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Appendix C
Memorandum to J. Lee Rankin
from Norman Redlich
Author's note: This is one of
many similar outlines of the Warren Report, drafted long before the
Commission's "investigation" ended, and before virtually all of the
relevant testimony was taken. It proves that the Commission worked to
substantiate a preconceived conclusion naming Oswald as the sole assassin.
MEMORANDUM March 26, 1964
TO: J. Lee Rankin
FROM: Norman Redlich
SUBJECT: Proposed Outline of Report
I attach a proposed outline
of our final report. This plan envisages a main report and supplementary
materials to be published as one volume. This will be followed by
appendixes to be published when prepared. These appendixes will contain
the supporting material for the report such as the transcript of
testimony, important underlying investigatory material, and photos of
important exhibits not published with the original report.
I have listed the staff members
who I feel should have responsibility for the particular sections of the
report. Although I have assigned small sections of the report to Mr.
Williams, Mr. Eisenberg, and myself, the major responsibility lies with
other members of the staff. I am assuming that Mr. Williams as your
Administrative Assistant, and I as your Special Assistant, together with
Mr. Eisenberg, will have responsibility for review, editing, avoidance of
duplication, and other technical details of putting a report into
publishable condition.
With your permission, I would
like to distribute this outline to the staff.
PROPOSED OUTLINE OF REPORT
(Submitted by Mr. Redlich)
I. Statement
of Objectives and Standards (Mr. Rankin)
(The Report should start with a brief statement setting
forth the Commission's view of its objectives and
standards used to achieve them. It is important to
clarify the Commission's position as a fact-finding
body and to indicate wherein our findings differ from a
judicial determination of criminal guilt.)
II. Brief Summary of
Major Conclusions (Redlich and Willens)
(The purpose of this section is to provide the reader
with a short statement of our major conclusions without
having to read through the entire document.)
A. Basic Facts Concerning Assassination of President
Kennedy and Shooting of Governor Connally
B. Identity of the Assassin
C. Conclusions Concerning Accomplices
D. Conclusions Concerning Motive
E. Ruby's Killing of Oswald and Conclusion as to
Possible Link to Assassination
III. The
Assassination -- Basic Facts (Adams and Specter)
A. Physical Setting
1. Description of Motorcade
2. Description of Area where Shooting
Occurred
B. Shooting
1. Number of Shots
2. Medical Effect of Each Shot
3. Point from which Shots Fired
4. Statistical Data
a. Elapsed time of
shooting
b. Distance
travelled by Presidential car
c. Speed of car
d. Distance
travelled by each bullet
5. Events Immediately following
Shooting
a. Reaction of
Secret Service
b. Trip to Parkland
c. Events in
Parkland
d. Trip to Love
Field
e. Return to
Washington
IV. Lee H. Oswald as
the Assassin (Ball and Belin)
(This section should state the facts which lead to
the conclusion that Oswald pulled the trigger and
should also indicate the elements in the case which
have either not been proven or are based on doubtful
testimony. Each of the factors listed below should
be reviewed in that light.)
A. Identification of Rifle as Murder Weapon
B. Oswald's Ownership of Weapon
C. Evidence of Oswald Carrying Weapon to Building
1. Fake Curtain Rod Stroy [sic]
2. Buell Frazier's Story
3. Possible Presence in Paine's
Garage on
Evening of November 21, 1963
D. Evidence of Oswald on Sixth Floor
1. Palm Prints on Carton
2. Paper Bag with Oswald Print
E. Eyewitness Testimony
F. Oswald After Assassination -- Actions in
Building
G. Oswald After Assassination -- Actions up to
Tippit Shooting
H. Shooting of Tippit and Arrest in Theatre
1. Eyewitnesses
2. Gun as Murder Weapon
3. Oswald's Ownership of Gun
I. Statements After Arrest
J. Prior Actions
1. Walker Shooting
2. Possible Nixon Attempt
3. Practice with Rifle
K. Evidence of any Accomplices in Assassination
L. Appraisal of Oswald's Actions on November 21
and 22 in Light of Assassination
(This will be a difficult section,
but I feel we
must face up to the various paradoxical aspects of
Oswald's behavior in light of his
being the
assassin. I suggest the following items for
consideration.)
1. Did He Have a Planned Escape?
2. Why did he pass up the Opportunity
to get money
on November 21 when he returned to Irving?
3. Discussion with Marina about
getting apartment
in Dallas
4. Asking fellow employee, on morning
of November
22, which way the President was coming.
V. Possible Motive (Jenner,
Liebeler, Coleman, Slawson)
A. Brief Biographical Sketch of Oswald (Fuller
Biography in Supplement)
B. Any Personal Animosity Toward Kennedy or Connally
C. Do his Political Beliefs Furnish Motive
D. Link to Domestic Left-Wing Groups
1. Fair Play for Cuba
2. Communist Party
3. Conclusions to be Drawn from such Links
E. Link to Right-Wing Groups
F. Possible Agent of Foreign Power
G. Possible Link to Underworld
VI. Killing of
Oswald by Ruby (Hubert and Griffin)
A. Facts of the Killing
1. Actions of Ruby starting with
November 22
2. Description of Events on November
24
B. Discussion of Possible Link with Assassination
of President Kennedy
C. Other Possible Motives
1. Brief Biographical Sketch (Fuller
Sketch in
Supplement)
2. Ruby as Self-styled Patriot, Hero,
Important Man
3. Possibility of Ruby being Mentally
Ill
SUPPLEMENT TO
BE PUBLISHED WITH REPORT
A. Visual Aids To Help Explain Main Body of Report
(All Staff Members Concerned)
B. Organization and Methods of Commission (Willens)
C. Security Precautions to Protect Life of
President (Stern)
1. What Was Done on This Trip
2. Broader Recommendations in This
Area
(I recognize that
this area has been the
subject of extended discussion and it might
be desirable to move this section to the
main body of the Report)
D. Detailed Facts About President's Trip up to
Assassination (Adams, Specter, Stern)
E. Biography of Oswald (Jenner, Liebeler, Coleman,
Slawson)
F. Biography of Ruby (Hubert and Griffin)
G. Oswald Relationship with U.S. Government
Agencies (Redlich, Stern, Coleman, Slawson)
H. Discussion of Widely Circulated Theories
(Redlich and Eisenberg)
I. Other Important Documents We May Wish to Publish
as Part of Supplement, I suggest the following:
1. Autopsy Reports
2. Summary of Testimony of Experts on
Physical
Evidence (Eisenberg)
3. Charts and Other Data Presented by
Experts
(Eisenberg)
4. Reports of Medical Examination on
Governor
Connally
5. Report of FBI and Secret Service
on Location
of President's car at Time of Shots (Redlich
and Eisenberg)
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