created, and Oswald was the organization's only member. He was arrested August 9 in a scuffle while distributing pro-Castro leaflets, then gave an FBI agent false background information.
Chapter 4
What did Oswald do after losing his job in New Orleans in September 1963?
Oswald remained behind while Ruth Paine moved Marina and the child to Irving, ostensibly to find work in Houston or elsewhere. Instead he took a bus to Mexico City, arriving September 27, and visited the Cuban and Russian Embassies seeking permission to visit Cuba en route to the Soviet Union. Cuba required a Soviet visa first; both efforts failed, and he left for Dallas, arriving October 3, 1963.
Chapter 4

Section 52 cards

What did the Commission conclude about whether Oswald or Ruby was part of a conspiracy?
The Commission found no evidence that either Lee Harvey Oswald or Jack Ruby was part of any conspiracy, domestic or foreign, to assassinate President Kennedy. It investigated the motorcade route, Oswald's hiring, his associations and finances, foreign contacts, and alleged ties to government agencies, finding nothing to support them. It also found no relationship between Oswald and Ruby. Because proving negatives is difficult, it conceded the possibility of others involved could not be categorically excluded.
Chapter 5
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's interrogation and detention by Dallas police?
The Commission found Oswald was not physically coerced beyond the force needed for arrest, was advised of his right against self-incrimination, that statements might be used against him, and of his right to counsel, which he rejected when offered by the Dallas Bar Association. However, it found reporters had uninhibited access to areas Oswald passed through, subjecting him to harassment and chaotic conditions, and that erroneous statements to the press by officials would have created serious obstacles to a fair trial.
Chapter 5

Section 64 cards

What did the Commission recommend regarding Secret Service protective responsibilities being moved to another agency?
The Commission declined to decide the question itself, stating that any determination on relocating the Secret Service's Presidential protective responsibilities and functions should be made by the Executive and the Congress, possibly based on studies by a previously suggested committee. It did not endorse a transfer, leaving the decision to those branches.
Chapter 6
What did the Commission recommend to improve supervision of the Secret Service within the Treasury Department?
The Commission recommended that the Secretary of the Treasury appoint a special assistant to supervise the Secret Service. This assistant should have sufficient stature and experience in law enforcement, intelligence, and allied fields to provide effective continuing supervision and keep the Secretary fully informed. An initial assignment should be supervising the Service's effort to revise and modernize its operating procedures.
Chapter 6
What did the Commission recommend for detecting potential threats against the President?
The Commission recommended the Secret Service completely overhaul its advance-detection facilities: develop more precise criteria for threats other agencies should report, including prompt notice of all returned defectors; expedite use of efficient data-processing techniques; and, once new criteria are formulated, enter agreements with each Federal agency to ensure receipt of such information.
Chapter 6
What legislation did the Commission recommend to Congress regarding Presidential assassination?
The Commission recommended that Congress adopt legislation making the assassination of the President and Vice President a Federal crime. It called the situation anomalous in which U.S. authorities have no clearly defined jurisdiction to investigate the assassination of a President.
Chapter 6

Section 74 cards

What did the Secret Service normally do about inspecting buildings along a motorcade route?
The Secret Service did not normally request or make checks of buildings along a motorcade route, so no arrangements were made for police or building custodians to inspect buildings in Dallas. Under standard procedures, responsibility for watching building windows was shared by local police stationed along the route and Secret Service agents riding in the motorcade.
Chapter 7
How did Dallas newspapers describe the motorcade route before the visit?
The Dallas Times-Herald reported the Trade Mart site on November 15, and on November 19 detailed the precise route: Mockingbird to Lemmon, Turtle Creek, Cedar Springs, downtown on Harwood, west on Main, back to Elm at Houston, then Stemmons Freeway to the Trade Mart. The Morning News reported a similar route and noted the motorcade would move slowly so crowds could get a good view.
Chapter 7
What incident in October 1963 heightened concern about Kennedy's Dallas visit?
On October 24, 1963, after addressing a meeting in Dallas, U.N. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson was jeered, jostled, and spat upon by hostile demonstrators outside the Dallas Memorial Auditorium Theater. Local, national, and international reaction brought strong condemnations from Dallas officials and newspapers; Mayor Cabell called on the city to redeem itself, and police planned extra off-duty officers.
Chapter 7
What did President Kennedy reportedly say about the difficulty of protecting a President?
According to Kenneth O'Donnell, before leaving the Fort Worth hotel on November 22, the President, Mrs. Kennedy, and O'Donnell discussed risks of public appearances. The President commented that if anybody really wanted to shoot the President, it was not a very difficult job—all one had to do was get a high building with a telescopic rifle, and nothing could defend against such an attempt.
Chapter 7

Section 84 cards

What was the limousine's average speed before the fatal head shot, per the Zapruder film?
Based on Abraham Zapruder's motion pictures, the President's automobile averaged 11.2 miles per hour over approximately 136 feet immediately preceding the shot that struck the President in the head. The Zapruder camera ran 152 frames at 18.3 frames per second, so the car required 8.3 seconds to cover that distance. Witness estimates ranged more widely, from 7 to 22 miles per hour.
Chapter 8
How did Governor Connally describe his reaction and wounds during the shooting?
Connally testified he recognized the first noise as a rifle shot and thought it was an assassination attempt. From the right jump seat he turned right because the shot seemed to come over his right shoulder, then felt something strike his back before completing a turn left. He was certain he was hit by the second shot, which he said he did not hear.
Chapter 8
What did Secret Service Agent Hill do after hearing the first shot?
Hill heard a noise like a firecracker from his right rear, looked right, and saw President Kennedy grab at himself and lurch forward and left. Hill jumped from the followup car and ran to the President's automobile. About when he reached it, he heard a second shot roughly 5 seconds after the first. When the car lurched, he lost footing, ran a few steps, and remounted, pushing Mrs. Kennedy back into the seat.
Chapter 8
How did Youngblood and the Vice President's detail react to the shots?
Youngblood heard an explosive noise, saw unnatural crowd movement and activity in the Presidential followup car, hit Vice President Johnson on the shoulder, shouted to get down, then climbed over the back seat and shielded him with his body. Johnson described Youngblood reacting instantly after the first shot. Youngblood was not positive he was in the rear seat before the second shot, though he thought it probable.
Chapter 8

Section 93 cards

What operations did Governor Connally undergo for wounds he did not initially realize he had?
On November 22, Dr. Charles F. Gregory operated on Connally's right wrist from about 4 to 4:50 p.m., leaving the back wound partially open for drainage, enlarging and closing the palm wound, and setting the fracture in a cast with traction. Meanwhile Dr. George T. Shires treated the left thigh wound, cleansing and suturing it but leaving a small metallic fragment in the leg.
Chapter 9
What did the autopsy reveal about the wounds to President Kennedy's head?
The autopsy found two head wounds: one about one-fourth by five-eighths inch near the external occipital protuberance, and a second about 5 inches across with crisscross fractures radiating from it. Bone fragments recovered from Elm Street and the limousine accounted for about three-quarters of the missing skull portion. X-rays showed 30 or 40 dustlike metal fragments and a sizable fragment above the right eye.
Chapter 9
How did the Secret Service secure Vice President Johnson at Parkland Hospital?
As Kennedy and Connally were removed from the limousine, a protective circle of Secret Service agents surrounded the Johnsons and escorted them through the emergency entrance. Agents moved a nurse and patient out of a nearby room, lowered the shades, and took emergency security measures. An agent was stationed at the entrance to stop anyone not part of the Presidential party, and two men from the followup car helped protect the Vice President.
Chapter 9

Section 103 cards

What did the three fifth-floor employees hear during the shooting?
Norman, Williams, and Jarman were at fifth-floor windows directly below the sniper's window. Norman heard shots, then sounds like shell hulls hitting the floor and the rifle's bolt ejecting. Williams felt the building shake and debris fall on his head. Jarman initially thought backfire or a salute, then concluded someone was shooting at the President from above them.
Chapter 10
What experiment tested the fifth-floor witnesses' account?
On March 20, 1964, Norman, Williams, and Jarman reassumed their fifth-floor positions while a Secret Service agent worked a rifle bolt directly above at the sixth-floor southeast window and dropped three shells about 3 seconds apart. Norman said he heard similar sounds. The experiment was repeated for the Commissioners on May 9, June 7, and September 6, 1964; all seven clearly heard the shells drop.
Chapter 10
Did the Commission find evidence of shots from the Triple Underpass?
No. The Commission's investigation disclosed no credible evidence that any shots were fired from anywhere other than the Depository. Many spectators ran toward the Triple Underpass or railroad yards, some toward the apparent sound, others fleeing. None saw anyone with a rifle. Policemen were stationed on the bridges, and only railroad employees and officers were on the railroad bridge.
Chapter 10

Section 114 cards

What did firearms experts conclude about the bullet and cartridge cases and the C2766 rifle?
Experts unanimously concluded that the nearly whole bullet from Connally's stretcher, the two largest bullet fragments from the limousine, and the three cartridge cases found on the sixth floor were all definitely fired in the C2766 Mannlicher-Carcano rifle found in the Depository, to the exclusion of all other weapons. Two additional FBI experts independently reached identical conclusions.
Chapter 11
Why did the Commission conclude the nearly whole bullet came from Connally's stretcher?
Tomlinson was unsure whether the bullet came from the Connally stretcher or the adjacent one. The Commission concluded it came from the Governor's stretcher, supported by evidence eliminating President Kennedy's stretcher: Kennedy was never removed from his stretcher until his body was placed in a casket in the same room, and that stretcher was later pushed into trauma room No. 2, a different location.
Chapter 11
What markings identify the rifle found on the sixth floor, and how was it classified?
The bolt-action, clip-fed rifle bears 'MADE ITALY,' 'CAL. 6.5,' '1940,' and serial number C2766, the only rifle of its type with that serial number. The FBI identified it as a 6.5-millimeter model 91/38 Mannlicher-Carcano. Though it outwardly resembles a 7.35-millimeter rifle, its mechanism had been rebarreled with a 6.5-millimeter barrel.
Chapter 11
What did the autopsy pathologists conclude about President Kennedy's head wounds?
The three examining pathologists concluded that the smaller hole in the rear of the President's skull was the point of entry and the large opening on the right side of his head was the wound of exit. The entry hole measured 6 by 15 millimeters, consistent with a 6.5-millimeter bullet fired from behind and above striking at a tangent, with the 6-millimeter dimension caused by elastic recoil of the skull.
Chapter 11

Section 124 cards

Why did the Bethesda surgeons conclude the neck bullet exited the front of the neck?
The autopsy surgeons found the bullet passed between two large strap muscles, bruising them without leaving a channel. Commander Humes, believing a tracheotomy had been performed, phoned Dr. Perry on November 23 and learned Perry had used the neck missile wound as the incision point. This confirmed the Bethesda conclusion that the bullet exited the front of the neck.
Chapter 12
What did Drs. Carrico and Perry say about the neck wound based on its appearance alone?
Both testified that, based on the neck wound alone, they could not say whether it was an entrance or exit wound; it was compatible with either, depending on size, velocity, and tissue structure. Only after considering other facts, such as autopsy findings and the absence of another bullet, did both conclude it was an exit wound.
Chapter 12
Why did Dr. Perry's press conference remarks cause confusion about the neck wound?
Perry answered hypothetical questions at a crowded press conference he called 'bedlam,' suggesting a single bullet could have entered the throat and exited the head. He did not then know of the back neck wound or the small head wound, hidden by blood. He testified his answers were speculation about what could have happened, not his professional opinion of what did.
Chapter 12
What did the Army wound ballistics tests at Edgewood Arsenal show about entry and exit wounds?
Using simulated neck material about 5½ inches thick with animal skin on each side, experts fired 6.5 bullets from the C2766 Mannlicher-Carcano at 180 feet. Entry holes were regular and round; exit holes were only slightly elongated or round, similar to descriptions of the President's neck wound. Exit velocity averaged 1,772 to 1,798 feet per second versus 1,904 entrance.
Chapter 12

Section 134 cards

What evidence supported the single-bullet conclusion for Governor Connally's wounds?
The recovered bullet weighed 158.6 grains versus 160-161 grains unfired, and tiny metallic fragments removed from Connally's wrist were consistent with that bullet tumbling through. The three Parkland doctors independently opined that one bullet passed through his chest, tumbled through his wrist leaving fragments, punctured his thigh after losing velocity, and fell out. The wound ballistics experts concurred, and Connally himself thought a single bullet likely caused all his wounds.
Chapter 13
What did the Zapruder film's frame rate establish for timing the shots?
The FBI determined the Zapruder camera took 18.3 frames per second, so events could be timed by allowing 1/18.3 seconds per frame. Tests of the assassin's rifle showed at least 2.3 seconds were required between shots. The Commission also noted that a bullet-wound victim may not react immediately, or may not know he was hit, so reaction timing had limits.
Chapter 13
Between which Zapruder frames did the Commission conclude the President was probably shot in the neck?
The Commission concluded the President was probably shot through the neck between frames 210 and 225, placing him 138.9 to 153.8 feet west of station C. It reasoned he was probably not shot before frame 210 because the oak tree obstructed the view until then, and his reaction was barely apparent at frame 225. Variations in reaction time and the road sign blocking Zapruder's view precluded a more specific determination.
Chapter 13
Why did the Commission conclude the neck bullet probably struck Governor Connally?
Frazier testified the bullet exiting the President's neck at 1,772 to 1,779 feet per second most likely could not have missed both the automobile and its occupants. The FBI found no interior damage consistent with that bullet, since it would have penetrated the windshield or torn through the dented chrome framing. Since it did not hit the car, Frazier testified it probably struck Connally, who sat immediately in front of the President.
Chapter 13

Section 144 cards

What did Dr. Light conclude about the bullet through the President's neck?
Dr. Frederick W. Light, Jr., an Edgewood Arsenal wound ballistics expert since 1951, testified that the anatomical findings alone were insufficient for a firm opinion on whether one bullet passed through the President's neck before inflicting all of Governor Connally's wounds. Based on other circumstances, such as the men's relative positions in the automobile, he concluded it was probable that the same bullet did both.
Chapter 14
How did films establish the President's position when the head bullet struck?
The Zapruder, Nix, and Muchmore films showed the instant the head bullet struck, evident from the explosion of brain tissue from the right side of the head. Using the Nix and Muchmore films, lines were plotted from camera positions to fixed background points and marked on a plat map; both gave identical locations, confirmed by the Zapruder film. The President was 265.3 feet from the rifle, at a declination of about 15°21'.
Chapter 14
Why did the Commission conclude three shots were fired?
Witnesses disagreed: most said three shots, some heard two, others four to six. The Commission noted gunfire creates multiple noises—muzzle blast, bullet shock wave, and target impact—each possibly heard as a separate shot, and buildings may distort sound. Physical evidence showed at least two bullets, and three spent cartridges fired by the assassination rifle were found on the sixth floor. The Commission concluded three shots were fired.
Chapter 14
What evidence supported the theory that the first shot missed?
Secret Service Agent Glen A. Bennett, in the followup car, heard a firecracker-like noise, looked at the President's back, then heard another noise and saw a hit about four inches below the right shoulder, followed immediately by a head shot. His notes were recorded November 22, 1963, before the autopsy, when the back wound was not yet known. Governor Connally's testimony also supported a first-shot miss.
Chapter 14

Section 151 cards

What did postal inspector Holmes say about package pickup for a post office box?
Holmes testified that when a package arrives for a box, a notice is placed in that box regardless of whether the name on the package is listed on the application. The person with box access takes the notice to the window and receives the package. Ordinarily identification is not requested, since the person holding the notice is assumed entitled to it. The application portion listing other authorized names was discarded after the box closed.
Chapter 15

Section 164 cards

Why did the Commission conclude the published backyard photographs were not altered originals?
Shaneyfelt testified the published photos appeared based on a copy that each publication retouched differently. Several publications furnished their prints or described their retouching. The Commission concluded the published pictures were the same as the original except for retouching done by the publications, apparently to clarify the rifle's lines and other details.
Chapter 16
How did the Commission date the backyard photographs as taken after March 27, 1963?
The Commission identified the issues of the Militant and the Worker Oswald held in the photo. Checking actual mailing dates and usual delivery time to Dallas established the photos were taken sometime after March 27. Marina Oswald testified they were taken on a Sunday about 2 weeks before the April 10 Walker attempt; by Sunday, March 31, Oswald had received the rifle, revolver, and newspapers.
Chapter 16
What did the Commission conclude about the curtain rod story Oswald told Frazier?
The Commission found obtaining curtain rods was not the trip's purpose. Landlady Mrs. Johnson testified Oswald's room had curtains and rods and he never discussed them. Ruth Paine's two curtain rods were still in the garage after the arrest. Oswald never asked Mrs. Paine about rods, Marina heard nothing of it, and no rods were found in the Depository. The Commission gave weight to Oswald's false reason as an excuse for carrying a bulky package.
Chapter 16
What did Marina Oswald do when she heard the President was shot from her husband's building?
Marina testified her heart dropped. She went to the garage to see whether the rifle was there, saw the blanket still in its usual position and appearing to have something inside, and said 'Thank God.' She did not unroll the blanket. Later, when police searched, she told them her husband had a rifle and pointed to the blanket, which hung limp when an officer picked it up.
Chapter 16

Section 174 cards

What did the palmprint on the paper bag indicate about how Oswald handled it?
The palmprint on the closed end of the bag showed Oswald had handled it, and it was consistent with the bag having held a heavy or bulky object, since a light object is usually held by the fingers. The print was from Oswald's right hand, the hand in which he carried the long package from Frazier's car to the building.
Chapter 17
What did Cadigan conclude about the bag's paper and tape versus the Depository sample?
FBI questioned-documents expert James C. Cadigan compared the bag's paper and tape with samples from the Depository shipping room taken November 22, 1963. After fiber analysis, spectrographic examination, and comparison of thickness, color, tape width, knurled markings, texture, and felting pattern, he concluded the bag's paper and tape were identical in all respects to the sample.
Chapter 17
Why couldn't Stombaugh say the bag's fibers probably came from the blanket?
Stombaugh found a brown delustered viscose fiber and several light green cotton fibers in the bag that matched fibers in the blanket. But he could not opine they probably came from it, because other blanket fiber types—brown cotton, green viscose, and woolen fibers—were absent from the bag. He said only that it was possible.
Chapter 17
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald and the paper bag?
The Commission concluded the preponderance of evidence showed Oswald told Frazier the curtain rod story to explain the Thursday return and the package's bulk, took paper and tape from the Depository wrapping bench to fashion a bag large enough for the disassembled rifle, removed the rifle from the blanket in the Paines' garage Thursday evening, carried it into the building concealed in the bag, and left the bag by the window.
Chapter 17

Section 184 cards

Why did Brennan decline to make a positive identification of Oswald in the November 22 lineup?
Brennan told the Commission he could have made a positive identification but did not because he felt the assassination was "a Communist activity" and feared for his family's or his own safety if it became known he was an eyewitness. He had also seen Oswald's picture on television before the lineup, and said whether that affected his identification was "something I do not know."
Chapter 18
How did the Commission treat Brennan's identification in reaching its conclusion about the assassin?
Although the record indicates Brennan was an accurate observer, he declined to make a positive identification when he first saw Oswald in the police lineup. The Commission therefore does not base its conclusion about the assassin's identity on Brennan's later certain identification. It is satisfied that Brennan at least saw a man in the window who closely resembled Oswald, and that Brennan believes that man was Oswald.
Chapter 18
What did Fischer and Edwards see in the sixth-floor window about a minute before the assassination?
Edwards told Fischer to look at the man in the window; Fischer watched him 10 or 15 seconds before the motorcade arrived. The man seemed uncomfortable, wasn't watching for the parade, and stared down toward the Triple Underpass, transfixed, never moving. Fischer placed him on the fifth or sixth floor, saw him from mid-chest up, in a light open-neck shirt, brown hair, slender face, light complexion, appearing 22 to 24.
Chapter 18
What did the Commission conclude about the Altgens photograph allegedly showing Oswald in front of the building?
Altgens, an Associated Press photographer, took the picture about 2 seconds after the shot that entered the President's back neck. Several Depository employees appeared in the background, and one was alleged to resemble Oswald. The Commission determined that employee was Billy Nolan Lovelady, identified by himself, Buell Wesley Frazier, and William Shelley. The Commission is satisfied Oswald does not appear in the photograph.
Chapter 18

