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

Pre-Shooting Event Timeline

Minutes before Oswald appeared in the basement, Ruby was at the Western Union office on Main Street, approximately 350 feet from the top of the Main Street ramp. A money order time stamp and receipt establish that the order was accepted for transmission at almost exactly 11:17 a.m., after which Ruby was observed departing in the direction of the police building. Video tapes show Lieutenant Pierce’s car cleared the crowd at the foot of the ramp 55 seconds before the shooting, and Ruby standing at the foot of the ramp on the Main Street side. The shooting occurred very close to 11:21 a.m., as confirmed by a clock in motion pictures of Oswald, Oswald’s jail departure records, and ambulance records. Commission Exhibit No. 2635 shows Ruby in the basement immediately before the shooting.

Witness Testimony on Ruby’s Entry Route

The testimony of two witnesses partially corroborates Ruby’s claim that he entered via the Main Street ramp. James Turner, a WBAP-TV Fort Worth employee, testified that approximately 30 seconds before the shooting, while standing near the railing on the east side of the ramp, he observed a man he was confident was Jack Ruby moving slowly down the ramp about 10 feet from the bottom. Two other witnesses testified they thought they saw Ruby on the Main Street side of the ramp before the shooting. The Main Street ramp was the most direct route from the Western Union office, requiring about 1 minute to reach the top and 20-25 seconds to descend.

Alternative Basement Entry Route Investigation

Former police officer N. J. Daniels testified that 3 or 4 minutes before the shooting, he saw a man walk down the Main Street ramp in full view of patrolman R. E. Vaughn without being stopped or questioned. However, Daniels did not identify the man as Ruby, gave a description that differed importantly from Ruby’s November 24 appearance, and testified he did not think the man was Ruby. On November 24, Vaughn telephoned Daniels who initially said he had not seen anyone enter, and Daniels did not come forward with his statement until November 29. The Commission found his testimony to have little credibility.

Debunking Press Badge and Police Car Entry Claims

The Commission found no credible evidence to support any entry route other than the Main Street ramp. Two Dallas detectives believed they observed three men pushing a WBAP-TV camera into the basement minutes before the shooting, but films showed only two men pushing the camera. The third WBAP-TV employee apparently ran to help steady the camera as it entered. Since the camera entered close to 4 minutes before the shooting, it is virtually impossible that Ruby could have been in the basement at that time.

Police Complicity in Ruby’s Entry Investigation

The Commission investigated alternative basement entry routes. Ruby could have walked to the Commerce Street ramp in about 2½ minutes, but video tapes show an armored truck blocking that entranceway with only narrow clearance, making it improbable that Ruby could have passed unnoticed. Any other route would have required passing through the Police and Courts Building or the Municipal Building and then through one of five secured doors into the basement, though testimony was not completely positive about one door.

Ruby Transfer Time Tip Investigation

The Commission found no evidence supporting the speculation that Ruby used a press badge to gain entry or concealed himself in a police car. Police found no press card on Ruby after his apprehension and no discarded badges in the basement. There is no evidence that any officer admitted Ruby under any pretense. Police vehicles in the basement were inspected, and all patrol cars and a patrol wagon that entered did so on official business more than 4 minutes before the shooting. No witnesses recalled any police car entering during the 4-minute period between Ruby’s departure from the Western Union office and the shooting. Commission Exhibit No. 2710 is referenced.