"UNANIMOUS DECISION ANNOUNCED BY EARL WARREN"

HIGH COURT RULES RACIAL SEGREGATION IN PUBLIC EDUCATION UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public education is a violation of the Constitution of the United States.

The unanimous ruling, announced by Chief Justice Earl Warren*, overturns the 1896 'Plessy v Ferguson' decision which said that there was no constitutional violation as along a facilities were 'separate but equal'.

The case was initiated by the NAACP in behalf of Linda Brown, a third grader in Topeka, Kansas who had been denied admission to her local elementary school because of race.

*Earl Warren (1891-1974) was born in Los Angeles, CA & received his BA & LLB from the University of California, Berkely.  EW served as governor of California 1943-1953 & CJ of the USSC 1953-1969.  He was appointed by LBJ to chair the Commission to investigate the assassination of JFK.

SOURCE

"Supreme Court Rules Racial Segregation in Public Education Unconstitutional," JFK +50, May 17, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

President & Mrs. Kennedy with 

Chief Justice & Mrs. Warren

November 20, 1963

Photo by Robert LeRoy Knudsen

National Archives

"OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON THEIR DEDICATION"

KENNEDY CABINET SWORN-IN BY CHIEF JUSTICE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 21, 1961, the members of President John F. Kennedy's cabinet were sworn in by Chief Justice Earl Warren* in the East Room of the White House.

During the ceremony, the President remarked...

"Whatever success we may achieve will depend...upon their dedication and effort..."

The President's Cabinet includes...

Dean Rusk-Secretary of State, C. Douglas Dillon-Secretary of Treasury, Robert McNamara-Secretary of Defense, Robert F. Kennedy-Attorney General, J. Edward Day-Postmaster General, Stewart Udall-Secretary of the Interior, Orville Freeman-Secretary of Agriculture, Luther Hodges-Secretary of Commerce, Arthur Goldberg-Secretary of Labor, Abraham Ribicoff-Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare

*Earl Warren (1891-1974) was born in Los Angeles, CA & educated at the University of California Berkley College of Law.  EW served as AG of CA 1939-1943, Governor of CA 1943-1953 & CJ USSC 1953-1969.  He is considered one of the most influential Chief Justices in US History.

JFK+50

Most reluctantly, Earl Warren accepted LBJ's appointment to head the commission to investigate the assassination of JFK.  The conclusion of the Warren Commission was that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin and there was no conspiracy "foreign or domestic."  That conclusion has come under much criticism as the years have passed.

SOURCE

"Kennedy Cabinet Sworn-In At White House," JFK+50, January 21, 2020, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

Swearing-In of JFK's Cabinet

East Room

White House Photos

JFK Presidential Library

"OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON THEIR DEDICATION"

KENNEDY CABINET SWORN-IN BY CHIEF JUSTICE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 21, 1961, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court Earl Warren* swore in members of President John F. Kennedy's Cabinet in the East Room at the White House.

In remarks following the ceremony, President Kennedy said...

"I want to express my appreciation to the members of the Cabinet who have been sworn in today.  Whatever success we may achieve will depend in part on their dedication."

*Earl Warren (1891-1974) was born in Los Angeles, CA & graduated from the University of California Berkeley & the UCB School of Law.  EW served as Governor of California 1943-1953 & Chief Justice 1953-1969.  EW chaired the commission which investigated the assassination of JFK 1963-1964.

SOURCE

"Remarks at the Swearing-In Ceremonies for the Members of the Cabinet," January 21, 1961, Personal Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy, January 20 - December 31, 1961, United States Printing Office, Washington, 1962.

 

 

Swearing-In of Kennedy Cabinet

White House East Room

January 21 1961

White House Photo

JFK Library

 

'NO EVIDENCE OF A CONSPIRACY, FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC"

WARREN REPORT PUBLISHED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 27, 1964, the conclusions of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy were published by the government of the United States.

The commission, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, was headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren and the conclusions of the body became known as The Warren Report.

The report found "no evidence of a conspiracy, foreign or domestic" and said that three shots were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, Texas.

The report said one shot missed, one hit both JFK & Governor John B. Connally, and one hit the President in the head.

Although these conclusions would soon come under question, at the time of publication they were accepted by most Americans and the media.

 

 

Warren Commission Cover Letter

The Warren Report (1964)

Image by User: Bradipus

www.wikimedia.org/

THE RIGHT TIME CAME LONG AGO FOR COMPLETE DISCLOSURE

PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON JFK ASSASSINATION ESTABLISHED

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 29, 1963, The President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, best known as the Warren Commission (named after its chairman, Earl Warren*), was established.

The final report. including 469 pages with 410 pages of appendices, would be presented to President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 24, 1964 and made public three days later.  The Warren Report included 26 volumes of supplementary documents.

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.

A total of 395 witnesses were questioned under oath by the legal staff while 63 others gave affidavits or statements.

The Commission's conclusion that the shots which killed President Kennedy and wounded Governor John Connally of Texas were fired only by Lee Harvey Oswald remain controversial to this day.**

The Warren Report states...

"On the basis of the evidence before the Commission, it is concluded  that Oswald acted alone."

While a majority of American's surveyed do not agree with the basic conclusion of the Commission, Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center For Politics at the University of Virginia, says..."Despite everything, a large part of the Commission's basic conclusion turns out to be true."

Sabato, however, does believe that the investigation was.." inadequate, rushed and manipulated..."   Warren Commission assistant counsel Arlen Specter, on the other hand, said..."I have never seen the resources devoted to the determination of the truth as were the resources of the United States of America devoted in this case..."

Larry Sabato writes...

