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

Summary and Conclusions

The Commission was established on November 29, 1963, to uphold the public’s right to full, truthful knowledge of the assassination, which it describes as a cruel, shocking act of violence targeting the President, his family, the United States, and all people. The report is compiled with a commitment to reason, fairness, and objective fact presentation, acknowledging its responsibility to deliver an unvarnished account of the tragedy that cut short the life of a young, energetic leader in a nation founded on peaceful political change.

Narrative of Events

This section provides a complete chronological narrative of the day of the assassination, covering the President’s arrival in Dallas, pre-scheduled trip activities, motorcade routing and security planning, the shooting in Dealey Plaza, immediate transport to Parkland Memorial Hospital, the President’s death and Lyndon B. Johnson’s swearing-in as successor, autopsy findings, the investigation identifying the Texas School Book Depository as the shooting origin, Lee Harvey Oswald’s interactions with law enforcement after the attack, his escape from Dallas, and the fatal shooting of Patrolman J.D. Tippit.

Arrival at Love Field

At 11:40 a.m. CST on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and their official party arrived at Love Field in Dallas, Texas, to begin the second day of a 5-month pre-planned Texas trip. The itinerary was organized by the President, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Texas Governor John B. Connally Jr., with prior stops that day in San Antonio (where the President dedicated U.S. Air Force aerospace medicine research facilities) and Fort Worth (where he addressed a large morning breakfast gathering). Remaining scheduled events included a downtown Dallas motorcade, a luncheon speech at the Trade Mart, and a flight to Austin for a Democratic fundraising dinner, with a final stop at the Vice President’s Texas ranch planned after the Austin event.

Motorcade Planning

The Dallas motorcade was added to the trip to let the President connect with voters in a city he had lost in the 1960 presidential election, with planning led primarily by Governor Connally and presidential special assistant Kenneth O’Donnell. The Secret Service was notified on November 8 that 45 minutes had been allocated for the motorcade from Love Field to the Trade Mart, the selected luncheon site chosen for its suitable security features and event capacity. The route was designed to maximize public access to the President, approved by local host committees and White House representatives on November 18, and publicized in local newspapers starting November 19, with advance notices confirming the motorcade would turn from Main Street onto Elm Street via Houston Street to reach the Stemmons Freeway and Trade Mart.

Dealey Plaza Shooting

At approximately 12:30 p.m., as the President’s open limousine turned from Houston Street onto Elm Street and slowed to roughly 11 miles per hour while descending toward the railroad overpass, shots were fired in rapid succession. The first bullet struck the President in the back of the neck, exiting the front of his neck and nicking the left lower knot of his necktie; the second struck Governor Connally in the back, traveling through his chest, right wrist, and left thigh; the third and fatal bullet struck the President in the back of the head, causing a massive, lethal wound. Secret Service agents responded immediately: Agent Clinton J. Hill jumped from the followup car to shield the President and First Lady in the limousine, while Agent Roy H. Kellerman ordered driver William R. Greer to speed directly to Parkland Memorial Hospital 4 miles away.

Transport to Parkland Hospital

Immediately after the shooting, Secret Service agents moved to protect the presidential party and expedite transport to medical care. Agent Hill climbed onto the rear of the limousine to shield the stricken President and Mrs. Kennedy as Greer accelerated the vehicle at high speed toward Parkland Memorial Hospital. The Dallas Police Department had already alerted the hospital’s medical team to the President’s impending arrival via radio message from the motorcade, ensuring staff were ready to provide immediate care upon the vehicle’s arrival.