Earl Warren Biography and Timeline

Governor

Appointed Governor of California

Chief Justice

Appointed Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court

Role range: 1953-1969

Commission Chairmanship

Warren became chairman of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy when the commission was established by Executive Order 11130.

Warren Commission Appointment

President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Chief Justice Earl Warren to chair the commission investigating President Kennedy's assassination.

Warren Commission Established

President Johnson created the commission chaired by Earl Warren to investigate Kennedy's assassination, including possible foreign or Cuban involvement.

Chairman

Chairs the presidential commission investigating the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

First Commission Meeting

Warren chaired the commission's first meeting on December 5, 1963, as members began organizing an independent investigation of the assassination.

Independent Investigation Mandate

Under Warren's chairmanship, the commission decided that it would conduct an independent investigation rather than simply accept conclusions submitted by other government agencies.

Warren Commission

The Warren Commission met formally for the first time on December 5, 1963 on the second floor of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. The Commission conducted its business primarily in closed sessions, but these were not secret sessions

J. Lee Rankin Appointment

Warren appointed former Solicitor General J. Lee Rankin as general counsel of the assassination commission on December 8, 1963.

Subpoena Authority

The commission chaired by Warren received statutory authority to compel testimony and evidence when Congress enacted Public Law 88-202.

CIA Evidence Review

Warren's commission sought CIA information concerning Oswald's foreign contacts, Mexico City activities, and possible foreign involvement in the assassination.

FBI Evidence Review

Warren's commission began reviewing investigative reports supplied by the FBI concerning President Kennedy's assassination, Lee Harvey Oswald, and related evidence.

Secret Service Evidence Review

Warren's commission obtained and reviewed Secret Service material concerning the Dallas motorcade, presidential protection, the assassination, and subsequent investigative work.

Witness Hearings Begin

Under Warren's chairmanship, the commission began taking sworn witness testimony on February 3, 1964.

Marguerite Oswald Testimony

Warren participated in commission proceedings examining Marguerite Oswald about Lee Harvey Oswald's upbringing, family background, and circumstances surrounding the assassination investigation.

Marina Oswald Testimony

Warren participated in commission proceedings examining Marina Oswald about her husband's life, activities, weapons, and conduct before the assassination.

Autopsy Evidence Review

Warren's commission reviewed the autopsy findings, Parkland Hospital evidence, medical testimony, and related material concerning President Kennedy's wounds.

Ballistics Evidence Review

Warren's commission examined firearms, bullets, cartridge cases, firearms-identification testimony, and other ballistics evidence connected with the assassination and Tippit killing.

Dallas Police Evidence Review

Warren's commission examined Dallas Police Department records concerning Oswald's arrest, interrogation, detention, identification lineups, and the investigation of Officer Tippit's killing.

Eyewitness Testimony Program

Warren's commission heard and collected testimony from eyewitnesses to the assassination, the Tippit shooting, and Oswald's subsequent movements.

Motorcade Evidence Review

Warren's commission studied the Dallas motorcade route, witness locations, presidential limousine evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting in Dealey Plaza.

Zapruder Film Review

Warren's commission examined the Zapruder film and other photographic evidence to analyze the timing and sequence of shots fired at the presidential motorcade.

Bringuier Testimony Review

The Warren Commission received Carlos Bringuier's testimony about Oswald's visits to his store, the August confrontation, and the later WDSU debate.

Jack Ruby Testimony

Warren personally questioned Jack Ruby in the Dallas County Jail on June 7, 1964, about Oswald's killing, Ruby's motives, and allegations of conspiracy.

Ruby Conspiracy Inquiry

Warren questioned Ruby as part of the commission's effort to determine whether Oswald's murder resulted from a conspiracy or prior arrangement.

Ruby Motive Inquiry

Warren questioned Ruby about his stated reasons for killing Oswald and the circumstances that placed him in the Dallas police basement.

Ruby Polygraph Request

When Ruby requested a lie-detector examination, Warren told him that the commission would arrange a test if Ruby and his counsel wanted one.

Dealey Plaza Inspection

During the commission's Dallas work, Warren examined Dealey Plaza and locations relevant to the reconstruction of the assassination.

Texas School Book Depository Inspection

Warren and other commission members traveled to Dallas and inspected locations connected with the assassination, including the Texas School Book Depository.

Ruby Polygraph Examination Review

Warren's commission reviewed the FBI-administered polygraph examination given to Jack Ruby after Ruby repeatedly requested such a test.

Anti-Castro Involvement Inquiry

Warren's commission examined allegations involving anti-Castro Cuban groups and individuals to determine whether they had participated in the assassination.

Cuban Involvement Inquiry

Under Warren's chairmanship, the commission investigated allegations that the Cuban Government or pro-Castro organizations had been involved in the assassination.

Mexico City Investigation

Warren's commission examined Oswald's September 1963 trip to Mexico City and his contacts with the Soviet and Cuban diplomatic missions.

Organized Crime Inquiry

Warren's commission examined Jack Ruby's associations and allegations involving organized crime while investigating whether Ruby's killing of Oswald was conspiratorial.

Oswald Background Investigation

Warren's commission reconstructed Oswald's background, education, military service, Soviet defection, return to the United States, employment, politics, and personal associations.

Oswald Interrogation Review

Warren's commission examined the circumstances and substance of Oswald's interrogations by Dallas police between his arrest and his death.

Right-Wing Activity Inquiry

Warren's commission examined hostile right-wing political activity in Dallas and investigated whether it had any connection to President Kennedy's assassination.

Soviet Involvement Inquiry

Under Warren's chairmanship, the commission investigated whether the Soviet Government or Soviet intelligence had directed, encouraged, or assisted Oswald.

Tippit Killing Investigation

Warren's commission reviewed eyewitness, firearms, police-radio, and physical evidence concerning the killing of Dallas Patrolman J. D. Tippit.