September 27
Warren Commission Releases JFK Assassination Report
The seven-member panel led by Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered its 888-page conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone in assassinating President John F. Kennedy.
Summary
Following the November 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Warren Commission to investigate the shooting and related events. Chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren, the seven-member panel reviewed evidence, witness testimony, and forensic analysis over ten months. On September 27, 1964, the Commission released its 888-page report concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing Kennedy and wounding Texas Governor John Connally. The findings aimed to reassure the public but sparked decades of debate and alternative theories.
Context
President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed on November 22, 1963, while riding in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas. Texas Governor John Connally was also wounded in the attack. In the immediate aftermath, Dallas police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine and employee at the Texas School Book Depository, and charged him with the murder. Two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald in the basement of the Dallas police headquarters while he was being transferred.
What Happened
On November 29, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11130 creating the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy. He appointed Chief Justice Earl Warren to chair the seven-member body, which also included Senators Richard Russell and John Sherman Cooper, Representatives Hale Boggs and Gerald Ford, former CIA Director Allen Dulles, and banker John J. McCloy. The commission and its staff reviewed thousands of documents, conducted forensic examinations, and heard testimony from more than 550 witnesses over the following ten months.
Aftermath
The commission delivered its report to President Johnson on September 24, 1964. Three days later, on September 27, the 888-page document was released to the public through the Government Printing Office. It concluded that all shots that struck Kennedy and Connally were fired by Oswald from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository and that no evidence supported the existence of a conspiracy.
Legacy
The Warren Report became the official government account of the assassination and shaped public understanding of the event for years. Its findings have been repeatedly challenged by independent researchers, congressional inquiries, and popular media, contributing to persistent skepticism about official investigations into political violence.
Why It Matters
The report became a foundational document in modern American political history, shaping public trust in government investigations while fueling ongoing controversies about transparency and conspiracy. It influenced later inquiries into political violence and the role of commissions in American governance.
Related Questions
Who chaired the Warren Commission?
Chief Justice Earl Warren led the seven-member panel.
What was the main conclusion of the report?
Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President Kennedy and wounding Governor Connally.
When was the report first made public?
It was released on September 27, 1964, three days after being delivered to President Johnson.
How many pages was the main report?
The final report contained 888 pages.
Did the commission find evidence of a conspiracy?
No, the report stated there was no evidence that Oswald or Jack Ruby was part of any conspiracy.
Related Portfolio Site
Assassination Attempts: Warren Commission Releases JFK Assassination Report is a U.S. presidential assassination-attempt event.
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Sources
- September 27 - Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed 2026-07-05.
- On This Day - What Happened on September 27 - Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed 2026-07-05.