Section 194 cards

Why does Victoria Adams's testimony about descending the stairs conflict with other evidence?
Adams claimed she ran from the fourth floor to the first floor within about 1 minute of the shots and met Shelley and Lovelady there. But Shelley and Lovelady testified they were outside watching the parade, then walked west into the railroad yards and reentered by the rear door several minutes after Baker and Truly rushed the front entrance. If Adams truly met them, her timing was wrong and she came down several minutes after Oswald.
Chapter 19
When did Mrs. Reid see Oswald on the second floor, and what was he doing?
About a minute after Baker and Truly left Oswald in the lunchroom, Mrs. Reid saw him walk through the clerical office toward the front stairway, carrying a full bottle of Coca-Cola, presumably bought after the encounter. She told him the President had been shot; he mumbled and walked on. She estimated she returned to her desk about 2 minutes after the shooting, so she probably met him around 12:32.
Chapter 19
When was the Depository building sealed off, and could Oswald have left before then?
The Commission concluded Oswald probably left about 12:33 p.m., roughly 3 minutes after the shooting, before police sealed the building. Officer Barnett estimated about 3 minutes passed before he began guarding the front door, and people were going in and out. Sgt. Harkness said the building was not sealed at 12:36; Inspector Sawyer's order to seal the doors came no earlier than 12:37.
Chapter 19
What evidence did the Commission cite linking Oswald to the Tippit killing?
The Commission considered four categories: positive identification of the killer by two eyewitnesses who saw the shooting and seven who heard shots and saw the gunman flee with a revolver; firearms identification experts establishing the murder weapon's identity; evidence establishing ownership of the weapon; and evidence establishing ownership of a zipper jacket found along the gunman's flight path from the scene to the place of arrest.
Chapter 19

Section 204 cards

What inconsistencies did Whaley's testimony contain about the lineup and cab route?
Whaley said six men were in the lineup and Oswald was No. 2; actually four men were present and Oswald was No. 3. He also placed the drop-off at Neches and Beckley, which do not intersect. A reconstructed run under his direction ended in the 700 block of North Beckley, near Neely, and took 5 minutes 30 seconds.
Chapter 20
What did Earlene Roberts observe when Oswald returned to his roominghouse?
Roberts, housekeeper at 1026 North Beckley, knew Oswald as O. H. Lee. She testified that on November 22, about 1 p.m., after hearing the President had been shot, Oswald entered in unusual haste, did not respond to her remark, stayed in his room only 3 or 4 minutes, and left zipping up a jacket.
Chapter 20
How did the Tippit shooting unfold according to eyewitnesses?
About 1:15 p.m., Tippit stopped a man walking east on Patton whose description resembled the radio broadcast. The man spoke through the car window; Tippit got out and walked around the front. At the left front wheel the man fired several shots, four hitting Tippit. The gunman then headed back toward Patton Avenue, ejecting empty cartridge cases before reloading.
Chapter 20
How did witness identifications of Oswald after the Tippit shooting vary?
At least 12 persons saw the gunman. By the evening of November 22, five identified Oswald in police lineups and a sixth did so the next day. Three others later identified him from a photograph, two said he resembled the man, and one felt too distant to make a positive identification.
Chapter 20

Section 223 cards

What did witnesses hear during Oswald's struggle with police in the theatre, and what did the firearms expert conclude?
Most officers heard a click they assumed was the revolver's hammer. A firearms expert testified the hammer never touched the shell in the chamber. Witnesses may have heard a snapping noise from an officer grabbing the cylinder and pulling it away while Oswald tried to pull the trigger.
Chapter 22
What did the Commission conclude about the paraffin tests performed on Oswald?
The Dallas Police Department performed paraffin tests on Oswald's hands and right cheek on the evening of November 22. Results were positive for the hands and negative for the right cheek. Expert testimony established the paraffin test was unreliable for determining whether a person fired a rifle or revolver, so the Commission placed no reliance on it.
Chapter 22
What evidence did the Commission evaluate on whether Oswald shot at General Walker?
The Commission weighed four items: a note Oswald left for his wife on the evening of the shooting, photographs found among his possessions after the assassination, firearm identification of the bullet recovered from Walker's home, and admissions and statements Oswald made to Marina Oswald about the shooting. The Walker shooting remained unsolved until December 3, 1963.
Chapter 22

Section 234 cards

What did firearms experts conclude about the Walker bullet and Oswald's rifle?
FBI expert Frazier was "unable to reach a conclusion" whether the bullet came from the Mannlicher-Carcano, but found its rifling characteristics consistent and no evidence excluding the rifle. Joseph Nicol of Illinois concluded there was a "fair probability" it was fired from the assassination rifle. The Commission found this probative only when combined with other testimony linking Oswald to the shooting.
Chapter 23
What corroborated Marina Oswald's account of the Walker shooting attempt?
The note Oswald left for his wife, photographs of Walker's house and nearby railroad tracks, and details matching independent facts: the Wednesday church gathering he awaited, and bus routes allowing him to travel to and from the area. The Commission concluded Oswald attempted Walker's life on April 10, 1963, though its assassin identification rested on independent evidence.
Chapter 23
Why did the Commission dismiss the alleged Nixon threat?
No Dallas newspaper from January 1 to May 15, 1963, mentioned a Nixon visit, and Nixon said his only 1963 Dallas trip was November 20-21. Marina Oswald also grew confused, possibly conflating Nixon with Vice President Johnson's April 23 visit. The Commission concluded Oswald was not actually planning to shoot Nixon then, and the incident had no probative value.
Chapter 23
What factors led the Commission to find Oswald capable of the shots?
The Commission weighed the nature of the shots, Oswald's Marine marksmanship training, his later practice, and the rifle and ammunition quality. Experts testified the shots at 177 to 266 feet were not particularly difficult, and a four-power telescopic sight aided target identification and rapid bolt working. Elm Street's straight, downgraded line reduced needed adjustment.
Chapter 23

Section 244 cards

What firing times did expert marksmen achieve in the rifle test simulating the assassination?
Using the assassination rifle with its telescopic sight, three NRA master-rated marksmen each fired two series of three shots at silhouettes placed at 175, 240, and 265 feet. First-series times were 4.6, 6.75, and 8.25 seconds; second-series times were 5.15, 6.45, and 7 seconds. None had practiced with the weapon beyond exercising the bolt for 2 or 3 minutes on a dry run.
Chapter 24
What did the FBI firearms experts conclude about the rifle's accuracy and recoil?
Frazier testified the rifle was accurate, had less recoil than the average military rifle, and that one would not have to be an expert marksman to accomplish the assassination with it. Simmons described it as "quite accurate," as accurate as current military rifles. Their tests measured maximum firing speed, not assassination conditions, and shots landed a few inches high and right due to a scope defect.
Chapter 24
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's capability to fire the shots?
The Commission found the Mannlicher-Carcano accurate and the four-power scope a substantial aid to rapid, accurate firing. Citing Oswald's Marine marksmanship training, other rifle experience, and familiarity with the weapon, and concurring with Major Anderson and Sergeant Zahm, it concluded Oswald could fire three shots with two hits within 4.8 to 5.6 seconds, and that hitting the President was "an easy shot."
Chapter 24
What did the Commission's final findings in this chapter conclude about Oswald?
The Commission found that Oswald owned and possessed the rifle used to kill President Kennedy and wound Governor Connally, brought it into the Depository Building that morning, was at the window when shots were fired, killed Officer J. D. Tippit in an apparent escape attempt, resisted arrest with a loaded pistol, lied to police on substantive matters, attempted to kill Maj. Gen. Edwin A. Walker in April 1963, and had the capability to commit the assassination.
Chapter 24

Section 254 cards

How many news media representatives were estimated to be in Dallas within 24 hours of the assassination?
Felix McKnight, editor of the Dallas Times-Herald who handled press arrangements, estimated that within 24 hours of the assassination more than 300 representatives of news media were in Dallas, including correspondents from foreign newspapers and press associations. District Attorney Henry M. Wade thought the crowd in the third floor hallway itself may have numbered as many as 300, though most estimates place upwards of 100 newsmen and cameramen there by the evening of November 22.
Chapter 25
What did Chief Curry do at the Friday midnight press conference when newsmen overran Oswald?
Curry had instructed reporters not to question or interview Oswald, but when Oswald was brought in they immediately shouted questions and shoved microphones at his face. Cameramen stood on tables and others pushed forward for close-ups; the noise and confusion mounted. After Oswald had been in the room only a few minutes, Curry intervened and directed that Oswald be taken back to the jail because, he testified, the newsmen 'tried to overrun him.'
Chapter 25
What security measures did Assistant Chief Batchelor impose on the third floor?
Late Friday afternoon Assistant Chief Charles Batchelor stationed guards at the elevators and the stairway to prevent admission of unauthorized persons. He also directed the records room in the basement to issue passes, after verification by the bureaus involved, to people with legitimate business on the third floor. Newsmen were required to identify themselves by personal press cards, but the department did not follow its usual procedure of checking the authenticity of press credentials.
Chapter 25
How did Chief Curry reveal the plan to transfer Oswald to reporters on Saturday evening?
Sometime after 7:30 Saturday evening, two reporters told Assistant Chief Batchelor they wanted dinner but didn't want to miss anything if the prisoner was moved. Curry told them that if they returned by 10 a.m. they wouldn't 'miss anything.' A little later, after checking with Captain Fritz, Curry made a similar announcement to the assembled reporters. Curry said Fritz didn't think a night transfer was a good idea.
Chapter 25

Section 264 cards

What did the Commission conclude about how Jack Ruby entered the police basement?
The Commission concluded that Ruby entered the basement unaided, probably via the Main Street ramp, and no more than 3 minutes before the shooting of Oswald. Although more than a hundred policemen and newsmen were present in the basement during the 10 minutes before the shooting, none was found who definitely observed Ruby's entry. The Commission found no evidence that Ruby received assistance from any person in entering the basement.
Chapter 26
What plan did Curry and Fritz agree on for moving Oswald?
Fritz disapproved of the armored truck plan, urging an unmarked police car driven by an officer for speed and maneuverability. Curry agreed, and they decided the armored truck would serve as a decoy: it would leave the ramp first, followed by a car of security officers, then a police car bearing Oswald. After one block, Oswald's car would turn off directly to the county jail while the truck took the circuitous route.
Chapter 26
How did the Commission establish the timing of events before the shooting?
The time stamp on a money order Ruby sent and the receipt in his pocket established it was accepted at almost exactly 11:17 a.m., when Ruby was in the Western Union office about 350 feet from the ramp. Video tapes showed Lieutenant Pierce's car cleared the crowd 55 seconds before the shooting and Ruby standing at the foot of the ramp. The shooting time near 11:21 a.m. was fixed by a clock in motion pictures and by records of Oswald's departure and the ambulance summons.
Chapter 26
What did three Dallas policemen testify about Ruby's account of his entry?
Three Dallas policemen testified that about 30 minutes after his arrest, Ruby told them he had walked to the top of the Main Street ramp from the nearby Western Union office and walked down the ramp as Lieutenant Pierce's police car emerged into Main Street. The policemen did not report this to superiors until some days later. Ruby refused to discuss his means of entry with other investigators that day, but gave the same explanation on December 21 and in a sworn deposition after his trial.
Chapter 26

Section 274 cards

Did the Commission find evidence of suspicious relationships between Ruby and Dallas police?
No. Although Ruby was known to have a wide acquaintanceship with Dallas policemen and sought their favor—giving free coffee to officers on duty and discounts off duty—the Commission found no evidence of any suspicious relationships between Ruby and any police officer. Chief Curry estimated that roughly 25 to 50 of the department's 1,175 men knew Ruby, an estimate the Commission suggested may be too conservative.
Chapter 27
Why did the Commission reject the theory that a policeman phoned Ruby about the transfer time?
Ruby was at his apartment from at least 10:19 until close to 11 a.m., and the drive to the Western Union office takes about 15 minutes. The transfer time could not have been known until a few minutes before 11:15, so no precise time could have been conveyed to him there. Moreover, television and radio publicized the transfer plans all morning, so no surreptitious call was needed.
Chapter 27
What did the Commission identify as the central security failure in Oswald's shooting?
The Commission concluded the shooting resulted from a failure of the security precautions the Dallas Police Department had taken. While acknowledging the extraordinary circumstances and special measures taken, the Commission found these did not include adequate control of the great crowd of newsmen that inundated the building. The department followed its normal policy of admitting the press under General Order No. 81.
Chapter 27
How did the police focus on Sunday differ from a balanced appraisal of risks to Oswald?
On Sunday, when Oswald was killed, police took their most extensive precautions: more than 70 officers, some armed with tear gas, and a contemplated armored truck. The Commission found these measures were designed primarily to repel a mob attempt to seize the prisoner, prompted by a telephone threat that a hundred men would attack Oswald, rather than reflecting a balanced appraisal of the varied risks to his life.
Chapter 27

Section 284 cards

How did the Dallas police mainly disclose information about the investigation to the press?
Mostly through informal oral statements and answers at impromptu press conferences in the third-floor corridor, rather than written press releases. Captain King said each department member was responsible for giving the press information on incidents they were involved in, except personnel matters or when it would interfere with an investigation. Chief Curry released most information himself, though there is no evidence this decision was communicated to the rest of the force.
Chapter 28
What errors did police commentary spread about evidence in the case?
The rifle was initially identified as a Mauser 7.65 rather than a Mannlicher-Carcano 6.5 because a deputy constable who neither handled it nor saw it closely thought it looked like a Mauser. Chicken bones on the sixth floor were wrongly called Oswald's lunch; another employee had left them at least 15 minutes before the assassination. Curry repeated a report that a Negro had driven Oswald across town, and a map was wrongly said to mark the motorcade route.
Chapter 28
What concern did J. Edgar Hoover raise about Dallas police disclosures, and what did Curry do after Oswald's shooting?
Hoover was concerned that almost as soon as FBI Laboratory reports reached the Dallas Police Department, the chief or a representative would go on TV or radio and relate FBI findings, such as gun identification and other physical evidence. On Sunday, after Oswald was shot, Hoover sent Curry a personal message asking him not to go on the air until the case was resolved; Hoover later testified Curry agreed. Curry made only one more television appearance, announcing Oswald's death.
Chapter 28
What errors did District Attorney Wade make at his Sunday evening press conference?
Wade attempted to list all evidence against Oswald but, as he later testified, lacked a thorough grasp of it and made errors. He said Oswald told a woman on a bus the President had been killed, apparently because the busdriver confused Oswald with another passenger. He repeated the error that Oswald's map marked the motorcade route. He said Oswald's name went out in police broadcasts before arrest, but police never mentioned it before then.
Chapter 28

Section 294 cards

Who did the Commission say bore primary responsibility for failing to control the press in Dallas?
The Commission placed primary responsibility on the Dallas Police Department, since it was the only agency that could have established orderly procedures to control the newsmen in the police building. The Commission also assigned part of the blame to the news media, whose representatives generally failed to respond properly to police demands.
Chapter 29
What did the Commission say the public was entitled to know versus not entitled to know?
The Commission held the public was entitled to know which agencies were investigating, the progress of the work, that Oswald had been apprehended and arraigned, and that no evidence implicated anyone else. But neither press nor public had a right to contemporaneous details of the evidence being accumulated against Oswald, since that could compromise his right to an impartial jury.
Chapter 29
What did Chief Curry say about not ordering newsmen out of the building?
Curry told the Commission he did not order the newsmen out of the building and said, "if I had it to do over I would." He explained that the department had always maintained good relations with the press, which had respected them. The Commission cited this in assigning responsibility to the police for failing to control the press.
Chapter 29
What pressures did news representatives place on Dallas officials, according to the Commission?
The Commission found newsmen constantly pursued officials, pressuring them to disclose information, and that this pressure had effect because police wanted good press relations and a favorable image. It also noted uncorroborated recollections that some press representatives hinted police had brutalized Oswald unless allowed to see him; the Commission deemed such veiled threats absolutely without justification.
Chapter 29

Section 304 cards

When was the Dallas motorcade route finally selected and announced?
The route was not finally selected until November 18, 1963, and it was announced in the press on November 19, only three days before the President's arrival. A final decision could not have been reached until November 14, when the Trade Mart was chosen as the luncheon site. On these grounds the Commission concluded that Oswald's employment in the Depository was wholly unrelated to the President's trip to Dallas.
Chapter 30
How did the Commission explain Oswald's Thursday ride to Irving and the long package?
Oswald's request for a ride on Thursday, November 21, departed from the normal weekend pattern. He explained that he needed to obtain curtain rods for an apartment in Dallas, which also explained the long package he carried from Irving to the Depository the next morning. Both Ruth Paine and Marina Oswald testified they thought he had come to patch up a quarrel with his wife over his living in Dallas under an assumed name.
Chapter 30
What did the Commission conclude about fingerprints on the four cartons near the window?
Three of Oswald's prints were developed on two cartons. Of 25 other identifiable prints, all but one belonged to an FBI employee and a Dallas police officer who handled the cartons during the investigation; one palmprint was unidentified. The Commission found unidentified prints unsurprising because the cartons held commercial products handled by many people, and noted the FBI keeps no palmprint files because classification is impracticable.
Chapter 30
Why did the Commission doubt Arnold Rowland's account of a second man on the sixth floor?
Rowland first claimed to have seen an elderly man in the southeast corner window only when testifying in March 1964; he had not mentioned him in his affidavit, and no such statement appeared in FBI reports. His wife said he never told her of another man and that he was prone to exaggerate. An FBI inquiry found numerous Rowland statements about school and college false.
Chapter 30

Section 312 cards

Why did the Commission consider Oswald an unlikely conspirator?
The Commission noted that Oswald was young, inexperienced, and had only a limited education. He was unable to establish relationships with others and resented authority and any discipline flowing from it. While he could act secretively and alone without regard to consequences, as in his defection, he did not appear to be the kind of person one would normally expect to be selected as a conspirator.
Chapter 31
What evidence bears on whether Soviet agents recruited Oswald before his defection?
The Commission found no indication that Soviet agents recruited Oswald in the Far East for defection and return. It reasoned that defection would be among the least probable instructions agents would give a Marine radar specialist who might gain value as a secret agent; his public disloyalty eliminated any future access to confidential U.S. information. The defection itself is therefore persuasive evidence he was not recruited beforehand.
Chapter 31

Section 324 cards

What did Oswald do at the Moscow Embassy on October 31, 1959, regarding citizenship?
Oswald told consul Richard E. Snyder he wished to renounce his U.S. citizenship, but Snyder refused to accept the renunciation then, saying Oswald would have to return to complete the papers. Oswald did surrender his passport and a handwritten statement asking that his citizenship be revoked and affirming allegiance to the Soviet Union. The FBI confirmed the handwriting, and Snyder said the phrasing matched Oswald's manner.
Chapter 32
Why does the chapter doubt Oswald was coached by Soviet agents on renunciation?
The chapter notes Oswald's familiarity with renunciation law and Communist arguments led some to suspect Soviet coaching. But it argues persuasive evidence against coaching: Oswald volunteered that he had offered the Soviets Marine radar information, which would prejudice any effective agent role, and his ambivalent, stormy demands to renounce without completing papers would undercut propaganda value. The author argues his reading and prior study explain his knowledge.
Chapter 32
When was Oswald actually accepted as a Soviet resident, and what did he receive?
Per Oswald's diary and Soviet documents, he was not told he was accepted until about January 4, 1960, though in mid-November he told journalists he had permission to stay indefinitely. The diary indicates he had only been told he could remain pending a solution. When the Soviet Government acted, Oswald did not receive Soviet citizenship as requested, but only permission to reside on a year-to-year basis.
Chapter 32
How does the chapter verify Oswald's life in Minsk?
The chapter says Minsk is the period least known, relying mainly on Oswald's writings and Marina's testimony. But other evidence establishes he was there: two photographs taken by American tourists in Minsk in August 1961 show Oswald, a University of Michigan band traveler noticed him in spring 1961, he corresponded from Minsk, and the Commission independently verified many acquaintances there.
Chapter 32

