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

第六章 , the Commission has considered whether there is any evidence

This chapter considers whether Jack Ruby received assistance from Dallas policemen or others in gaining access to the police basement on the morning of November 24, 1963, when he shot Lee Harvey Oswald. The Commission found no evidence that Ruby received any assistance, but his means of entry is significant in evaluating the adequacy of the precautions taken to protect Oswald. The chapter examines Ruby’s account of entering via the Main Street ramp, establishes a timeline of pre-shooting events, evaluates witness testimony, investigates alternative entry routes, debunks claims about a press badge or police car entry, reviews the police department’s investigation into possible complicity, considers whether Ruby received a tip about the transfer time, discusses the Dallas Police Department’s press access policy, and assesses the adequacy of security precautions.

Jack Ruby’s Basement Entry Assistance Assessment

The Commission assessed whether Jack Ruby received assistance in gaining access to the Dallas Police Department basement on November 24. Although more than a hundred policemen and newsmen were present in the basement during the 10 minutes before the shooting, none definitively observed Ruby’s entry. The Commission concluded that Ruby entered the basement unaided, probably via the Main Street ramp, and no more than 3 minutes before the shooting of Oswald. Two commission exhibits are referenced: Exhibit No. 2177 showing the jail office and immediate vicinity in the basement, and Exhibit No. 2636 showing Ruby shooting Oswald on November 24.