Earl Warren Biography

Appointed Governor of California

Appointed Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Commission examined testimony and records concerning Oswald's contacts with Cuban diplomatic officials in Mexico City.

The Commission found no evidence that Oswald received a large payment from Cuban or other sources during his Mexico City trip.

The Commission determined that Oswald did not obtain Cuban permission to enter Cuba during his Mexico City trip.

Under Warren's chairmanship, the Commission examined Oswald's Fair Play for Cuba Committee activities and his attempt to create a New Orleans chapter.

In its conclusion, the Warren Commission found "persuasive evidence from the experts" that a single bullet caused the President's neck wound and all the wounds in Governor Connally

The Commission reviewed information on undercover Cuban activity in New Orleans and reported that federal information revealed no anti-Castro group knowledge of Oswald before the assassination.

Warren's commission reconstructed Oswald's September 1963 travel to Mexico City and his efforts to obtain permission to enter Cuba.

The Commission investigated whether the Cuban government or pro-Castro organizations had encouraged Oswald and reported no evidence establishing such involvement.

The Warren Commission found no evidence supporting allegations that Oswald made a clandestine flight from Mexico to Cuba and back.

2 months after the publication of its 888-page report, the Commission publishes 26 volumes of supporting documents, including the testimony or depositions of 552 witnesses and more than 3,100 exhibits.

In November 1964, two months after the publication of its 889-page report, the Commission published twenty-six volumes of supporting documents, including the testimony or depositions of 552 witnesses and more than 3,100 exhibits.

In its conclusion, the Warren Commission found "persuasive evidence from the experts" that a single bullet caused the President's neck wound and all the wounds in Governor Connally

The Warren Commission finds that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the murder of Kennedy, and that Jack Ruby acted alone in the murder of Oswald. In late September 1964, after a 10-month investigation, the Warren Commission Report is published.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Warren's commission investigated numerous rumors, allegations, and theories concerning possible conspirators rather than limiting its inquiry to the physical evidence at Dealey Plaza.

Warren's commission evaluated Secret Service procedures used during the Dallas trip and developed recommendations intended to improve presidential protection.

Warren and the other commissioners completed and approved the commission's final report after reviewing the investigation, testimony, exhibits, and staff analyses.

The Warren Commission finds that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the murder of Kennedy, and that Jack Ruby acted alone in the murder of Oswald. In late September 1964, after a 10-month investigation, the Warren Commission Report is published

Warren signed the commission's letter transmitting its completed report to President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 24, 1964.

The Warren Commission reported that it found no evidence that a foreign government employed, persuaded, or encouraged Oswald to assassinate Kennedy.

The Commission concluded that Oswald's Fair Play for Cuba Committee contacts were not shown to be related to the assassination of President Kennedy.

Warren presented the completed assassination report to President Johnson at the White House on September 24, 1964.

Fears of possible Soviet or Cuban foreign involvement in the assassination necessitated the establishment of a bipartisan commission that, in turn, sought to depoliticize Oswald's role by downplaying his Communist affiliations

He insisted that the commission report should be unanimous, and so he compromised on a number of issues in order to get all the members to sign the final version.

It was an unhappy experience for Warren, who did not want the assignment. As a judge, he valued candor and justice, but as a politician he recognized the need for secrecy in some matters.

Many conspiracy theorists have attacked the commission's findings ever since, claiming that key evidence is missing or distorted and that there are many inconsistencies in the report. The Commission concluded that the assassination was the result of a single individual, Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone.

The 888-page final report is presented to President Johnson and made public three days later

The 889-page final report is presented to President Johnson on September 24, 1964. President Johnson demanded in the name of patriotic duty that Warren head the governmental commission that investigated the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Following completion of the report, the commission's testimony and documentary exhibits were published in 26 volumes to accompany the investigation's findings.

The HSCA Report in 1979 agrees with the Warren Report's conclusion that two bullets caused all of President Kennedy's and Governor Connally's injuries

and that both bullets were fired by Oswald from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository

Lone gunman theory, name given to the conclusion reached by the Warren Commission that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by a single gunman named Lee Harvey Oswald who fired only three shots

The unpublished portion of the Warren Commission records is initially sealed for 75 years (to 2039) under a general National Archives policy that applies to all federal investigations by the executive branch of Government

The HSCA Report in 1979 agrees with the Warren Report's conclusion that two bullets caused all of President Kennedy's and Governor Connallys injuries, and that both bullets were fired by Oswald from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository

In November 1964, two months after the publication of its 889-page report, the Commission published twenty-six volumes of supporting documents, including the testimony or depositions of 552 witnesses and more than 3,100 exhibits. 2 months after the publication of its 888-page report, the Commission publishes 26 volumes of supporting documents,

Later investigations agree with the Warren Commission's conclusion that two shots struck JFK from the rear: the 1968 panel set by Attorney General Ramsey Clark, the 1975 Rockefeller Commission, and the 1978-79 House Select Committee on Assassinations.

Lone gunman theory, name given to the conclusion reached by the Warren Commission that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by a single gunman named Lee Harvey Oswald who fired only three shots.

The HSCA Report in 1979 agrees with the Warren Report's conclusion that two bullets caused all of President Kennedy's and Governor Connally's injuries, and that both bullets were fired by Oswald from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository.

The unpublished portion of the Warren Commission records is initially sealed for 75 years (to 2039) under a general National Archives policy that applies to all federal investigations by the executive branch of Government.

including the testimony or depositions of 552 witnesses and more than 3,100 exhibits

All of the commission's records are transferred on November 23 to the National Archives. The unpublished portion of those records was initially sealed for 75 years (to 2039) under a general National Archives policy that applied to all federal investigations by the executive branch of Government, a period "intended to

serve as protection for innocent persons who could otherwise be damaged because of their relationship with participants in the case