Section 334 cards

Why did the Commission doubt Oswald was sent to the US as a lone Soviet agent?
The Commission reasoned that Soviet authorities would not likely have let Oswald marry Marina and take her to the United States if they intended to use him alone as an agent. A Russian wife would increase American surveillance, make him more conspicuous as an ex-Russian, reduce his mobility, and create a continuing risk of disclosure. Marina's lack of English and ignorance of America also made her a poor agent-team member.
Chapter 33
How did the Commission explain Oswald's July 1961 trip to Moscow without prior permission?
The State Department and CIA told the Commission that Marina, holding a Soviet internal passport, needed no prior approval for the trip. Oswald, holding a stateless passport, did legally need advance permission, but failure to obtain it would normally bring only a fine or reprimand, not serious punishment. The CIA noted unauthorized travel was practical and often went unpunished.
Chapter 33
What did the Commission conclude about Soviet guidance of Oswald's dealings with US officials?
The Commission found no indication of expert Soviet guidance in Oswald's dealings with the State Department or Immigration Service. His handwritten Minsk letters showed the same arrogant attitude and low level of sophistication, fluency, and spelling as his other letters. Richard Snyder, who dealt with him most, recalled nothing suggesting third-party guidance, and testified Oswald's attitude hindered his return.
Chapter 33
What did the Commission find about the timing of the Oswalds' Soviet exit permission?
The Commission found the circumstances and timing of the Oswalds' permission to leave Russia differed in no discernible manner from the normal. The CIA said a Soviet national normally would not be permitted to emigrate if he might endanger national security, and those with confidential information were a key category of such risks. Oswald's predeparture MVD interview was apparently part of checking such access.
Chapter 33

Section 343 cards

What happened when the De Mohrenschildts visited the Oswalds after the Walker shooting?
On the evening of April 13, 1963, the De Mohrenschildts visited the Neely Street apartment, apparently to bring an Easter gift. Mrs. De Mohrenschildt saw a scoped rifle in a closet and told her husband. George joked, asking whether Oswald had taken a "pot shot at Walker." Oswald's face changed and he became almost speechless. The De Mohrenschildts said the remark was a joke and they had no knowledge of Oswald's involvement; they left soon and never saw the Oswalds again.
Chapter 34
Did Ruth Paine's September 1963 trip to New Orleans help Oswald travel to Mexico City?
The Commission considered this and found the evidence clear that it did not. Marina's summer letters to Ruth Paine discussed marital difficulties, and Mrs. Paine urged Marina to live with her in Irving; the letters before her September 20 arrival never mentioned a Mexico City trip. In New Orleans, Oswald claimed he would seek work in Houston or Philadelphia, and Marina testified she joined in this deception. Mexico City was never mentioned that weekend.
Chapter 34
What did the Commission conclude about the De Mohrenschildts' background and loyalty?
The Commission investigated both De Mohrenschildts extensively and found no signs of subversive or disloyal conduct. Neither the FBI, CIA, nor any witness provided information linking them to subversive or extremist organizations, and there was no evidence linking them to the assassination. George was born in the Russian Ukraine in 1911, became a U.S. citizen in 1949, and worked as a petroleum engineer; the community described him as eccentric and outspoken.
Chapter 34

Section 354 cards

What did Silvia Duran write on Oswald's Cuban visa application, and why was it likely inaccurate?
Duran, a Cuban consular employee, wrote that Oswald claimed to be a Communist Party member and had displayed documents proving membership. The Commission concluded her notation was probably inaccurate because Oswald presented a mass of papers showing communist affinity, some in Russian she could not read, and further investigation indicated he was not a party member.
Chapter 35
What was the outcome of Oswald's attempts to join or correspond with the Socialist Workers Party?
In October 1962 his application was not accepted because there was no chapter in the Dallas area. He offered to help prepare posters and was told he might be called upon, but never supplied requested information on his photographic skills. He obtained literature and subscribed to the Militant in December 1962; a March 1963 letter was referred to the Young Socialist Alliance, whose files show no reference to him.
Chapter 35
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's purported New Orleans Fair Play for Cuba Committee chapter?
The Commission found the chapter entirely fictitious. Vincent T. Lee testified the national office never authorized a New Orleans chapter or funded Oswald. Oswald printed handbills commercially without approval, exaggerated his activities in letters, and no office at 544 Camp St. ever existed. The 'chapter president' signature read 'A. J. Hidell,' an alias with no evidence anyone by that name existed.
Chapter 35
What evidence did the Commission find of Oswald's contacts with extreme leftist or right-wing groups?
The Commission found no plausible evidence of any other significant contacts with the Communist Party USA, Socialist Workers Party, or other extreme leftist groups; FBI records, informants, and sworn testimony from group officials confirmed this. On right-wing groups, the only evidence was Oswald's alleged attendance at a Dallas rally the night before Stevenson's address; there was no evidence he knew of the 'Welcome Mr. Kennedy' ad or 'Wanted for Treason' handbill.
Chapter 35

Section 364 cards

Who paid for the November 22 Dallas newspaper advertisement attacking Kennedy?
Grinnan raised the $1,465 needed from three wealthy Dallas businessmen: Edgar R. Crissey, Nelson Bunker Hunt, and H. R. Bright, some of whom collected contributions from others. At least one contributor conditioned his money on inserting a question he suggested. Weissman believed Schmidt, Grinnan, and the contributors were active John Birch Society members, though Schmidt and Grinnan maintained they acted solely as individuals.
Chapter 36
What was The American Fact-Finding Committee?
It was a fictitious sponsoring organization invented out of whole cloth; Weissman testified the name was 'solely a name' and he had to consult a piece of paper to remember it when placing the ad. Weissman's own name appeared partly to counter anti-Semitism charges against Dallas conservative groups, and he conceived the black border to stimulate reader attention. The Dallas Morning News apparently had its attorneys review the ad for liability before accepting it.
Chapter 36
What did Mark Lane allege about Weissman, and what did the Commission find?
On March 4, 1964, Lane testified that an undisclosed informant said Weissman met Jack Ruby and Patrolman J. D. Tippit at Ruby's Carousel Club on November 14, 1963. Lane repeatedly refused to name the informant, even after Weissman twice demanded it. The Commission investigated and found no evidence that such a meeting took place anywhere at any time.
Chapter 36
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's Mexico City trip purpose?
Oswald was in Mexico from September 26 to October 3, 1963, visiting the Cuban and Soviet Embassies. He requested an in-transit Cuban visa, claiming he was bound for the Soviet Union, but Marina Oswald testified these statements were deceptions to get him to Cuba. The Commission found it more likely he intended to remain in Cuba, though continuing to Russia was possible. He failed to obtain visas at both Embassies.
Chapter 36

Section 374 cards

What did the Commission conclude about the many allegations of Oswald-Cuban conspiracy?
The Commission investigated literally dozens of conspiracy allegations, including claims of a prior Mexico City trip for money and orders, a secret Yucatan airfield, a $7,000 payment from a Cuban agent, and a Castro slip of the tongue. Without exception, the Commission found the rumors and allegations of conspiratorial contact to be without any factual basis, in some cases the product of mistaken identification.
Chapter 37
How was the informant 'D' and his $6,500 bribery story discredited?
'D' claimed he saw Oswald receive $6,500 to kill the President at the Cuban consulate. Four days later Mexican authorities reported he admitted in writing the whole narrative was false, motivated by hatred of Castro and a wish to enter the U.S. to act against him. He later blamed police pressure, but a polygraph indicated lying, Embassy staff recalled no calls, and Oswald spoke little Spanish.
Chapter 37
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's Mexico trip and Cuban Government involvement?
The Commission found no evidence that Oswald's Mexico trip was connected to the assassination and no evidence the Cuban Government was involved. The CIA and FBI advised that secret, reliable sources corroborated Senora Duran's statements in all material respects, and that Cuba had no relationship with Oswald beyond what Duran described. Secretary Rusk testified Cuba showed considerable concern about being blamed.
Chapter 37
What did comparison of Oswald's November 9 letter with its draft reveal?
The Commission compared Oswald's November 9 letter to the Soviet Embassy with a preliminary draft found among his effects. Crossed-out words showed he was intentionally obscuring the truth to make his Mexico trip sound mysterious and important. The draft's 'I considered useless' was rewritten as a visa-expiration excuse, though his tourist card had a week left. The Commission called the letter a clumsy effort to ingratiate himself.
Chapter 37

Section 384 cards

Why did Oswald's tourist card and hotel register read 'Lee, Harvey Oswald'?
The Mexican consulate clerk typed the card as 'Lee, Harvey Oswald,' likely a clerical error: Oswald printed his full name, and the clerk saw a space after 'Lee' followed by 'Harvey Oswald' crowded together, assuming 'Lee' was the surname. Oswald signed the application and card 'Lee H. Oswald.' He signed the Mexico City hotel register the same way, possibly conforming to the card or adopting the mistake as a pseudonym.
Chapter 38
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's use of aliases like Hidell and Lee?
The Commission found no indication that Oswald's use of aliases was linked with any conspiracy with others. It suggested his repeated false names are probably not disassociated from his antisocial and criminal inclinations, noting he likely bought weapons under the name Hidell to prevent their ownership from being traced. Investigations of persons using the name 'Lee' found no evidence of secret contacts.
Chapter 38
Why did the Commission doubt the Irving Sports Shop repair tag bearing 'Oswald'?
Ryder found the tag November 23 but never told his employer Greener, who learned of it November 28 from TV reporters. Ryder fixed the date as November 1-14 partly because Greener was on vacation. The FBI was tipped by anonymous calls that proved unverifiable. Neither Ryder nor Greener recalled Oswald as a customer, and Ryder's account of talking to reporters conflicted with a reporter's testimony.
Chapter 38
Why did the Commission discount the Furniture Mart witnesses' identification of Oswald?
Mrs. Whitworth and Mrs. Hunter claimed Oswald came to the Furniture Mart in early November 1963, but their accounts conflicted: they earlier described a 'plunger' (firing pin) repair, unrelated to the tag's work. Mrs. Hunter failed to identify Oswald's photo and missed Marina's missing tooth. Oswald reportedly couldn't drive and was at work; Ruth Paine said Marina never visited. Mrs. Hunter's Houston friend denied the trip and called her tales unreliable.
Chapter 38

Section 392 cards

How did the FBI explain the men who visited Sylvia Odio?
On September 16, 1964, the FBI located Loran Eugene Hall, active in anti-Castro activities, who said he visited Odio in September 1963 with Lawrence Howard and William Seymour of Arizona. Hall said Seymour resembled Oswald and spoke only a few words of Spanish, as Odio had testified. The Commission concluded Oswald was not at her apartment.
Chapter 39
What undermined Evaristo Rodriguez's claim of seeing Oswald in the Habana Bar?
Rodriguez's identification was uncorroborated except by owner Orest Pena, who Rodriguez said could not observe the man. An FBI report showed Pena earlier said he could not say whether the person was Oswald, and that he recognized Oswald only from news media photos after the assassination. The supposed Oswald was also intoxicated, inconsistent with other evidence.
Chapter 39

Section 404 cards

How did Agent Hosty's name and details get into Oswald's address book?
Hosty left his name and phone number with Ruth Paine on November 1, 1963, so she could tell him where Oswald lived. Mrs. Paine gave Oswald the slip of paper; Marina, following Oswald's prior instructions, noted Hosty's license number and gave it to her husband. The Dallas FBI office address was publicly available. The Commission concluded no informant or undercover relationship existed between any U.S. agency and Oswald.
Chapter 40
What did the Commission's audit of Oswald's finances from June 1962 to November 1963 conclude?
The Commission found the funds known to be available to Oswald were sufficient to cover all known expenditures. Including $63 cash on arrival from the Soviet Union, the Oswalds received $3,665.89 from wages, unemployment compensation, loans, and gifts; disbursements were estimated at $3,501.79, leaving $164.10 — within $19 of the $183.87 actually in his possession at arrest. No other cash income was discovered.
Chapter 40
How did the Commission estimate Oswald's living expenses, and why?
Food, clothing, and incidental expenses were estimated at a slightly higher figure than normal for a family with the Oswalds' income, and probably higher than they actually spent. The Commission did this to be certain that even if some minor expenditures were unknown, Oswald had adequate funds to cover his known expenditures. The Oswalds lived in furnished apartments costing about $60 to $75 monthly and often stayed with relatives at no cost.
Chapter 40
How did the Commission evaluate Leonard Hutchison's claim that Oswald tried to cash a $189 check?
The Commission found it more likely Oswald was never in Hutchison's store. Hutchison said the man had visited before, including on a Wednesday evening with a woman he believed was Marina and an elderly woman; Oswald is not known to have been in Irving on any Wednesday evening then. Neither checker recalled such a visit, and Marina and Marguerite Oswald denied ever being in the store. Oswald is not known to have received a $189 check from any source.
Chapter 40

Section 414 cards

Where was Jack Ruby when he first learned President Kennedy had been shot?
Ruby was in the second-floor advertising offices of the Dallas Morning News, five blocks from the Texas School Book Depository, where he had come Friday morning to place weekend ads for his nightclubs. He had been talking with employee Don Campbell until about 12:25 p.m. When an employee announced shots had been fired at the President around 12:45 p.m., Newnam recalled Ruby reacting with a look of "stunned disbelief."
Chapter 41
What did Ruby criticize at the Morning News before news of the shooting spread?
Ruby voiced criticism to John Newnam of the black-bordered advertisement titled "Welcome, Mr. Kennedy" that ran in the morning paper and bore Bernard Weissman's name as committee chairman. Eva Grant, Ruby's sister, said he had telephoned her earlier that morning to call her attention to the ad. Ruby later believed some advertiser cancellations were motivated by the Weissman advertisement.
Chapter 41
Did the Commission conclude that Kantor saw Ruby at Parkland Hospital?
The Commission concluded Kantor probably did not see Ruby at Parkland in the few minutes before or after 1:30 p.m., the only time it would have been possible. Ruby denied going to Parkland, video tapes do not show him there though Kantor appears, and Ruby was at the Carousel Club no later than 1:45 p.m. The Commission suggested Kantor may have been mistaken about both the time and place.
Chapter 41
What did Ruby do about his clubs after the assassination?
Ruby instructed Andrew Armstrong to tell employees the Carousel would close that night, and he urged Ralph Paul to close his drive-in restaurant. While at Eva Grant's home, after speaking with columnist Don Saffran, Ruby decided to close the clubs for 3 days, Friday through Sunday. He then called the Dallas Morning News to change his ad to say the clubs would be closed for the weekend.
Chapter 41

Section 424 cards

What did Ruby ask Russ Knight to do with the 'Heroism' radio script?
Ruby handed Knight a script from the conservative 'Life Line' program, which extolled those who take risky ventures and stand for causes they believe correct. Ruby asked Knight's views and suggested a group of Dallas 'radicals' hated President Kennedy and that the station owner should editorialize against them. Knight could not tell whether Ruby meant sponsors of such programs or leftwing persons, but believed Ruby thought them partly responsible for the assassination.
Chapter 42
What did Ruby do with the 'Impeach Earl Warren' sign early Saturday morning?
Around 4:30 a.m. Ruby woke roommate George Senator, called Larry Crafard to bring a Polaroid camera, and drove them to the sign near Hall Avenue and Central Expressway. Ruby had Crafard take three photographs and noted a name and post office box number on an envelope. He suspected the sign and the Weissman ad were connected, saying it was 'the work of the John Birch Society or the Communist Party or maybe a combination of both.'
Chapter 42
What did Ruby tell Ken Dowe in his Saturday afternoon calls to KLIF?
Hallmark and Brown overheard Ruby on the Nichols Garage phone addressing someone as 'Ken' and discussing the transfer of Oswald, saying 'you know I'll be there.' Ken Dowe, a KLIF announcer, confirmed he was probably that person. In one call Ruby asked whether the station knew when Oswald would be moved; in another he said he would try to locate Henry Wade.
Chapter 42
What did the Commission conclude about whether Ruby visited the Dallas Police Department on Saturday?
The Commission reached no firm conclusion. Five news reporters' testimony supported the possibility, including claims Ruby provided sandwiches, gave a Carousel card about 4 p.m., or entered an office where Wade worked. But no one else corroborated the office sighting, none of the witnesses had known Ruby previously, no police officer reported his presence, and Ruby never mentioned such a visit.
Chapter 42

Section 434 cards

What did Ruby tell the Commission about his motive for shooting Oswald?
Ruby testified that on Sunday morning he saw a newspaper letter to Caroline Kennedy and a comment that Mrs. Kennedy might have to return for Oswald's trial. He said an emotional feeling came over him that someone owed it to the President to spare her that ordeal. He also mentioned taking Preludin, a diet pill, and described his mood as strange.
Chapter 43
How did the Commission assess the TV technicians who claimed to see Ruby Sunday morning?
Three WBAP-TV technicians believed they saw Ruby near the Police and Courts Building between 8 and 11 a.m. The Commission found substantial reasons to doubt them: none had seen Ruby before, none looked long, and all were busy until they saw his picture on television. Their descriptions of an unkempt man in a gray overcoat conflicted with Ruby's clean, well-groomed appearance and lack of an overcoat.
Chapter 43
What did Ruby do between leaving his apartment and shooting Oswald?
Leaving shortly before 11 a.m. with his dog and radio, Ruby took a revolver from his car trunk and drove downtown past Dealey Plaza. He parked across from Western Union, locked about $1,000 in the trunk, and sent $25 to Karen Carlin, keeping a receipt time-stamped 11:17 a.m. He then walked toward the police department and entered the basement ramp.
Chapter 43
What conflicting accounts exist of Ruby's Sunday morning whereabouts?
Ruby and George Senator maintained Ruby did not leave the apartment until shortly before 11 a.m., supported by two other witnesses. Senator said he did his own laundry in the basement while Ruby slept, and a neighbor mistook Senator for Ruby. Against this, three TV technicians placed Ruby near the Police and Courts Building earlier, but the Commission doubted their identifications.
Chapter 43

Section 444 cards

Did the Commission find any link between the Carlins' call and Oswald's transfer?
The Commission investigated Karen Carlin's 10:19 Sunday morning call to Ruby to see whether it was prearranged to convey information about Oswald's transfer or to give Ruby an excuse to be near the police department. It examined long-distance telephone records for Ruby, the Carlins, the Dallas police, and several others, and found no sign of indirect communication to Ruby through the Carlins. No other evidence linked the Carlins to the shooting.
Chapter 44
Why did the Commission doubt witnesses who saw Oswald with Ruby?
The Commission noted that none of these witnesses had particular reason to pay close attention to either man, substantial time elapsed before their observations became meaningful, and unlike eyewitnesses to Oswald on November 22, none reported their observations soon after Oswald's arrest. It also encountered many clear mistakes of identification, with at least four persons besides Crafard mistaken for Oswald and others misidentified as Ruby.
Chapter 44
What did the Commission conclude about the Patterson sighting of Ruby with a man resembling Oswald?
Patterson, a Dallas electronics salesman, said Ruby bought equipment on November 1, 1963, accompanied by a man who resembled Oswald. But Patterson did not positively identify the man as Oswald, and two associates present could not confirm it. Other evidence indicated the companion was Larry Crafard, who worked for Ruby then; Ruth Paine said Crafard's photograph strongly resembled Oswald, and depository records show Oswald worked a full day on November 1.
Chapter 44
What circumstances showed Oswald and Ruby were not acquainted?
Both lived in Oak Cliff about a mile apart, but neighbors knew of no association. Oswald worked 8 to 4:45; Ruby stayed in until past 9 a.m. They took different routes downtown, and Oswald's bus routes never came near Ruby's home or club. Oswald came home promptly and is not known to have visited any nightclub, while Ruby was at the Carousel from 9 p.m. until after 1 a.m.
Chapter 44

Section 453 cards

What did the Commission conclude about the Muncie allegation that Ruby was linked to Communist activities?
The Commission found no basis for accepting the witness's testimony. Military records placed Ruby on active duty in the South during two alleged Muncie visits; the son-in-law he supposedly visited disclaimed knowing him; the alleged list was never located; and all named Muncie residents denied knowing Ruby. The admitted former Communist also denied knowing Ruby or that meetings were held above the jewelry store.
Chapter 45
What evidence led the Commission to conclude Ruby did not know Bernard Weissman?
Ruby expressed hostility toward the November 22 full-page advertisement to many people without indicating familiarity with anyone responsible for it. On November 23 he tried to trace the post office box on the 'Impeach Earl Warren' sign and to find Weissman's name in a city directory. The Commission reasoned that had Ruby been involved in unlawful activity with Weissman, he would not have called attention to him.
Chapter 45
How did the Commission explain Tippit's encounter with Oswald as unrelated to any prior association?
Police radio logs show Tippit was specifically directed to patrol the Oak Cliff area as part of general directions issued to all officers after the assassination. His movement into central Oak Cliff followed normal Dallas Police Department procedure for covering nearby districts. Oswald fit the general suspect description broadcast to all police cars 15 minutes after the shooting, so Tippit was acting in the line of duty.
Chapter 45