"The right time came long ago for complete disclosure.  Transparency cannot bring President Kennedy back but at long last it can help bring America to terms fully with November 22, 1963."

*Earl Warren (1891-1974) was born in Los Angeles & received his BA & JD at the University of California Berkeley.  EW served in WWI & as governor of California & Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1953-1969.

**One of the key questions of the case involves the fatal head wound.  Evidence shows that JFK had a massive blow out in the right rear of the skull.  The WC says LHO was shooting from the 6th floor of the TSBD above & behind the president.  A bullet entering the rear of the skull (JFK was facing forward with his back to the TSBD) would logically exit the front but there was no exit wound in that location.

SOURCES

"Is there more to JFK's assassination?," by Larry J. Sabato, November 21, 2013, CNN Opinion, www.cnn.com/

"Reclaiming History:  The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy," by Vincent Bugliosi, W.W. Norton and Company, New York 

The Warren Report in Book Form

United States Government Printing Office

September 27, 1964

JFK AUTOPSY X-RAYS & PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON A LIMITED BASIS

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

NINE THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE WARREN COMMISSION

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2144

WARREN COMMISSION SET UP 53 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy was established fifty-three years ago today, November 29, 1963, one week after the death of the 35th President of the United States.

The final report included 888 pages.  It was presented to President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 24, 1964 and made public three days later.  The Warren Report included 26 volumes of supplementary documents.

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.

The Warren Commission concluded that the shots which killed President Kennedy and wounded Governor Connally were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald and added...

"On the basis of the evidence before the Commission, it is concluded  that Oswald acted alone."

According to Evan Andrews of www.history.com, there are 9 things that we may NOT know about the Warren Commission.  They include....

1. Some members of the WC were reluctant to serve on it.
2. Gerald Ford secretly fed information to the FBI.
3. Earl Warren suppressed key evidence such as the autopsy photos.
4. The Commission secretly interviewed Fidel Castro.
5. The FBI & CIA misled the Commission.
6. The Commission offered no explanation of Oswald's motives.
7. Both LBJ & the Kennedy family privately disagreed with the Report.
8. Public trust plummeted after the Report was issued.
9. A 2nd government investigation later refuted the lone-gunman theory.


SOURCE

"9 Things You May Not Knox About the Warren Commission," by Evan Andrews, November 18, 2013, www.history.com/

Presentation of the Warren Report 

White House Cabinet Room 

September 24, 1964
Photo by Cecil W. Stoughton
LBJ Library Image

JUDICIARY ACT OF 1789

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1723

JUDICIARY ACT OF 1789 BECAME LAW 226 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Two centuries and 26 years ago today, September 24, 1789, the Congress of the United States passed and President George Washington signed into law the Judiciary Act of 1789 establishing the Supreme Court of the United States.

The first high court was composed of six justices who served until death or retirement.  President Washington appointed John Jay of New York the first Chief Justice and associate justices John Rutledge, William Cushing, John Blair, Robert Harrison and James Wilson.  All were confirmed by the United States Senate two days later.

The Supreme Court was established by Article III of the United States Constitution.  The Court has appellate jurisdiction over all federal courts and state court cases involving federal law.  The Court has the final say in the interpretation of federal law.

The power of the Supreme Court became greater during the tenure of Chief Justice John Marshall (1801-1835) who established the principal of judicial review over the laws of the United States.

Chief Justice John Marshall

US Supreme Court Building

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2003)

In 1869, the number of justices was increased to nine where it stands today.

The Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren in the 1950s and 1960s expanded civil liberties, most notably the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954 which outlawed segregation in public schools.

Today the Supreme Court of the United States is composed six male and three female judges.  Their average age is just under 70.  Four are from New York, two are from New Jersey, two are from California and one is from Georgia.

The Supreme Court Building is located at One First Street NE in Washington, D.C.  Each term begins on the first Monday of October and ends on the first Monday of October the following year.

The Court receives 10,000 petitions each term.

United States Supreme Court Building

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2003)

SOURCES

"The First Supreme Court, 1789," www.history.com

The Supreme Court of the United States, www.supremecourt.gov/

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

U.S. Supreme Court Building

Photo by John White (2003)

BROWN V. BOARD

BROWN V. BOARD HANDED DOWN 60 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The Supreme Court ruled 60 years ago today, May 17, 1954,  that racial segregation in public education is a violation of the United States Constitution.

The unanimous ruling was announced by Chief Justice Earl Warren of California.

The decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision.  While that case centered on segregation in rail transportation, the ruling was applied to public education facilities as well.

The 1896 ruling said that as long as facilities were "separate but equal" there was no violation of constitutional principles.  As a matter of practice, however, facilities were "separate" but never "equal".

The Brown case was initiated by the NAACP in behalf of Linda Brown, a 3rd grader in Topeka, Kansas who was denied admission to her local elementary school because of her race. 

The Browns were represented by a group of attorneys led by Thurgood Marshall.

A year later the Court issues guidelines for desegregation of public schools calling for compliance "with all deliberate speed".

                   Thurgood Marshall


JFK RESPONDS TO QUESTION ON BROWN V. BOARD

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy was asked the following question at his news conference 52 years ago today, May 17, 1962,  in the State Department Auditorium here in the Nation's Capital...

Mr. President: 

"Today is the 8th anniversary of the Supreme Court desegregation decision.  Do you feel that progress in this area has been rapid enough?"

The President:  

"I think we can always hope more progress can be made in the cause of civil rights, or equal opportunity.

 There is a good deal left undone, and while progress has been made, I think we can always improve equality of opportunity in the United States."

           JFK At His News Conference
                       JFK Library