99% OF WARREN COMMISSION RECORDS OPEN FOR RESEARCH
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago, November 29, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11130 establishing the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Because the body was headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, it became known as the Warren Commission.
The Commission was soon authorized to subpoena witnesses and gather evidence. J. Lee Rankin* was appointed General Counsel and worked with 14 assistant counsels.
94 witnesses testified before the Commission and all were given the opportunity to be interviewed in open session but only one chose to do so.
395 witnesses were questioned under oath by legal staff of the Commission while 61 gave affidavits and 2 gave statements.
In the National Archives today the records of the Warren Commission, comprising 363 cubic feet of space, are open and available for research.
Autopsy x-rays and photographs, however, by agreement with the Kennedy family are available on a "limited access" basis.
*James Lee Rankin (1907-1996) was born in Hartington, Nebraska. JLR graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln & served as 31st U.S. Solicitor General 1956-1961. He was appointed by President Eisenhower.
After serving as General Counsel to the Warren Commission, he practiced law in New York City.
SOURCE
"Warren Commission-Introduction", JFK Assassination Records, National Archives, www.archives.gov/
J. Lee Rankin
Department of Justice Photo
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago, November 29, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11130 establishing the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Because the body was headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, it became known as the Warren Commission.
The Commission was soon authorized to subpoena witnesses and gather evidence. J. Lee Rankin* was appointed General Counsel and worked with 14 assistant counsels.
94 witnesses testified before the Commission and all were given the opportunity to be interviewed in open session but only one chose to do so.
395 witnesses were questioned under oath by legal staff of the Commission while 61 gave affidavits and 2 gave statements.
In the National Archives today the records of the Warren Commission, comprising 363 cubic feet of space, are open and available for research.
Autopsy x-rays and photographs, however, by agreement with the Kennedy family are available on a "limited access" basis.
*James Lee Rankin (1907-1996) was born in Hartington, Nebraska. JLR graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln & served as 31st U.S. Solicitor General 1956-1961. He was appointed by President Eisenhower.
After serving as General Counsel to the Warren Commission, he practiced law in New York City.
SOURCE
"Warren Commission-Introduction", JFK Assassination Records, National Archives, www.archives.gov/
J. Lee Rankin
Department of Justice Photo