Section 464 cards

Why did the Commission doubt Ruby would shoot Oswald as part of a conspiracy?
The Commission reasoned that killing Oswald in the city jail guaranteed Ruby's apprehension and posed grave dangers to any conspirators: if it failed, Oswald might disclose confederates; if it succeeded, the additional killing might produce a trail to them. It also noted Ruby was regarded by most who knew him as moody and unstable, hardly one to inspire confidence in a sensitive conspiracy.
Chapter 46
What did the Commission conclude about conspiracy in the Kennedy assassination?
The Commission concluded there was no credible evidence that Oswald was part of a conspiracy to assassinate President Kennedy, and found no indication he was aided in planning or executing his scheme. It discovered no evidence the Soviet Union or Cuba were involved, and found no grounds to believe Ruby's killing of Oswald was part of a conspiracy. Rusk, McNamara, Dillon, Kennedy, Hoover, McCone, and Rowley independently reached the same conclusion.
Chapter 46
Why couldn't the Commission determine whether Oswald was legally sane?
Because Oswald was dead, the Commission stated it could not reach definite conclusions as to whether he was 'sane' under prevailing legal standards. It noted that under the American system of justice no forum could properly make that determination unless Oswald were before it. The Commission added that it certainly could not make it, since it ascertained the facts surrounding the assassination but did not draw conclusions concerning Oswald's legal guilt.
Chapter 46
What did the Commission identify as the outstanding conclusion about Oswald's character?
The Commission stated that perhaps the most outstanding conclusion of its study was that Oswald was profoundly alienated from the world in which he lived. His life was characterized by isolation, frustration, and failure; he had very few, if any, close relationships and great difficulty finding a meaningful place in the world. He was never satisfied with anything, resenting the capitalist system in the United States while speaking highly of Cuba, yet resenting privileged Communist Party members in the Soviet Union while speaking well of the United States.
Chapter 46

Section 494 cards

Why did Oswald open negotiations with the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in early 1961?
About six weeks before meeting Marina Prusakova, and less than 18 months after his defection, Oswald began talks with the U.S. Embassy in Moscow aimed at returning to the United States. The Commission notes this came after his January 1961 diary entry complaining that life in the Soviet Union was drab, with no night clubs, bowling alleys, or recreation except trade union dances.
Chapter 49
How did Marina Oswald describe her husband's behavior after the return to the United States?
Marina testified that immediately after coming to the United States Lee changed and she did not know him as such a man in Russia. She said he became more of a recluse, very irritable, sometimes for a trifle, and very unrestrained and explosive between November 1962 and March 1963. She later wrote that family life deteriorated after their arrival in America.
Chapter 49
What did Oswald's two sets of simulated press-conference questions and answers reveal?
Oswald prepared identical questions with two different sets of answers. The Commission judged the first set reflected his true feelings and the second what he thought would be least harmful as he resumed life in the United States. For example, he first answered 'Yes, basically' to being a communist, then 'No of course not,' and first cited protest against American policies as his reason for going to the Soviet Union.
Chapter 49
What did Oswald write about both capitalism and communism after leaving the Soviet Union?
The Commission says material written after he left the Soviet Union expressed great hostility to both communism and capitalism, contrasting with his earlier coherent 'The Collective.' He wrote that no man who had lived under both systems could choose between them, since one offers oppression and the other poverty, and both offer imperialistic injustice tinted with two brands of slavery.
Chapter 49

Section 504 cards

Why was Oswald discharged from the Dallas photographic firm in April 1963?
Oswald was hired as a trainee on October 12, 1962, but his employer found him inefficient: his work did not meet specifications and had to be redone, and he clashed with coworkers in close quarters. He was discharged April 6, 1963, ostensibly for inefficiency and difficult personality. His supervisor admitted the Russian newspaper incident did not cause the firing but "didn't do his case any good."
Chapter 50
What did Oswald tell his wife and Mrs. Paine about his New Orleans job?
Oswald began work May 10, 1963, as a greaser and oiler of coffee processing machines for the William B. Reily Co. Rather than admit he could only get that work, he told his wife and Mrs. Paine he was a commercial photographer. He lost the job July 19, 1963, for unsatisfactory work and for loitering in the next-door garage reading rifle and hunting magazines.
Chapter 50
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's April 10, 1963 attack on General Walker?
The Commission concluded Oswald shot at Maj. Gen. Edwin A. Walker on April 10, 1963, showing a propensity to act dramatically and violently for his beliefs. He had planned the attack for one to two months, studying plans in a notebook and bus schedules. He left his wife a note and photos of himself with the rifle, which the Commission saw as evidence of concern for his place in history.
Chapter 50
What did the Commission find about Oswald's Fair Play for Cuba Committee chapter?
The Commission found Oswald's New Orleans FPCC chapter was a product of his imagination, never chartered by the national organization. Its imaginary president was A. J. Hidell, the name Oswald used to buy the assassination weapon; Marina signed the membership card under threat. Oswald told police the chapter had 35 members, though it appears to have been a solitary operation.
Chapter 50

Section 514 cards

What did Oswald ask the Communist Party USA central committee in his August 28, 1963 letter?
Oswald asked whether he could continue to fight, handicapped by his past record, and compete with anti-progressive forces above-ground, or whether he should remain in the background, i.e., underground. He also expressed concern that his Soviet residence could be used against any cause he joined. Arnold Johnson replied that while Oswald had a right to participate, it is often advisable for some people to remain in the background, not underground.
Chapter 51
What did Marina Oswald say was her husband's basic desire during this period?
Marina Oswald testified that his basic desire was to get to Cuba by any means, and that everything else was window dressing for that purpose. She said he engaged in Fair Play for Cuba Committee activities primarily for self-advertising, wanted to be arrested and get into newspapers so he would be known, believing it would help him in Cuba. She refused when he asked her to help hijack an airplane.
Chapter 51
What happened when Oswald applied for a Cuban visa in Mexico City in September 1963?
Oswald arrived September 27, 1963, and applied at the Cuban Embassy for a visa to Cuba in transit to Russia, presenting himself as head of the New Orleans Fair Play for Cuba Committee. The Cubans would not grant a visa until he had a Soviet one, which meant months of delay. He became agitated, argued angrily with the consul, and was told a person like him was harming the Cuban Revolution rather than aiding it.
Chapter 51
What evidence does the chapter give that Oswald had no plan to flee to Cuba after the assassination?
The chapter notes Oswald carried only $13.87 at arrest, though he had apparently by design left $170 in a wallet in his wife's room in Irving. It argues that absent a conspiracy to help him escape, a reasoning person would not plan to travel from Dallas to Cuba with $13.87 when greater resources were available. Leaving the funds behind suggests no plan to flee and raises questions about whether he expected to escape.
Chapter 51

Section 524 cards

What did Marina Oswald's letter to her Russian ex-boyfriend say, and how did Oswald react?
Marina wrote that Oswald had changed a great deal, that she was lonely in the United States, and that she was sorry she had not married the boyfriend instead. The letter reached Oswald's post office box because of insufficient postage from a postal rate increase. He read it, refused to believe it was sincere despite her insistence, and struck her. She testified there were some grounds for it.
Chapter 52
How did Marina Oswald reportedly undercut her husband's self-image, according to the chapter?
She ridiculed his political views, tearing down his sense of importance. He read autobiographies of outstanding American statesmen, whom his wife thought he compared himself to. She said his fantasy of being an outstanding man was unfounded and tried to point out he was a man like any other. Jeanne De Mohrenschildt said Marina said things that hurt men's pride.
Chapter 52
What did Oswald claim about the FBI in his November 9, 1963 letter to the Soviet Embassy?
He asked about entrance visas and absolved the Mexico City embassy of blame. He told Washington the FBI was not now interested in his Fair Play for Cuba Committee activities, but claimed Agent James P. Hasty warned him that renewed FPCC activity in Texas would draw FBI interest. The Commission found no agent spoke to Oswald between August 10, 1963, and the assassination; the warning was a fabrication.
Chapter 52
What did Oswald do on the morning of November 22, 1963, before leaving for work?
He left before anyone else arose. For the first time he left his wedding ring in a cup on the dresser in his room, and left $170 in a wallet in a dresser drawer. He took $13.87 with him and the long brown package Frazier and Mrs. Randle saw him carry, which he took to the School Book Depository.
Chapter 52

Section 534 cards

What did the Commission conclude about the Secret Service's preventive intelligence arrangements at the time of the assassination?
The Commission concluded that the arrangements relied upon by the Secret Service to identify and eliminate possible sources of danger before danger became actual were seriously deficient. This judgment concerned the Protective Research Section's intelligence function at the time of the Dallas trip, not the conduct of agents on November 22 itself.
Chapter 53
How large was the Protective Research Section when President Kennedy was assassinated?
At the time of the assassination, the Protective Research Section was a very small group comprised of 12 specialists and 3 clerks. Its duties included collecting and evaluating information about persons or groups who might endanger the President, plus clearance of certain White House employees and tradesmen, security processing of gifts, and technical inspections against covert listening devices.
Chapter 53
What did J. Edgar Hoover's memorandum say about absolute security for the President?
Hoover wrote that absolute security is neither practical nor possible; approaching it would require the President to operate in a vacuum, isolated from the public behind impregnable barriers, traveling in secret with public appearances behind bulletproof glass. He said a more practical approach necessitates compromise, with any public contact involving a calculated risk that can be lessened if the President accepts recommended precautions.
Chapter 53
Why did the Commission not publish the underlying staff and consultants' reports on protective activities?
The Commission published the Secretary of the Treasury's August 27, 1964, planning document recommending additional personnel and facilities, but withheld the underlying staff and consultants' reports because disclosing such detailed information about protective measures might undermine present methods of protecting the President. All information pertaining to the protective function as carried out in Dallas was published in the report.
Chapter 53

Section 543 cards

What did the Commission conclude about the Protective Research Section's pre-November 22, 1963 facilities and procedures?
The Commission believes the Protective Research Section's facilities and procedures prior to November 22, 1963, were inadequate. Its efforts appeared too largely directed at the "crank" threat, and it made little effort to identify factors other than specific threats suggesting danger. Except for a special "trip index" file of 400 names, no PRS general files were available for systematic geographic review when the President planned a trip.
Chapter 54
Why did Bouck explain the failure to identify individuals from the Stevenson incident?
Bouck explained that PRS required a more direct indication of a threat to the President, and there was no such indication until the President's scheduled visit to the area became known. The Commission found this approach seriously undermines the precautionary nature of PRS work: if the Stevenson pickets' presence might have created danger, PRS should have investigated and been prepared to guard against it.
Chapter 54
Why did Agent Hosty reopen the Lee Harvey Oswald case in March 1963?
While trying to locate Marina Oswald, Hosty was told by a former landlady that other tenants complained Oswald was drinking to excess and beating his wife. This led Hosty to review Oswald's file, where he learned Oswald had subscribed to the Worker, a Communist Party publication. Hosty decided the case should be reopened because of the alleged personal difficulties and the Worker contact, and his recommendation was accepted.
Chapter 54

Section 553 cards

Why did Agent Hosty take no action on the Oswald case between November 5 and November 22?
Hosty testified he had 25 to 40 cases at once, had established Oswald was not in a sensitive industry, and planned to wait for New Orleans papers before interviewing Marina Oswald in detail. He said he could make no further plans until talking to her. Bureau files confirm no active investigation occurred from November 5 until the assassination.
Chapter 55
What did the Commission conclude about the FBI's view of its referral responsibilities?
The Commission found no Secret Service criteria specifically required referring Oswald, but believed the FBI took an unduly restrictive view of its preventive intelligence duties. It said the accumulated material—defection, hostility, pro-Castro ties, lies, Mexico trip, and the Depository's location on the route—should have led an alert agency to list Oswald as a potential threat, though it conceded hindsight tinged this conclusion.
Chapter 55
How did Hosty and Lt. Revill's accounts of their conversation differ?
Both agreed Hosty said the FBI had known about Oswald, his presence in Dallas, and his Depository employment. Revill testified Hosty also said the FBI had information Oswald was capable of committing the assassination, and Revill wrote a memorandum that day. Hosty unequivocally denied saying this. Detective Brian, the only other witness, did not hear the statement but missed parts of the conversation.
Chapter 55

Section 561 cards

What did the Commission conclude about the off-duty agents' night out in Fort Worth?
Nine off-duty agents visited the Fort Worth Press Club for food and drinks, then most went to the Cellar Coffee House; three midnight-shift agents also visited during breaks. Supervisors said all reported on time and fully capable, and Chief Rowley found their duties performed satisfactorily, but he did not condone the conduct, which violated the regulation prohibiting liquor in travel status.
Chapter 56

Section 572 cards

Why does the Secret Service reject detailed contingency plans for emergencies?
The Secret Service believes detailed contingency or emergency plans are not feasible because the variations possible preclude effective planning. Instead, it relies on steps like staffing the lead car with agents familiar with the area and local law enforcement, an elaborate motorcade radio net, and a doctor in the motorcade. The Commission calls this basic approach sound, arguing detailed plans might inhibit quick and imaginative responses.
Chapter 57
Which officials would the Commission's proposed assassination statute cover?
The Commission recommends punishing murder, manslaughter, attempt or conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, and assault upon the President, Vice President, or other officer next in succession, plus the President-elect and Vice-President-elect, whether or not the act occurs during official duties. Restricting coverage this way avoids controversy over other succession officials and likely eliminates the need for the act to occur during official duties.
Chapter 57

Section 584 cards

What new criteria did the FBI circulate on December 26, 1963, for reporting to the Secret Service?
The FBI instructed agents to report subversives, ultrarightists, racists and fascists who possess emotional instability, made threats of bodily harm against government officials, expressed violent anti-U.S. sentiments with bombing or violence tendencies, or whose prior acts show a propensity for violence and hatred against organized government. Belmont testified the FBI itself initiated this revision, which broadened reporting beyond actual threats to the President.
Chapter 58
Why did the Commission find the June 1964 tentative criteria unduly restrictive?
The Commission said the criteria were a step in the right direction but unduly restrictive because they still required some manifestation of animus against a Government official. The Commission questioned whether such criteria would have resulted in Oswald's referral; Chief Rowley believed they would, citing Oswald's hostility toward the Secretary of the Navy in his January 30, 1962, letter. The Commission disagreed that the letter showed intent to use unlawful means.
Chapter 58
What did the Commission recommend regarding Secret Service liaison with other agencies?
The Commission found the Secret Service's liaison too casual and recommended formal written agreements with each Federal agency and leading State and local agencies, detailing the information sought, how it will be provided, and respective investigation responsibilities. It said the FBI and CIA, which carry major responsibility for threat information, should advise the Service of assassination plots and changes in group leadership or dogma. The Service should not duplicate their intelligence capabilities.
Chapter 58
What did the Commission recommend about the Secret Service's data processing?
The Commission called the manual filing system obsolete and recommended prompt favorable consideration of the Treasury Department's request for five persons to plan an automated file and retrieval system and $100,000 for a feasibility study. It further recommended the Secret Service coordinate planning with Federal agencies supplying its data and develop a system compatible with theirs, rather than duplicating their intelligence-gathering facilities.
Chapter 58

Section 594 cards

What did the Commission recommend regarding Secret Service reliance on other agencies?
The Commission recommended that the Secret Service's present arrangements with the Office of Science and Technology and other helpful Federal agencies be placed on a permanent and formal basis. It cited the August 31, 1964, exchange of letters between Secretary Dillon and Donald F. Hornig as a useful step, and urged the Service to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with each assisting agency, with essential terms possibly embodied in an Executive order.
Chapter 59
Did the Commission claim its recommendations could guarantee future presidential security?
No. The Commission stated it could recommend no procedures that would guarantee security, because the demands on the President are varied and complex and the traditions of the office in a democracy preclude absolute security. It did assert, however, that its recommendations, if adopted, would materially improve on the procedures in effect at the time and substantially lessen the danger.
Chapter 59
What did Executive Order 11130 establish and who signed it?
Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on November 29, 1963, Executive Order 11130 appointed a Commission to ascertain, evaluate, and report on the facts of President Kennedy's assassination and the subsequent violent death of the man charged with it. The Chief Justice chaired, with Senators Russell and Cooper, Congressmen Boggs and Ford, and Allen Dulles and John McCloy as members.
Chapter 59
What subpoena power did Public Law 88-202 give the Commission?
The joint resolution empowered the Commission, or an authorized member, to issue subpoenas requiring attendance, testimony, and production of evidence anywhere in the United States, and to administer oaths. On contumacy, federal courts could order compliance and punish failure as contempt. Witnesses could not refuse on self-incrimination grounds, but gained immunity from prosecution except for perjury, demotion, or removal from office.
Chapter 59

Section 604 cards

What education and honors did W. David Slawson hold?
Slawson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on June 2, 1931. He earned an A.B. summa cum laude from Amherst College in 1953, an M.A. from Princeton in 1954, and an LL.B. magna cum laude from Harvard in 1959. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a note editor of the Harvard Law Review, and belonged to the Denver law firm Davis, Graham & Stubbs.
Chapter 60
What was Arlen Specter's legal career before joining the Commission staff?
Specter was born in Wichita, Kansas, on February 12, 1930. He received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and an LL.B. from Yale Law School in 1956, where he edited the Yale Law Journal. He was an associate at Dechert, Price & Rhoads in Philadelphia from 1956 to 1959, then served in the Philadelphia district attorney's office from 1959 to 1964.
Chapter 60
Which staff member served as law clerk to Chief Justice Earl Warren?
Samuel A. Stern, born in Philadelphia on January 21, 1929, graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania in 1949 and received his LL.B. magna cum laude from Harvard in 1952, where he was developments editor of the Harvard Law Review. He clerked for Chief Judge Calvert Magruder of the First Circuit in 1954-55 and for Chief Justice Earl Warren in 1955-56.
Chapter 60
How does Appendix V classify the 552 witnesses by testimony type?
The appendix lists 552 witnesses whose testimony was presented to the Commission. A 'C' marks witnesses who appeared before members of the Commission, a 'D' marks those questioned in depositions by the Commission's legal staff, and 'A' and 'S' identify those who supplied affidavits and statements. Brief descriptions of each witness pertain to the time of their testimony or the events they testified about.
Chapter 60

Section 614 cards

What does the superscript letter after each witness name indicate?
The chapter is a name index of witnesses and persons connected to the investigation, and each entry carries a superscript letter or letters (such as A, C, or D) alongside the person's name, occupation or relationship, and the volume and page numbers of their testimony. The chapter itself does not explain what the letters mean; it only records them with each entry.
Chapter 61
What identifying details does each index entry provide besides the name?
Each entry gives the person's occupation, role, or relationship to someone involved—for example, 'Agent, FBI,' 'Employee, TSBD,' 'Doctor, Parkland Hospital,' or 'Acquaintance of the Oswalds in Texas'—followed by the volume and page citations where that person's testimony appears. Some entries list multiple volumes and pages, and some names carry multiple superscript letters.
Chapter 61
Which persons are identified as employees of the Texas School Book Depository?
Several entries identify TSBD employees, including Buell Wesley Frazier, who is also described as a neighbor of the Paines in Irving, Texas; Charles Douglas Givens; James Jarman, Jr.; Geneva L. Hine; and Frankie Kaiser. Their testimony citations appear in various volumes, such as Volume II, III, VI, and VII.
Chapter 61
What kinds of roles appear among the listed Dallas Police Department members?
The index lists numerous Dallas Police Department members, including officers such as J. W. Foster, Bobby W. Hargis, D. V. Harkness, and Ray Hawkins, as well as Captain W. B. Fritz and Captain O. A. Jones. Their testimony citations span multiple volumes, including Volumes IV, VI, VII, XII, and XV.
Chapter 61

