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

第二章 With the assistance of Agent in Charge Sorrels of the

Chapter II examines the Secret Service’s advance preparations for President Kennedy’s visit to Dallas on November 22, 1963, and the conduct of agents in the preceding hours in Fort Worth. Drawing on the work of Agent Lawson (assisted later by Agent Grant) and the testimony of Special Agent in Charge Sorrels, the Commission evaluates the adequacy of advance planning, liaison with local law enforcement, security measures along the motorcade route, and the discipline of agents immediately before the assassination.

Advance Work for Dallas Presidential Trip

Agent Lawson of the Dallas Secret Service field office was responsible for working out a great many arrangements for the President’s trip. The Service normally prefers to have two agents perform advance preparations, but because President Kennedy had scheduled visits to five Texas cities and other parts of the country immediately before, there were not enough men available to assign two agents to all the advance work. Consequently, Agent Lawson did the advance work alone from November 13 to November 18, when he was joined by Agent David B. Grant, who had just completed advance work on the President’s trip to Tampa.

Commission Findings on Dallas Advance Arrangements

The Commission concludes that the most significant advance arrangements for the President’s trip were soundly planned. The motorcade route selected by Agent Lawson, upon the advice of Agent in Charge Sorrels and with the concurrence of the Dallas police, was entirely appropriate in view of the known desires of the President, even though there were far safer freeway routes directly to the Trade Mart. Much of Lawson’s time was spent establishing adequate security along the motorcade route and at the two places where the President would stop, Love Field and the Trade Mart. The arrangements worked out at the Trade Mart with the cooperation of the Dallas police and other local law enforcement agents were carefully executed, and the Commission regards the security arrangements at Love Field as entirely adequate.