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

Conclusion

Synthesizes the evidence presented in the first six sections to conclude that the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle used to assassinate President Kennedy was owned and possessed by Lee Harvey Oswald.

The Rifle in the Building

Examines evidence confirming the assassination rifle was present inside the Texas School Book Depository on the day of the assassination, including its discovery on the building’s sixth floor amid sniper’s nest materials.

The Curtain Rod Story

Investigates Oswald’s claim that the long package he carried into the Depository on the morning of the assassination contained curtain rods, evaluating witness testimony and physical evidence to assess the credibility of this explanation for the rifle’s entry into the building.

The Missing Rifle

Traces the disappearance of the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle from Oswald’s known personal belongings after the assassination, and its eventual recovery from the sixth floor of the Depository, refuting any claim that the weapon was never inside the building.

The Long and Bulky Package

Analyzes consistent witness observations of a long, bulky package carried into the Depository by Oswald on the morning of November 22, 1963, confirming its dimensions match those of a disassembled Mannlicher-Carcano rifle.

Location of Bag

Examines evidence regarding the location and presence of the paper bag Oswald used to carry the rifle into the Depository, including witness accounts of the bag’s placement on the sixth floor and physical traces of its existence.

Scientific Evidence Linking Rifle and Oswald to Paper Bag

Presents forensic and scientific evidence connecting the paper bag, the assassination rifle, and Lee Harvey Oswald, including fiber analysis and other physical trace evidence confirming Oswald’s handling of the bag and its contents.