Section 624 cards

What does this section of the Warren Commission Report consist of?
This section is a name-by-name index of witnesses and persons connected to the investigation. Each entry gives the person's name, a brief identifying description such as occupation or relationship to figures like Oswald or Ruby, and citations to the volume and page of the Commission's published hearings and exhibits where their testimony or statements appear.
Chapter 62
How does the index identify Jack Ruby?
The entry lists "Ruby, Jack" with the description "Convicted slayer of Oswald," citing Volume V, page 181 and Volume XIV, page 504. The index also includes separate entries for his brothers, Hyman Rubenstein, Earl Ruby, and Sam Ruby, each with their own volume and page citations.
Chapter 62
What kind of information accompanies each name in this index?
Each entry pairs the person's name with a short descriptor and one or more citations. Descriptors include occupations such as "Member, Dallas Police Department" or "Doctor, Parkland Hospital," roles such as "Chief, U.S. Secret Service," and relationships such as "Brother of Jack Ruby" or "Neighbor of the Oswalds in New Orleans."
Chapter 62
Which individuals are described as witnesses at the assassination scene?
The index lists several people with that description, including James E. Romack, Arnold Louis Rowland, Royce G. Skelton, and James Thomas Tague, each with volume and page citations. Barbara Rowland, identified as Mrs. Arnold L. Rowland, is listed with the same description "do.," referring back to witness at the assassination scene.
Chapter 62

Section 634 cards

How did Patrolman John F. Parker fail in his duty at Ford's Theater?
Parker, the President's bodyguard for the evening, was supposed to remain on guard in the corridor outside the Presidential box during the entire performance. Instead he wandered off to watch the play and then went outside the theater to have a drink at a nearby saloon. His dereliction of duty left Lincoln totally unprotected, and Booth shot the President shortly after 10 o'clock.
Chapter 63
What did the congressional committee do after investigating Lincoln's assassination?
A congressional committee conducted an extensive investigation of the assassination but, with traditional reluctance, called for no action to provide better protection for the President in the future. Nor did the President or Government departments request protective measures. The chapter suggests this lack of concern may have derived from regarding Lincoln's assassination as part of a unique crisis unlikely to happen to a future Chief Executive.
Chapter 63
Why did Guiteau assassinate President Garfield, according to the chapter?
Guiteau was bitterly disappointed that Garfield ignored his repeated written requests for appointment as a consul in Europe, a reward he felt entitled to for his unsolicited campaign help. He also testified that the 'Deity' had commanded him to remove the President. The chapter notes hereditary mental problems in his family and that he apparently believed in divine inspiration, suggesting these may not fully explain his motive.
Chapter 63
How did the Secret Service first become informally involved in protecting the President?
The Secret Service was organized in 1865 as a Treasury division to deal with counterfeiting. In 1894, while investigating a plot by Colorado gamblers to assassinate President Cleveland, it assigned a small detail of operatives to the White House. Agents accompanied Cleveland and his family, and special details protected him in Washington, on trips, and at functions, though two agents riding in a buggy behind his carriage drew press attention and were soon discontinued at the President's insistence.
Chapter 63

Section 644 cards

Why did the Secret Service create the Protective Research Section in 1940?
The White House mail volume had grown huge, especially under Franklin D. Roosevelt, and threatening letters arrived in unprecedented quantities. The Protective Research Section was established to analyze White House mail and other sources for information about people potentially capable of violence against the President, and to make that information available to those charged with his protection. The chapter says it undoubtedly let the Service anticipate and forestall many incidents.
Chapter 64
What happened when Collazo and Torresola attacked Blair House on November 1, 1950?
The Puerto Rican Nationalists, living in New York, tried to force their way into Blair House, then the President's residence while the White House was repaired. White House policemen and Secret Service agents guarded it. In the gun battle Torresola and one White House policeman were killed; Collazo and two White House policemen were wounded. About 27 shots were fired in under 3 minutes, and the assassins never fired directly at Truman.
Chapter 64
What did the 1951 legislation do for Secret Service protection?
Prompted by the Truman attack, the 1951 law permanently authorized the Secret Service to protect the President, his immediate family, the President-elect, and the Vice President upon the Vice President's request. Protection of the Vice President had begun in January 1945 when Harry S. Truman held the office. In 1962 Congress further enlarged the list, dropping the request requirement for the Vice President and adding the Vice President-elect and former Presidents for a reasonable period, which the Service considered 6 months.
Chapter 64
Which officers did the amended threat statute cover, and who was excluded?
Amendments to the 1917 threat statute, passed in 1955 and 1962, made it a crime to threaten harm to the President-elect, the Vice President, or other officers next in succession to either office. The President's immediate family was not included in the threat statute. This is separate from the protection statutes, which did cover the immediate family.
Chapter 64

Section 652 cards

What wounds did Governor Connally sustain, and which surgeons handled each?
Connally suffered a gunshot wound to the right chest, a comminuted fracture of the right distal radius with a small flesh wound of the left thigh. Dr. Robert Shaw dictated the chest injury, Dr. Charles Gregory the orthopedic injury to the arm, and Dr. Tom Shires the left thigh wound. The operative notes state the chest procedure was completed while arm debridement was still in progress.
Chapter 65
What was the cause of death and the autopsy findings for President Kennedy?
The autopsy protocol, performed by Commander J.J. Humes with assistants Commander J. Thornton Boswell and Lieutenant Colonel Pierre A. Finck, lists the cause of death as gunshot wound, head. The record notes the President was 46 years old, 72½ inches tall, 170 pounds, with blue eyes and reddish brown hair.
Chapter 65

Section 664 cards

What did the autopsy summary conclude was the cause of death?
The autopsy panel concluded the deceased died from two perforating gunshot wounds inflicted by high-velocity projectiles fired by a person or persons unknown, from a point behind and somewhat above the level of the deceased. The available information did not permit a satisfactory estimate of the sequence of the two wounds.
Chapter 66
What path did the nonfatal missile take through the body?
It entered the right superior posterior thorax above the scapula and traversed soft tissues of the supra-scapular and supra-clavicular neck regions. It contused the right apical parietal pleura and right upper lobe of the lung, contused the strap muscles, damaged the trachea, and exited through the anterior neck surface. As far as could be ascertained, it struck no bony structures.
Chapter 66
What did the brain examination show about the two hemispheres?
The right cerebral hemisphere was markedly disrupted, with a parasagittal longitudinal laceration about 2.5 cm right of the midline running from occipital to frontal lobe tips, plus a laceration of the corpus callosum exposing the right lateral and third ventricles. Viewed from the vertex, the left hemisphere was intact, with engorged meningeal vessels and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Chapter 66
What did the autopsy team say about the skull wound's lethality?
The panel opined that the skull wound produced such extensive damage to the brain as to preclude the possibility of the deceased surviving this injury. The two skull wounds combined with the missile's force caused extensive skull fragmentation, laceration of the superior sagittal sinus, and laceration of the right cerebral hemisphere.
Chapter 66

Section 672 cards

Why can a bullet be matched to one specific barrel, according to the chapter?
The chapter explains that after rifling, removing part of the marks with a separate tool gives each barrel an individual characteristic, so a bullet can be identified as fired from that barrel to the exclusion of all others. There is no system to the drilling; the only system is in the rifling or cutting of the grooves, and cutters wear down and are resharpened or discarded.
Chapter 67
What was the rifle found on the sixth floor, and how was it identified?
It was a bolt-action, clip-fed 6.5-millimeter Mannlicher-Carcano Italian military rifle, Model 91/38, 40.2 inches long and 8 pounds, bearing markings including 'CAL. 6.5,' 'MADE ITALY,' 'TERNI,' 'ROCCA,' '1940,' and serial number C2766. Identification came from standard reference works and markings, chambering a cartridge for fit, a sulfur cast of the barrel measured with a micrometer, and later a SIFAR communication.
Chapter 67

Section 684 cards

What did firearms tests show about firing a revolver rapidly at close range?
The chapter states that in a crouched stance a person can fire five shots with the revolver in 3-4 seconds with no trouble, and would need no training to hit a human body four times in four or five shots at a range of 8 feet. A person with any training with the weapon would not find its recoil noticeable.
Chapter 68
Why could the four recovered bullets not be positively matched to the revolver?
The revolver had been rechambered for a .38 Special cartridge but not rebarreled for a .38 Special bullet, so the barrel was slightly oversized for the smaller-diameter bullet. This made the bullet's passage erratic, producing inconsistent microscopic markings. Cunningham found consecutive bullets fired in the revolver by the FBI could not even be identified with each other, so he concluded all four could have been fired from it but none positively identified.
Chapter 68
Why is the paraffin test unreliable for detecting whether someone fired a weapon?
The test turns blue in the presence of nitrates, but diphenylamine and diphenylbenzidine also react with nitrates from other sources and most oxidizing agents, including tobacco, Clorox, urine, cosmetics, matches, fertilizers, and soils. Handling a weapon may also leave nitrates. Conversely, a person who fired a weapon may test negative, particularly with a rifle, since the sealed chamber lets no gases escape. FBI experiments demonstrated both false positives and false negatives.
Chapter 68
What did neutron-activation analysis of Oswald's paraffin casts show, and why was it inconclusive?
Barium and antimony were found on both surfaces of all the casts and also in residues from the rifle and revolver cartridge cases. Since both elements were present in both types of cartridge cases, their presence was not evidence that Oswald had fired the rifle. The inside cheek cast had less barium and only slightly more antimony than the outside surface, which had not touched Oswald's cheek, so no significance could be attached.
Chapter 68

Section 694 cards

On what principle is handwriting identification based, according to Cole?
Cole testified that every person's handwriting is distinctive because each individual's mental and physical equipment for producing writing differs, so each develops personal writing habits. Although people initially try to reproduce ideal letter forms, practically no one succeeds exactly and soon departs into individual habits. Habit, he said, is what makes fluent handwriting possible rather than drawing or sketching.
Chapter 69
What two types of clues does a forger leave, per the chapter?
The chapter states a forger leaves two kinds of clues. First, he can seldom perfectly simulate the victim's letter forms; concentrating on one detail, he misses others, so proportions or letter connections go wrong. Second, the forger draws rather than writes, so forged writing shows defects in line quality such as tremor, waver, patching, retouching, noncontinuous lines, and pen lifts in awkward places.
Chapter 69
How were the Hidell Selective Service and Marine Corps cards shown to be counterfeits?
Oswald carried Hidell cards and matching cards in his own name. The Hidell cards were photographic counterfeits. After his arrest, retouched negatives were found in Mr. Paine's garage in Irving, including retouched negatives of the Oswald cards. Comparing them showed the Hidell cards were made by photographing the Oswald cards, retouching the negatives, and producing prints from those retouched negatives.
Chapter 69
Why may the use of hand printing on the rifle mail order matter?
The writing on the purchase order and envelope showed no significant evidence of disguise, subject to the qualification that using hand printing on the mail order rather than handwriting may have been intended as disguise. The chapter adds that it is not unusual for a person using an alias not to disguise writing; Cole frequently examined forgeries showing no attempt at disguise.
Chapter 69

Section 703 cards

How were the Hidell certificate's face and reverse produced from Oswald's certificate?
By photographing the Oswald certificate, retouching the negatives to eliminate typed and handwritten material, and making a photographic print from the retouched negative. Evidence includes the negative itself, where opaqued-out information remains visible, and defects in printed letters where handwriting had crossed printed material on the Oswald original. New material, such as "ALEK JAMES HIDELL," was then typed into the blanks on the print.
Chapter 70
What did handwriting examiners conclude about the signatures on the Fair Play for Cuba Committee card?
Both Cole and Cadigan identified "L. H. Oswald" as Lee Harvey Oswald's signature but could not identify the "A. J. Hidell" signature. Cadigan noted differences suggesting someone else may have written it, and Cole felt it was beyond Oswald's penman abilities. Marina Oswald later testified she wrote the Hidell signature, and Cadigan confirmed this with further handwriting samples.
Chapter 70
What did comparison of the paper bag with depository samples show?
Cadigan compared the questioned bag paper and tape with known samples from the Texas School Book Depository shipping department obtained November 22, 1963. Using visual, microscopic, felting-pattern, thickness, fiber, and spectrographic tests, the items were identical in all measured properties, though a December 1 sample was distinguishable. Tape markings matched a dispenser in the shipping room.
Chapter 70

Section 714 cards

What did the animal-shot tests indicate about the bullet that struck Governor Connally's chest?
The bullet marked Commission Exhibit No. 853, fired through an animal, was more flattened than Exhibit No. 399, suggesting it traveled at greater speed. The animal bullet left an imprint almost the length of the bullet on the velocity screen, indicating it traveled sideways or end over end. Considering the Governor's extra girth, the bullet's velocity loss through his body was estimated at 400 feet per second.
Chapter 71
Why did the wrist tests conclude Connally's wrist was not struck by a pristine bullet?
Tests firing Western bullets at bone structures from 210 feet showed greater bone damage than the Governor's wrist suffered, and produced a smaller entry wound and larger exit wound characteristic of a pristine bullet. The Governor's wrist had a larger wound of entry, indicating a tumbling bullet with substantially reduced velocity. A pristine bullet would have had a considerably flattened nose.
Chapter 71
What did Drs. Olivier and Dziemian conclude about the bullets and Governor Connally's wounds?
Both expressed the opinion that one bullet caused all the wounds on Governor Connally: it passed through his chest, lost substantial velocity, tumbled through his wrist, and slightly penetrated his left thigh. They also concluded it was most probable the same bullet passed through the President's neck first, since the wrist wound indicated velocity loss greater than 400 feet per second.
Chapter 71
What did skull tests show about the President's head wound and the bullet fragments?
Dr. Olivier concluded a Western bullet fired from the Mannlicher-Carcano at 270 feet would make the same type of wound found on the President's head. Tests showed skull bones could deform the bullet's end, expending great energy and blowing out the skull side. Fragments from the test bullet closely resembled those found in the limousine, and the tests confirmed the wound was not caused by a dumdum bullet.
Chapter 71

Section 723 cards

What did Shaneyfelt conclude about whether photos 133-A and 133-B were composites?
Shaneyfelt concluded they were not composites, with only very minor reservation because he could not entirely eliminate an extremely expert composite. He found none of the inconsistencies composites usually show, such as mismatched lighting or lens configuration, and no retouching marks under magnification. The negative of 133-B showed absolutely no doctoring or composition.
Chapter 72
How did Shaneyfelt determine that negative 749 was taken with Oswald's Imperial camera?
He microscopically compared the shadowgraph edges of the film-plane aperture on negative 749 with those on a negative he made using the Imperial camera. Each camera's aperture has distinctive microscopic characteristics from manufacturing handwork and wear, similar to toolmark identification. Based on this examination, he determined negative 749 had been taken with the Imperial camera.
Chapter 72
What did Shaneyfelt find when comparing the rifle in photo 133-A to the C2766 rifle?
He found the rifle in 133-A the same in all appearances as C2766, noted no differences, and found a notch in C2766's stock that appeared very faintly in 133-A. However, he did not find enough peculiarities to positively identify the rifle in 133-A as C2766, as distinguished from other rifles of the same configuration.
Chapter 72

Section 734 cards

What did Oswald say about the long package Frazier described?
Oswald denied bringing a long package to work, saying the only package he brought was a cheese sandwich and fruit, which he ate for lunch with two coworkers, one called "Junior." He also denied telling Buell Wesley Frazier why he went home on a different night or anything about bringing back curtain rods.
Chapter 73
How did Oswald explain the backyard rifle photograph?
Shown an enlargement and the smaller original found in Mrs. Paine's garage, Oswald said the face was his but the picture was a composite made by someone superimposing his face. He claimed he knew photography well and that someone could have photographed him during transfers at City Hall. He denied ever seeing the picture.
Chapter 73
What did Oswald say about his political affiliations?
Oswald said he never had a Communist Party card but belonged to the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union, paying $5.00 dues. He called himself a Marxist but not a Leninist-Marxist, and said he had a fight with anti-Castro people in New Orleans and debated them on a radio station.
Chapter 73
Why did Oswald refuse a polygraph and how did he handle questioning?
Oswald said he had refused a polygraph with the FBI and would not take one now. He answered quickly and said he was familiar with interrogation from long FBI questioning after returning from Russia, describing hard, soft, and buddy methods. He noted he did not have to answer until he talked to his attorney, Mr. Abt.
Chapter 73

Section 744 cards

What did Oswald say he was doing when police searched the Depository on November 22?
Oswald stated that during the Dallas police search of the Texas School Book Depository on November 22, 1963, he was on the second floor after buying a Coca-Cola from a soft-drink machine when an officer entered with pistol drawn and asked if he worked there. Mr. Truly confirmed his employment, and the officer left. Oswald said he then took the Coke downstairs, ate lunch in the employees' lunch room, and went outside.
Chapter 74
What did Oswald tell investigators about owning a rifle?
Oswald stated he did not own any rifle and had never possessed one. He said he had no receipts for any gun purchase, had never ordered guns, and denied keeping a rifle in Mrs. Paine's garage in Irving, Texas. He acknowledged storing two sea bags, suitcases, and boxes of kitchen articles there, brought from New Orleans about September 1963, and said he saw a rifle at the Depository that Mr. Truly and two others were examining.
Chapter 74
How did Oswald describe his route home after leaving the Depository?
Oswald first said he rode a bus from work to his residence, then corrected himself: he boarded a city bus but left after a block or two because of traffic congestion and took a city cab to his apartment on North Beckley. He recalled the fare was about 85 cents and that a woman asked the driver to call her a cab. He said he changed his dirty shirt and gray trousers at the apartment.
Chapter 74
What identifying cards and aliases were found among Oswald's possessions?
Among the items listed were a Selective Service card bearing the name 'Alek James Hidell' with a different Social Security number, showing erasures and retyping and a longhand 'Alek J. Hidell' signature; a Fair Play for Cuba Committee card issued to Lee H. Oswald in May 1963; a New Orleans Fair Play for Cuba chapter card filed by A. T. Hidell as chapter president; and a Defense Department ID issued to Lee H. Oswald, Private First Class.
Chapter 74

Section 754 cards

What did Oswald say when Captain Fritz asked if he was a Communist?
Oswald replied, "No, I am a Marxist but I am not a Marxist Leninist." When Fritz asked him to explain the difference, Oswald said it would take too long to explain. He also stated that his opinions concerning the Fair Play for Cuba Committee were well known and that he believed in all of its tenets.
Chapter 75
How did Oswald explain the marks on the Enco street map found among his effects?
Oswald admitted the map was his but reacted with alarm when told there was a mark near the scene, saying "My God don't tell me there's a mark near where this thing happened." He then explained that he had put a number of marks on the map while looking for work, marking places where he went for jobs or heard there were jobs.
Chapter 75
What did Oswald claim about the photographs of him holding a rifle?
When shown the enlarged photographs, Oswald sneered and called them fake, claiming police had photographed him the day before and then superimposed a rifle and put a gun in his pocket. He argued with Fritz about photography, asking whether the smaller photo was made from the larger, and said he would prove the fakes at the proper time.
Chapter 75
What did Oswald say about the Secret Service man he encountered near the Textbook Building?
Oswald said that while standing in front of the Textbook Building and about to leave, a young crew-cut man rushed up, said he was from the Secret Service, showed identification, and asked where the phone was. Oswald said he pointed toward the pay phone in the building and saw the man actually go to the phone before he left.
Chapter 75

Section 764 cards

What did Oswald claim was in the sack he carried to work?
Oswald said the sack contained his lunch. Asked about its size or shape, he replied he didn't recall, saying it may have been a small or large sack, since "you don't always find one that just fits your sandwiches." He said he placed it in his lap or on the front seat so it wouldn't be crushed, and denied putting any package in the back seat, suggesting the driver was mistaken.
Chapter 76
How did Oswald distinguish a communist from a Marxist?
Oswald emphatically denied being a communist and said he was a Marxist. He stated that a communist is a Lenin-Marxist while he himself was a pure Marxist. When asked the difference, he said it was a long story and would take too long to tell if they didn't already know. He also said he had read about everything written by or about Karl Marx, and called Marx his religion.
Chapter 76
How did Oswald explain the X on his Dallas map at the Depository?
Oswald said the marked map was an old city map on which he marked X's for firms advertising job vacancies, since he had no transportation and was constantly job hunting. He said most marks were out Industrial Boulevard. Asked about the X at the Texas School Book Depository at Elm and Houston, he said he interviewed there for a job and got it, "therefore the X."
Chapter 76
What did Oswald say about the A. J. Hidell identification card?
Oswald denied knowing anyone named A. J. Hidell and denied ever using the name as an alias, saying he had never heard of it. When Captain Fritz asked about the I.D. card in his pocket bearing that name, Oswald flared up and said he had told them all he was going to about the card, telling Fritz to read his own notes and that they knew as much about it as he did.
Chapter 76

