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

INTERVIEWS WITH LEE HARVEY OSWALD ON NOVEMBER 23, 1963

Section heading introducing a chronological record of the interviews conducted with Lee Harvey Oswald on November 23, 1963, in the offices of Captain Will Fritz of the Dallas Police Homicide Division. Inspector Kelley’s narrative is presented in summary form, covering an earlier morning interview and two subsequent interviews that day.

Interview at 12:35 P.M., November 23, 1963

At approximately 12:35 P.M. on November 23, 1963, Oswald was interviewed in Captain Fritz’s office with Inspector Kelley, Detectives Senkel and Tiernon, and FBI SA James Bookhout present. Fritz sought to determine the location of Oswald’s belongings in Dallas; Oswald stated that most of his personal effects, including a sea bag, were stored in the garage at Mrs. Paine’s residence at 2515 West 5th Street, Irving, Texas. The interview ended at about 1:10 P.M., after which Homicide Division detectives obtained a search warrant and recovered the effects. Among the items seized were snapshot photographs of Oswald holding a rifle and copies of The Militant and The Worker, with a holstered revolver visible on his right side. These photographs were enlarged by the Dallas Police Laboratories and used as the basis for further questioning later that evening.

Interview at 6:00 P.M., November 23, 1963

At 6:00 P.M. on November 23, 1963, in Captain Fritz’s office, Oswald was shown the enlargements of the photographs depicting him holding a rifle and pistol. Oswald sneered at the images, claiming they were fakes produced by superimposing a rifle and pistol onto earlier police photographs of him. He engaged Fritz in an extended argument about photographic enlargement processes and refused to identify the images as himself or to disclose the location shown in the photograph. Despite Fritz’s patience and tenacity, Oswald provided no further information, and the interview was terminated at about 7:15 P.M.

Preliminary Special Dallas Report # 3

A Preliminary Special Dallas Report # 3, designated CO-2-34,030, dated November 29, 1963, from the U.S. Secret Service to Chief Inspector Kelley. The report covers Oswald’s third interview on the morning of November 24, 1963, and the circumstances immediately following his shooting and death, and is signed “TJK:VS” by Inspector Kelley.

Interview at 9:30 A.M., November 24, 1963

The third interview began at approximately 9:30 A.M. on Sunday, November 24, 1963, in Captain Fritz’s office, with Postal Inspector Holmes, SAIC Sorrels, Inspector Kelley, and four Homicide Squad members present. When asked to identify where the photograph of him with the gun had been taken, Oswald refused to discuss the matter. Questioned about communism, Oswald stated he was a Marxist but not a Marxist-Leninist. He described his involvement with the Fair Play for Cuba Committee in New Orleans, including his arrest for disturbing the peace during a demonstration, and denied knowing or seeing Alex Hidell. Oswald offered political commentary, stating Cuba should have full diplomatic relations with the United States and predicting no change in American policy toward Cuba under President Johnson. He described himself as an avid reader of Russian literature and a subscriber to The Militant. Asked whether, as a Marxist, he believed religion was an opiate of the people, Oswald affirmed this and suggested the Catholic Church was incompatible with communism. An Enco street map of Dallas found among his effects bore markings, which Oswald attributed to his job search. Kelley then privately approached Oswald, identifying himself as Secret Service and offering to interview him once counsel was obtained; Oswald declined pending attorney consultation. Captain Fritz terminated the interview after determining Oswald would not cooperate.

Shooting of Oswald and Aftermath

Following the interview, Oswald was provided with different clothing including a sweater. After Captain Fritz confirmed arrangements with the County Jail, he and Homicide Bureau detectives escorted Oswald from the third-floor Homicide Office to the basement, where Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby. SAIC Sorrels and Kelley rushed to the basement, where Kelley found Oswald unconscious and in very serious condition. Captain Fritz informed Kelley that Oswald had been shot by Jack “Rubio,” a tavern operator known to police. Kelley accompanied the stretcher to the ambulance but was unable to board the following cruiser. Special Agents Warner and Patterson arrived at Parkland Hospital shortly after Oswald; one or the other remained in close proximity throughout treatment. Oswald made no statements after being shot, remained unconscious during transport and treatment, and died. At the time of his death, Kelley, Detective Daugherty, and Colonel Garrison of the Texas State Police were on the fifth floor arranging a security room. Kelley proceeded to the morgue and arranged for the family to view the body. Oswald’s family, except brother Robert, viewed the body before autopsy, accompanied by the hospital chaplain. Burial arrangements were made through the chaplain and another clergyman, and the family was taken to a secluded location under the protection of Special Agents Kunkel and Howard and the Irving, Texas police. SAIC Bouck advised that President Johnson and the Attorney General were concerned for the family’s safety; Kelley confirmed the family was already under Secret Service protection. Later, SA Robertson of the FBI inquired about the family’s safety; Kelley confirmed protection was in place and the family was available for FBI interviews, though Robertson indicated no immediate interview was planned.