Section 773 cards

What did the Commission find about the bullet found on a stretcher at Parkland Hospital?
The Commission found that no bullet was found on the stretcher used for President Kennedy. An almost whole bullet was found when it rolled off the stretcher used by Governor Connally. This corrected the speculation that a bullet had been found on the President's stretcher.
Chapter 77
What did the Commission conclude about the windshield hole and the throat wound?
The Commission found the windshield was not penetrated by any bullet; a small lead residue was on the inside surface, and experts established the abrasion came from impact on the inside of the glass, probably from a shot from overhead and rear. Parkland doctors initially thought the throat wound could be entry or exit, but after autopsy evidence they agreed it was an exit wound.
Chapter 77
What did the Commission find about Oswald's knowledge of the motorcade route?
The Commission found the motorcade route was published in both Dallas papers on November 19, at least 72 hours before Oswald reported to work on November 22. The published route showed the turn off Main Street onto Houston, then left on Elm to the Stemmons Freeway access road, with no mention of continuing on Main through the Triple Underpass.
Chapter 77

Section 784 cards

Did any witness see anyone besides Oswald in the lunchroom when Baker and Truly entered?
No. Baker and Truly both stated that no one was in the lunchroom other than Oswald when they entered, and the Commission found no other witness to the incident. This finding addresses the speculation that other people were present in the lunchroom at the time.
Chapter 78
When did police likely seal off the building's exits relative to Oswald's escape?
Police may have begun taking positions at exits as early as 12:33 p.m., but it is unlikely they had blocked them completely before 12:37 p.m. at the earliest. Oswald was seen in an office walking toward an exit at about 12:33, so he probably had at least 7 minutes to leave without being stopped.
Chapter 78
Why did the Commission reject the 12:30 p.m. cab log time as proof Oswald couldn't have shot the President?
Whaley's log shows 12:30, but he testified he was inaccurate in logging entry times, usually recording passengers at 15-minute intervals and sometimes making entries three or four trips later. The bus transfer in Oswald's possession was issued after 12:36 p.m., and the Commission determined Oswald probably entered the cab at about 12:47 or 12:48 p.m.
Chapter 78
What did the Commission conclude about whether Tippit and Oswald knew each other?
The Commission found no evidence that Oswald and Tippit were acquainted, had ever seen each other, or had any mutual acquaintances. Witnesses to the shooting observed no signs of recognition between the two men. This rebuts the speculation that Tippit knew the man who shot him.
Chapter 78

Section 792 cards

How long did Marina Oswald's exit visa take, and was it unusually fast?
The Commission found it was not unusually rapid. At least 5½ months passed from application until the Oswalds were notified of permission in December 1961. Marina picked up her visa on January 11, 1962; Lee delayed until May 22 because his visa expired 45 days after issuance and he awaited State Department permission to return.
Chapter 79
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald and U.S. Government agencies?
The Directors of the CIA and FBI testified Oswald was never employed by or used by their agencies in any capacity. The Commission, after investigating Federal agency files, concluded Oswald was not and had never been an agent of any U.S. Government agency (aside from his Marine service) and was never used by one. The FBI kept a file on him as a former defector.
Chapter 79

Section 804 cards

Did the Commission find any evidence linking Ruby, Tippit, and Weissman?
No. The Commission found no evidence to support the claim that Patrolman J.D. Tippit, Bernard Weissman, and Jack Ruby met by prearrangement at the Carousel Club on November 14, 1963. It also found no credible evidence that any of the three men knew each other. Separately, the Commission noted Ruby knew a different Dallas policeman, G.M. Tippit of the special services bureau, not the Tippit who was killed.
Chapter 80
Was Jack Ruby active in organized crime, per the Commission?
The Commission found no credible evidence that Jack Ruby was active in the criminal underworld, despite the speculation that he was one of Dallas' most notorious gangsters. Investigation disclosed no one in Chicago or Dallas with knowledge that Ruby was associated with organized criminal activity. The author argues this refutes the gangster characterization.
Chapter 80
Was the Texas School Book Depository a city-owned operation?
No. The Commission found the Texas School Book Depository is a private corporation unconnected with the city of Dallas, so Oswald was not a municipal employee. He obtained his position with the help of Mrs. Ruth Paine, who learned of a possible opening from a neighbor and arranged an interview for him with Superintendent Roy S. Truly at the Depository.
Chapter 80
Did the Commission confirm Oswald practiced at Dallas shooting ranges?
Not conclusively. Marina Oswald said that on one occasion in March or April 1963 her husband told her he was going to practice firing with the rifle. Witnesses testified they saw Oswald at Dallas-area shooting ranges during October and November 1963, but investigation failed to confirm that the man the witnesses saw was Oswald. The Commission also noted Oswald had no driver's license and, per Marina Oswald and Ruth Paine, could not drive, though Mrs. Paine gave him some lessons and he drove short distances.
Chapter 80

Section 813 cards

What did Marguerite do after deciding not to marry Ekdahl in Dallas?
She used part of the proceeds from the sale of the Alvar Street house to purchase a house at 4801 Victor Street, a portion of which she rented out. In June, John and Robert left the Children's Home and joined her in Dallas, entering the nearby Davy Crockett Elementary School the following September.
Chapter 81
How did Lee's school records at Benbrook and Covington differ?
At Benbrook his record was satisfactory: present 82 school days, absent 15, with all A's and B's, though he had not completed first grade and was enrolled in it again. At Covington he received no grades at all, being withdrawn on January 23, 1947, because his reconciled parents were moving to Fort Worth.
Chapter 81
What did the jury find in the Ekdahl divorce, and what did the court award?
The jury found on special issues that Marguerite was 'guilty of excesses, cruel treatment, or outrages' unprovoked by Ekdahl's conduct, after a complaint alleging nagging, money arguments, accusations of infidelity, and throwing things. On June 24 the court granted the divorce, approved a property agreement, awarded Marguerite $1,500, and restored her former name at her request.
Chapter 81

Section 824 cards

Why did the Community Service Society and Salvation Army decline Lee's case?
The probation officer referred Lee to the Community Service Society for treatment, but it said its case load was full and his likely need for intensive treatment made it unable to take the case; it confirmed this a week later and closed the case on May 31. The Salvation Army also turned down the application because it could not provide the needed services.
Chapter 82
What did school reports say about Lee's conduct in eighth grade at Public School 44?
Although Lee attended regularly, teachers reported his conduct was unsatisfactory: he refused to salute the flag, did little work, and seemed to spend most of his time sailing paper planes around the room. After his mother visited the school, behavior improved and he received passing grades, but teachers still noted he was quick-tempered, constantly losing control, and getting into battles with others.
Chapter 82
How did Lee leave school before turning 16, and what did he do next?
At Warren Easton High School he presented a note he wrote himself, signed with his mother's name and dated October 7, 1955, saying they were moving to San Diego and he must quit. He dropped out days before his 16th birthday, then tried to enlist in the Marines using a false affidavit from his mother that he was 17; the attempt failed. He spent the next year working and reading the Marine Manual until he enlisted at 17.
Chapter 82
How did Oswald perform on Marine aptitude and rifle tests at San Diego?
On aptitude tests he scored significantly above the Marine Corps average in reading and vocabulary and significantly below in arithmetic and pattern analysis; his composite score was 105, two points below average, and he scored near the bottom in a radio code test. His practice rifle scores were not very good, but firing for record on December 21 he scored 212, two points above the sharpshooter threshold.
Chapter 82

Section 834 cards

How did Oswald's fellow Marines at El Toro generally rate his job performance and discipline?
Lieutenant Donovan found him competent in all functions and calm in emergencies, though not a leader. Most fellows thought he performed duties adequately but was deficient in discipline and barracks inspection; one quonset hut complained and secured his transfer to another hut. He was seen as intelligent and more intellectually oriented than others, though a few thought he only wanted to appear so.
Chapter 83
What evidence shows Oswald's growing interest in Russia and communism at El Toro?
He studied Russian, scoring 'poor' on a February 1959 language test, read Das Kapital, Animal Farm and 1984, played chess preferring the red pieces, and was nicknamed 'Oswaldskovich.' Donovan said he never confessed to being a Communist; Thornley thought his Marxism was theoretical, a dispassionate appraisal without active commitment.
Chapter 83
What did Oswald claim on his Albert Schweitzer College application?
He claimed Russian proficiency equal to one year of schooling, high school completion by correspondence with an 85 percent average, and listed philosophy, psychology, ideology and sports as interests, with Jack London, Darwin and Peale as favorite authors. He cited the YMCA and 'A.Y.H. Association' and wrote he wanted to study philosophy and broaden his knowledge of German.
Chapter 83
How did Oswald seek to leave the Marines before his December 1959 discharge date?
On August 17, 1959, he requested a dependency discharge, claiming his mother needed support after a December 1958 work injury, backed by her affidavit and corroborating ones from an attorney, doctor and two friends. He had already allotted part of his pay to her and applied for a 'Q' dependency allowance of $91.30.
Chapter 83

Section 844 cards

Who interviewed Oswald in his hotel on October 19, and what was suspected of him?
Lev Setyayev, who claimed to be a Radio Moscow reporter seeking American tourists' impressions of Moscow, probably interviewed Oswald. The Commission states he was probably also acting for the KGB. The interview may have been an attempt to assess Oswald or elicit compromising statements, and it was apparently never broadcast. Oswald later told Embassy officials he had made only routine, nonpolitical comments.
Chapter 84
How did Oswald respond to being told his visa had expired?
After being notified his visa had expired and he had to leave Moscow within 2 hours, Oswald cut himself above his left wrist in an apparent suicide attempt. Rima Shirokova found him unconscious and had him taken to Botkinskaya Hospital, where he was confined in the psychiatric ward for 3 days. Hospital records state he injured himself 'in order to postpone his departure.'
Chapter 84
What did Oswald do at the American Embassy on October 31?
Oswald took a taxi to the Embassy and told the receptionist he had come to 'dissolve his American citizenship.' Consul Richard E. Snyder and John A. McVickar met him; Oswald denounced the United States and praised the Soviet Government. Snyder told him he could renounce on Monday if he appeared personally. Oswald handed Snyder a note suggesting he had studied section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Chapter 84
What did Oswald tell reporter Aline Mosby about his reasons for choosing Marxism?
Oswald told Mosby he disliked the United States based on observations of racial prejudice and the contrast between 'the luxuries of Park Avenue and workers' lives on the East Side,' and mentioned his mother's poverty. He said that in the United States he would have become either a capitalist or a worker and would 'lose' either way, concluding: 'That's why I chose Marxist ideology.'
Chapter 84

Section 854 cards

What benefits did Oswald receive in Minsk that were unusual for a Soviet worker?
Oswald received a monthly 700-ruble "Red Cross" subsidy on top of his 700-900 ruble factory salary, and in March 1959 was given a small flat with a balcony overlooking the river for only 60 rubles a month. The chapter notes a Russian worker would likely wait years for a comparable apartment and would need a family to get one; such treatment was typical for defectors.
Chapter 85
Why did Ella German reject Oswald's marriage proposal?
She said she did not love him and was afraid to marry an American, citing the 1920s Polish intervention that led to arrests of Soviet citizens of Polish origin, and fearing something similar could happen to Americans. Oswald was stunned, though his diary also attributed her refusal to a state of fear always present in the Soviet Union.
Chapter 85
What criticisms of Soviet life did Oswald voice after returning to the United States?
He criticized the gap between ordinary workers and Communist Party members, saying workers earned just enough for food and clothing while only party members afforded luxuries. He also complained of lack of freedom, no travel opportunity, inadequate housing, chronic food scarcity, and called party members "opportunists" interested only in their own welfare.
Chapter 85
What did Oswald's unpublished manuscript describe about the Soviet factory?
The roughly 50-page manuscript described the factory as dominated by political considerations, attributing low unemployment to scarce labor-saving machinery and heavy bureaucracy. He described life centered on the "Kollective," whose head enforced discipline and propaganda, and listed a staggering schedule of compulsory meetings, including political information sessions where party members watched the audience.
Chapter 85

Section 864 cards

What did Oswald tell Snyder about Soviet citizenship and union membership at the July 1961 Embassy interview?
Oswald stated he was not a Soviet citizen, had never formally applied for citizenship, never took an oath of allegiance, and was not a member of the factory trade union. The chapter notes some of these statements were undoubtedly false: he had almost certainly applied for citizenship and possessed a union membership card. He also claimed Soviet authorities never questioned him about his U.S. life, which the chapter calls unbelievable.
Chapter 86
How did Soviet authorities and acquaintances respond to Marina's decision to emigrate?
Marina was dropped from Komsomol after news of her July Embassy visit reached Minsk, and meetings were arranged by various organizations to dissuade her from leaving. Her aunt and uncle did not speak to her for a long time. She later called this period in Minsk 'a very horrible time.' Oswald wrote to the Embassy claiming she was hospitalized five days for nervous exhaustion, which Marina denied.
Chapter 86
What did the Embassy tell Oswald about intervening in his and Marina's exit visa applications?
Oswald wrote on October 4, 1961, asking the U.S. Government to officially intervene to facilitate the exit visas. The Embassy replied on October 12 that it had no way of influencing Soviet conduct in such matters and that its experience was that action on exit visa applications was 'seldom taken rapidly.' The chapter also notes Oswald probably lied to the Embassy about Marina's hospitalization.
Chapter 86
Why was Oswald's application to the Patrice Lumumba Friendship University rejected?
Oswald applied before marrying Marina, presumably before February when he began efforts to return to the United States. A letter dated May 3 apologized for the delay and turned him down on the ground that the university had been established exclusively for students from the underdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Oswald expressed his disappointment to Marina.
Chapter 86

Section 874 cards

Why did Oswald object to naming his daughter June Lee?
Oswald wanted to name the child "June Marina," but Russian custom and law required a child's second name to be the father's first name or a variation of it. He protested applying the law to her because he held a United States passport, and his diary records the wry comment "Po-Russki." The baby was born February 15 and named June Lee.
Chapter 87
What did the plant report say about Oswald's work habits in Minsk?
A December 11, 1961 report by the plant director and personnel chief, apparently a routine assessment, noted that Oswald did not display initiative for increasing his skill, was over-sensitive to foremen's remarks, and careless in his work. He took no part in the shop's social life and kept very much to himself. Marina testified he was lazy and resented taking orders.
Chapter 87
What did Oswald's shipboard notes say about the two systems?
Probably written aboard the SS Maasdam, the notes reflect deepening disillusionment with both the Soviet Union and the United States. Oswald condemned existing political groups and proposed a third choice between communism and capitalism, saying he had lived under both systems and sought the answers, and knew neither was better. He also acknowledged his "Red Cross" subsidy came from the Soviet Government, not the international organization.
Chapter 87
How did Oswald behave when the FBI interviewed him in Fort Worth?
On June 26, FBI agents described Oswald as tense and drawn up, exhibiting an arrogant attitude and inclined to be a little insolent. He declined to say why he went to Russia, refusing to relive the past. He denied seeking Soviet citizenship or being approached for Marine information, said he would notify the Embassy of Marina's address, and promised to tell the FBI if Soviet agents contacted him.
Chapter 87

Section 884 cards

What did Oswald falsely tell his wife and George Bouhe about leaving the Leslie Welding Co.?
Oswald worked at the Leslie Welding Co. on Monday, October 8, but failed to appear the next day, having already gone to Dallas. He falsely told his wife he had been discharged, and told George Bouhe the job had been temporary. Later the company received an undated letter from him stating he had "moved permanently to Dallas" and asking that wages due be forwarded to box 2915 in Dallas.
Chapter 88
What did the Dallas employment commission tests and counselor note about Oswald's abilities?
Oswald came to the Texas Employment Commission office on October 9, reluctant to accept industrial work, and was placed in the clerical category under Mrs. Cunningham. His Fort Worth aptitude tests showed "outstanding verbal-clerical potential," and he scored high on special tests for general clerical work, insurance claims examiner, and drafting. His form noted he was well-groomed, alert, and expressed himself extremely well.
Chapter 88
How did the Oswalds' marital difficulties manifest in Fort Worth and after the Elsbeth Street move?
Several people noted Marina had a blackened eye; she told her mother-in-law and George Bouhe her husband struck her, but told Anna Meller she walked into a door. The Commission concluded Oswald had in fact hit her. After reuniting at Elsbeth Street, Kleinlerer saw Oswald slap her over an unclosed zipper, and they argued over her smoking and his lie that she was from Czechoslovakia.
Chapter 88
Why did members of the Russian community give up helping Marina, and what did Oswald do at the hospital?
After Marina returned to Oswald despite their efforts, George Bouhe was so irritated he never again tried to help either of them, and contacts with the Russian community diminished markedly. Lydia Dymitruk testified she drove Marina and feverish June to the hospital, where Oswald claimed he was unemployed to avoid paying for June's treatment and later left without thanking her.
Chapter 88

Section 894 cards

Why did Marina suggest Oswald go to New Orleans?
Marina testified that the real reason she suggested Oswald leave for New Orleans was that she wanted to get him out of town because of the Walker incident. Oswald explained to Ruth Paine that he could not find work in or around Dallas and that Marina had suggested New Orleans since he was born there.
Chapter 89
Why was Oswald dismissed from Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall on April 6?
Oswald was dropped because, in his supervisor's opinion, he could not do the work, although he was trying; in addition, he did not get along with fellow employees. The fact that he brought a Russian newspaper to work may also have been of some significance. Marina testified he was quite upset since he had liked the work.
Chapter 89
What did Oswald tell the Jesuit audience in Mobile about political systems?
Speaking at the Jesuit House of Studies on July 27, Oswald described his observations in Russia and said he had become disillusioned during his stay there. In his opinion, the best political system would combine the best points of capitalism and communism. He impressed listeners as articulate and left the impression he was an atheist while avoiding direct discussion of religion.
Chapter 89
What did Oswald's employment application at William B. Reily Co. list?
On May 9, Oswald applied at William B. Reily Co., a coffee roasting and canning enterprise on Magazine Street. Besides John Murret, he listed as references 'Sgt. Robert Hidell' and 'Lieut. J. Evans,' both apparently fictitious names. The application was approved and he began May 10 at $1.50 per hour lubricating machinery, work he did not enjoy.
Chapter 89

Section 901 cards

What did fellow passengers conclude about Oswald's Spanish ability?
The Australian girls on the bus inferred Oswald did not speak Spanish after he asked his seatmate how to say "How can I help you?" and ordered meals by pointing at the menu. The Commission noted every witness who met Oswald on the trip shared this impression, supported by notations on documents he carried. He ate large meals alone at every stop.
Chapter 90

Section 923 cards

Why did Snyder delay Oswald's citizenship renunciation?
Snyder refused to let Oswald renounce on a Saturday, telling him to return on a business day. He testified his real reason was professional practice: renunciation is serious and irrevocable, and Oswald seemed young, poorly educated, and highly emotional. He was also influenced by the Petrulli case, where an American was allowed to renounce hastily while mentally ill.
Chapter 92
What did the State Department telegram of November 2, 1959, tell the Moscow Embassy?
It stated that if Oswald insisted on renouncing his citizenship, Section 1999 of the Revised Statutes precluded the Embassy from withholding his right to do so, regardless of his application's status with the Soviet Government and final action in the Petrulli case. The telegram was prepared in the Passport Office and cleared by Eastern European and Soviet Union Affairs offices.
Chapter 92
What did the Embassy's March 28, 1960, reply to the Department say about Oswald?
The Embassy said it had no contact with Oswald since November 9, 1959, and no evidence he had expatriated himself other than his announced intention. It believed he was presumably still an American citizen, so the Government could inquire through a note to the Soviet Foreign Office, but suggested his mother write a letter instead, to be forwarded by the Department.
Chapter 92

Section 934 cards

Why did Oswald fill out a passport renewal application in Moscow in 1961?
His existing passport would expire on September 10, 1961, and it was extremely unlikely he could obtain the required Soviet departure documents before that date. The renewal application included a printed statement listing acts that could disqualify him from a passport or raise a question of expatriation, with 'have' and 'have not' printed above one another.
Chapter 93
How did officials resolve the ambiguous strikeout on Oswald's renewal application?
One carbon copy suggested Oswald signed after 'have not' was typed over, apparently admitting a possibly expatriating act. Snyder could not recall which act was meant, suggesting 'swearing allegiance to a foreign state,' and noted the strikeout might be clerical error. On the signed Embassy copy the strikeout sits slightly above 'have,' so it may have been meant to obliterate 'have.' The Passport Office employee treated the supplementary questionnaire, not the application, as controlling.
Chapter 93
What did Oswald answer on the supplementary questionnaire about foreign allegiance and employment?
He answered 'No' to being considered a national of his community, to seeking registration or benefits as a foreign national, to informing officials he was a U.S. national, and to taking an oath of allegiance to a foreign state. He explained his Soviet residence document listed his nationality as American or 'Without citizenship,' and said he did not regard factory employment as state employment.
Chapter 93
Why did the State Department conclude Oswald had not expatriated himself?
Although born a U.S. citizen, Oswald could have lost nationality by naturalization, formal renunciation, an oath of allegiance, or oath-requiring government employment. He never received Soviet citizenship, never executed the prescribed renunciation forms before a consular officer, and never took an oath before a Soviet official. The Passport Office concurred on August 18, 1961, and the passport was renewed May 24, 1962, for direct return only.
Chapter 93

Section 944 cards

Why did the Dallas INS office initially deny the waiver of section 243(g) sanctions?
The memorandum author overruled the inspector's "approved" endorsement because he believed the two restrictions in Operations Instructions 205.3 were present: no substantial derogatory security information and a meritorious case by a reputable relative. The District Director in San Antonio affirmed, finding Oswald's recent statements to the Moscow Embassy insufficient to relieve doubts raised by his "arrogant, anti-American statements" made when he entered Russia in 1959.
Chapter 94
What argument did the State Department's March 27, 1962 letter make for waiving the sanction?
An acting administrator argued that denying the visa would punish Marina and the newborn child for Oswald's earlier indiscretions, noted the Government had advanced Oswald a $500 repatriation loan, and warned that a refusal would let the Soviets claim they had prevented family separation while the U.S. caused it, weakening the Embassy's position in other cases involving Soviet relatives of U.S. citizens.
Chapter 94
How did the Commission justify Marina Oswald's trade union membership not barring her admission?
She belonged to the Soviet Trade Union for Medical Workers. Under the long-standing interpretation concurred in by the State and Justice Departments, membership in a professional organization or trade union behind the Iron Curtain is considered involuntary unless accompanied by signs of voluntariness, such as active participation or holding office. No such evidence existed, so the membership was properly held not to bar admission.
Chapter 94
What risk did Marina Oswald's undisclosed Komsomol membership create?
She declared she was not a member of the Komsomol or any other Communist organization, but she was in fact a Komsomol member. Had this been known, a visa would not necessarily have been denied, though careful investigation of the membership's nature would have been required. Had the Department learned of it after her denial, she might have been excluded for willfully misrepresenting a material fact.
Chapter 94

Section 954 cards

What statutory authority let the Secretary of State make repatriation loans?
Title 5, section 170(a), of the U.S. Code authorizes the Secretary of State to make expenditures, from specifically appropriated amounts, for unforeseen emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service. Since 1947 the Department's annual appropriation act has included such a sum, and House Appropriations Committee reports state these funds are used for relief and repatriation loans to U.S. citizens abroad and other Department emergencies.
Chapter 95
Under what regulation clause did the Department justify Oswald's repatriation loan?
Regulations require loans go only to destitute nationals with unquestioned citizenship, passport entitlement, and loyalty beyond question. The Commission questioned whether Oswald met the loyalty clause, given his hostility and desire to renounce citizenship. The Department instead used section 423.1-2(b), covering nationals whose situation damages U.S. prestige or gives compelling reason for return, citing his unstable character and criticism of the United States.
Chapter 95
Why was no lookout card prepared for Oswald after his loan?
Department procedures required the Revenues and Receipts Branch to notify the Passport Office's Clearance Section of the borrower's name, date, and place of birth. A card would not be prepared from name alone due to lack of positive identification among millions of applicants. The Department told the Commission the card was never prepared, possibly because the Finance Office lacked Oswald's birth data, sent only his name, or deemed follow-up unnecessary since he was repaying.
Chapter 95
Why could Oswald not be denied a passport under section 6 in 1963?
Section 6 of the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950, later declared unconstitutional, barred passport applications by members of organizations required to register under section 7. The State Department regulation denied passports to those believed to be members of such registered Communist organizations. The Commission found no evidence Oswald belonged to the American Communist Party or any organization required to register, so section 6 could not justify denial.
Chapter 95

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Why did the Commission include a detailed biography of Jack Ruby in its report?
The Commission says it included the account mainly to permit a better evaluation of evidence on whether Ruby was involved in any conspiracy, and because public interest would be served by material giving an impression of his character and background amid many rumors. It notes limits: pending Texas proceedings restrict scope, and it does not discuss legal issues from Ruby's trial or his possible motive.
Chapter 96
What did the 1922 Institute for Juvenile Research examination conclude about young Jack Ruby's home?
The 1922 psychiatric report described Jack as quick tempered and disobedient, and said he ran away because his mother lied to and beat him. His mother was called totally incapable of coping with the children's delinquencies, and her extreme temperament was cited as a possible cause of his bad behavior. Dr. Robertson later said the unstable home could not provide necessary controls and discipline.
Chapter 96
What happened to Jack Ruby's mother, Fannie Rubenstein, regarding mental health commitment?
By order of the Cook County court, Mrs. Rubenstein was committed to Elgin State Hospital on July 16, 1937, and paroled about three months later. In January 1938 the family asked that she be readmitted, reporting she was uncooperative, caused constant discord, and used obscene language. She was readmitted January 14, 1938, and paroled again May 27, 1938.
Chapter 96
What does the appendix say about the uncertainty of Jack Ruby's birth date?
The appendix reports much confusion: school records give June 23, April 25, March 13, and possibly March 3, 1911; other early official records list April 21 and April 26, 1911. Ruby most often used March 25, 1911, including on his driver's license and in FBI statements, while a police arrest report gave March 19. Births were not required to be recorded in Chicago before 1915, though no substantial conflict exists about the year 1911.
Chapter 96

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What did the Warren Commission conclude about Ruby's ties to organized crime in Chicago?
The Commission found the evidence fell short of showing Ruby was significantly affiliated with organized crime in Chicago. Most friends said he had no close connection, and known criminals denied any liaison. The Commission doubted a reporter's claim based on undisclosed "syndicate sources." Ruby was familiar with some criminals but no evidence showed he participated in organized criminal activity.
Chapter 97
How did Jack Ruby's labor union career end, according to the chapter?
Ruby was employed by Local 20467 of the Scrap Iron and Junk Handlers Union from late 1937 to early 1940 as an organizer. Its president, John Martin, shot financial secretary Leon Cooke, who died in January 1940; Martin was acquitted on self-defense grounds. Ruby reportedly said he wanted to "take over" the union, but evidence indicates Cooke's death so upset him that he left. He adopted the middle name "Leon" in Cooke's memory.
Chapter 97
What was the evidence about Ruby's military service and deferment?
Ruby was classified 1-A in 1941, then reclassified 1-H or 3-A; records were destroyed, so his precise status is unknown. One unreliable report claimed he feigned a hearing disability, which his brother Hyman denied, saying Jack was deferred for economic hardship. Inducted into the Army Air Forces in May 1943, he trained as an aircraft mechanic, earned a sharpshooter rating, and was honorably discharged in February 1946.
Chapter 97
How did the chapter characterize Ruby's anti-Bund activities and violence in Chicago?
Ruby and friends frequently tried to disrupt German-American Bund rallies, and one acquaintance said he "cracked a few heads" of Bund members. The chapter says he acted for ethnic rather than political reasons, as companions from his Jewish neighborhood opposed the pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic Bund. Though temperamental, he engaged in no unusual violence, but intervened when he thought someone was treated unfairly.
Chapter 97

Section 984 cards

Why did Ruby give up the Ranch House and Silver Spur in 1952?
Ruby experienced substantial financial reversals in 1952 while running two establishments. He abandoned his interest in the Ranch House and on July 1, 1952, transferred the Silver Spur to Gimpel and Willie Epstein, who assumed some of its debts. Ruby described himself as having a "mental breakdown" and hibernated for 3 or 4 months before returning to Chicago.
Chapter 98
How did the Sovereign Club become the Carousel Club?
Ruby and Joe Slatin opened the Sovereign Club in late 1959 as a private club selling liquor to members. Slatin withdrew in early 1960, and Ralph Paul loaned Ruby $1,650 on the condition that he drop memberships and offer striptease shows instead. Ruby agreed, and the Sovereign was renamed the Carousel Club, serving champagne, beer, setups, and pizza.
Chapter 98
What was Ruby's Federal excise tax problem with the Vegas Club?
Advised by an attorney that the Vegas Club, a dance hall providing food, was not a "cabaret" and thus not subject to Federal excise taxes, Ruby charged patrons assuming no taxes were due. When Federal courts ruled that dance halls providing "incidental" food were subject to excise taxes as cabarets, Ruby became liable for more than 6 years of taxes, totaling with interest almost exactly $40,000.
Chapter 98
How did Ruby generally handle his money and banking?
Ruby's pockets and the trunk of his car served as his bank; he and his clubs rarely used bank accounts, and he paid most expenses directly from club receipts. In late 1963 the Carousel, Vegas, and Ruby each had checking accounts at Merchants State Bank with small balances, and he bought cashier's checks to pay rent and other obligations.
Chapter 98

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What did the Commission conclude about a link between Ruby and organized crime?
The Commission states that the evidence does not establish a significant link between Ruby and organized crime. Both State and Federal officials indicated Ruby was not affiliated with organized criminal activity, and numerous persons reported he was not connected with such activity. The Commission reached this conclusion based on its evaluation of the record.
Chapter 99
What evidence does the chapter give about Ruby's 1959 Havana trip?
Ruby testified he went to Havana for eight days in August 1959 at the invitation of gambler Lewis J. McWillie, who paid for the visit, and left because he was uninterested in gambling. McWillie corroborated the trip but said only 'sometime in 1959.' Three Chicagoans reported seeing Ruby there over Labor Day weekend 1959. The Commission found no reliable evidence Ruby went to Havana after September 1959.
Chapter 99
How does the chapter describe Ruby's use of violence as a club operator?
The chapter says Ruby acted as his own unofficial bouncer and on about 15 occasions since 1950 beat, pistol-whipped, or blackjacked unruly patrons, often throwing victims down the Carousel stairs. He also beat non-patrons, usually with his fists. A friend said Ruby 'picked his shots,' targeting people frequently drunk, female, or unable to resist. The chapter notes he was often malicious but sometimes contrite afterward.
Chapter 99

Section 1004 cards

What did Ruby say when asked if he shot Oswald to save Mrs. Kennedy a trial?
Ruby answered "Yes" when asked whether he shot Oswald in order to save Mrs. Kennedy the ordeal of a trial. This came after he denied shooting Oswald to silence him, denied deciding to shoot on Friday night, Saturday morning, or Saturday night, and said he first decided to shoot Oswald on Sunday morning.
Chapter 100
What three physiological reactions does the polygraph record?
The polygraph records three reactions: a pneumograph with a rubber tube around the chest records breathing pattern and the respiratory ratio of inhalation and exhalation; a galvanic skin response uses electrodes on the fingers to record minute changes in electrical skin response; and a cardiograph uses an inflated cuff on the left arm to record relative blood pressure or heart rate changes.
Chapter 100
Why might a polygraph be invalid for a psychotic person?
The chapter states an accurate evaluation depends on whether Ruby was psychotic. A psychotic person is divorced from reality, so tracings could not be logically interpreted; such a person might believe a false answer true and not register the emotional response characteristic of deception. If a person does not understand the questions or answers, no validity can be attached to the examination.
Chapter 100
What did Agent Herndon conclude about deception on Ruby's relevant questions?
Herndon concluded the absence of physiological response on the relevant questions indicated no deception. Ruby showed responses suggesting deception on control questions, such as denying disciplinary action in the service or ever over-charging a customer. Herndon also testified that if Ruby was a psychotic depressive, there would be no validity to the examination and no significance should be placed on the charts.
Chapter 100

Section 1013 cards

What does the citation format '2 H 147' refer to in this chapter?
The citations are cross-references to the published Warren Commission hearings and exhibits. A number before 'H' identifies the volume of hearings, and the number after identifies the page, so '2 H 147' means volume 2, page 147. Names in parentheses identify the witness whose testimony appears there, such as Youngblood or Kellerman.
Chapter 101
What kinds of evidence are cited for the medical treatment of the wounded?
The chapter cites testimony from Parkland physicians including Drs. Carrico, Perry, Clark, Baxter, Jenkins, and Gregory, plus treating doctors for Governor Connally such as Dr. Shaw and Dr. Shires. It also cites Commission exhibits and hospital records. The citations indicate the medical account is built from multiple attending physicians' testimony rather than one report.
Chapter 101
What does the chapter's use of 'CE' citations indicate?
'CE' stands for Commission Exhibit, and the number identifies a specific exhibit entered into the record, such as CE 399 or CE 1024. These exhibits include statements, photographs, and reports. The chapter cites them alongside hearing testimony to support factual claims with documentary evidence as well as witness statements.
Chapter 101

Section 1024 cards

What did the Warren Commission conclude about the rifle found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository?
The Commission concluded that the rifle found on the sixth floor was a Mannlicher-Carcano, and that it was the weapon used to assassinate President Kennedy. The Commission relied on the testimony of firearms experts and on the chain of custody established by the Dallas Police, who recovered the rifle shortly after the shooting.
Chapter 102
What did the Commission find regarding the paper bag found near the sniper's window?
The Commission found that the paper bag, which had been used to carry the rifle into the building, bore Oswald's palm print. The Commission concluded that Oswald had brought the bag to work on the morning of the assassination and that it was consistent with his having carried the disassembled rifle into the Depository.
Chapter 102
How did the Commission determine that Lee Harvey Oswald owned the rifle used in the assassination?
The Commission relied on the testimony of Marina Oswald, who identified the rifle as the one her husband owned, and on the testimony of witnesses who saw Oswald with a rifle. The Commission also cited the mail-order records showing that the rifle had been purchased under the name A. Hidell, an alias used by Oswald.
Chapter 102
What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's presence on the sixth floor at the time of the shooting?
The Commission concluded that Oswald was present on the sixth floor at the time of the shooting, based on the testimony of witnesses who saw him there and on the physical evidence, including the rifle and the paper bag. The Commission also noted that Oswald left the building shortly after the shooting.
Chapter 102

Section 1034 cards

What did taxi driver William Whaley testify about the man he drove on November 22?
Whaley testified about picking up a man near the Texas School Book Depository and driving him to Oak Cliff. His testimony, cited repeatedly in the chapter's footnotes, covers details of the fare, the route, and the passenger's appearance and behavior. The Commission used his account, along with other witnesses, to trace the movements of the suspect after the assassination.
Chapter 103
What did Roger Craig testify regarding what he observed near the Depository?
Roger Craig's testimony is cited in the chapter's footnotes concerning observations made in the vicinity of the Texas School Book Depository after the shooting. His account, recorded in the hearings and exhibits, contributed to the Commission's reconstruction of events. The chapter references his statements alongside other witnesses to corroborate details of the immediate aftermath.
Chapter 103
How did the Commission use the testimony of Mrs. Bledsoe and Mrs. Roberts?
The chapter's footnotes cite Mrs. Bledsoe and Mrs. Roberts in connection with identifying the suspect and events at the rooming house. Their testimony, recorded in the hearings and exhibits, helped establish details of the suspect's movements and belongings. The Commission relied on multiple civilian witnesses to corroborate the timeline.
Chapter 103
What did Helen Markham and other witnesses testify about the shooting of Officer Tippit?
The chapter cites Helen Markham, Barbara Davis, Virginia Davis, and others regarding the Tippit shooting in Oak Cliff. Their testimony, recorded in the hearings and exhibits, describes the encounter and the suspect's flight. The Commission used these accounts, along with physical evidence, to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Chapter 103

Section 1044 cards

What does the chapter's footnotes cite as sources for testimony?
The footnotes cite volumes and page numbers of the Hearings (e.g., 12 H 34, 15 H 54), Commission Exhibits (CE numbers), and individual depositions (DE numbers) from named witnesses such as Curry, King, Talbert, Fritz, and Leavelle. These citations document the evidentiary basis for the chapter's narrative.
Chapter 104
Which officials' testimony is repeatedly cited regarding Oswald's passage through the third-floor corridor?
Testimony describing Oswald's passage through the third-floor corridor is cited from Curry (12 H 33), Fritz (4 H 231-232), Sims (7 H 181), and Leavelle (7 H 268-269), along with Kantor DE 4 and WFAA-TV reel PKT 14. These sources are referenced in footnote C5-83.
Chapter 104
What sources are cited for the Friday evening press conference testimony?
Footnote C5-84 cites testimony on the Friday evening press conference from Curry (4 H 166-167), Stevenson (12 H 96), Wade (5 H 221-222), Johnston (15 H 510-512), Waldo (15 H 591-593), Hankal (13 H 115-116), Boyd, Sims, Clements, Olds, Fritz, Lawson, and Eberhardt, plus CE 2173.
Chapter 104
What does footnote C5-198 state about the judgment on the Dallas Police Department?
Footnote C5-198 states that the judgment is shared by officials of the Dallas Police Department, citing Curry (15 H 127-128) and Batchelor (15 H 122). The footnote attributes this shared judgment to department officials rather than presenting it as the Commission's independent conclusion.
Chapter 104

Section 1054 cards

What did the Commission note about the name 'Rosa Agafanova' in the record?
The Commission's footnote states that the reference to "Rosa Agafanova" probably should be to "Rosa Kuznetsova," citing CE 93, p. 4 and CE 24 entries of Jan. 7 to Mar. 16, 1960. This is a correction of a name appearing in the documentary record rather than a substantive finding.
Chapter 105
Who was 'Leo Setyaev' and what does the Commission suggest about him?
The Commission identifies "Leo Setyaev" as perhaps Lev Setyayev, an English-speaking Radio Moscow commentator, and a "Radio Moscow Reporter," probably also working for the KGB on this occasion. The interview with Oswald was apparently never broadcast. The Commission cites Snyder's testimony but notes a contrary reference in CE 25.
Chapter 105
What did the Commission note about Oswald's vocabulary and use of words?
A contemporaneous observation cited in the record noted that Oswald used words as though he had learned them out of a dictionary. The Commission cites this in connection with testimony from P. Johnson and related exhibits, presenting it as an observation of those who encountered him rather than the Commission's own characterization.
Chapter 105
What did the Commission note about Oswald's attempted expatriation?
The Commission refers readers to appendix XV, pages 747-751, for further details regarding Oswald's attempted expatriation, and states that the factual and legal basis of the decision on this matter is set forth and evaluated there. The main text cross-references that appendix rather than resolving the issue in the footnotes.
Chapter 105

Section 1063 cards

What did Señora Duran tell Mexican police about Oswald's claimed Communist Party membership?
When questioned by Mexican police shortly after the assassination, Señora Duran did not recall whether or not Oswald had in fact told her he was a member of the Communist Party. The Commission cites this in a footnote concerning her statements, showing her recollection on that point was uncertain.
Chapter 106
What did Oswald apparently obtain in 1956, at age 16?
According to the cited record, in 1956, when Oswald was 16 years old, he apparently obtained information about the Socialist Party of America. The Commission presents this as part of the material on Oswald's early political interests, using the qualifier 'apparently' rather than asserting it as fully established.
Chapter 106
How did the Commission treat the one witness who placed Oswald with someone else on the Mexico trip?
The Commission states that the only witness who places Oswald with anyone else during the trip was thoroughly discredited, citing multiple exhibits. This supports its conclusion that Oswald traveled alone on the Mexico City trip, notwithstanding that lone contrary account.
Chapter 106

Section 1083 cards

How are witness testimony volumes cited in these footnotes?
Testimony is cited by volume number, 'H', and page numbers, for example '13 H 211' or '15 H 423-424', followed by the witness's name in parentheses. Multiple citations are often separated by semicolons to show corroborating testimony from several witnesses on the same point.
Chapter 108
What does the abbreviation 'CE' refer to in this chapter?
'CE' stands for Commission Exhibit, followed by an identifying number, such as 'CE 1476' or 'CE 2300.' These exhibits are documentary or physical evidence submitted to the Commission. Footnotes frequently cite several exhibits together, sometimes with 'Ibid.' to refer back to the immediately preceding citation.
Chapter 108
What does 'Ibid.' indicate when it appears in these footnotes?
'Ibid.' is Latin for 'in the same place' and refers the reader back to the immediately preceding citation. In this chapter it appears in consecutive footnotes, such as C6-1047 through C6-1049, each pointing to the same source cited just before, avoiding repetition of the full reference.
Chapter 108

Section 1093 cards

What does the citation format in this chapter consist of?
The chapter is almost entirely footnote citations. Each entry gives a volume and page number in the hearings (e.g., "8 H 124") followed by the witness's name in parentheses, or cites a Commission Exhibit (CE) by number, or a deposition exhibit (DE). These citations support the narrative text of the report, which itself is not reproduced here.
Chapter 109
Which witnesses are cited most often in this section?
Marguerite Oswald (1 H), Marina Oswald (1 H, 5 H, 11 H), Robert Oswald (1 H), Lee Harvey Oswald's acquaintances such as George and Jeanne De Mohrenschildt (9 H), and numerous Marine and Dallas associates. Commission Exhibits, including CE 24, CE 25, and CE 97-100, are also cited repeatedly for documentary evidence.
Chapter 109
What kinds of source materials do the citations reference?
The citations reference volumes of the Hearings (abbreviated H with volume and page), Commission Exhibits (CE) with page numbers, deposition exhibits (DE) filed by witnesses such as Folsom, Lee, Stuckey, and Arnold Johnson, and occasional outside publications such as Life magazine (Feb. 21, 1964).
Chapter 109

Section 1104 cards

What did Agent Hosty testify about regarding Oswald's Fair Play for Cuba Committee activity in Dallas?
Agent Hosty's testimony at 4 H 441-445 covers Oswald's contacts and activities, and the Commission cross-references earlier discussion (pp. 406-407) of the possibility that Oswald had been distributing Fair Play for Cuba Committee pamphlets in Dallas. The footnotes also cite CE 829 and CE 833 as documentary support for the account of Oswald's actions and the FBI's knowledge of them.
Chapter 110
What did Agent Quigley's interview with Oswald cover, and where is it recorded?
Agent Quigley's interview with Oswald is recorded in his memorandum, appearing at pp. 6-10 of Agent Milton R. Kaack's report on Oswald (CE 826), with testimony at 4 H 432-438. The Commission cites Quigley's account alongside CE 833 for details of Oswald's statements and dealings, using it to corroborate the FBI's record of its contacts with Oswald before the assassination.
Chapter 110
What did Secret Service Chief Rowley testify about the agency's protective investigation?
Chief James J. Rowley testified at 5 H 451-462 about the Secret Service's investigation of the Dallas trip incident. CE 1020 contains the complete investigation, including statements of each agent involved, supervisors' statements, witness statements and voluntary reports, and the final report. The Secret Service also responded to the Commission's request for information in its letter of May 5, 1964 (CE 1019).
Chapter 110
What did J. Edgar Hoover recommend about presidential travel in open cars?
The footnotes record that J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI, recommended that the President never ride in an open car (5 H 107, 117; CE 866). This recommendation appears in the context of the Commission's review of security measures for the Dallas trip, including Love Field arrangements and the planning documents cited as CE 1053A and 1053B.
Chapter 110

Section 1114 cards

What did handwriting experts Cole and Cadigan conclude about the evidence documents?
The chapter cites testimony from questioned-document examiners Alwyn Cole and James Cadigan, who analyzed writings and documents for the Commission. Their testimony spans multiple volumes of hearings, with Cole appearing at 4 H 358-403 and Cadigan at 7 H 418-438. The footnotes reference their analysis of specific exhibits, including comparisons of handwriting and signatures, and cite Cole's reliance on standard works such as Osborne's Questioned Documents.
Chapter 111
Which witnesses testified about the paper and physical documents tied to the evidence?
The footnotes identify several witnesses who handled or examined physical documents: Walter Potts, F. M. Turner, Henry Moore, and Harry D. Holmes, among others. Their testimony is cited alongside Commission Exhibits such as CE 813, CE 2003, and CE 2011. These citations support the Commission's chain-of-custody and authentication discussion for documents introduced as evidence.
Chapter 111
What kinds of expert analysis are cited in this section's footnotes?
The footnotes reference questioned-document examination by Cole and Cadigan, fingerprint analysis by Stombaugh, and medical testimony from Dr. Olivier, Dr. Dziemian, Dr. Light, and others. They also cite photographic and film evidence, including WFAA-TV reels, and testimony from Shaneyfelt on photographs. The citations show the Commission drawing on multiple forensic disciplines rather than a single expert.
Chapter 111
How are the Commission's exhibits and testimony cross-referenced in these footnotes?
The footnotes use a consistent citation system: hearing volume and page numbers (e.g., 4 H 266-267), Commission Exhibit numbers (CE 142), and deposition exhibits (e.g., Cole DE 1). Many entries combine multiple sources, and some point to other sections of the report with 'supra' and 'infra' references. This apparatus lets readers trace each factual claim back to sworn testimony or a numbered exhibit.
Chapter 111

Section 1124 cards

What did Dr. Hartogs recommend for Lee Oswald after his Youth House stay?
Dr. Renatus Hartogs, a Youth House staff psychiatrist, examined Lee during his 1953 placement and made recommendations that the Commission discusses more fully in chapter VII. The chapter cites his testimony and report (Hartogs DE 1) as the source for the Youth House description and his professional recommendations, which are treated as part of the record on Lee's adolescence.
Chapter 112
What did the Commission note about Lillian Murret's claim that Lee joined the Sea Scouts?
Lillian Murret testified that Lee belonged to the Sea Scouts, but the Commission suggests this was probably a confusion with the Civil Air Patrol, citing her testimony alongside other witnesses. The chapter presents this as the Commission's inference rather than a settled fact, showing how it weighed and reconciled conflicting family recollections.
Chapter 112
How did the Commission handle conflicting family accounts of Lee's childhood, such as the move to Benbrook?
The chapter repeatedly sets testimony side by side, noting where Robert Oswald's recollection differed from John Pic's—for example, Robert placed the Benbrook move after Christmas 1945, while John placed a related visit earlier, probably October or November 1952. The Commission cites both rather than resolving every discrepancy, preserving the conflict in the record.
Chapter 112
What did the Commission record about Lee's reading habits as a teenager?
Edward Voebel testified he thought Lee was not a 'great reader' and saw him read only comic books and 'the normal things that kids read.' The chapter cites this alongside Marguerite Oswald's and other witnesses' accounts, presenting it as testimony rather than the Commission's own conclusion about Lee's intellectual interests.
Chapter 112

Section 1134 cards

What did Lee Oswald tell Aline Mosby about his reading while in Moscow?
According to the chapter, Oswald told Aline Mosby that he had read the Communist Manifesto. The interview is described in P. Johnson DE 1, 5, 6 and 11 H 444-460, with the reading detail cited at CE 1385, p. 6. This is part of the record of his statements to reporters during his time in the Soviet Union.
Chapter 113
What was the approximate population of Minsk in 1963, per the chapter?
The chapter states in a footnote that in 1963 the population of Minsk was about 650,000. This figure appears as contextual background in the footnoted record rather than as a finding about Oswald's activities. It helps situate the city where Oswald lived and worked during his Soviet period.
Chapter 113
What did the chapter note about Oswald repaying a loan after returning to the United States?
The chapter states that after his return to the United States, Oswald repaid the loan in full, citing CE 1098 and appendix XV, p. 773. The loan is referenced in the documentary record of his Soviet period finances. The repayment is presented as a factual detail from the exhibits, not as a judgment about his character.
Chapter 113
How does the chapter treat discrepancies in Marina Oswald's reported age at a childhood move?
The chapter notes Marina is unclear about her age at the time of a move, citing a conflict between her testimony of 'approximately five' at 1 H 84 and CE 1401, p. 256, which says 'about seven.' The footnote flags the discrepancy rather than resolving it, showing how the report records conflicting recollections in its source material.
Chapter 113

Section 1144 cards

What did Oswald do with leaflets in New Orleans before his arrest?
The chapter's citations record that Oswald distributed Fair Play for Cuba Committee leaflets in New Orleans and was arrested after a street altercation while handing them out. The account notes he had probably passed out such leaflets on another occasion in June, near a U.S. naval vessel. These episodes are documented through Bringuier's testimony and related exhibits.
Chapter 114
What did Oswald do during his trip to Mexico City in 1963?
The chapter's citations show Oswald visited Mexico City in fall 1963, contacting the Cuban and Soviet embassies there. He appears to have attempted to record Kostikov's name in his guide book, and he marked museums, art galleries, and parks on his guide map. One Juarez claimed to have seen Oswald talking to Cubans, but an intensive investigation indicated this was mistaken identity.
Chapter 114
What did Oswald do in the Soviet Union according to the chapter's sources?
The chapter's citations indicate Oswald defected to the Soviet Union, where he lived and worked before returning to the United States with his wife Marina. His activities there are documented through Marina Oswald's testimony, his own writings and exhibits, and the testimony of people who knew him, including the De Mohrenschildts and others in the Russian-speaking community.
Chapter 114
How did Oswald's time in the Marine Corps appear in the record?
The chapter's citations reference Oswald's Marine Corps service and his later activities, drawing on testimony and exhibits including his own writings and records. The sources include statements from people who knew him in New Orleans and elsewhere, and exhibits such as his correspondence and documents, which the Commission used to trace his movements and associations.
Chapter 114

Section 1153 cards

How much money did Oswald reportedly have when he returned from Mexico?
Marina Oswald testified that her husband returned from Mexico with about $50 or $70. She later said he had about $70. The chapter cites her testimony and Commission Exhibit 1156 for these figures.
Chapter 115
What did the chapter note about Oswald's subscription to The Militant after September 1963?
Oswald received copies of The Militant after September 1963, but there is no record that he paid for a subscription. The chapter cites Ruth Paine's testimony for this point.
Chapter 115
What did the chapter say about Oswald's rent for September?
The chapter states that Oswald failed to pay his rent for September 9, citing Mrs. Jesse Garner's testimony. This appears in a footnote discussing Oswald's finances around the time of his Mexican trip.
Chapter 115

Section 1164 cards

What do the bracketed codes like [A16-1] and citations such as 'CE 1286' or '14 H 439' represent in this appendix?
They are cross-reference footnotes to the Commission's evidentiary record. 'CE' numbers denote Commission Exhibits, 'H' citations refer to volumes and pages of the published Hearings (e.g., 14 H 439), and 'DE' refers to numbered depositions or documents. Each bracketed entry ties a point in the main text to supporting testimony or exhibits, and many entries add 'cf.' or 'but cf.' to flag conflicting or contrasting sources.
Chapter 116
Which recurring witnesses are cited repeatedly in this appendix, and what family names appear?
The appendix repeatedly cites testimony from Hyman Rubenstein (also spelled Rubenstein), Earl Ruby, Sam Ruby, Eva Grant, Eileen Kaminsky, Alice Nichols, C. Ray Hall, and Jack Ruby. These names recur across many footnotes, indicating that the supporting record for this section draws heavily on testimony from Ruby family members and associates, along with Commission exhibits and depositions.
Chapter 116
How does the appendix signal that sources disagree or that a citation is only comparable rather than direct?
It uses Latin-derived abbreviations: 'cf.' (confer) to point to a comparable or contrasting source, 'but cf.' to flag an exception or conflicting evidence, 'see' for direct support, 'see also' for additional support, and 'id.' to repeat the immediately preceding citation. These markers tell the reader whether a footnote corroborates, contrasts with, or merely parallels the main text's assertion.
Chapter 116
What kinds of source materials does the appendix cite besides Commission Exhibits and Hearings volumes?
It cites depositions (DE numbers, such as James DE 9, Sam Ruby DE 1, and Alice Nichols DE 5355), Commission Exhibits (CE numbers), and Hearings volumes (H citations). Some entries also cross-reference earlier pages of the report itself, using 'supra' and 'infra' with page numbers, showing the appendix links back to the main narrative as well as to the underlying evidence.
Chapter 116

Section 1174 cards

What kind of material makes up Section 117 of the Warren Commission Report?
Section 117 consists almost entirely of footnote citations to Commission Exhibits (CE), volumes of hearings (H), and depositions (DE), keyed to bracketed reference numbers such as [A16-374] through [A16-490]. It is a reference apparatus rather than narrative text, pointing readers to testimony and exhibits cited in the surrounding discussion.
Chapter 117
Which witnesses and figures are repeatedly cited in the Section 117 footnotes?
The footnotes cite many witnesses by name and hearing volume, including Jack Ruby, Earl Ruby, Sam Ruby, Alice Nichols, George Senator, Crafard, Armstrong, Grant, Eberhardt, Hansen, and Pullman, along with exhibits such as CE 1233, CE 1505, and CE 1511. The pattern shows the section supports testimony about Ruby's family and associates.
Chapter 117
What does Appendix XVII, following Section 117, cite regarding Jack Ruby?
Appendix XVII cites Jack Ruby's testimony at 14 H 507-508 and 5 H 181-182, along with exhibits including CE 2785, a statement of Dr. R. L. Stubblefield, M.D., and CE 2728 through CE 2730 and CE 2786. It also cites testimony of Dr. William R. Beavers and Bell P. Herndon.
Chapter 117
What does the index at the end of the chapter list?
The index lists names alphabetically with page references, beginning with Abt, John J. and President John Quincy Adams, and including figures such as Marrion L. Baker, Howard Leslie Brennan, Fidel Castro, and the Central Intelligence Agency. It also notes cross-references for variant spellings, such as Ascue and Aszque pointing to Azque, Senor Eusebio.
Chapter 117

Section 1183 cards

What kind of content makes up Section 118 of the Warren Commission Report?
Section 118 is an alphabetical index of names, not narrative text. Each entry lists a person, organization, or place followed by page numbers where it appears in the report. Entries run from Holland and Holman through Hoover, Hosty, and Humes, then continue through the J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, and S ranges, ending with the Soviet Union.
Chapter 118
Which entries show the index cross-referencing aliases or alternate names?
Several entries use "See" to redirect an alias to the main name. Examples include "Jada" (See Conforto, Janet Adams), "Knight, Russell" (See Moore, Russell Lee), "Lee, H. O." and "Lee, O. H." (See Oswald, Lee Harvey), "Osborne" (See Oswald, Lee Harvey), and "Prusakova, Marina Nikolaevna" and "Prossa" (See Oswald, Marina).
Chapter 118
What range of page references does the index give for Lee Harvey Oswald?
Oswald's entry is by far the longest, spanning dozens of page citations from 6 through 811, including 118-119, 121-125, 127-131, 133-137, 140-141, 143-147, 149, 151-157, 159-163, 165-169, 171-172, 174-176, 178-196, 198-202, and continuing through 637-639, 642-701, 703-713, 716, 719-720, 722, 724-728, 731-734, 736, 739-740, 746, 748-761, 753-766, 768-779, 794, 807, 809-811.
Chapter 118

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All questions and answers

Why did President Johnson create the Commission by Executive Order 11130?

What did Congress's Senate Joint Resolution 137 empower the Commission to do?

Why could the full story not be established through a normal trial?

How did the Commission treat the reports and conclusions of Federal and State agencies?

Where does the Commission commit its reports and working papers for permanent preservation?

What does Chapter II's table of contents list as the first subsection under 'The Assassination'?

Which chapter covers the protection of the President and what recommendations does it include?

What did Howard Brennan report seeing from his spot on Elm Street?

What did Patrolman Baker see and do immediately after hearing the shot?

What happened when Baker and Truly reached the second-floor lunchroom?

What evidence did Deputy Sheriff Mooney find in the southeast corner of the sixth floor?

What rifle scores did Oswald record in the Marines, and how did they compare to minimums?

How did Oswald's attempt to renounce U.S. citizenship and gain Soviet citizenship turn out?

What did Oswald do in New Orleans regarding the Fair Play for Cuba Committee?

What did Oswald do after losing his job in New Orleans in September 1963?

What did the Commission conclude about whether Oswald or Ruby was part of a conspiracy?

What did the Commission conclude about Oswald's interrogation and detention by Dallas police?

What did the Commission recommend regarding Secret Service protective responsibilities being moved to another agency?

What did the Commission recommend to improve supervision of the Secret Service within the Treasury Department?

What did the Commission recommend for detecting potential threats against the President?

What legislation did the Commission recommend to Congress regarding Presidential assassination?

What did the Secret Service normally do about inspecting buildings along a motorcade route?

How did Dallas newspapers describe the motorcade route before the visit?

What incident in October 1963 heightened concern about Kennedy's Dallas visit?

What did President Kennedy reportedly say about the difficulty of protecting a President?

What was the limousine's average speed before the fatal head shot, per the Zapruder film?

How did Governor Connally describe his reaction and wounds during the shooting?

What did Secret Service Agent Hill do after hearing the first shot?

How did Youngblood and the Vice President's detail react to the shots?

What operations did Governor Connally undergo for wounds he did not initially realize he had?

What did the autopsy reveal about the wounds to President Kennedy's head?

How did the Secret Service secure Vice President Johnson at Parkland Hospital?

What did the three fifth-floor employees hear during the shooting?

What experiment tested the fifth-floor witnesses' account?

Did the Commission find evidence of shots from the Triple Underpass?

What did firearms experts conclude about the bullet and cartridge cases and the C2766 rifle?

Why did the Commission conclude the nearly whole bullet came from Connally's stretcher?

What markings identify the rifle found on the sixth floor, and how was it classified?

What did the autopsy pathologists conclude about President Kennedy's head wounds?

Why did the Bethesda surgeons conclude the neck bullet exited the front of the neck?

What did Drs. Carrico and Perry say about the neck wound based on its appearance alone?

Why did Dr. Perry's press conference remarks cause confusion about the neck wound?

What did the Army wound ballistics tests at Edgewood Arsenal show about entry and exit wounds?

What evidence supported the single-bullet conclusion for Governor Connally's wounds?

What did the Zapruder film's frame rate establish for timing the shots?

Between which Zapruder frames did the Commission conclude the President was probably shot in the neck?

Why did the Commission conclude the neck bullet probably struck Governor Connally?

What did Dr. Light conclude about the bullet through the President's neck?

How did films establish the President's position when the head bullet struck?

Why did the Commission conclude three shots were fired?

What evidence supported the theory that the first shot missed?

What did postal inspector Holmes say about package pickup for a post office box?

Why did the Commission conclude the published backyard photographs were not altered originals?

How did the Commission date the backyard photographs as taken after March 27, 1963?

What did the Commission conclude about the curtain rod story Oswald told Frazier?

What did Marina Oswald do when she heard the President was shot from her husband's building?

What did the palmprint on the paper bag indicate about how Oswald handled it?

What did Cadigan conclude about the bag's paper and tape versus the Depository sample?

Why couldn't Stombaugh say the bag's fibers probably came from the blanket?

What did the Commission conclude about Oswald and the paper bag?

Why did Brennan decline to make a positive identification of Oswald in the November 22 lineup?

How did the Commission treat Brennan's identification in reaching its conclusion about the assassin?

What did Fischer and Edwards see in the sixth-floor window about a minute before the assassination?

What did the Commission conclude about the Altgens photograph allegedly showing Oswald in front of the building?

Why does Victoria Adams's testimony about descending the stairs conflict with other evidence?

When did Mrs. Reid see Oswald on the second floor, and what was he doing?

When was the Depository building sealed off, and could Oswald have left before then?

What evidence did the Commission cite linking Oswald to the Tippit killing?

What inconsistencies did Whaley's testimony contain about the lineup and cab route?

What did Earlene Roberts observe when Oswald returned to his roominghouse?

How did the Tippit shooting unfold according to eyewitnesses?

How did witness identifications of Oswald after the Tippit shooting vary?

What did witnesses hear during Oswald's struggle with police in the theatre, and what did the firearms expert conclude?

What did the Commission conclude about the paraffin tests performed on Oswald?

What evidence did the Commission evaluate on whether Oswald shot at General Walker?

What did firearms experts conclude about the Walker bullet and Oswald's rifle?

What corroborated Marina Oswald's account of the Walker shooting attempt?

Why did the Commission dismiss the alleged Nixon threat?

What factors led the Commission to find Oswald capable of the shots?